Authors: CG Cooper
“Drop me off at the hotel,” ordered the sniper as he stowed his rifle in its carrying case.
Two times he’d missed his mark. The last time that had happened he’d nearly been blown to bits by a Taliban RPG. It still brought back nightmares on occasion. He shook the thought away and focused on how to best tell his boss that he’d missed again.
+++
They’d finally come to a stop against a green dumpster. Cal and Daniel had braced themselves in the back as MSgt Trent had somehow held Gaucho’s limp body back off the steering wheel and managed to divert the vehicle’s trajectory.
The airbags had deployed and were now losing their pressure. Everyone was moving except for Gaucho. By the time Cal had unfastened his seatbelt, Trent was checking his best friend for signs of life.
“I don’t see any blood,” said Trent, ripping Gaucho’s T-shirt open. By then Daniel and Cal were outside the vehicle scanning for threats.
Cal popped the driver’s side door open.
“He’s breathing,” announced Trent, his relief evident. “Lucky Mexican was wearing his level four.”
“Get off me you big ape,” moaned Gaucho, his face a mask of pain.
“You okay?” asked Trent.
“I’ll live.”
Cal shook his head. Too close.
“Let’s get him to the hospital.”
“I’m okay, boss. Just need to lie down for a second,” said Gaucho with a grimace. “I think I got lucky. It grazed me.” He pointed to the open door and a ragged hole in the leather arm rest.
“You think we can drive this thing out of here?” Trent asked Cal.
Cal gave the SUV a once over. It had seen better days, but other than a hole in the windshield, the deployed airbags and the crushed collision points around the front bumper, it looked intact.
“Help Gaucho out and I’ll see if it starts.”
Waving off the help, Gaucho eased himself out of the vehicle and leaned on one arm against the hood. Cal slid in and tried the ignition. It started up with barely a stutter.
After cutting away the airbags, everyone piled in just as curious tenants started coming out of their apartments. It was only a matter of time before someone called the cops, a complication Cal didn’t need.
Keeping as low a profile as they could inside the vehicle, they left the apartment complex through a narrow service entrance, Daniel watching for tails as Cal and Trent scanned for threats up ahead. Within minutes they were back on Leesburg Pike, headed to Arlington.
+++
The sniper hung up the phone and slammed his palm on the back of the headrest. It had been a one-way conversation. The last thing his boss had said before ending the call was, “You’ve got one more strike.”
He knew his personal attachment to his employer only went so far. When it came to business, his boss didn’t care. The sniper glanced at the driver and wondered if that’s why the man had been sent, to look after him, maybe even to take him out should the need arise. He would’ve done the same thing.
The sniper slid his pistol out of his pocket and held it on his lap. He’d just have to keep an eye on the guy until he got dropped off. He had one shot left. Best not to test his employer’s limits again.
+++
Headquarters Marine Corps
As Cal pulled into the only spot they could find, blocks from the busy headquarters building, Gaucho pulled his ringing cell phone out of a pocket with a wince. Cal was surprised when his team leader answered the call instead of ignoring it.
“Yeah?”
Cal watched Gaucho’s eyebrows rise in the rearview mirror. Gaucho motioned for the others’ attention.
“Hey, you mind if I put you on speaker?”
The answer must have been yes because a moment later Gaucho held up the phone so everyone could hear.
“You still there?” came the gravelly voice.
“Yeah. Hey, say again what you just told me.”
“You sure you’re secure?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“Okay, like I was saying, I just caught wind of some squirrely shit going on. You told me to call if I heard anything, so I did.”
“What did you hear?”
“I overheard one of my new guys, a real piece of shit if you ask me, don’t know how he hasn’t been in the clink yet, starts blabbin’ about getting out and landing a new job. I didn’t think it was anything until he gets kinda quiet and in a roundabout way ties it to what’s all over the news.”
“How?”
“I can’t remember exactly what he said, but it was something about his friend taking care of those fucking jarheads real good. He laughed it off and said it was a joke, but this guy, I don’t know man. The way he is—”
“Hey, man, can I put you on hold?”
