(1976) The R Document (43 page)

‘It was worth anything,’ said Collins. ‘I have no luggage. The attache case was all I needed.’

‘Chris

He realized Tony Pierce was also on hand to greet him. A smiling Pierce pumped his hand as they moved toward the escalator, then pulled a newspaper out of his pocket and unfolded it before him. The big black headline read:

PLOI AGAINSI PRESIDENT, NATION EXPOSED

TYNAN IMPLICATED

THE 35TH AMENDMENI DEFEATED

‘Chris, you pulled it off,’ Pierce exulted. ‘Did you see it? The California Senate vote was on television. Forty to zero, the 35th turned down. Unanimous.’

‘I saw it,’ said Collins. I was in the gallery.’

‘Then the news conference. All the major networks broke in on their programming to show it. Duffield and Glass held a joint news conference. Told how the turnabout happened. Told of your role. Told what was in The R Document.’

‘I didn’t see that,’ said Collins. ‘The fog lifted, and I caught the first plane for home.’

‘Well, Chris, you really did it.’

Collins shook his head. ‘No, Tony. We all did it - including Colonel Baxter, Father Dubinski, my son, Josh, Olin Keefe, Donald Radenbaugh, John Maynard, Rick Baxter, Ishmael Young, and you yourself. It was everyone.’

They had reached the car, which was not the one Collins used, but the President’s own bulletproof limousine. The President’s chauffeur, at the open rear door, offered him a proud salute.

Collins looked at Pierce questioningly.

‘The President wants to see you. He asked to see you the minute you came in.’

‘Very well.’

Collins had started into the car when Pierce’s hand on his shoulder restrained him.

‘Chris

‘Yes?’

‘Do you know Vernon Tynan is dead?’

‘I didn’t know.’

‘Two hours ago. He committed suicide. He shot himself in the mouth.’

Collins thought about it. ‘Like Hitler,’ he said.

‘Adcock disappeared.’

Collins nodded. ‘Like Bormann,’ he said.

They got into the car. As the driver settled behind the wheel, Pierce spoke to him.

‘To the White House.’

When they arrived at the South Portico of the White House, McKnight, the President’s chief aide, was waiting to welcome them heartily. Collins and Pierce were led through the Diplomatic Reception Room to the elevator on the ground floor. They took the elevator to the second floor, and followed McKnight to the Yellow Oval Room.

Collins had not expected a party, but one was in progress. He could make out Vice-President Loomis; Senator Hilliard and his wife; the President’s secretary, Miss Ledger; and Appointments Secretary Nichols. Then, next to the Louis XVI chairs flanking the fireplace, he saw Karen chatting with President Wadsworth.

That instant, Karen became aware of him, and she broke away from the President and came running across the room. She fell into his arms, and he kissed away her tears. ‘I love you, I love you,’ she cried. ‘Oh, Chris…’

Over her shoulder he saw that the President was coming toward him. He released Karen, and went to meet the President. There was an odd expression on the President’s face. Collins decided he looked as Lazarus must have looked.

‘Chris,’ the President said solemnly, clasping his hand with genuine warmth, I don’t have words to thank you enough - for preserving my life, and that of the country as well’ The President wagged his head. I was an awful ass. I can say it now. Forgive me. I’d lost my sense of direction. I guess when you’re afraid of Little Big Horn, you grasp at any expediency. You don’t know that you’re already in Little Big Horn.’ He smiled. ‘But it wasn’t Little Big Horn after all, because the cavalry came in time.’ He searched Collins’ face. ‘You heard about Vernon Tynan?’

‘I did. I’m sorry he brought himself to such a pass.’

‘He must have been unhinged, these past months, to have

hatched anything like that. Thank God you persisted. My debt to you can never be paid. If there’s anything I can do for you’

‘There are two things you can do for me,’ Collins said bluntly. ‘Tell me.’

‘There’s a man who, like yourself, must be resurrected from the dead. He played a major role in helping you. I want you to help him. I want you to give him a full Presidential pardon and restore his name.’

‘Just prepare the pardon. I’ll sign it. And the other thing?’ ‘The worst is over,’ said Collins, ‘but we still face the problem that gave rise to this insane plot. The problem of crime. Repression won’t solve it. As a wise man once remarked, burning stakes do not lighten the darkness. There has to be a better solution -‘

‘There will be,’ interrupted the President. ‘We’re going to do it right this time. Instead of tampering with the Bill of Rights to solve our problems, we’re going to use the Bill of Rights and use it properly. Tomorrow, early, I’m going to appoint a special blue-ribbon commission - you and Pierce will be on it - to investigate the FBI, clean out all Tynan influence, make recommendations toward overhauling the Bureau and setting up new guidelines for it. After that, first order of business, Chris, I want to sit down with you and discuss a new program of economic and social legislation that will bring an end to the lawlessness and crime in our cities. We’re going to do something about it at last. We had a dangerous moment. But now we’re going to hold on to our democracy.’

Collins nodded. ‘Thank you, Mr President.’ He hesitated. ‘You know, I was thinking all the way home - in Argo City, a friend of mine said that when fascism comes to the United States, it’ll be because the people voted it in. Well, the people almost did this time. Now that they know what they know, maybe they’ll never come that close again. And maybe we can help them remember this lesson.’

‘We will. That I promise. We’re going to solve what it is humanly possible to solve.’ He took Collins by the arm. ‘But not tonight.’ He beckoned Karen to join them. ‘Tonight

we’re going to have a drink to the future. Possibly two drinks, even three. And we’re going to watch the late-night movie. Let’s relax an hour or so - we can afford to, at last -before we begin again.’

THE END