The Third Coincidence (18 page)

“Gotta go. Time is nearly up. One more thing. We are not friends anymore, Mr. McCall.”

Jack heard a loud slam and the phone went dead. He immedi- ately called the tracing center at the FBI. LW had known how long the trace would take. The bureau had only been able to narrow it down to a D.C. pay phone within a few downtown square blocks.

At least, the call had likely confirmed their theory that LW was locally based.

Jack called the protective squad covering Rachel, then called Rachel.

chapter 28

President Schroeder’s popularity drops to below 60 percent for the first time in his first term.

—A.P. Wire Service, June 14

President Schroeder entered the room in the White House that had been set up for today’s press conference. He began by stating that after his opening remarks he would introduce Jack McCall. He also confirmed the rumor that Associate Justice James Dunlin had re- signed from the U.S. Supreme Court. The president sipped from the glass of water that had been left for him.

“To assuage any rumors before they start, I’m going to read Jus- tice Dunlin’s letter of resignation. Justice Dunlin has approved my doing so. As you’ve already been informed, there will be no follow- up questions.”

Dear Mr. President:

As you know, my son, James Dunlin, Jr., died in the mil- itary engagement known as Desert Storm. My wife, Rebecca, and I are raising our grandchildren. The recent murders of Supreme Court justices and a nominee for that great office, together with the continuing threats of more, no longer per- mit me to enjoy the honor of serving as a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice. We cannot put our grandchildren at further risk through the loss of their grandparents. Therefore, I tender my resignation, effective this date, with deepest

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thanks to our nation and you, Mr. President. I also wish to thank Chief Justice Thomas Evans for his excellent leader- ship, and my fellow associate justices for their understand- ing and support. I offer my apology for exacerbating the problem of a Court short of justices. Under different personal circumstances, I would stand my office.

Respectfully,
James Dunlin

President Schroeder then announced that Sophia Washington had withdrawn her name as a nominee for the bench, and that Dr. Manuel Acosta had declined his nomination to the Federal Reserve Board.

“I understand and respect the decisions of each of these loyal Americans and thank them for their lifetimes of service to our coun- try,” he continued. “I assure everyone within the sound of my voice that we have many fine Americans on the lists of nominees. Men and women who stand ready to accept and are qualified to serve.”

The president rested his hands on each side of the lectern. “And now, inadequate as I may be at it, I’m going to introduce Jack McCall. Until only a short time ago, few Americans had ever heard his name so let me share a brief and, I assure you, understated ré- sumé.

“For more than twenty years, Jack McCall has headed up nu- merous special operations. The life of every American has been made safer by Jack McCall. He has stopped terrorists, saved the lives of Americans held hostage, and rescued embassy personnel under threat.

“On a personal note, I worked with Jack McCall during my for- eign service for the State Department. At all times he carried out his duties as a capable and resourceful patriot. Your government con- tinues to support Jack McCall as the right man for this job. And let me describe the job we have given Mr. McCall. We asked him to find a person who calls himself Commander LW and who claims to head an organization called the American Militia to Restore Repre-

136 David M. Bishop

sentative Government. Here and now, I confess that none of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies at the federal or state level have ever heard of LW or his militia. The same is true for the world’s friendly governments.

“As you can see, Mr. McCall has taken on quite a task, a job at which he has been working for only a matter of days. Anyone ex- pressing impatience with his results is either playing politics or being wholly unrealistic. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jack McCall.”

The president shook Jack’s hand and moved to the back of the rostrum.

While reminding himself not to squint into the television lights, Jack stepped to the microphone. “Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind introduction. I know many of you from your work, but not by sight. Please state your name when I call on you so I may acknowl- edge you when I answer.”

He pointed at a rail-thin lady in the center of the front row. “Yes?” “My name is Gloria Powell from the
San Francisco Chronicle.

Mr. McCall, please tell us what you can about your progress.” “Thank you, Ms. Powell. We have cleared a few people who at

one time or another, on some preliminary level, were considered suspects. Naturally, I can’t comment on those on whom we are cur- rently focused, but the effort continues.”

In accordance with the stated rule for this meeting with the media, Jack ignored Ms. Powell’s efforts at a follow-up and called in- stead on a gentleman whose bushy mustache hid his upper lip.

“I’m Eric Dunn, a freelance national columnist. Mr. McCall, please identify those who have been eliminated from suspicion”

“It would be inappropriate to identify people who have been cleared. I’m sure you understand.”

“But America has a right to know, Mr. McCall.”

“All right. We have eliminated one serious suspect, a man with the freedom of movement to obfuscate his appearances in the loca- tions of the killings. His name is Eric Dunn.”

the third coincidence 137

Jack waited while the murmurs quieted, Dunn’s face turning red.

Then he held his palms outward.

“Mr. Dunn, you are not and never was a suspect. I only wished to illustrate the point you refused to accept. It would be unfair to name people who have been cleared. My career has required the analysis of a situation and a quick effective thrust to get the job done or, in this case, the point made. I trust you’ll forgive me for appear- ing insensitive.”

“Mr. McCall, Mr. McCall.”

