(1976) The R Document (32 page)

Now his features still remained phlegmatic. His only movement was to lift an ornate letter opener, absently weigh it in one hand, then put it back down on the desk.

He spoke again. ‘So you really think Director Tynan deserves to be fired?’

Collins could not be sure whether the President was coming over to his side or merely trying to probe deeper.

One last try, the clincher.

‘Absolutely,’ said Collins emphatically. ‘The grounds for dismissal are innumerable. Tynan should be removed for unlawful conspiracy, for misuse of his office in trying to get a bill passed that could invest him with superpower. He should be fired for blackmail and interference with due process. The only thing I’m not accusing him of is murder, because I can’t prove that. The rest is obvious. With his

removal - on whatever grounds you choose, based on the available evidence my office can give you overnight - the 35th will sink of its own accord. But actually, you might undo all the evil that Tynan has done to date by personally undertaking what Chief Justice Maynard had intended to do himself - by speaking out against the 35th and seeing that California votes it down. I don’t think that’ll be necessary after you’re rid of Tynan, but it would be a judicious act and gain you added respect.’

The President sat silently for a brief interval, seeming to contemplate all that he had heard. Quite unexpectedly, he lifted himself from his black leather chair, turned his back on Collins, carried his slight, erect frame to the left-hand window framed by green draperies, and stood there gazing out at the White House lawn and at the Rose Garden.

Collins sat taut, waiting. Mentally, he crossed his fingers. The jury on the Tynan case was out. Soon the verdict would be in. The right verdict would solve everything. Collins sat rigid and hoped.

After what seemed an interminable interval, the President stepped away from the window and started back toward his chair. He stopped behind his chair, set his arms lightly on top of it, laced his fingers together, and rested his eyes on Collins.

‘Well, now … ‘ he said. Then he continued, ‘I’ve been considering everything you’ve told me. I’ve been examining it closely. Let me tell you how it strikes me. Let me be as frank with you as you’ve been with me.’

Collins gave a short nod, and waited.

‘Your grounds for firing Director Tynan,’ the President said. ‘Chris, let’s try to be as objective as we can. You know the law better than any man. You’re the country’s first lawyer. You know a person is innocent until proved guilty. Theory, rumor, innuendo, suspicion, hearsay, deduction are not factual evidence or irrefutable proof. Your evidence is a tissue of talk, not facts.’

Collins came forward in his chair to interrupt, but the President held up the palms of both hands.

‘Wait, Chris,’ he said. ‘Let me go on. Let me say what

I want to say. What are the direct charges you raise against

Director Tynan? Let’s look at them. You have Tynan tampering with crime statistics in California. Can you prove it, really prove it? You have Tynan building internment camps across the nation. Can you prove it? Can you find me the agency constructing those camps? Can you show me evidence that the structures are meant for dissidents? You have Tynan making a deal with Radenbaugh, freeing this prisoner from Lewisburg, giving him another identity. Can you prove it? Can you prove the deal was made, that Tynan made it, that Radenbaugh is not dead as the prison announced? You have Tynan ordering laundered money to be passed on to Maynard’s murderer. Can you prove it? As you have admitted, you can’t prove it, can you? You have Tynan using the people of some company town in Arizona as guinea pigs for the 35th Amendment. Can you prove it? We know Tynan has been investigating that town, but can you prove that he was using it instead for some nefarious purpose? You have Tynan as the Professor Moriarty of some sinister plot embodied in something, in some plan, called The R Document. Can you prove it? Can you say you heard this from Colonel Baxter personally? Can you prove this document exists? Or if it exists, that it is dangerous? Can you tell me what it is and where it is?’

President Wadsworth caught his breath, and then went on.

‘Chris, what have you got but a fabric sewn together from fanciful speculations and conjecture? Based on these charges, lacking irrefutable evidence, you want me to fire the Director of the FBI, one of the most efficient and popular men in the country? Chris, have you lost your mind? Fire Tynan? For what? Your case is impossible, Chris, impossible.’

Collins had recoiled during the last and sat defeated, deflated. He had expected some doubts from the President, some discussion, but not an outright attack on his case.

