Election Day: A Harry Cassidy Novel

by Henry Hack

“Yeah, I guess so. There’s nothing much else to do out here.”

  Harry relayed the scant information on Connelly to the group and the dejected Task Force members got their bags together for the ride to the Denver airport.

  * * *

  With Colonel Kevin P. Connelly’s entire service record in front of them and Joe Ramos directing the search, calls were made to every FBI office where Connelly had ever lived or served in the United States. And during the remaining two days afforded them, they once again came up empty. The trail ended about a year after he had retired from the Corps. He had vacated his San Diego apartment and fell off the face of the earth. At the same time his monthly pension checks changed from going into Connelly’s personal account and were now direct-deposited to a Marine Corps charitable fund that provide money to widow and orphans of Marines who had died in combat.

  Ramos informed Mark Negron, who telephoned Walt Kobak in Washington with the bad news. After listening to Mark’s report Walt said, “Are we certain that Connelly and O’Grady are one and the same person?”

  “Yes,” Mark said. “Harry positively identified him from his service records.”

  “And Jeremy is in the wind and we have absolutely no idea who the other four Committee members are?”

  Mark Negron had just told Walt all of this, but he knew that Walt was desperate for a clue. Mark took a deep breath and said, “No, Mr. Director, no idea at all. At this time we are at a total dead end in the investigation.”

  “Shit!”

  “We have one day left, sir. We’ll keep plugging away with everything we’ve got.”

  “I know you will, and please thank all the team members for their efforts and the trips back and forth to Wyoming.”

  “Are you going to tell the President?”

  “Might as well,” Kobak said. “No use delaying the bad news.”

  “Any idea what he’ll do next?”

  “Not a clue – after firing my ass, that is.”

  * * *

  The next night President Nelson once more took to network television as millions of Americans watched with great anticipation as to how he would deal with the seemingly unstoppable Minutemen. And what he said was unexpected, unprecedented and shocked the entire nation.

  “Good evening my fellow Americans. Here is where we now stand. Those members of the Brothers in White who were captured after the massacre at Cardinal Cooke High School have been interviewed and provided scant information. Only their leader, William Stutzman, had any knowledge of the Minutemen. He was contracted by two of them and one, Herman Muntz, was arrested and divulged the identity of his accomplice as Jeremy Riggins. Riggins has fled his home in Cody, Wyoming and has not yet been found.

  “Muntz also disclosed the Wyoming locations of two compounds utilized by the Minutemen for training and planning. Both were found abandoned. Fingerprints discovered at one of the compounds revealed the true identity of one of the five Committee members, the bosses of the Minutemen, as retired Marine Corps Colonel Kevin P. Connelly. Here is his picture which will be widely circulated tomorrow morning. I have authorized a one million dollar reward for information leading to his capture. This second picture is that of Jeremy Riggins. The same reward and conditions exist for him.

  “The names of the other four Committee members given to us by Herman Muntz, and confirmed by the information found on his computer and cell phone, were phonies. Colonel Connelly was known as Colonel James O’Grady to the Minutemen. The others were known as Christopher Steadman, Dennis Nolan, Nicholas Santucci and Charles Knorland. Steadman is the leader. We will circulate new composite photos based on information provided by Muntz, as soon as they become available. Once again, as with Connelly and Riggins, the reward for the capture of any Committee member is one million dollars.

  “My initial reaction to law enforcement’s failure to capture the Minutemen in the ten days I allotted them was anger. I was going to fire the head of the lead agency, Walter Kobak, Director of the FBI, but quickly realized that would solve nothing. In fact, our law enforcement people did as well as could be expected under the circumstances, and I highly commend them for their efforts. They do not need my criticism, they need my support. And I will now give it to them.”

  The President cleared his throat, paused a few seconds and looked directly into the camera. “I now therefore declare a state of emergency to exist in America. I now declare martial law to be in effect immediately until further notice. I do so under the authority granted me under Article I, Section 9, of the United States Constitution and Section 1031 of the National Defense Authorization Act.

  “In practical terms, this means the military is now in charge of the country and the investigation of the Minutemen. As commander-in-chief of the military, I remain totally in charge. However, I must suspend all the rights and privileges granted to our citizens in the Bill of Rights until this crisis is over, which I trust will be soon. I encourage all political candidates who withdrew from their upcoming races to immediately re-instate their candidacies. I promise them and their families the full protection of the armed military. I also encourage our political parties to find replacement candidates for those who were murdered by the dastardly cowards. They too will be afforded military protection.

  “I am determined to have the upcoming elections take place in an orderly, democratic fashion and our military will have a strong presence at every polling place in America to ensure that occurs. Since I have suspended the guarantees detailed in the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment is no longer in effect. Any person found carrying or displaying a firearm, legally possessed or not, will be arrested and incarcerated until this crisis is over. This includes all firearms – rifles, shotguns, pistols, etc. Keep them securely locked up in your homes. I will give orders to the military to shoot anyone suspected of being a Minutemen, armed or not, so I suggest they crawl back into their holes, not only until the election is over, but forever. The two Minutemen in custody will be tried by a military tribunal, and if found guilty of murders of our brave candidates, will be executed in accordance with the law.”

