"I'm sure all of you know this event was not on the summit schedule that my staff and that of President Petrovsky worked so diligently to prepare," the President said. "But after what happened in Toronto last Saturday morning, we felt that it couldn't wait any longer. You see, if it hadn't been for these two people standing here, there wouldn't have been anybody left to hold a summit meeting." He gestured with one hand toward Burke and Lori.
"The stories about the assassination plot credited its break-up to joint action by the combined security forces of Canada, Russia, and the United States, with cooperation of the British government. This was true, up to a point. As has been reported, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police played a key role in foiling the perpetrators. The Russian KGB and our own Central Intelligence Agency, in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, have successfully rounded up the remaining conspirators. But the true heroes of the day were never revealed. This was done in part to protect them while the plotters were still at large. It was also due to the fact that our agencies were still investigating, having not fully unraveled the bizarre circumstances that led up to Saturday morning's planned attack.
"We are here this morning to express the deep appreciation of the nation, and especially that of the Giles family, to Burke Hill and Lorelei Quinn. They started out to prove the death of Miss Quinn's father was not an accident, but a premeditated murder. In gathering the evidence they needed, they realized something much larger was at stake. In the end, it was information they provided, aboard an RCMP Specialty Team helicopter, that led to destruction of the plotters' weapon as it was ready to be fired."
It had been decided both at Burke's request and to spare the Canadian government from possible complications that he would not be revealed as the one who had thrown the grenade.
"Some will undoubtedly seize upon this unfortunate occurrence to vilify the CIA. Let me assure you of this. Those who took part in this plot represented a very small minority of CIA employees. By far the vast majority are decent, courageous, tireless men and women, who have dedicated their lives to preserving the values that this nation was founded upon. Men like Lorelei Quinn's father, Cameron, who gave his life in the effort to uncover this conspiracy. Cameron Quinn had devoted virtually his entire adult life to serving his country, first in the OSS during World War II, and then through nearly forty years with the CIA. Like his fellow officers, he was forced to suffer public ridicule at widely touted failures, while remaining mute about the many secret successes. He set things in motion that culminated in Saturday's smashing of the plot. It was Cameron Quinn's ultimate success.
"Will you ladies and gentlemen please join me in expressing our heartfelt thanks to Burke Hill, Lorelei Quinn and, posthumously, to Cameron Quinn."
He turned to face them and began clapping his hands. The audience rose as one and joined in. The President walked over and shook hands with both of them, giving Lori a kiss on the cheek. Then, as the applause subsided, he gestured to Nikolai Petrovsky.
The husky Russian leader moved to the microphone, accompanied by his translater. His round face showed the famous smile that had made him the darling of the Western press. But behind it lay the sobering knowledge that he had a limited time in which to correct the stubborn problems that had allowed a group of megalomaniacs to nearly succeed in destroying all of the progress he had fought so hard to achieve. He began to speak, followed by the translation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure for me to be here this morning, to join President Giles in honoring these two courageous Americans. I speak for the Russian people, and for my family, in saying that we concur wholeheartedly with the President's praise for what they did. I can assure you, and my fellow citizens of the Russian Federation, that we have taken decisive actions to prevent the recurrence of such a situation in the KGB. These were enemies of perestroika and glasnost. You," he added, nodding to Burke and Lori, "have done the Russian people a great service."
Smiling at the audience, he continued, "I am aware that you of the American news media believe my speeches are much too long. So today I will be brief. Let me only add an invitation to Mr. Hill and Miss Quinn to come and visit us in Moscow. At the Kremlin, as you might say, for them the red carpet will always be out. Thank you."
President Giles stepped back to the microphone as the applause died. "I have one other thing to add for the media. There are still a number of details regarding this case, and the involvement of Burke Hill and Lorelei Quinn, that must remain classified."
Thank God, Burke thought. Besides such obvious details as the NSA role, Cam Quinn's trip to Cyprus and Burke's to Israel, it included the shootout on Oyster Island and at the Newman house in Niagara Falls. Damage control teams had moved in to obliterate as many traces as possible of what had happened. Where necessary, local prosecutors were being informed privately of the self-defense nature of the cases and asked to dispose of them quietly.
The President continued, "Also, Mr. Hill and Miss Quinn have asked that they not be subjected to press interviews. However, they have provided detailed written statements that will be handed out in a few moments. Thank you."
