“Hard evidence of who was really behind this coup. Along with some unrelated but probably even more damning evidence of the sexual and financial improprieties of the individuals identified. With more such evidence to come.”
I thought back to what he had told me about Finch, about how he was an information broker. Had Horton somehow acquired…?
And then it hit me. “You,” I said. “You’re the information broker. Not Finch.”
“That is correct.”
I wasn’t connecting the dots. “Explain.”
“The best way to tell a lie is to conceal it in a lot of truth. Which is why throughout this thing, nearly everything I told you has been true.”
“Then why did you have us kill Shorrock and Finch?”
“Because they were trying to stop the coup, of course.”
I thought for a moment. “And they thought you were, too.”
“That’s right. But we wanted to stop it in different ways. And at different times. And besides, they were the only ones with knowledge of my direct involvement. If I hadn’t had them removed, then when I became America’s hero by declining the president’s offer as I did, they would have been in a position to contradict me. As it stands, I can make clear that they were in fact killed by the plotters because they were trying to stop the coup.”
“But they were killed by the plotters. By you.”
“I recognize there’s some irony at work here.”
“So the reason you needed them to die of what looked like natural causes-”
“Was twofold. First, I didn’t want Finch to conclude from Shorrock’s death that he might be targeted for opposing the coup, too.”
“Because that would have made him harder to get to.”
“Yes. And second, because when the president named me his new counterterrorism advisor, I couldn’t have any questions about whether I might have had something to do with Finch’s death.”
“You knew the president was going to appoint you.”
“Of course.”
“Because you had information that would ensure the right people made it happen.”
“Correct.”
“But you leaked that cyanide was involved.” I still saw no advantage in mentioning to him that we hadn’t even used it.
“‘Leak’ wouldn’t be quite the right word. That information was disseminated very selectively.”
“To make us suspects. So we would be removed.”
“Yes, although in retrospect I’m not displeased my attempts failed.”
“And this was because, how did you put it? We could contradict you.”
“Also correct.”
“But we could contradict you now.”
“I’m hoping you won’t. But even if you try, I don’t think it’ll go well for you. I have assets now, and as I said they are set to grow dramatically. I don’t think you would want to pit your public word against mine. And even if you could damage me that way, and I don’t believe you could at this point, it would draw attention to all of you, and I think you’ve had enough of that. If I were you, I would just quietly enjoy my newfound wealth.”
If it was a threat, it was a subtle one. I said, “Why do you keep saying your assets are increasing? What does that mean?”
“Yes, that was the second thing I wanted to mention. In the coming days, as news of the false flag, oligarchy-inspired nature of recent events leaks out into the establishment media, you will read a variety of very flattering pieces about me. About my courage and insight and integrity. Did Treven brief you on our conversation about a blue ribbon commission?”
“Yes.”
“Well, the commission is already in motion. With the brand I have begun to establish and am having the media help further, and as head of the commission, I will be a very powerful force for good in this country.”
I didn’t answer. I was thinking, you can still be gotten to.
He laughed. “I know what you’re thinking. And you’re right. So let me just ask you this. Give me a year. I expect it’ll take me that long to make sure things are running smoothly. If you don’t like what I’m doing, you can always come after me sooner. But if you do approve of my purpose and my performance, and you do want to extract some measure of good from the recent horrific events of which, whether you like it or not, you have been a part, then you will let me finish my work. After that, I plan to retire. I have a place in Virginia. Very quiet and secluded. I like to sit alone out there on the porch in the evening, enjoying a whisky and sometimes a cigar. I imagine I will live there quietly, alone with the agony of my hellish culpability. Until someone decides to relieve my agony with a bullet.”
“Yes,” I said, after a moment. “Until then.”
We all split up after that, saying our farewells under an indifferent blue sky outside the Des Moines Greyhound station. But for the sounds of traffic from the nearby highway, the area was quiet, even somnolent. No one was around to notice us amid the cracked pavement and boarded-up brick buildings, the weeds creeping up over the curbstones, the trees swaying in the slight breeze, their leaves on the verge of autumn.
Kanezaki had a lot of explaining to do at headquarters, but I imagined he would not only survive it, but turn it to his advantage. He was becoming increasingly formidable, and I couldn’t help feeling some pride in his development. He’d acquitted himself well at the granary, and, for all I knew, his determination had saved my life. Certainly it had saved me the unpleasant task of rushing the guy behind the truck. I told him how well he’d done, and asked him how he was feeling.
“A little bit…shocked,” he said. “Numb. I wasn’t really thinking. I didn’t know what happened at first. I got knocked down, and then I got up, and I just…shot him.”
I smiled. “They say you can’t keep a good man down.”
He looked a little sheepish. “I don’t know how to feel about it.”
“Different people feel different ways. In a few days, you might find yourself upset. You might not feel anything at all, other than satisfaction and relief that you put him away before he did you. Either way, if you want to talk to someone who knows a little about these things, get in touch, okay?”
He nodded. “Thanks for that.”
“And pass along my thanks to your sister for getting us out of the hotel in D.C. She was really something.”
“I will,” he said. “She asked after you, by the way. She’s settled down since we were kids, and I think she’s happy, but I guess deep inside, she’s still got a thing for bad boys.”
I laughed. “What’s her story, anyway?”
He blew out a breath. “That’s a long one. I’ll tell you another time.”
The way he said goodbye, making sure everyone knew how to contact him, I knew what he was thinking. He had himself a clandestine collection of ice-cold killers. With that, plus his intelligence reach, who knew how much he could accomplish?
I thought about disabusing him. But then I thought about how many ops he’d dragged me into over the years, and decided it was foolish to tempt fate.
Dox went to his place in Bali. Said he wanted to kick back for a while and enjoy his ill-gotten loot.
“You’re not going to call Kei, are you?” I asked him as we said goodbye.
I thought he was going to deny even considering it, or maybe deflect me with a joke. Instead, he said, “There was something special about her, partner. There really was. But no, I’m not going to call her. It would be wrong.”
“Yeah,” I said, respecting his regret and his resignation. “It would be.”
“What about you? You fixing to go to Virginia and pay your last respects to Horton?”
“Maybe,” I said.
“Because he tried to set us up?”
“Yes.”
“Well, ordinarily in a situation like this, I’d say hell yes, let’s take care of business. But this time…”
“You’re thinking about his daughter?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I think we made her suffer enough. I really hate the idea of taking her daddy away from her. But also…I don’t know. I just feel like, what’s the point? We got a good outcome. Plus, what if he really is trying to set things right in the corridors of power and such?”