Chapter Eighty-Four
The Secretary of Defense finished hearing the highly unlikely, yet incredibly accurate theory of Jason Faulkner being the deadly beast that went on a killing spree along the Oregon Coast. She listened and waited until the highly intelligent and extremely capable Sheriff of Tillamook finished her assessment.
Emilee Gebhart sat on the couch, her posture simultaneously poised and relaxed. She finished her spiel and then said, “Madam Secretary, I originally took my findings to the FBI agent dealing with this problem. When he refused to speak to me, I went straight to the director of the FBI.”
The Secretary grinned. “And when he refused to speak to you, you went straight to me.”
Her lips pursed as she exhaled, but she met the Secretary’s eye with defiance. “Yes, ma’am.”
The Secretary unfolded her arms. Smiled. And said, “All right. I’m going to level with you, because you’re obviously an intelligent person who knows when they’re being given the run around, and when to keep pushing.”
Emilee held her breath, feeling her heart hammer in her chest. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” the Secretary replied, her voice cold and hard. “Jason Faulkner was a highly trained killing machine with the British Intelligence Agency, MI-6. After being discharged, he came to Oregon to undergo a highly unethical, genetic experiment aimed at changing his physiology to make him a better soldier. The project worked. He became a deadlier weapon. But we lost complete control of him. You have my word that the project has now been shut down — and with it, all evidence of its existence permanently deleted.”
Emilee Gebhart studied her for a moment. Nodded. “All right. That’s it then.”
“That’s it.” The Secretary dismissed her. “Thank you for your service.”
She watched Gebhart leave. The Tillamook sheriff was tall, and lithe, and quite beautiful, but there was a distinct determination and purposeful movement in her stride.
The Secretary stopped her. “Gebhart…”
“Yes, ma’am?”
The Secretary’s scowl twisted into the briefest of smiles. “You were right to bring this to the top. We did the wrong thing here. We’re not perfect, you know that, don’t you? In our ongoing attempt to keep America safe, we make mistakes. Governing parties change. The course of duty, honor, and rightfulness alters alongside history. With each generation, we strive to form a better Union, a more noble society, where everyone gets a decent seat at the table. Lessons have been learned over the course of this project, mistakes were made, but we will do better.”
The sheriff nodded. “Thank you, ma’am, but crimes have been committed.”
“I know. And people will be punished.”
Gebhart’s eyes narrowed. “There should be a public hearing.”
“Probably. But there won’t be.” The Secretary’s voice was emphatic. “I made sure of that.”
Gebhart avoided her scrutinizing gaze. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Madam Secretary?”
The Secretary of Defense smiled at Gebhart’s righteousness. She had been Secretary of Defense long enough to know that there was a great big expanse of gray between right and wrong. Her job was to help steer America on the right side of the line, but sometimes in the name of defense that line needed to be crossed. This was one of those times. If they hadn’t authorized the experiment, it was only a matter of time before someone else did.
She said, “Emilee. I read your file. I know you’ve been striving to overcome the challenges of living up to your father’s tremendous achievements nearly all your life. That, even today, there are some people who believe you were awarded the position of Tillamook sheriff because of his achievements.”
Gebhart crossed her arms, and met her gaze.
The Secretary said, “I believe you’ve already proven your worth. One day you’ll lead this country in ways you can’t even imagine. And I hope to see you when you do. Good luck.”
“Thank you, Madam Secretary.”
The Secretary watched her leave.
When the door was firmly closed, she picked up her cell phone and dialed a number that she had used multiple times in the past two weeks.
A man answered. “Madam Secretary…”
“Arthur…” The Secretary interrupted him. “The King Arthur project has been permanently shut down as a failure. Camelot Weapons Industries will be liquidated and absorbed by the Department of Defense.”
Arthur said, “Just one more week. I told you I could get Excalibur to come back.”
The Secretary grinned. “You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
“Your precious little weapon was broken. A girl with a kind heart withdrew the Sword in the Stone, and killed Jason Faulkner.”
The phone line went silent.
“Arthur?”
“Merlin forged that sword with King Arthur’s DNA! No one else could draw the sword!”
The Secretary shrugged. “Oh well, you might be right there. So, with a noble heart, and DNA she shared with her ancestor, Guinevere withdrew the Sword from the Stone and ended your little experiment.”
“This can’t finish like this!”
“But it already has, Arthur. It already has.”