Desperately, he tried to rally. ‘Mr President, proof comes in many forms. I know I could come up with proof that would satisfy you, given time. But we have no time. Get Tynan out of the way first. He’s dangerous. We can back up criminal charges against him later. I tell you, from what

I’ve heard and witnessed, Tynan will do anything, absolutely anything, to get rid of the Bill of Rights, to get the 35th passed into law, to destroy this democracy…’

The President’s face had gone frosty. I also want the 35th passed,’ he said. ‘Does that say I want to destroy this democracy?’

‘No, of course not, Mr President,’ Collins conceded hastily. ‘I’m not implying that everyone who supports the 35th is against a democratic government. The fact is, I supported it for a while, went along, publicly. As far as the people out there are concerned, I still support it. I’ve never denounced it publicly, and don’t intend to, as long as I’m part of this Administration.’

The President softened slightly. ‘I’m glad to hear that, Chris. I’m glad you have some sense of loyalty.’

‘I certainly have,’ said Collins. ‘The question is - does Tynan have the same loyalty? It goes beyond that. It goes to a sense of what democracy stands for. You and I know. Does Tynan? In our hands, the 35th would never be misused. But in his hands… ?’

‘There is not one bit of evidence that he would interpret the law any differently than you and I.’

‘In the light of all that I’ve told you, can you say that? Even if I can’t prove everything, you’ve certainly got to admit-‘

‘It’s no use, Chris,’ the President broke in. He came around his chair and settled into it with an air of finality. ‘Chris, I’m sorry. I respect facts. I listen to facts. Based on what you’ve told me, I don’t find the facts favoring your side. I don’t see sufficient grounds for dismissing Tynan. Make an effort to see it from my point of view. Tynan’s reputation as a patriot is impeccable. Removing him on such flimsy evidence would be like arresting George Washington for creating disorder or tossing Barbara Frietchie in jail for subversion. Firing him would be a disservice to the country, and be political suicide for me as well. The public trusts Tynan. People believe in him -‘

‘Do you?’ Collins demanded to know. ‘Do you believe in him?’

‘Why not?’ countered the President. ‘I’ve never found

him less than cooperative. He’s been one of our best public servants. Occasionally, he’s inclined to be overzealous, to cut corners in his eagerness to get things accomplished. But when all is said and done -‘

‘You intend to keep him and his 35th Amendment,’ said Collins. ‘Nothing I can say will dissuade you. You’re determined to stand with him.’

‘Yes,’ said the President, flatly. I have no other course, Chris.’

‘Then I have no other course either, Mr President,’ said Collins, rising slowly to his feet. ‘If you are going to keep Tynan, then you can’t keep me. I have no choice but to resign as Attorney General. I’ll go back to my office now and write a formal letter of resignation - and spend every hour of the next twenty-four fighting that amendment in the California Assembly, and if I fail there, I’ll spend every hour I have left fighting it in the California Senate, if it comes to that.’

He gave the President a curt nod, and had started for the nearest door when he heard the President call out his name. He halted at the door and looked over his shoulder.

President Wadsworth was plainly distressed.

‘Chris,’ he said, ‘before you do anything you’ll regret later, think twice about it.’ He shifted uneasily in his executive chair. ‘This is a critical period - for us, for the country. This is no time to rock the boat.’

‘I’m getting off the boat, Mr President. I’ll sink or swim on my own. Good day.’

With that, he left the Oval Office.

*

President Wadsworth stared at the door a long time after Collins had departed. Finally, he reached for his telephone. He buzzed for his personal secretary.

‘Miss Ledger? Call Director Tynan at the FBI. Tell him I want to see him alone, as soon as possible.’

*

Chris Collins’ first task, upon returning to his office, was to telephone his wife.

Until this morning, he had not kept Karen abreast of all the events that had been taking place in his life during recent weeks. Now and then, since the night he had learned of The R Document, he had told her some of the happenings. But this morning, after viewing the television news reports on the Maynards’ murder, and after Donald Radenbaugh had finally returned to his hotel, Collins had gone through the kitchen and sat with Karen in the small dinette and filled her in on everything.

Karen had been aghast. ‘What are you going to do, Chris?’

‘I’m going to see the President as soon as I can. I’m going to lay it all out before him. I’m going to ask him to fire Tynan.’

Karen had immediately been apprehensive. ‘Don’t you think that’s dangerous?’

‘Not if the President agrees with me.’

