“Uh-huh,” Robert said, waiting for more.
David just gestured with his palms up, not knowing what else to say.
“So tell me what happened?” Bronx asked. “And don’t leave nuthin out.” She pulled David over to sit on the loveseat.
“I guess I’ll just head to my room,” Robert said. He wasn’t sure either of them heard him, or cared.
“Well, after I hid out at your place, I tried to head over to Alex’s place but there were cops there so I just hopped on our team bus to Chicago,” David said. “I thought for sure they’d get me at the border, but I used Alex’s passport to sneak across.”
Robert was in his room listening to everything. David wouldn’t tell him a thing, yet here he was telling this girl everything.
“I thought things might calm down after a few days,” David continued, “but the FBI figured out where I was and arrested me.”
“The paper said you turned yourself in.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But that’s only because Laura – that’s my dad’s girlfriend – knows an FBI agent.”
“So what did you steal?”
“I didn’t steal anything. All I did was transfer some files. I don’t even know what was in those files, but I think it’s some kind of government cover-up.”
“No shit. So, you’re like some kinda super cool spy?”
David was running on adrenalin now. He liked how Bronx was looking at him – like he was a super hero. Then he suddenly realized he had probably said way too much. “Not really,” he confessed.
“Were you scared?”
David recalled how scared he was when he was in the interrogation room. “A little bit.” He didn’t want to reveal to Bronx how scared he really was.
“Are they going to send you to jail?”
“No, my dad’s lawyer got them to drop the charges, but I had to give them my computer.”
“So what happens now?”
“Nothing.” He could sense that Bronx wanted the adventure to continue. “Look, I probably shouldn’t have told you as much as I did. You can’t tell anyone anything that I’ve told you.”
Bronx put her fingers to her mouth and gestured like a zipper closing between her lips.
“I’m serious,” David said. “This has to remain a secret.”
“Don’t worry. Remember, I’m part of your posse and we watch each other’s back.”
* * *
The next day Robert was sitting in the lecture hall waiting for his calculus class to start when he felt someone hovering over him.
“You didn’t show for our study group meeting last night,” Vanessa said.
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I completely forgot about it.”
“Look, if you’re not going to come to the meetings, then we’ll have to find someone else who can help us,” Vanessa said as she sat down beside him.
“I’m really sorry,” Robert said again. “We had sort of a family crisis at home and my brother and I didn’t get back to Waterloo until late last night.”
Vanessa studied him, trying to determine if she should believe him or not. “I even started reading up about your nerdy Magic game.”
Robert had not only missed the study group meeting, but he had also forgotten that he had promised to take her to their Magic card game gathering after the study group.
“I’m sorry,” Robert said. “Did you really read up on how to play?” Now he felt really guilty.
Before Vanessa had a chance to answer, the professor walked into the lecture hall, threw his briefcase on the desk, and immediately started writing on one of the many whiteboards at the front of the hall. “Okay, pay attention, because I’m only going to go through this once.”
There was a collective groan from the class as they all started copying down everything the professor wrote. He was one of the top mathematicians in the world, but it was apparent he could barely tolerate spoon-feeding second year calculus to lesser minds. The students actually preferred when he delegated his teaching duties to one of his assistants.
“You’re going to have to explain this to me at next week’s study group,” Vanessa said as she gathered her books together after the lecture. “I was just copying down everything he wrote, but I didn’t understand any of it.”
Even Robert was having trouble keeping up with the professor’s spew of knowledge. “I’ll do my best.”
“So, is everything okay with your family?” Vanessa asked as they walked out of the lecture hall.
“Yeah – although for a while there it looked like my brother was going to get arrested.”
Vanessa looked confused, but then she pieced what he said together with the articles that had appeared in the newspaper over the last few days. “That’s your brother?”
“Yep, pride of the family.”
“Did he really steal data from the U.S. government?”
“No, he didn’t steal anything. He just downloaded some stuff they accidently released. They’re threatening to arrest anyone who did unless they give it back.”
“Does he still have it?”
“No. They took his computer.” Robert could tell Vanessa was fascinated by his brother’s situation. “You know, they searched my computer too.”
Vanessa continued to focus on David. “Does he know what was in the data?”
“He says he doesn’t.” Robert sighed. “I’m heading back to residence. Which way you headed?”
“Same direction – I’ll walk with you.”
However, when they opened the door to head outside, they discovered it was raining quite heavily.
“Let’s take the overpass,” Robert suggested.
As they walked through the glass-covered overpass from the Math & Computer building to the Quantum-Nano Centre, they could see the students down below racing to get out of the rain. As they approached the stairwell in the QNC building, Robert was surprised to run into David.
“What are you doing in this building?”
“I went to see one of the professors, but he wasn’t in his office.”
Vanessa nudged Robert.
