by Greg Sandora
“We have coordinated with the Washington Police and a uniformed officer is with the staff at your headquarters. The congressional offices are well guarded; nobody is going to walk in there unnoticed.”
“Tip came bounding onto the bus. He literally rocked the bus he came in so hard, not taking the usual care with his large frame.”
“Jack, I came as soon as I heard, this is fucked up. Lisa?” Then Tip turned into Bob’s face, “this is on you asshole.”
“Tip!” I said sharply, to shut him off. I was the only person who could tame him at this moment. He might have hurt Bob if I’d let him.
“Bob, could you excuse us for a moment?” Tip got the message and was quiet for a moment, just nodding to Bob as he left the bus.
“Tip calm down I need you clear headed now. Think why would they target Lisa, who could have done this?”
Tip understood what I was asking, “Usually they leave some trace. I’ll go down there and see what I can dig up.”
“I want to go with you.”
“You can’t, Jack. You asked me to be clear headed, and I’m going to be. The next president of the United States can’t be running around Washington looking for some thugs who murdered his assistant.”
Bill looked up toward Tip, “I’m going, and I’m going to kill who ever did this.”
“Both of you listen, it may take some time but I’m going to find who did this,” Tip said.
“Tip whatever it takes I want you to find these murderers. Listen to me now all of you, whoever did this is going to pay for it. If there’s one thing I will promise you it’s that they will pay.”
Bud asked, “Tip what if you can’t find them?”
“There are very few perfect crimes; most assailants leave at least a faint trail. I imagine with this there will be a path. Once I get a look at the surveillance tapes from the building and any surrounding cameras, I’ll shake up the local hoods for some information. The way I see it if these are local guys hired to do a hit, they’ll be easy to find.”
Tip let that thought hang, “If they’re professionals and leave little if any trace, that tells us another story. Either way I know where to look.”
“Tip, call in all your guys and keep the staff back in Washington safe, I don’t care what it takes.”
“I’m on it, Jack.”
“My parents could be a target. I feel so guilty not having spent any time with them. The campaign hasn’t given any of us time to think about anything else.”
“Jack, don’t start beating yourself up, your mom and especially your dad would be proud of what your trying to get accomplished for the country,” Bud reminded, “We’re all shaken and we’re going to have to get through this tragedy and carry on.”
“Tip, get someone to go down to Kentucky and guard my parents until we catch the killers. I can’t take any chances that anyone else could be targeted to get at me.”
“Bud counseled, “Jack, I think Bill should go with Tip, and Sandy should stay put in Washington. People will be watching how you handle yourself in crisis. We can’t let things there go in the shitter because of this.
“This, Bud, someone is sending us a fucking message.”
“And they’ve done it in the cruelest way possible, I know, but I’m just saying. Whoever did this wants you to crumble.” Bud was right.
Daphne is knocking on the door of the bus.
“Tip says, “Jack, is it okay to let her on?”
I motion with my hand to let her come in.
Daphne is visibly upset trying her best to maintain a steady voice, “Jack the press is asking for a statement.”
“What do they know, Daph?”
“It’s all over the news about poor Lisa…and,” looking towards Bill she chokes on the words, “…and Steve.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. The pain overcomes Daphne, I can see the jaw muscles at the sides of her face tensing and releasing in reaction. Bill was retching in agony as his body tried to process the loss.
“Sit down Honey, this is horrible, I don’t know how yet but we’ll…”
My cell rings, it’s Kathy. I was dreading her finding out, even though it was inevitable I was ashamed that this could have happened, and I had only myself to blame.
“Hi, Honey.”
Kathy is crying hysterically, “Oh my God, Jack. What have they done?”
“I am so sorry, Honey, we’re all devastated.”
“How is Bill?” Kathy asked.
I paused for a moment to collect my voice, “Horrible.” Changing the direction, “Kathy Honey, I want you to stay right with the agents until we find who did this.”
“Jack, do you think they’ll find them?”
“I do, Honey, Tip is going back to Washington to work on finding these animals and bring them to justice.”
“What about the rest of the staff?”
“The police are at the office and we’re sending someone over to keep my mom and dad safe.”
“Jack what about my sister and family, our cousins, your brother Roger? Anyone could be a target, if someone is trying to get to you?”
“God help anyone who tries do break into my brothers, he’s got guns and he’s nuts.”
“Honey, you’re going to have to have everyone come stay with you in Alexandria at least for the time being. The house is guarded like a fortress. My dad has guns, but I don’t think he should use them.”
“Bud, what the fuck are we going to do about a statement to the press?” I wanted Kathy to hear this.
“Jack, I’ll send Daphne back to tell them you’ll have something for them after lunch.”
Speaking directly toward Daphne, “Tell them Jack will give a brief statement at one o’clock, after he has a chance to speak with Lisa’s mother and stepfather, Jack I’ll work something up.”
“Okay Bud, hear that Kath, in the meantime Tip is heading back to Washington to get started finding these animals. The sooner they’re off the streets, the safer everyone will feel. Are you going to be okay, Honey, do you need anything?”
