Decency (52 page)
“Progress, Craig?”
“Sir, a total of three devices have been recovered, one each at NSA, the Washington office of the Pierces’ lawyer, and one at the Pierce home. The Pierces are safe and unharmed near their home. Fitzgerald has been apprehended. There are no casualties. The possibility remains that accomplices will turn up at FBI, NSA, or even at the Pierce farm. We have no indications of that, however. Additional devices may be out there somewhere. If so, they are most likely in places where Fitzgerald had access and will probably be discovered. FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the crew of Joint Stars One Niner captured Fitzgerald. Attorney General Corrigan personally provided timely information to insure the safety of the Pierces.”
He paused confirming his own thinking, “I recommend that you authorize this operation to stand down to normal alert status.”
The briefest of pauses ensued.
“Craig, I have State and Defense with me now. Come on up to help us with the China angle. My deepest thanks to all. Fine, fine work. Stand down.”
The disconnecting ping was welcomed with a few quiet fists in the air but Horton still had the floor.
“Did you hear that, Santos?”
“Loud and clear.”
“Pass the word to everyone there. Then we’ll get you back to Chicago in time to slip into your own bed.”
“No hurry.”
“You, HRT, and the State Patrol are released once the FBI secures Fitzgerald and the scene for criminal investigation.”
“Good working with you, sir. Sandoval out.”
“Joint Stars?”
“Here, sir.”
“Did you hear the President?”
“All of us here did, sir.”
“I have to add my own congratulations. Superb station-keeping and surveillance. We never lost the picture, even for a blink. Tell Maintenance they put up fine equipment.”
“We all heard that too, sir. I’ll feed your words to Maintenance now. Thank you.”
“You’re released, Colonel.”
“Joint Stars out.”
The ping of the secure speakerphone brought everyone to the crisp realization that now, only those present were listening.
“FBI, pick up Fitzgerald, get the scene secure, and the investigators out there as soon as possible to give those people a break.”
“They’ve been on the way since we picked up the Chinese. Initial ETA eight minutes.”
“Very well, good work, as soon as they lock on, you’re released.”
“Attorney General?”
Corrigan braced.
…
he doesn’t ask when addressing someone in the room…
“Here, sir.”
“You spoke up when you needed too, when the pressure was against it. You did the right thing. You have my respect, sir.”
“Thank you…”
His throat gurgled, and despite himself, relief surged through his heart.
“All of you…you came through flawlessly. Great work. With the previously stated exceptions, you are released.”
The reactions varied wildly. Horton lifted his eyes toward the heavens and his lips moved in unmistakable thanksgiving. Several pairs, including John Corrigan and Kimberly Burke, warmly embraced. Some clenched fists. Some bowed their heads.
None would ever forget it.
Kelly, Harlan, and Kathy again huddled around Kelly’s cell phone for a brief description of the operation from Attorney General Corrigan indicating the involvement of the NSA, CIA and Justice Department since that morning, spurred by the Kelly’s motion. Trucks began approaching from the house and Kelly said those on her end of the call should be excused to resume later.
Harlan, Kathy and Kelly stood in the road watching as much of the activities as they could make out, somewhat put off by the continuing blare of what Harlan called “Boom-Boom” music.
They saw a truck pass in Harlan’s lights, on the way back to the original launch site. Moments later the hip-hop blast stopped. As the truck was returning, another came up from the house and turned toward them.
Just before it stopped, its lights went off to prevent them from shining in the eyes of the group standing in the road.
A man emerged from the truck wearing a black jump suit, and an unfastened protective vest. His hair was jet black and thick. He had a broad nose and full lips. His eyes softly spoke of kindness and his smile fairly warmed the space around him. He was carrying a phone in each hand.
“Mr. and Mrs. Pierce, Ms. Hawkins?”
“Yes.”
“Let me introduce myself. I am Santos Sandoval of the FBI and I have a phone call for Mr. and Mrs. Pierce.”
“Well.”
