“And the opponent in her last election?” said John Puller.
“Became a significant threat. Franklin had begun to ignore her constituents. A local and charismatic businessman who was running on a campaign of reform came out of nowhere and was leading her by double digits.”
“How did they blackmail him?” asked Puller.
“They couldn’t find a way to do that, so they took a different angle. He grew seriously ill and had to drop out of the race. The doctors couldn’t identify what was wrong and he was still suffering. But knowing what we did, we had him tested for a variety of poisons. It was an industrial chemical that he was somehow exposed to. Now that they know, he can be treated. He’ll never be cured, unfortunately. But it can be managed.”
“Well, he’s luckier than Jerome Blake or Agent McElroy,” said Pine. “Jerome died because he knew about Jewel’s having sex at that penthouse. They were afraid of who he might talk to. And while McElroy was the one to die, I think they were aiming at John and me. But regardless, they were always going to pin it on Jerome to get him out of the way and scare Jewel into never talking.”
“I think you’re right about that,” said Graham.
“What about Lindsey Axilrod?” asked Pine.
“Her real name is Svetlana Semenov. She was an agent with the FSS, which is the successor to the KGB. She’s been in this country for years after having her real identity thoroughly laundered through three different countries. She is a real IT expert, and that landed her the job at Fort Dix.”
“But I thought you said foreign states were not involved in this,” said Robert Puller.
“Semenov wasn’t working for the FSS, at least not for the last ten years. We’ve had discussions with our counterparts over there. She went AWOL around that time. I think she eventually hooked up with Gorman and they decided to go the private route, with money as the objective.”
“And what will happen to her?” asked Pine.
“That will largely be up to DOJ and the State Department. She could be a powerful chit.”
“You are not thinking about a prisoner exchange or anything like that,” said Pine sharply.
“If it were up to me, the woman would never see the light of day, but it’s not up to me,” retorted Graham. “Then again, sending her back to the Russians, after she screwed them over?” He smiled. “That might be the best thing we could do to punish her.”
“And what will happen to Franklin?” asked Pine.
“Oh, she’s going to prison. We’re going to do a deal with her to avoid the need for a trial. The charges will remain sealed. She will never speak of it publicly. The basic rationale will be put down to financial misdeeds.”
“So it will all be buried,” said Pine. “I just don’t get that, sir.”
“I never said I was in agreement with it, Pine. And that decision came from several levels above me. The down-and-dirty explanation I was given was that if the public found out, they could never trust their leaders again.”
“Well, they apparently can’t trust their leaders, so isn’t that the point?” interjected Robert Puller.
“Well, even with the breadth of this scheme, these folks only represent a small fraction of people in positions of power and influence.”
Pine said, “You know some journalists are going to start digging into this and they’re going to uncover the truth and people are going to win slews of Pulitzers off this.”
“And part of me hopes that they do,” replied Graham. “Freedom of the press is in the very first amendment, after all.” He paused again and surveyed them. “But with that said, you will have to hold this in the strictest confidence all the way to the grave. I’m certain I can count on you for that.”
It wasn’t spoken as a question.
Then Graham said, “I was told to make that statement to you, and I did. What I wasn’t told to say is what I’m going to say now. Each of you put your lives on the line for your country. If it were up to me, the public would know all about it and would be singing your praises, and you would be given all the awards and recognition that you undoubtedly deserve. That would be in an ideal world. We, unfortunately, do not live in that kind of a world. But I want you to know that certain people do know of your sacrifice and loyalty to this country, and they wanted me to extend their thanks and through them the heartfelt gratitude of a nation. And now I will stop making speeches, and all of you can go on with your lives. However, if there is anything that you need, all you have to do is call me.” He glanced at Pine. “And my old friend, Clint Dobbs, is lucky to have you out there in Arizona. Tell him to be careful—other field offices might want to snatch you up, starting with this one.”
“I’ll be sure to tell him that, sir,” said Pine. “Everyone needs a bargaining chip now and then.”
They all filed out. The Puller brothers walked ahead of them and were in conversation.
Pine said to Blum. “I’m so sorry for all this, Carol. I know I keep apologizing, but I feel awful.”
“Please don’t, Agent Pine. Aside from being beaten and almost killed, it was very exciting. Put a spring in my step.”
“You really are a national treasure, Carol Blum.”
“Remember to put in a good word for me when it’s time for salary review.”
“Oh, I see quite a nice bump in your pay after this. And Dobbs may finally approve a new SUV for me. The one I drive now has two hundred and fifty thousand miles on it.”
“Would you ever actually think of going to another field office?”
“No, but if I ever do, I’ll check with you first.”
“Well, I would hope you would give me a heads-up if you were leaving.”
Pine gripped her by the shoulder. “You’re missing my point. We’re a package deal. If I go, you go, too. And if you won’t go, I won’t, either. Now, I need to talk to the Pullers.”
They caught up with the brothers.
“How are you feeling, John?” she asked.
Puller was still bandaged up but looking far healthier and stronger. “Almost back to normal. I’ll still need more rehab. Although I am persona non grata at a certain New York City hospital ever since I ‘escaped’ that night.”
“And boy, am I glad you did,” said his brother. “Your timing was spot-on, as usual.”
The Pullers looked at Pine’s grim features, and their joking manner quickly dissipated.
“What is it, Atlee?” said John Puller.
“I need some information on two Vietnam-era soldiers.”
“You know their names?”
“One you already know. Ito Vincenzo. The other is a Leonard Atkins. He lives or he lived in Taliaferro County, Georgia. He apparently served with Ito Vincenzo. And Atkins apparently saved his life over there.”
“And why is Atkins important?” asked Puller.
Pine held up the photo of Mercy. “Because that’s who Ito gave my sister to.”
Chapter 70
THE FLIGHT TO ATLANTA FROM NEW YORK was not even three hours. Yet to Pine it felt like three years. She sat next to Blum, alternating between staring out the window and looking at the old Polaroid. She had scrutinized it so many times, it surprised her when she saw a detail she hadn’t observed before. The long hairs on Mercy’s exposed legs. The tear in the shoulder of her dress. How her little finger was bent in at an awkward angle. What looked like a severe burn on her ankle.