“Oh, sorry,” Robert said. “David, this is Vanessa. We’re in the same calculus class. Vanessa, this is my brother, David.”
“Oh, so you’re the famous brother that I’ve been reading about in the newspaper.”
“Don’t believe everything you read,” David said. “I think they just blew it all out of proportion.”
“You heading home?” Robert asked his brother.
“No, I’m actually headed in the other direction. Nice to meet you,” he said to Vanessa as he started to walk away.
“Likewise,” Vanessa said. “Your brother seems to lead a very exciting life,” she said to Robert.
“Not really. I’m sure it’ll all die down in a week or so and then he’ll be back to his normal boring self.”
*** Chapter 17 ***
Lou punched the intercom button on his phone and yelled for Laura to come to his office. The last thing he wanted was for this story to die down. Their readership was up since they published the stories about David’s arrest, the misidentification of the rifle used by Oswald, and the discrediting of witness statements saying that they’d heard gunshots come from the grassy knoll.
“What have you got?” he asked as Laura entered his office.
“Not much, but I’m still digging.” The look on Lou’s face told her that was the wrong answer. She decided to throw him a bone to prevent him from chewing her head off. “I may have something about the autopsy.”
“Like what?”
“There are numerous records from doctors and nurses at Parkland Memorial Hospital who said that a major portion of the back of the President’s head was blown out when he arrived at the hospital. There’s also a statement from Roy Kellerman saying that there was a five inch hole in the back of the President’s head, suggesting that the shot had come from the front.”
“Who’s Roy Kellerman?”
“He’s the Secret Service
agent who was seated next to the driver in the limousine. There’s another one from Clint Hill – he’s the agent that sheltered the President’s body on the way to the hospital – saying that the right rear portion of his head was missing.”
“Didn’t we already know that?”
“Yeah, but the official autopsy photos and records indicate that the exit wound was on the front of the President’s head.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Lou said.
“There’s a bunch more evidence indicating that the autopsy records were falsified. In fact, there’s a statement from Douglas Horne – he’s the chief analyst with the ARRB – he’s 90 to 95% certain that the official autopsy photographs in the National Archives are not of the President’s brain.”
“Okay, write it up. We’ll run it in tomorrow’s paper. But we need more. Have you got anything else from your inside source?”
“No,” Laura said, “but I’m planning to contact him again later today.”
* * *
Laura had told the truth when she said she was planning to meet with her inside source, but she neglected to mention that the meeting had nothing to do with the story. She was leaning up against one of the numerous concrete flower stands outside of the Tribune Tower waiting for Todd to arrive, trying to figure out exactly what she was going to say when he got there. She saw him approach before she had figured it out.
“I brought you a coffee,” he said as he handed it to her.
“Thanks,” Laura said. She wasn’t sure how to start this conversation, but it was apparent she wasn’t about to deliver good news.
“I thought we agreed it would be best if we didn’t meet in public,” Todd said, “so I’m assuming this is really important.”
“Yeah, about that,” Laura said. “I don’t think we should meet anymore at all.”
Todd studied her expression. “Yeah, there were a few people at the bureau who wondered whether David had actually turned himself in voluntarily. We’re going to have to be more careful.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Laura swirled the coffee around in her cup. “Henry seems to think that we’re…involved. I told him that we’re just working on a story together, but I don’t think he believes me.” She took another sip of her coffee. “That’s all we’re doing here, aren’t we?
Todd didn’t answer.
Laura waited for him to look at her. “Sam seems to think that you still have feelings for me. Is she right?”
The expression on Todd’s face told her she was. He avoided her gaze and looked up at the building. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
“I’m sorry,” Laura said, reaching over to touch his hand, “but I really want things to work out with Henry.”
Todd squeezed her hand, but then let it go. “The timing is actually pretty good,” he said matter-of-factly. “The director has been telling me to use up some of my accumulated overtime, so I’m going to be heading out of town for the next few weeks. Got some loose ends to tie up. Take care of yourself.”
Todd quickly walked away as if he was late for a very important meeting. He didn’t look back.
* * *
The following morning Henry was working in the small meeting room in the Chicago office, the same room he always reserved for his trips there. Sharon, the local systems manager gently tapped on the door. “I was just walking by reception and they said to let you know there’s a woman waiting there to see you.”
“Did they say who it was?”
“No, but a couple of the associates were tripping over each other trying to chat her up, so you should probably head out there sooner rather than later.”
Henry had a feeling he knew who it was. He had been avoiding her calls for over a week now. When he opened the glass doors to the reception area, he was caught by surprise.
“Sam, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
“No. Is there somewhere we can talk?”
“Sure.” He led her back to the small meeting room. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, I’m fine,” Sam said as she sat down.
Henry closed the door to give them some privacy. “What’s going on?”