“Sure.”
Gaucho’s muted the conversation and looked at Cal. “What do you think?”
“Who’s that you’re talking to?”
“Old Delta buddy, senior man at one of the Bragg squadrons. I called him a couple days ago, told him to keep an eye out. He’s on my short list to bring to TJG if he ever retires.”
It could’ve been an idiot running off at the mouth. Cal had heard his fair share of dirtbags brag about things they knew nothing about, but until they found out more about Gower and Mason, there were few leads to follow.
“Do you think he can keep the guy confined to quarters until we get there?”
“Sure.”
Gaucho took the phone off mute and relayed the request to his comrade.
“No problem. I can keep him there for twenty-four hours without raising any cain. How quick can you get here?”
“We’ll be there tonight,” said Gaucho.
“All right. See you soon.”
Chapter 26
Washington, D.C.
6:36pm, December 9
th
Congressman Tom Steiner sat across the small table and did his best to keep still. He’d found over the preceding days (or rather his publicist had pointed it out) that he liked to fidget when he got excited. Rather than look animated, his handler said it made him look spastic.
Steiner didn’t see it that way, but he vowed to keep her happy. That included clasping his hands either on his lap when sitting on a couch or on a flat surface when the setting permitted.
“Congressman, you’ve caused quite a stir with your accusations following the deadly attack on Marine units deployed overseas. Why do you think it’s important to have this conversation now and not after the families of the dead are allowed to grieve?”
It was the same tired question that reporters were trying to cram down his throat.
“Like I’ve said before, now is the time because the pain is fresh in our minds. Did we wait months or years after 9/11 to retaliate? No. I can’t begin to understand the grief of those poor families, but I can do something about it.”
The news anchor’s face was just short of a sneer.
“And you think that going after the Marine chain of command is what we should do? Why not go after the enemy who killed the Marines? Shouldn’t
that
be what we focus on?”
Steiner gave his best patient smile.
“I’m not privy to those conversations, but I’m sure the rest of the military has things well in hand. But this is more than just about good versus evil. What we’ve uncovered is a fouled system whose negligence cost America the lives of hundreds of its brave men in uniform. Yes, we will find the culprits behind these attacks, but we will also bring down the hierarchy that allowed it to happen.”
The rest of the interview was tense, the conservative host doing his best to get under Steiner’s skin, but the New Jersey congressman felt that he’d handled it well.
“How did I do?” Steiner asked his publicist after it was over. She was scrolling through her ever-present phone.
“You could have been a little more authoritative without looking patronizing, but you keep getting better.”
Steiner knew that was the closest to a compliment he was going to get. At least they’d gotten past the point of a thirty minute nitpick after every interview.
“Where to next?” he asked, wondering if there was time to grab a quick bite to eat. He was starving.
“You’re finished for the day,” she said without looking up. “Bright and early tomorrow.”
She left without saying another word, her phone already back at her ear as she railed against someone else. Steiner shook his head and grinned. She was expensive, and a real hard-ass, but damn was she good. His star was rising fast despite the controversial nature of his platform. He wondered where it might take him. The senate, maybe, or even the governor’s mansion?
Rep. Steiner shrugged on his coat and went to find his driver.
Just as he was getting into the Lincoln Towncar, someone called his name.
He turned to see four men in dark suits approaching. For a moment his stomach twisted.
“Sir, United States Secret Service.”
“How may I be of assistance, gentlemen?” Steiner tried to sound confident, but he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
“Sir, the president would like a word.”
Steiner almost told the man that he had somewhere to be, but thought better of it. He was curious.
“Should we follow you or…”
“It would save time if you came in our vehicle, sir.”
Steiner nodded and followed the four agents to their armored SUV.
Twenty minutes later, Congressman Steiner stepped into the Oval Office. There was a fire crackling in the hearth, but no one was there.
“The president is on his way, sir,” said the Secret Service agent who motioned to the couches and then departed.