He handed each of them a phone. Sandoval shook Kelly’s hand and motioned for her to follow him down the road. He whispered to Kelly.
“The President wanted to have a private conversation with them.”
Kelly glanced back. They were listening very intently.
“Mr. and Mrs. Pierce, this is Claxton Martin. Can you hear me well?”
“Just fine, Mr. President.”
“May I have a few minutes here with you privately?”
“Of course, Mr. President.”
“First, I am sorry from the bottom of my heart for what has happened to your family…”
Kathy’s eyes began to glisten. Harlan put his free arm around her shoulder.
“…what happened to your daughter should never have happened at all. Although the precise chain of events is not yet clear, I promise you that we will find out what happened and when we do, we will let you know. In the meantime, we will certainly keep you informed as best we can, through your attorney if you wish.
“Second, and more importantly, what your daughter did will not only help us find out what happened, it will help us do what we need to do to prevent the like from happening again.”
Kathy was unable to speak the words she intended to say and mouthed “Thank you,” to Harlan.
Harlan was only marginally in better control of his voice.
“Mr. President…that means so very much to us…my wife says to tell you ‘thank you’ because she is crying and can’t…it is just a great relief to know Samantha’s memory won’t be stained the way it was…”
“Mr. Pierce, your honesty and sincerity humble me. If you would kindly agree, I would feel greatly privileged if you would come and see me in the White House.”
“Sir, thank you for the kind invite…as you know we have some chores here now…”
“Mr. Pierce, if you will allow me, sir, the power and phone are coming back on in minutes. Your food won’t spoil. And I must tell you, your house will be sealed off for a while until the FBI can be sure it’s safe, cleared of evidence, and cleaned up. I have sent transportation for you and from where you stand right now, you can be here in three hours. We have accommodations for you, and clothes. Please, sir, as a favor to me, come and see me. We will get you back just as soon as you need to be.”
“Mr. President, my wife is nodding her head and I want to say, yes, we can come…but, there’s some men here who’ve been workin’ pretty hard for us today and it’s the decent thing for us to give ’em a bite to eat. If we can do that first, then we can come, sir.”
“Mr. Pierce…that’s the most kind thing I’ve heard in a long time. Tell you what, those people work for me. It wouldn’t be right of me if I let them come and eat your food if I didn’t have them bring some things. Would that be all right, sir?”
“Well, yes, that would be fine. Just have ’em come to our cafe in town. They can’t miss it. We’ll be there. And they’re welcome to what we have. We sure appreciate what they’ve done and what you’ve done.”
“All right then. Don’t you start cooking until you see what they bring and then you’ll know what needs to be cooked and nothing will go to waste. After they’ve eaten, we’ll do the cleaning up and watch your store, and your house, and your vehicles. They’ll bring you to the school parking lot and a helicopter will pick you up. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
The line went dead.
It was 8:02 Eastern.
Rufus Youngblood and his live-in girlfriend Carmel Andrews dropped by the cafe to see what might be going on in general. Rufus and Carmel were both surviving spouses. He was seventy one and she was sixty eight. They liked to flaunt “living in sin” and fancied themselves stud and starlet. Most people thought it was ridiculous. Rufus and Carmel also liked to busybody. Not mean, it was just something to do.
“Hey Kathy. Hey Harlan.”
“Well, Rufus and Carmel, how you two doin’ tonight?”
“You know, just warmin’ it up.”
Rufus winked at Carmel and she grinned at him.
“Say, you folks hear about a rock band playin’ over by your place and some explosions?”
“Heard about it, yes.”
“Well them rock concerts can get bad. Small wonder there was explosions…”
“What would you folks like?”
“Oh, I guess we’ll have a couple longnecks…Hell, they ought to of blowed up the band!”
Rufus chuckled like he had performed worthy of emceeing the Tonight Show and Carmel followed suit.
At 8:37 Eastern a CH-53 helicopter landed on the school parking lot east of town. With the blades easing to a stop the FBI and State Patrol vehicles filed into the parking lot. One of the FBI pickups backed up to the open bay doors.