«Don’t bother, Senator. We called. Ryan never went to the labs.»
Knapp stopped and turned to Cooper. «Are you sure? I mean, how can you be sure?»
«We also know who to call. I know who to call.» Both men stared at each other. It was checkmate, and then some. The permanent career officer had made it clear to this elected—impermanent—official that there were doors the military could unlock effortlessly that the politicians might not be able to find. Knapp understood.
There were such doors.
«All right, General. Ryan wasn’t at the labs. Where was he? Why did he go to Houston?»
«Since I learned within the hour that he wasn’t on Genessee property, I haven’t had time to find out.»
«Can you?»
«Again, time.»
«We don’t have time!» interjected Norton from the couch. «Goddamn it! This is rough weather!»
«Oh, for God’s sake, stow that crap!» yelled Knapp. Senator Alan Knapp had been a decorated naval officer, and Norton’s excessive use of sea language maddened him.
«Now, just a minute!»
«All right, all right!» Knapp retreated. «Sorry, Jim… What are you figuring on, General?»
«I thought we’d discuss that… Along with a prior consideration.»
Robert Webster moved from the piano and spoke. «Trevayne sends a top financial analyst to Pasadena. To see who? Why?… An aeronautical engineer—one of the best, by the way—to Houston. Ryan may not have been in the labs, but he sure as hell was in Houston to see someone connected with them… And a lawyer to Bellstar; that’s dangerous. I don’t like it.» Webster sipped his replenished drink and stared straight ahead, at nothing. «Trevayne’s cutting near a jugular.»
«I think»—Walter Madison stretched his arms through his fashionable sleeves and leaned back on the couch—«that you all should be reminded that Andrew could not, can not, come up with anything more than minor corruption. It’s just as well that he finds it, if he does. It will satisfy his puritan streak.»
«That’s a pretty goddamn blanket statement, Madison.» Knapp returned to his chair. He remembered how bewildered the lawyer had been at the hearing, months ago. He was astonished now at his calm.
«It’s simply true. Legally, every overrun at Genessee has been substantially vindicated. And that’s what he’s looking into; that’s what he’s going after. I’ve spent weeks examining every congressional question. I’ve put my best staff on every problem. A little stealing, yes; and Andrew will nail it. Beyond that, nothing.»
«You’re supposed to be a good man,» said Norton. «I hope you’re as good as the supposers say you are.»
«I can assure you I am, Senator. My fees might help to convince you.»
«I still want to know what Trevayne’s been after. You’ll find out, General?» asked Senator Knapp.
«Within forty-eight hours.»
25
Friday morning in Washington, and no one knew he was there. The Lear jet landed at Dulles at seven-thirty, and at ten minutes past eight Trevayne walked into the rented house in Tawning Spring. He showered, changed clothes, and allowed himself an hour to sit and collect his thoughts, let the pressures of the fast trip from Boise wear off. He was good at pacing himself, he believed. He worked well under tension, because he tried never to permit tension and exhaustion to be simultaneous—mental exhaustion. And he was aware that now, during these next few days, he had to be very careful. It would be so easy for his mind, his imagination, to work itself into such a state of anxiety that thinking clearly might be impossible.
He phoned for a Tawning Spring taxi and was driven into Washington to the Senate Office Building.
It was ten-twenty-five; Senator Mitchell Armbruster would be returning to his office within minutes. He had been on the floor for a quorum demanded by his party, but there was no other business of consequence. Armbruster was expected back by ten-thirty at the latest. For a routine Friday-morning meeting with his staff.
Andy stood in the corridor outside Armbruster’s door and waited. He leaned against the wall and halfheartedly leafed through the Washington Post. The editorial once again was a scathing appraisal of Congress’ progress; the House criticized for its indecisiveness, the Senate for its obfuscation of pertinent business.
Late November in Washington; perfectly normal.
Trevayne was aware of the fact that Armbruster had seen him first. The small, compact Senator had literally stopped walking; he stood motionless, as if momentarily frozen in astonishment. Indeed, it was this sudden break in the moving human traffic that caused Trevayne to look up from the newspaper.
Armbruster resumed his casual, relaxed posture as he approached Trevayne. He smiled his warm, laconic smile and held out his hand. The moment of silent revelation had passed, but it was absolute, and both men recognized it.
«Well, Mr. Trevayne, this is a delightful surprise. I thought you were out in my state, enjoying the scenic wonders of our Pacific.»
«I was, Senator. Then Idaho. But I found it necessary to make a brief, unscheduled return… To see you.»
Armbruster, the handshake completed, looked questioningly at Trevayne as his smile diminished. «That’s certainly direct… I’m afraid I have a full calendar today. Perhaps tomorrow morning; or if you like, we could have drinks around five-thirty. Dinner’s taken.»
«May I suggest that it is most urgent, Senator. I’m seeking the help and advice of your office. Shall we say, on labor statistics in northern California?»
There was a short halt to Mitchell Armbruster’s breathing. He was silent for a few moments, his eyes wandering from Trevayne’s face. «I’d rather not speak with you here, in my office… I’ll meet you in an hour.»
«Where?»
«Rock Creek Park. Near the outdoor pavilion. Do you know it?»
«Yes, I do. In an hour… And, Senator, one more suggestion. Hear what I have to say before you get in touch with anyone. You don’t know what I’m going to say, sir. It would be best.»
«I said you were direct, Mr. Trevayne… I’ll keep my own counsel; because I also think you’re an honorable man. But then, I said that before, too. During the hearing.»
«Yes, you did. In an hour, sir.»
The two men walked along the wooded path in Rock Creek Park, the shorter one intermittently lighting his pipe with fresh matches. Trevayne realized that Armbruster’s pipe acted as some kind of psychological crutch, an anchor, for the Senator. He remembered during the hearing how Armbruster had toyed with it—fondled it, really—packing and repacking the bowl, scraping the burned-out contents into an ashtray with methodical precision. Now, here in Rock Creek Park, walking casually along a path, he clutched it, held it between his teeth with such force that the muscles of his jaw stood out.
«So you’ve concluded that I’ve taken advantage of my office for personal gain,» said Armbruster calmly, his eyes staring straight ahead.
«I do, sir. I don’t know any other way to put it. You determined the maximum funding Genessee Industries could handle; made sure it was sufficient for the unemployment recovery—at least, you had the economists back you up; and then guaranteed the amounts. You had to get both labor and management support. It won you the election.»
«And that was bad?»