The Return of the Manhattan (16 page)

CHAPTER 30

At precisely 1000 hours, Brad landed the C9 at Andrews Air Force Base under fighter escort without further incident. A “follow me” vehicle met them at the end of the runway, leading them directly to one of the hangars. Brad shut the engines down, and allowed the aircraft to be towed inside, making sure the hangar doors were closed before opening the aircraft. The hangar was placed under heavy guard as President Dugan ordered, and Brad received no resistance when he demanded that everyone stay away from the aircraft, including maintenance and medical personnel. Laura escorted his original crew and patients off the aircraft to waiting ambulances, while he closed and sealed up the aircraft, giving explicit orders that no one approach or attempt to enter the aircraft.

Laura and Brad were quietly escorted to a waiting helicopter that flew them directly to the White House, and the meeting with President Dugan. The ride from Andrews was in relative silence, and Brad found himself with his arms around Laura giving comfort and peace of mind. He thought she relaxed somewhat, and was glad she didn’t try to push him away.

They were ushered into the White House Blue Room, where most of the cabinet members, along with Colonel Brandt, the 375
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Aeromedical Airlift Wing Director of Operations, were waiting, expecting the president to arrive shortly. Colonel Brandt welcomed Brad back, but Brad insisted he could tell him nothing before he talked with the president. On his entry the president focused immediately upon Brad and Laura, greeting them with an outwardly friendly voice, “Major Anderson, finally we meet, I can’t help but believe that now we will have some answers to all our questions. Were you treated well today?”

“Yes, Sir, and I’d like to introduce Dr. Laura Ashton.”

“Pleased to meet you Miss Ashton.” He took her hand for a moment, looked into her eyes, and smiled and then looked back at Brad, “Now let’s get down to business. Tell us about your little adventure.”

“It’s quite impossible until we meet with you privately, Sir!” Brad stated respectfully but firmly.

A swift shadow of anger swept across the president’s face, “Mr. Dawson,” turning toward the director of the FBI, “Arrest him, and Miss whoever! General Williams, get some men out to Andrews, and search that aircraft!” He abruptly turned on his heel leaving the room.

Art Dawson led them from the room where a couple of FBI agents slapped cuffs on them, and Dawson took Laura’s attaché case. They were whisked away directly to the FBI building, where they were searched, and initially separated in order that they could be interrogated simultaneously. It soon became apparent Brad wouldn’t talk, and they began to concentrate on Laura. After approximately an hour of no progress, they brought Brad into the same room, where he was forced to watch. If possible he began to love her even more as they began to toss rapid-fire questions at her, while she responded with assurance, expertly defending herself without giving them any real information.

“What did you say your name is?”

“My name is Laura Marie Ashton.”

“Is that your real name?”

“The only one I’ve ever had!”

“And where were you born?”

“I was born in Alexandria, Virginia.”

“When?”

“I don’t think it’s proper for a lady to reveal her age,” the beginning of a smile tipped the corners of her mouth.

“Miss, that’s not funny! Right now, I wouldn’t even call you a lady. Ladies don’t lie! We have checked and there is no record of anyone by that name born in Alexandria in the last hundred years. Do you think we were born yesterday?”

“I have no idea when you were born,” she replied innocently.

“Miss Ashton, I don’t have to tell you that you have a beautiful face. I don’t think you want me to mess it up, do you?”

“This is getting us nowhere,” he turned to his partner, “I don’t want to, but we don’t have all day.” He slipped his hand inside the neckline of her dress and ripped it off while a couple of other agents held Brad motionless. Turning to Brad he said with a snarl, “If you don’t want your girlfriend, or should I say your whore, marked for life, you’ll talk.” Brad remained motionless, looking particularly for any reaction in Laura’s eyes. “Give me your cigarette, Bill!” He slowly took the cigarette from his partner and brought it down close to Laura’s exposed skin. His eyes raked boldly over her body as he asked, “How much of this will it take to make you talk, Major Anderson?”

Brad could see her courage didn’t waver, as she fearlessly faced the agent, but he had seen enough, and calmly spoke up. “It’s time Dr. Ashton, they won’t listen to reason.” Before he finished speaking, the agents fell to the floor, stunned, and their cuffs disintegrated.

Now that the immediate crisis was over, Laura came to Brad, throwing her arms around him holding on like she needed all the assurance, longing for his protection. He gathered her close, holding her snugly for a moment then remembering her nakedness, reached out taking what remained of her dress and assisted her in covering herself. He removed the smallest agent’s coat and helped her put it on.

She put her arms around his neck, “I’m afraid, Brad, what are we going to do now?”

He picked up a lock of her hair and caressed it gently, “Nothing to worry about, but I’m glad your father is able to help. If we can get through to President Dugan, and convince him of the importance of this mission before your father’s time is up, we’ll be okay. I know now what Dr. Baker meant when he said our job wouldn’t be easy.” All while he was talking, Laura continued to cling to him with no intention of letting go.

