McKean S04 The Re-Election Plot (4 page)

A chilly thought struck me. “If there is someone else responsible at a higher level, they might send someone to kill Peyton McKean and me.”

“No, my friend,” Nagumo rejoined. “After what you published, for you to turn up dead would bring a congressional inquiry. Probably sweep the entire re-election committee and everyone else related to Altmeier into the whole mess. I don’t think anyone wants to go there. On the other hand, with Altmeier fingered and unable to implicate anyone else, you can say what you will, publish what you like, but no one you can name will ever admit being involved. You’re no real threat to anyone if you don’t pursue this matter further.”

McKean said, “Yamani’s the one who should watch out. His voiceprint is living proof of the fake.”

“True,” Nagumo replied. “But even if Yamani testifies that he made the voice, there’s no way to finger anyone except Fred Altmeier. Besides, Yamani’s word is not strictly that of an honest man, even if you and I know he’s not faking anything this time.”

After the call ended, McKean asked me, “Are you comfortable with how things have turned out, Fin?”

“About as comfortable as every day I spent serving in Iraq.”

“Meaning?”

“I saw a lot of action on the ground. I was a Medical Corpsman. Went into some firefights after wounded, heard a lot of shots fired. Never got hit. Don’t really want to talk about it, though. This doesn’t seem any more threatening than that.”

“I suppose not,” McKean mused. “I don’t fear for our safety, but the condition of our democracy has me worried if such election fakery should become the norm.”

“What can we do about it?”

“I suppose there’s very little to be done, Fin, except be glad the cruise missiles are on our side.”