He had been confident, even as he left Karen for the office, that President Wadsworth would agree with him.

Now, four hours later, he knew that he had never been more wrong in his judgment.

Karen answered the phone. Her voice was edgy. ‘What happened, Chris?’

‘The President did not agree with me.’

He heard her groan of disbelief. ‘But how couldn’t he?’

‘He said I had no proof of anything. He made me sound like a paranoidal idiot. He sided with Tynan right down the line.’

‘That’s terrible. What are you going to do?’

‘I’m going to resign, and I told him so. I thought I’d better tell you.’

‘Thank God.’ He had never heard her sound more relieved.

‘I’ll wind up my work here shortly, write my letter of resignation and send it over, then clean out my desk. I’ll be a little late for dinner.’

‘You don’t sound happy, Chris.’

‘I’m not. Tynan goes scot-free. The 35th passes into law.

There remains the unfinished business of The R Document. And me, I’m impotent and unemployed.’

‘You’ll get over it, Chris,’ she assured him. ‘There’s so much else to do. We’ll put the house up for sale. We’ll move back to California - maybe next month -‘

‘Tonight, Karen. We’re heading back to California tonight. We’re catching the late plane. I want to be in Sacramento in the morning. I want to do some lobbying. The 35th goes to the Assembly floor in the afternoon. If I fail, at least I’ll go down fighting.’

‘Whatever you say, darling.’

‘I’ll see you later. I’ve got a lot to do.’

After hanging up on his wife, Collins considered the work load on his desk. Before he attacked it, there was something else that had to be done. He summoned his secretary.

‘Marion, on my appointment schedule - cancel everyone I’m supposed to see today, the rest of the week, and the weeks after.’

He saw her raised eyebrows.

‘I’ll explain to you later. I’ll explain before we both go home tonight. Just tell everyone I’ll be out of the city. We’ll get back to them. Another thing, Marion, book me - and Mrs Collins - on the latest flight to California tonight - to Sacramento. I’ll take care of the hotel.’

‘But, Mr Collins, you were going to Chicago tonight.’

‘Chicago?’ he repeated, bewildered.

‘Have you forgotten? You’re scheduled to address the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI tomorrow at their convention. You’re the main luncheon speaker. Following the speech, you have a meeting set up with Tony Pierce.’

He had forgotten completely. During his first week in office he had agreed to address the conclave of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. Along the way, after his private resolution to oppose the 35th, he had also decided to meet with Pierce, his onetime antagonist on television and the head lobbyist of the Defenders of the Bill of Rights. Through his son, Josh, Collins had located Pierce, who had

agreed to meet with Collins at the Chicago convention of ex-FBI agents.

‘I’m afraid I’ll have to cancel that appearance in Chicago, Marion. I’ve got to go to Sacramento.’

‘They won’t like it, Mr Collins. You’re giving them no time to find a substitute speaker.’

‘There’s always someone,’ he said brusquely. ‘I’ll tell you what - I’d better talk to them myself. I’ll call them after I get some of this work out of the way. As for Tony Pierce, you can handle him. Call his DBR headquarters in Sacramento, locate him, tell him I’m canceling Chicago and ask him to stay put in Sacramento. Tell him I’ll see him in Sacramento tomorrow morning. I’ll call him first thing in the morning to arrange our meeting. Got it?’

She bobbed her head. ‘I’ll take care of Mr Pierce.’ She hesitated. ‘You really want me to cancel all your other appointments?’

‘Everything. No more questions. I’ve got tons of work.’

After Marion had left him, Collins settled down to dispose of all the immediate work - reports and briefs to be read, papers to be signed - on his desk. One of the memorandums, he was pleased to see, was addressed to the Immigration and Naturalization Service: his personal clearance for Ishmael Young’s bride-to-be, Emmy, to enter the United States from France. He signed it and took it to Marion, ordering her to dispatch it at once, with a copy to be sent to Ishmael Young.

Returning to his office, he paused before the fireplace to review what was left of his last afternoon as Attorney General of the United States. Next, he would write his letter of resignation. After that, he would clean out his personal effects from his desk drawers and gather up what was his own in the small sitting room beyond Marion’s cubicle. Finally, he would call Chicago and get out of the speech he was scheduled to make tomorrow.