As they turned around to leave the room, the chief, Art Dawson entered, checking on his agent’s progress. He stopped, seeing his agents lying on the floor, “What the hell?”

He grabbed for his weapon, but froze as Brad commanded, “Don’t,” his voice softened, “unless you want to join them. We are going out into the reception area where it’s a little more comfortable. Join us there if you would like to talk peacefully.”

As they walked out, Art Dawson checked his agents, assuring himself they were alive, and followed Brad and Laura out into the reception area where they sat down on the sofa.

“Okay, I’m listening, what happened in there?”

Brad spoke up, “Maybe you better call the president, and tell him you failed.”

“I can’t do that,” he smiled slightly as he motioned to several additional agents entering the room, “Put the straitjacket on him and we’ll get to work.”

“Dr. Ashton,” Brad again called for assistance, “all but Dawson, please!” The remaining agents fell to the floor. “Dawson, you don’t have enough agents to put that thing on me. Now make that call!”

“All right, I guess I have no choice.”

“While you are calling, we are going to take over your office. And by the way, you’d better call several ambulances and get these thugs out of here, and yes, we want that attaché case returned.”

“It’s on my desk,” he replied gritting his teeth. “It doesn’t matter, we couldn’t open it anyway!”

CHAPTER 31

Sir, the latest news broadcasts and commentaries aren’t too favorable toward you during the past few days. The media is not satisfied with the statement we made last night after that damn broadcast on all the networks. Most of the editorials in this morning’s papers asked a lot of questions, but many are reserving judgment, for a little while anyway.” The president’s press secretary, Howard Wise, was briefing him on the latest public reaction to the activities of the previous night.

“What about Senator North?” His concern over the events of the last few days was beginning to make him extremely irritable, and he began to snap at everyone within the sound of his voice. “Did he keep his big mouth shut?”

“I don’t know, but I think he’s getting pressure from other members of Congress. They suspect he knows more than he’s saying. I think you should hold a news conference.”

“Damn it all! We don’t know enough to make even a simple statement. Dawson better get answers from that idiot Anderson. Has he reported in?”

“Not yet! Give him a little time. We have one thing in our favor; we can tell them the aircraft has returned safely.”

“It’s not enough!”

“Why not meet with Major Anderson as—“

“Never, I’ll have him court-martialed!”

Howard fell silent; he had gone on TV the previous evening refuting the previously broadcast as a hoax, and relating to reporters that the president knew nothing before the broadcast, and no United States interceptors had fired on the missing aircraft. There seemed to be no more he could do.

The president broke the silence, “Get with the rest of the staff, and start preparing for a press conference tonight at 9:00 p.m. That will give us a few hours to get some information from that damn traitor.”

There was relative calm for a few moments as he thought about the events of the day. The aircraft landed hours ago, yet he knew nothing. A shroud of secrecy had fallen over Andrews, but he didn’t know how much longer he could keep the aircraft hidden. The military had cooperated, but now that the rest of the crew and the patients had returned, he didn’t know how much longer they could be kept in the hospital under the guise of official observation.

He pushed the lever on his intercom and shouted, venting his anger on his secretary, “Mary, get me Walter Reed!”

“Right away, Sir.”

Colonel Billings, the president’s chief surgeon, had recently been trying to get him to come in for an evaluation of a lump on his lower back. “Colonel Billings, why haven’t you called me with a report on those patients?”

“Sorry, Sir, I’ve been up to my ass in alligators, and General Williams has ordered me to talk to no one.”

The president laughed for the first time in two days. “Well, I guess he’s finally obeying orders. What’s the condition of those patients?”

“Physically, they’re fine. Even General Higgins’s daughter is healthy. We haven’t found any signs of trauma. I’d like to get with those doctors at Little Rock, and find out why they reported her in critical condition.”

The president cut him off, “What? She was supposed to be taking her last breath! What did they have to say?”

“Nothing, I haven’t been able to get through. She can’t tell us anything and the rest of the crew can add nothing to what we already know. It’s a complete mystery. Can you tell me anything?”

“Sorry, Colonel; keep the wraps on this! Forget about contacting Little Rock! We don’t want this spread any farther.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The president’s buzzer sounded as soon as he hung up, “Yes.”

His secretary warily responded, “Sir, I have calls from General Williams, General Higgins, and Arthur Dawson. They all say it’s urgent.”

“Put Williams on! Then Dawson, and tell Higgins I can’t talk to him.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“General Williams, what’ve you got?”

“Sir, our security forces can’t get near the aircraft. Several of our men have tried, but they are on the way to the hospital. There’s something strange going on; it’s as if there is some type of force field around the aircraft, and anyone who attempts getting closer than ten or fifteen feet of the aircraft is knocked down by an invisible barrier. It’s the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me! Clamp security even tighter if possible. Leave the aircraft alone until we get answers; I’ve got Dawson on the line.”

“I’ve got it about secure as we can. There’s something very strange going on. I don’t know what to make of it; the ground crews reported the aircraft didn’t make a sound while taxiing in!”

“Keep everyone away from that hangar!”