“Jack, I’ll be fine, I’m heartbroken, and horrified, but I’ll be okay.”
“You know I just had a thought, would you rather everyone head down to Kentucky and stay at the ranch, at least until the dust clears?”
“No, Jack, the Secret Service has a small army set up here.”
“I just thought….”
“No, I’ll have everyone here. That will be good, plus the girls have school.”
“Kathy, you would not believe this place, I’m looking out the window, and the press is piling in and setting up camp.”
“Jack, try not to blame yourself. I know you... it’s not your fault.”
“I have to tell the press something. They’re like hungry wolves out there.”
“Jack, focus on the loss of the kids and not the why behind it; the press doesn’t need any help coming up with salacious stories. Honey, have you given any thought about the funerals? I’m sure they’ll be in Washington. We have to stay here to support Bill and Lisa’s families.”
“Oh my God, in all this chaos I didn’t even think about funerals and burials and all that.”
“Jack, take some time and collect your thoughts, don’t worry about us here. Honey, keep it brief with the press and don’t let them sidetrack you.”
“I love you, Honey, and I am so sorry...” I was fighting back the choke in my throat. “I’ll call you later, Hon.” Kathy was clear headed and always my best advisor.
“I love you, Jack,” she said as we hung up the phone.
Tip was waiting, “Jack, I’ve got a friend on the Washington Police force who will help us with information the police won’t tell the public. I want to get on this before the trail gets cold.”
“Call and have the jet ready. Do whatever it takes, Tip. We’ve got your back.”
“I’ll leave immediately then….”
Bill didn’t let Tip finish, “I have to go with you; I’ll go crazy staying here. I want to find whoever d
id this and put a bullet in his head.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
It had been two weeks since the tragedy and the nation was glued to their TV sets. Police had questioned a dying 21-year-old crack addict coming out of anesthesia. The man had come into the emergency room the night of double murder and collapsed with a bullet wound in his belly. Doctors operated, and the moment he regained consciousness the cops demanded to speak with him. Tip got us a tape of police questioning the man in the recovery room.
The questioning was relentless. The man swore that he and a friend were promised a thousand bucks and some drugs to go to an address and harass the girl that lived there.
“We were just going to scare her,” The man’s voice was groggy. I didn’t think he’d have the presence of mind to lie and the words sounded chilling.
“I needed the money, man, so me and Ty said we’d do it. The guy met us in a bar. The deal was half the cash up front …the rest after the job. It was just gonna be ten minutes and nobody was supposed to get hurt; we never even made it through the apartment door.”
One of several officers’ voices was heard asking, “You expect us to believe that bull shit when two people are dead? I think you went in there on your own and killed the girl in cold blood and then shot the boyfriend in the back.”
“Did you go there to rob the place?” Another asked.
“No, man, before I got inside the door I got shot in the stomach, you gotta believe me. Ty shot back through the door and then we both ran.”
The man, Phillip Michael Rondo, never made it out of the hospital. The bullet had caused too much damage. In his dying breaths he told police a second man, 24-year-old heroine addict, Tyrone Nathanial Taffies, known as TNT on the street, fired the shots out of panic.
A nationwide manhunt was under way to locate Taffies and being him in. The police didn’t believe the dying man. Evidence showed the door had been kicked in and that Lisa was lying just beyond it holding a gun that was registered to Sandy. She had multiple bullet wounds to the head and neck that didn’t correspond with the number of holes in the door. Steve was found in the center of the living room with a bullet lodged in his back; the coroner said his lungs had filled, and he had drowned in his own blood. There was no trace of anyone else in the apartment. Forensics revealed that the bullets that killed Steve did not come from the gun Lisa held. While the police and FBI were concentrating on finding Taylor, Tip was focusing on a different theory.
“Jack, I believe the kid. I think it was a set up,” Tip told us.
Bud and I listened to the logic.
“Picture a third man already inside the apartment. He was there to make sure Sandy was dead and that the two stooges would take the fall for it. When he got there, he encountered Steve and shot him. At gunpoint, he forced Lisa, who he thought was Sandy, to go to the door and answer it. Everything went haywire after that. Lisa would have never fired a shot at anyone. He had his hand on hers and somehow in the panic seeing Steve shot in cold blood right in front of her, she pulled the trigger. The bullet goes through the door and hits Rondo. The addicts never made it inside and ran for their lives. The pro inside kicked in the door to make it look like the two other guys had done it. Whoever ordered the hit will go after the kid; they won’t want any loose ends.”
We were listening in disbelief just shaking our heads.
“The cops are convinced that the kids acted alone because there’s no evidence that a third guy was in the apartment. That’s a sure sign that the guy who hired Rondo and Taffies was a pro. If you’re going to commit a crime and get away with it, you need a stooge to take the fall. This asshole had two. I am looking for the pro. One more thing, Jack, the police don’t believe her, but Sandy told me she didn’t own a gun.”
“I don’t remember her ever speaking of one.”
“Well the Pawn Shop owner swears that a blonde matching her description made the purchase a year ago carrying ID that matches Sandy’s. He said she was real looker, dressed to the nines, and that he wouldn’t forget her. The Police think that Sandy has blocked out the purchase out of hysteria.”