  What Nelson did not reveal was that Paul Revere/ Sanford Green had already died in custody during his interrogation from a too-high shot of voltage to his scrotum causing his heart to abruptly stop. He was now lying in a freezer, and when found guilty in the near future, his dead body would be “executed” alongside the live body of Herman Muntz, assuming the CIA didn’t kill him, too.

  The President appeared to be finished and the assembled reporters started shouting their questions and waving their arms. Nelson put up his hand to silence them. He said, “I will take no questions. And I wish to remind you that freedom of the press no longer exists. Undue criticism of me, my actions, or those of my administration, will be dealt with appropriately.”

  With that, he turned and walked out of the briefing leaving a stunned press Corps and an equally stunned nation behind.

  Red Baker was momentarily shocked into silence as the feed returned to him. “Even this seasoned reporter is at a loss for words as I try to take in and process what we all have just heard. Part of me wants to condemn President Nelson for usurping unprecedented power and grinding our Constitution under the iron-studded jackboots of the military. And another part of me wants to cheer him for taking the forceful, necessary steps to save our democracy and ensure the sanctity of our political election process. Therefore, I will do neither. Untypically, I will stifle my acid tongue until after election day. I don’t believe there is anything I can say or do to alter what has just been put in motion. I believe all of us must just wait and see. Good night and may God protect us in these unprecedented times.”

  As Red Baker’s image faded from the screen, the seven members of the Task Force stayed silent for several long seconds until Harry Cassidy broke it by saying, “I wonder what army general or navy admiral Walt Kobak will be reporting to in the morning.”

  “Are we out of business now?” Nick asked. “I mean our little group right h
ere?”

  “I really don’t know,” Joe Ramos said, “but let’s not do anything hasty. Go home and try to get a good night’s sleep. We’ll find some answers tomorrow, I’m sure.”

  They got up to leave, and as they slowly filed out of the room George Washington said, “Welcome to our brave, new world, ladies and gentlemen. Please leave all your rights behind as you exit the door.”

  George had not meant to be funny, and appropriately, no one even smiled.

  * * *

  Chris Steadman turned off the television set and said aloud, “The son-of-a-bitch did it.”

  His worst fears had come to pass. Could Nelson get everyone back in the race in time? Would all the efforts of the Minutemen be for naught? Could Kevin marshal his military contacts to counter the military personnel who remained loyal to the President? He had to talk with Kevin. Despite his directive for the Committee to stay separated until after the election, he had to sit down with the colonel. He knew exactly where everyone was, but Kevin was the key. Chris dialed his cell phone and when Connelly said, “Yes?” Chris said, “I’ll be there in three hours.”

  Chris checked out of his motel on the outskirts of San Francisco and drove east on Interstate 80, arriving in Reno just after midnight. Kevin opened the door to his second floor hotel room at the Fairfield Inn and let Chris in, quickly slamming the door. “Hello, old friend,” Chris said managing a small smile. “I see you’ve already started a beard. Before I leave, I’ll go buy you some hair coloring.”

  “There’s not much left up top anymore,” Kevin said. “The picture they have from my active duty days shows a lot more. I was thinking of shaving off what’s left and not worrying about dying it.”

  “That’s a better idea. What did you think of Nelson’s speech?”

  “Very bad news if he can pull it off.”

  “Where do we stand with your military connections?”

  “Not very well, I’m afraid. This administration, as did the previous one, purged a lot of fine officers, including dozens of top generals, for not toeing the line to their left-wing, liberal ideologies. The ones left are loyal to the regime. The purged ones are now just a bunch of retired guys with no troops and no weapons.”

  “So we have no chance of getting the active military on our side?”

  “A few maybe, but not enough.”

  “Damn! I was hoping we might swing them our way.”

  “Wish I had better news for you, but that is the situation. We looked like we had this thing won. Now I guess we just have to sit and wait like everyone else.”

  “Okay, I guess that’s it then. Stay here until you’re satisfied with your new appearance, then head back closer to me in California. Call me when you settle in to your new location.”

  “Will do, old buddy. I will obey your orders, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Bradley, even though I do outrank you.”

  “Those were the good old days, the days when we were respected and when America was respected. Will we ever see the likes of those days again?”

  “I hope so, but we have to keep our fingers crossed.”

  “Semper Fi, Kevin.”

  PART FOUR

  SOCIALIST PARADISE

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  President Nelson’s tactics seemed to be working. The Minutemen were obviously in hiding and the politicians were re-entering their races. Life went on, more or less, as it always had, but always shadowed by the pervasive physical presence of the military bearing automatic weapons. They seemed to be everywhere, on the streets, at the airports and train stations, and surrounding the homes and offices of the politicians under threat. The Task Force was not disbanded and allowed to continue their efforts to locate the members of the Committee and Jeremy Riggins. The FBI functioned as before, although Walt Kobak’s new superior was a two-star army general.