“Yes sir, Andrew’s security forces have already been doing an excellent job in that area.”

“Good, what about those patients and crew? I talked with Colonel Billings at Walter Reed. What can you tell me?”

“Nothing more, none of the crew members remember anything. The copilot says he saw an object in the sky which he couldn’t identify, and he can’t remember anything else. That story checks with Memphis Center’s tapes.”

“Have you any idea of the identity of the woman with Major Anderson?”

“No, Sir!”

“What about the Higgins girl? Have you talked with General Higgins?”

“Physically, she is fine, but she recalls nothing since before her accident. I talked with General Higgins briefly, and he is concerned, but doesn’t know anything.”

“Good, keep it that way. Keep in touch; I need to know what’s going on!”

“Yes, Sir.”

He pushed the intercom lever, “Put Dawson on!”

“Dawson, what’s going on?”

“Sir, I don’t know what to say, but—“

“What in hell have you been doing? Have you got anything?”

“No, Sir; we haven’t been able to get them to talk, and now it’s out of my control.”

“What!” He bellowed, “You can’t even keep two unarmed people in your custody!”

“Sir, it isn’t that. They are here, but eight of my agents are on the way to the hospital, and I have no idea what condition they’re in.” He continued when the president didn’t respond, “I’ve called for backups, but I don’t know what good it will do; those two have control of a force that is way beyond me. They have taken over my office, and at this time all I can do is cooperate. Major Anderson asked me to call you and tell you I failed.”

“I don’t understand, but see what you can do and keep me informed!”

At this point all he could do was sit and think. All he could think of was calling a cabinet meeting, or the National Security Council, and see if they could come up with some answers. It didn’t make sense, but it seemed he was powerless.

As he sat thinking, he heard Major Anderson speaking plainly as if he were standing next to him. “Mr. President,” Brad spoke softly, “don’t you think it’s about time we had our little talk?”

“Where are you?” He asked in amazement. Involuntarily, he looked around the room.

“In Dawson’s office under arrest as you ordered.

“What did you do with those agents?” He asked accusingly.

“Let’s say they will never stop us. It’s more of a question of what they were attempting to do with us. Sir, do you want to know how barbaric your FBI agents are? No, I guess you aren’t interested in that, only in what results they can get for you.”

“Major Anderson, you’re a traitor! I don’t think you know half the problems you’ve caused. I don’t see how one man can create so much havoc in the name of patriotism, and national security.”

“Sir, maybe that’s because you haven’t listened to one word I’ve said for the last three days. You may wish I would go away, and leave you alone, but that would be too easy, and the mission which I have chosen to endorse would never be accomplished.”

“You are making this very difficult for me and digging a hole for yourself so deep—” he knew his threats were falling on deaf ears, but was determined not to back off, “I’ll make sure you rot in prison if you don’t start talking. Why won’t you listen to reason and tell us what’s going on?”

“Mr. President, I don’t like this any more than you, but the choice is not mine to make! I’m thinking right now, I have no choice except to give you an ultimatum—“

The president interrupted, “You won’t give anyone an ultimatum,” and began pushing the lever on his intercom.

“Your intercom doesn’t work, Sir! Your staff can’t get in, and you can’t get out until you hear what I have to say. You wanted to know what’s going on and I’m giving you a demonstration; it’s that simple.”

“All right, I’m listening,” he said and resigned himself to the fact he had no control over the immediate situation.

“Last night, we took a drastic step and broadcast a message to the nation designed to force you to listen, and allow us to land at Andrews. We thought it was enough to gain an audience with you, but not so. How much more will you suffer before you grant my simple request to see you alone for a few minutes to discuss a matter of national security? I have no intention of giving up until I see you privately.” He paused for effect, “Have you ever watched someone tortured? Of course not. Tonight at 7:05, you can join the entire nation watching as your agents tear the clothes off Miss Ashton, and attempt to scar and permanently disfigure her under your orders.”

“I never gave such an order!” He vehemently protested. “And even if I did, it was only because you are refusing to cooperate.”

“I’ve heard better excuses from children!” Brad lashed out relentlessly, “You told Mr. Dawson to get the information, and left it entirely up to him how he would do it. It doesn’t matter, the nation will judge you and only you on what transpires. I’m not sure how much more we will show, but I don’t think your presidency can stand much more. You are likely to be impeached, and ousted from office. That would really be a disaster, considering who would take over the presidency. It occurs to me that you might fear for your safety. I can assure you of one thing for certain. The people I am working with have unlimited power to inflict harm on you directly. If that was their desire, they would have already done it. You can be assured that no physical harm will come from us. We could have used force a long time ago.”

“I am aware of that. I’m concerned, but I believe that much.”

“Good, because this is my ultimatum: unless you agree to meet alone with us in your office tonight, that message will be broadcast at 7:05. It’s up to you.”

As soon as Brad stopped talking, the intercom lit up like a Christmas tree, and there was a loud commotion with his staff pounding at the door which continued until the president flipped the intercom switch again and called, “Get me Dawson!”