“We all believe her - Jack, I need you to be okay with me taking this to the next level. This guy is lying for someone, but he’s a real sleaze bag and I’ll have to go over the line to get the information out of him.”
“What will you have to do?”
“You shouldn’t know Jack. But once we cross the line there’s no going back.”
Bud pleads, “Jack let’s wait until you’re president and then go after these guys. You’ll be able to use the Service then, and keep your hands clean.”
Tip fired back, “The trail will be cold by then and all the pawns will be dead. Do you even give a shit about Lisa?”
“Listen, I can’t have you two at each other’s throats. Tip, do whatever you need to do, but don’t get caught.”
CHAPTER FORTY
My cell phone was ringing, it was Lexi calling.
“Jack, Dr. Tim just made the announcement that he is getting out of the race. It’s not even Super Tuesday yet and you’ve got the nomination wrapped up.”
What Lexi didn’t know was how good of a thing that was. I was so involved in finding Lisa’s killer that I was just going through the motions with the campaign. Of course, I knew about Tim, we had met privately and I promised him Agriculture just after Griffin had made the announcement joining the campaign as VP in Maine. He was following orders.
“He said he was lucky to get a camera to point in his direction, Jack.”
It had been media frenzy with non-stop around the clock worldwide coverage.
“Jack, I didn’t get to speak with you after the funeral, your eulogy was beautiful.”
Lisa’s mother and Stepfather had decided to have the funeral at Saint Johns’ and open the service to anyone who chose to attend. Thousands came to pay their respects, perhaps drawn by the salaciousness of the events. Walking into the church early that Saturday morning, I could see the White House just across the mall from where I stood. The seat of world power sat like a solid lump framed in the mist just a thousand yards away. I thought, no man should be given that much power. An eerie, light fog was coming up from the ground around the park across the street.
The Secret Service insisted that I arrive early ahead of the crowds.
“Lexi, when am I going to see you?”
“Jack, I thought you’d be sick of me after spending so much time covering you in Maine.”
“No, I’m not kidding. We miss you around here.”
“The network has the producers combing through all the film we have of you guys trying to put together a story on Lisa. The News Department wants the piece ready to air on Sunday. I’ll be with you guys on Wednesday to cover the Washington Caucus.”
“We’re sending Griffin to Washington State and Wyoming. Lisa’s master plan had us skipping some of the Beauty Contests and heading straight to Georgia for Super Tuesday. We’re not veering from that schedule, you should join us there.”
“Well it really doesn’t matter now you have the nomination sown up.”
“Now we focus on Barker and the general. It’s a bonus to us that Anne will be going to all the places we hadn’t initially planned.”
“Do you like her Jack?”
“Anne Griffin?”
“Let’s put it this way, she’s useful.”
“But you wouldn’t go so far…as to say you like her, even a little bit?”
“Lexi lets just say I’m glad she’s on our side, especially now. I could grow to like what she can do, but don’t think I’d ever look forward to spending time with her.”
“Well I’m glad you miss me, even though I don’t know if I believe you.”
“Lexi, Lisa’s passing has left us devastated. I feel a sense of dread, and I blame myself. Do you get it that she is dead because of me?”
“Jack you can’t do that you loved Lisa, you would never have done anything to hurt her.”
“But still
she’s dead.”
“I know it’s awful, Jack, but you have to press on for the good of the country.”
“It haunts me though, Lexi.”
“Lisa’s death?”
“I haven’t really processed it fully yet. I’m talking about the service.”
The funeral had been a disaster. The crowds had become so large that the family’s limo couldn’t get near St Johns Church. It took thirty minutes for the cops to get Lisa’s mother to the mall across the street. Close enough to be carried. Her grief was so encompassing, she was unable to take the steps under her own power. Lisa’s Stepfather and a Captain from the Washington Police carried her to the front to spend one final moment with her baby.
My goodbye had been earlier. Bob Sheppard told me the most dangerous area I could be in was just outside the church. The AFL-CIO Building next door would make it easy for anyone to take a shot at me. Unfortunately, he said it in front of Kathy. So, even though I had wanted to be a pallbearer for my sweet Lisa, I would be forced to stay inside when she was carried her into the hearse for the final ride to the cemetery. My body broke into an uncontrollable sweat as Lisa’s mother placed her hands over the all-white coffin, rubbing it slowly, helplessly agonizing over loss so great yet so senseless. She was standing there in tears and drenched through her clothes. It had started pouring sideways a half-hour before the service, so she along with everyone else who entered was soaking wet. I heard her sobbing behind the thin black veil she was wearing as I walked up and put my hands on her shoulders to try to comfort her.
She whispered so softly, “Lisa loved you…”
I couldn’t find words to answer but gently helped her back to her seat.
Lisa’s favorite church song “Hallelujah” was being played with the heavy smell of incense filling the air. She was always so happy when she heard her songs. Her favorite flowers were baby’s breath, her favorite poem, “Citizen of the World”, by Joyce Kilmer.
I walked up the podium and cried telling everyone that the words I would speak today were the most difficult of my life.