  And finally, election day was upon the nation.

  Every polling place in America was heavily guarded by armed military personnel. Every voter had to submit to an airport-like body search before being cleared to vote. And when the polls closed the votes were collected by the military and brought to a local military headquarters to be counted by a ranking officer loyal to his commander-in-chief. The old adage, “it is not who votes that counts, it’s he who counts the votes that counts” was obviously in effect. The Democratic Party swept to victory securing a super majority in both houses of congress.

  At midnight, the President went on the air to deliver the news of that victory, claim the defeat of the Minutemen, and proclaim the beginning of a new era of social justice for all Americans. He did not, however, lift the decree of martial law stating that it would remain in effect at least until the newly-elected officials were sworn in the following January and perhaps “a bit past that to ensure the legislative process proceeds smoothly.”

  “In other words,” Susan said to Harry, “until they ram their liberal, left-wing agenda down our throats.”

  “Now, now, honey. The people of America have spoken. This is what they want, and Nelson has merely caved in to their desires.”

  “Bullshit!”

  “Turn off the TV. I can’t stand to look at Nelson’s smirk any more.”

  Susan pushed the off button on the TV remote and said, “What now?”

  “I’ll call Phil MacDonald in the morning and get his take on it.”

  * * *

  They met for lunch at Phil’s club and waited for their scotch on ice to be delivered before getting to the topic at hand. Phil said, “In the beginning, I never thought it would work.”

  “The Minutemen’s campaign?”

  “Yes, and then as it progressed, I came to believe that it just might succeed after all – a true second American Revolution with minimal bloodshed.”

  “Until Stutzer and his maniac bikers fucked it all up.”

  “That was the turning point, all right. And you know Harry, even if you had signed on with Chris at the beginning, it wouldn’t have mattered.”

  “No, and it really didn’t matter that I opposed him either.”

  “What are you going to do now?

  “Well, I was hoping to get some advice from you on that subject. I’m certain Nick and I will be asked to leave the Task Force. There’s really nothing left for us to do. He can go back to Sheldrake, and I will go back to being unemployed.”

  “Do as I advised once before – go to Wyoming. Hook up with Alton Phineas. Maybe you and he can spread the Wyoming model to other states.”

  “Sort of a last bastion of conservative living in good old socialist America?”

  “Yes, and maybe find Chris Steadman to join you. I believe he is a true visionary.”

  “Are you forgetting he was responsible for wounding my daughter and for the death of a lot of fine law enforcement people and innocent bystanders? How could you even suggest that I throw in with him?”

  “Ultimately responsible, yes. But we both know Stutzer acted on his own. I believe you will someday have to come to terms with that.”

  “And you, Phil?”

  “I’m outta here. I began the process this morning, as have several other thousand wealthy businessmen.”

  “What process?”

  “Removing our assets to other countries, preparing to shut down our businesses, removing ourselves and our families to other countries.”

  “You mean you’re leaving America?”

  “Yes, I want to get out before it’s too late. You see, I know what the plans are once the left-wingers take over Congress.”

  “I was going to ask you how you know their plans, but I’m sure you have your sources.”

  “Of course we do. And by me, I mean my fellow Conservatives. We have our think tanks and we have paid informants in the enemy camp.”

  “What’s going to happen?”

  “A total ban on gun ownership will probably be first. Then an abrogation of freedom of the press. If you criticize the government, you will be silenced. Then a confiscation of wealth, including
a hefty wealth tax, a steep income tax increase, and a currency conversion.”

  “Currency conversion?”

  “Yes, everyone will be required to turn in all their cash by a certain date to obtain newly printed currency. At that time, the government will impose the wealth tax, probably ten to fifty percent, depending on how much you turn in. And if you don’t turn it in by the date set, it will be worthless, except to start a fire in your barbeque grill.”

  “Jesus! How about gold and silver?”

  “Private ownership will be banned. I’m going to turn all my cash into those hard assets – gold, silver, diamonds and platinum – plus I’m going to invest in stocks on the exchange of the country I’m moving to.”

  “Which is?”

  “Canada. It should be okay for the rest of my lifetime. If not, Australia will do.”

  “Is that where you see many of your fellow businessmen going?”

  “Yes, and many of us are also investing in Canadian and Australian real estate – the best hard asset there is.”

  “Why shouldn’t I go to Canada, too? Why Wyoming?”

  “Because you’re not rich enough to be hurt badly by these government actions. Buy some property out there and turn the major portion of your cash into gold. I’ll keep it safe for you in Canada. Then when the conversion comes, you won’t have much cash to surrender. Someday I’d like to come back to a country that will be great once more, but I don’t think I’ll live that long.

  “When congress finishes their legislative agenda, unemployment insurance will be increased to five years. Food stamp eligibility will be available to 70% of the population, and there will be free universal health, dental and drug coverage for everyone.”

  “Why would anyone want to work?”

  “Exactly, and more troublesome – why revolt?”

  “I see. Until the money runs out, there’s no reason to revolt at all.”