“Yes?” Jack pointed to a round sturdy gentleman in the back row. “Sal Ramirez from CNN. Mr. McCall, how did LW get past your

security to kill Court nominee Gerald Garfield and his wife?” “I failed to consider protection for the nominees.”

The president cleared his throat and stepped forward. Jack moved to the side.

“Mr. Ramirez,” Schroeder said, “if you knew Jack McCall as I do, you’d know he makes no excuses and deflects no accountability. In fairness, it should be acknowledged that Mr. McCall’s job has been to identify and stop this LW and his militia. Providing security is not part of his assignment.”

The president stepped back and Jack gestured to his right, call- ing on a female member of the press corp. “The lady on the end in the third row.”

A plump woman in a bright red dress stood and spoke through matching colored lips. “I’m Agnes Patterson from the
Detroit Ledger.
Mr. McCall, you’ve told us that you cannot identify suspects and the specifics of the progress of your investigation. Can you tell us how soon you anticipate ending this terrorizing of America?”

“Another valid question,” Jack replied. “I only wish that I could answer it. The truth is we just don’t know. We believe we’re making progress, but an investigation cannot fool itself, and I will not at- tempt to fool you. The lady in the center of the room.”

“My name is Marian Little from local NewsCentral Seven,” she

138 David M. Bishop

said. “Do you have a comment on LW’s killing of counterterrorism expert Charles Nesbit?”

There it was. The opening. The reason Jack was doing the press conference. He squared his shoulders and looked straight into the cameras.

“Men like Charles Nesbit have kept America free and safe for even the likes of you, Commander LW. Mr. Nesbit did nothing but speak his mind when asked a question. Free speech is essential to the representative government you claim to espouse. But your idea of representative government is that it must be what you dictate. America will never follow a dictator. So tonight I warn you: if you’re smart, surrender, because we’re coming for you.”

The audience of media, having never heard a press conference used to deliver a direct threat, sat stunned. Then a gray-haired man with a slight hunchback stood without being called on and broke the silence.

“Kenneth George.
Los Angeles Times.
Mr. McCall, may I say I find your forthrightness refreshing. What can you tell us about this LW? What makes his kind tick?”

I’d rather parachute behind enemy lines, Jack thought, than do any more of these press conferences. In special ops, the enemy was often both easier to identify and to anticipate. And, he knew how to treat that enemy.

“It’s a complicated world, Mr. George. To answer your question, I’m no psychiatrist. The furthest thing from it, but for me people like LW are a mutation. They believe they have the ultimate wis- dom, but they lack the courage and commitment to work within the American system. They cloak their cowardice in violence, rational- izing that their violence is necessary to remedy the injustice they perceive. I feel sorry for LW.”

The reporters were all on the fronts of their chairs, edgy in try- ing to time the moment when they might start their question to be heard first, in just the right tone to capture the audience.

“My father loved America,” Jack continued. “He would have

the third coincidence 139

helped LW learn how to serve, not try to destroy, our country. We be- lieve LW’s father may have been a sexual deviant, perhaps an abuser of drugs, some combination of human deficiencies that denied LW a proper role model.”

Jack stood stone still and silent, then went for the jugular of the only viewer in whom he held an interest. “LW is a murderer, no more honorable than any other vicious killer. Violence is the last re- sort of weak men holding failed ideals.”

When it was over, Jack walked out beside the president. As they hurried out the door, Jack reminded himself that LW had killed Charlie Nesbitt within a day or so of Nessy’s comments on television. If this public insult of LW’s father worked, Jack knew the assassin would soon be coming for him.

chapter 29

McCall warns LW: ready or not, here I come.

—Sal Ramirez, CNN, June 14

After Jack’s press conference, the president took the elevator up to the fitness room, changed into a pair of sweats, and did fifteen min- utes on the stair stepper, then moved to the treadmill. He could not get his mind off what Jack had said toward the end of his meeting with the press. After only ten minutes of his usual thirty-minute walk, he hit the stop button, got off and picked up the phone to buzz his chief of staff.

“Clancy, I trust you heard the press conference?”

“Yes, Mr. President, I watched with Harriet, Fred, and General Crook. We found Jack very effective. At the end he appeared to be taunting LW.”

“You’re damn right. I want to confirm that there’s a protective de- tail on Jack.”

“Mr. President, it’s on all the members of Jack’s squad, but not Jack. He refused protection for himself.”

“What? And you didn’t do it anyway?”

“Your order was that we were to give Jack our full cooperation.

So we did what he asked.”

The president rested his forehead in the palm of his hand. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered.

“Mr. President, Jack is apparently setting himself up as bait. If so, he doesn’t wish to chance LW seeing our people and backing off.”

the third coincidence 141

“I’m countermanding Jack’s order. Get some top personnel on him. I want it operational tonight.”

“Yes, sir. Right away. Anything else, Mr. President?”

“Yeah. Damn it. Have them give Jack some space. Tell your people to back off enough so that Jack doesn’t know they’re there. If he can’t tell, LW won’t know. I want good men, close enough to come on strong if he needs help.”