Sam was always one to speak her mind and this was no exception. “I want to know why you’re being such an ass.” She didn’t give Henry time to answer before she continued the assault. “Laura said she’s tried to call you a hundred times and you won’t take her calls. She didn’t do anything wrong, you know. Everything she did was in David’s best interest.”
“Yeah, I know,” Henry said weakly. “I was just a little upset about how close she seems to be with Todd.”
“I can assure you there’s nothing going on between them. So, unless you want to lose her forever, you better get your shit together and fix this.”
Henry knew he had to resolve this one way or another, but he had been afraid. What if his worst fears were true? What if she really did want to go back to Todd?
“I’ll call her,” Henry said. “I promise.”
“Good,” Sam said as she rose from her chair. “I’m glad we had this little talk.” She opened the door, but paused before leaving. “If you hurt her, I’ll be back.”
Henry had no intention of hurting her. He picked up the phone and called Laura’s number, but it went straight to voice-mail. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so, so, sorry. Call me back.”
* * *
Laura was in another meeting with her editor. “Okay, this story is starting to gain some traction,” Lou said, “but we’ve got to keep it going. What else you got?”
“There’s always been some question as to whether Oswald could have fired three shots so quickly and so accurately,” Laura said. “They’ve done tests with an army specialist who did duplicate the feat, but now there’s reports questioning whether Oswald was that good of a shot.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oswald’s military records indicate he was qualified as a sharpshooter, but in May 1959 he only scored 191 on his test, barely enough to be classified as a marksman, the lowest level of a skilled shooter.”
“Yeah, I’ve always been skeptical,” Lou said.
“There are numerous statements that Oswald was working for the CIA for years before the assassination. There’s also a report that he met with the FBI two weeks before the assassination and delivered a note to Special Agent James Hosty, although no one knows what was in the note.”
“Oswald claimed he was just a patsy in the whole thing,” Lou said. “Maybe he was right.”
“It sure seems suspicious. And Jack Ruby killed him before he could say anything more.”
Lou remembered watching Jack Ruby shoot Oswald on live TV. “It always seemed strange to me how Ruby could get within a few feet of Oswald with a loaded gun when the place was crawling with cops and FBI agents. How could they let that happen?”
“Maybe it was all part of the plan,” Laura said.
“Okay. Write it up. We’ll run it in tomorrow’s paper.”
Laura headed back to her desk and saw the message light flashing on her phone. It was almost always flashing. She quickly started flipping through the dozen messages waiting for her, only listening to the first few seconds of each message before moving on to the next. Henry’s message was fifth in the queue. She didn’t listen to any of the rest.
* * *
“I’m really sorry,” Henry said when he answered the phone. “I don’t know why I’m so jealous of Todd.” That was a lie. Even he wondered why Laura would choose him over Todd. Todd was like the all-star quarterback and he was like the nerdy water-boy. “I’m sorry that I’ve been such – such an ass – over this whole thing.”
“Sam spoke to you, didn’t she?”
“Yeah, she came to the office.”
“I asked her to stay out of it,” Laura said, “but she can be a bit protective of me.”
“It was probably something I needed to hear. I’m only in Chicago for today and tomorrow. Any
chance I could come over after work today?”
“I would love that. Maybe I’ll even cook something. How about six or six-thirty?”
“Sounds perfect.”
* * *
Laura could not hide the smile on her face as she hung up the phone. She decided she should listen to the rest of her voice-mail messages before diving into her story again. The last message was from Todd.
“I’m sorry,” he said. It was followed by several seconds of dead air with only the background noises of the city coming through. “I was hoping to be able to say goodbye before I left.”
Again, there were several seconds of background noise.
“I’m going away for a while and I’m not sure when I’m going to be back. Maybe a week – maybe longer.”
There was another pause.
“Maybe forever.”
* * *
Henry stopped at a flower shop on his way to Laura’s condo. “Do you have any daisies?” he asked the lady at the counter.
“Ooh, I’m not sure. We got some in earlier in the week, but they might all be gone. I’ll have to check to see if we’ve got any more in the back. What’s the occasion?”
“No occasion – just trying to apologize for screwing up.”
The lady stopped in her tracks. She was an older lady who felt it was her duty to advise her clients on the right flower for any type of occasion. “Are you sure roses wouldn’t be a better choice?”
Henry thought back to the first time he had brought Laura flowers. He had chosen daisies because they somehow seemed more cheerful than roses and Laura had loved them. “No, I’d prefer daisies if you’ve got ‘em. They’re sort of our thing.”
“Sounds like you know what you’re doing,” she said with a smile. He heard her rummaging around in the cold room in the back. “You’re in luck,” she said a few minutes later.
As Henry rode up the elevator in Laura’s building, he continued to fuss trying to get the flowers to look just right. He slowly walked down the hall and paused at the door to her unit, trying to figure out what he was going to say first when she opened the door.
The Second Shooter Page 10