Steiner told himself not to be in awe of the place, but he couldn’t help looking around the room. Never in his years in the House had he been invited to the symbolic center of the nation’s power. The fact that he was there now added to his estimation that his clout was growing.
President Zimmer walked in a minute later followed by his chief of staff, Travis Haden, and Steiner’s fellow New Jersey Democrat, Ezra Matisse. He couldn’t read their faces. It didn’t help that no one offered to shake his hand when he stood.
“Thanks for coming, Tom,” said the president.
“It is my pleasure, Mr. President. How may I be of service?”
“I’ll cut right to the chase. This thing with the Marine Corps has got to stop. Can’t you see the damage you’re doing?”
So that was why he’d been summoned. Steiner could’ve laughed.
“I’m not sure I see it that way, Mr. President.”
Zimmer’s eyes went cold. “I asked Ezra to join us as a witness. You two go back a long time, and I figured that if I couldn’t convince you maybe he could.”
“Convince me of what?” Steiner asked innocently. He was enjoying this immensely.
“Drop the proposal.”
So there it was. The president was trying to keep him in his place. Steiner wasn’t about to let that happen. He didn’t want to go back to being on the fringe.
“I believe it is well within my right to examine any entity under our government’s purview. That is especially the case when there is a preponderance of evidence to suggest fraud, waste and outright negligence.”
“You don’t honestly believe that load of crap, do you, Tom?”
“Yes I do.”
Zimmer shook his head.
“And there’s nothing I can do to change your mind?”
Steiner sat up a little straighter. “I don’t think there is.”
“And what if I gave you one chance to drop it, or face the consequences?”
“If you’re trying to threaten me, Mr. President…”
“Oh you’ll know when I’m threatening you, Tom. What I’m doing now is giving you a warning. There are things going on that apparently you have no idea about.”
“And what would those things be?”
Steiner had everything he needed. He’d weighed the risks and found that he liked the idea of being the whistleblower. It only added to his growing fame.
“I’m not going to tell you. You’ll just have to trust me. But I will promise you that if you drop your accusation right now, things will go back to the way they were. No hard feelings.”
Steiner’s eyes narrowed. The president was trying to manipulate him. Where was the young Massachusetts congressman who’d bravely waved the liberal agenda? The man now residing in the Oval Office had obviously been poisoned by the likes of Travis Haden and that Marine general McMillan. Zimmer had chosen to put the blinders on.
“Mr. President, the investigation into the Marine Corps’s wrongdoing and the legislation that will see them wiped off our budget will come to pass. I will not be dissuaded. I stand by my sources and the information they had provided. Open your eyes, Mr. President. The Marines are playing the same game they’ve been playing for years. They brag about being the tip of the spear when, in fact, their leadership ability has gone the same way as their obsolete equipment. I will not stand by as more Americans are pumped through their corrupt and antiquated pipeline. That is a promise.”
Steiner expected the president to deny the charges, scream, shake his fist, anything. But instead Zimmer looked to Rep. Matisse, who shook his head sadly. Zimmer nodded then looked back to Steiner.
“Very well. Here’s what’s going to happen. As soon as you step out of this office, you will be escorted to the Hoover Building where you will be questioned by the director of the FBI himself.”
Steiner felt his face color. “I don’t see why—”
“I’m not finished,” snapped Zimmer. “You had your chance. Now, as I was saying, you will be questioned by the director and his team of expert interrogators. This isn’t your witch hunt anymore, Congressman. This is a matter of national security. If they—”
Steiner wanted to roll his eyes. National security. It had become the excuse for the government to arrest and question anyone. What was next, a new Gestapo?
“This is completely illegal,” said Steiner, confident that his trip to FBI headquarters would be brief. Now that he thought about it, the highly criminal act could be used to his benefit. The media would love to hear how the president had not only threatened him, but enlisted the FBI by using questionable tactics. Maybe the next target on Steiner’s list should be the FBI. That could be his new image. Tom Steiner, rooting out corruption at its core. “This conversation is over.” Steiner went to stand.