As expected, the undaunted news people began to shout their questions anyway. The President, accompanied by Judge Marshall, whisked Burke and Lori into the Oval Office, where he thanked them again. Then they were escorted out a private exit to find the Judge's sleek black limousine waiting. They were soon on their way to Falls Church. A CIA car had brought them to the White House, but Judge Marshall personally accompanied them back home.
"I want to add my personal thanks to what you two did," said the DCI. He gave Lori a rather contrite frown. "And offer my apologies, as well. I sought to put the blame on you, when it was Hawk Elliott I should have been wary of."
"I was taken in by him, too," Lori confessed. "Even when I should have known better."
He turned to Burke. "I would say you're the one I owe the greatest apology. You suffered pretty badly at the hands of some of my people."
"It was an educational experience," Burke said. "Not one I’d like to repeat, but I learned a lot. Some of it about myself. I didn't want to get into this in the first place, but Cam pushed me. I had a rather bad experience on departing the FBI. It left some bad scars."
Judge Marshall nodded. "I know all about that. The President asked me to deliver a message. He has personally instructed the Director of the FBI to contact you and get your file straightened out, removing any unwarranted derogatory information."
"Thanks." That should be the final footnote to one dark chapter of his life, Burke reflected. A chapter which Jabberwock had succeeded in balancing off quite nicely. He had proved to himself if no one else that Hoover had been wrong. He was not a failure. He could handle the job as well as anyone. "One thing that probably kept pushing me along, though I didn't realize it at the time, was the fact that Jabberwock represented exactly the kind of deal I'd come to detest. People using their power to manipulate others for their own selfish ends. But I went into it kicking and screaming. Like most dedicated reformers, I swung too far to the opposite extreme. At first, I objected to using a cover story and a false passport, mistaking it for a question of integrity, if not legality. I got all hung up on legalities and ethicalities. I finally accepted Cam Quinn's version of reality, that you can't fight unconventional wars with conventional means. I guess the important thing is to be honest with yourself and not compromise on your search for justice."
"I've devoted my entire life to espousing the rule of law as the only solution to man retaining his freedom," said Judge Marshall, leaning back in the seat, one arm across his chest, the other hand rubbing his chin thoughtfully, as though seeking the words to deliver a weighty opinion. "I noted in your debriefing where you occasionally strayed beyond the strict confines of the law, Burke. But there are a couple of points to consider, particularly when you get into the question of ethics. Some things may be entirely legal but decidedly unethical, depending upon how and why they're done. Conversely, other things
may seem to be illegal yet are assuredly ethical. That's because the law can't possibly take into consideration every possible nuance of a situation. So, to achieve justice, which, as you indicate, is our ultimate goal, we must introduce another concept called equity. If the outcome of the action is equitable, then justice has been served. I think you achieved that, Burke."
"You put it much better than I could have, Judge. I guess that's to be expected, though, since you're a lawyer and I'm just an accountant."
"Just an accountant?" the DCI echoed with a smile. "Well, I'm impressed by the way you accounted for yourself on this case. I read the full debriefing report this morning. You did an excellent piece of work on that investigation. If you're interested in a new job, I think I can find a place for you."
"Thank you, sir. I'm not sure I'm ready for that."
"After the turmoil of the past few weeks," Lori said, "I think we're both ready for a vacation. A little time away from it all." She looked straight at Burke. "To decide where we go from here."
Burke squeezed her hand. "I just happen to have a dandy little place up in the Smoky Mountains that would be ideal. It's made for clearing the air, opening your mind to consider weighty matters. You're invited."
"Can I have about thirty minutes to get ready?" Her look said it was no idle comment.
"I have one request, Burke," said the Judge. "Besides being an accountant, you're a damn fine photographer. I'd appreciate your bringing me back another picture to go with that remarkable photograph of the mink I have on my office wall. You might even drop by and help me hang it."
Burke arched an eyebrow. Somehow he suspected that he hadn't heard the last of Judge Kingsley Marshall.
*****
About the Author
By Chester Campbell
After following a snake-like career path that writhed about from newspapers to magazines to speechwriting to advertising to PR to association management, I settled on novel writing after retirement. I'm having a blast. My PI characters do things I'd never dare attempt. The reviewers love 'em, and so do the fans. Most of my stories are drawn from life, from all the weird and wonderful things that go on around me. Since I've been observing this for the last 86 years, there's no shortage of stuff to draw on. Lately I've been working on a trilogy of Post Cold War political thrillers, of which Beware the Jabberwock is the first.
Beware the Jabberwock (Post Cold War Thrillers) Page 38
