(1976) The R Document (28 page)

After he hung up, he saw Karen looking at him inquiringly.

Collins shrugged. ‘He’s ghostwriting an autobiography

for Vernon Tynan. He has to see me tonight. I guess I’m curious enough to want to know why. At least, he’s a nice guy. I hope you don’t mind, honey.’

‘Silly, I never expected it to be two.’ She pointed to the telephone. ‘Better call The Jockey Club back and make it three. Besides, I’m as curious as you.’

*

The Jockey Club, located in the Fairfax Hotel on Massachusetts Avenue, was crowded to overflowing by nine o’clock that evening. Nevertheless, the best table in the restaurant had been reserved and held for Chris Collins and his party.

‘You see,’ Collins had whispered to his wife, ‘there are some advantages to being Attorney General.’

‘Or to being a big tipper,’ Karen had replied.

Ishmael Young, who had been awaiting them outside on the corner, had been unusually anxious and constantly apologetic ever since their arrival.

Now, again, as their drinks arrived, and Young absently fingered his Jack Daniels and soda, he was apologizing. I hate intruding on your private evening like this.’

‘We’re delighted to have you,’ said Collins expansively. He was feeling wonderful, and he held up his Scotch and water in a mock toast. ‘Here’s to the defeat of the 35th Amendment.’ He waited for Karen to take up her vodka and tonic, and for the writer to join in the toast, and then he drank. Setting down his glass, he said to Young, ‘You didn’t know, did you, that I’m not supporting the 35th anymore?’

‘But I do know,’ said Young.

Collins did not hide his surprise. ‘How could you? It’s a personal decision. It’s nothing I’ve made public. And nothing I will make public as long as I’m a member of the Administration.’ He cocked his head at Young. ‘How did you find out?’

‘You forget,’ said Young. ‘I’m working with Director Tynan. The Director knows everything. And I’m his ghost.’

Collins’ mood had sobered. ‘I see. So he knows, also?’

‘Yes.’

‘I should have guessed.’ He took a big swallow of his drink. ‘I tend to underrate him. I should remember he is formidable.’

They fell into brief silence. Ishmael Young fiddled with his drink, apparently trying to formulate something he wanted to say. At last, he spoke. I wanted to see you tonight for - for two reasons. One has to do with you. The other with me. First, you.’

But he didn’t go on immediately, and Collins said, ‘Well, what is it?’

I want to discuss Tynan.’

Collins was momentarily exasperated. ‘If you mean you want to ask more questions about what I think of Tynan for your book, let me tell you right off, I have nothing more to say.’

‘No, it’s not that,’ said Young quickly, ‘It’s not about the book. I didn’t barge in on your dinner to ask you about Tynan. I really came because I wanted to tell you about Tynan. I wanted -‘

‘To tell me what?’ Collins interrupted impatiently. ‘What do you want to tell me?’

Karen reached out to touch Collins’ arm. ‘Please, Chris. Let him speak.’

Ishmael Young gave Karen a grateful nod, nervously pushed up the knot of his tie, and patted at the strands of hair combed to cover his bald pate.

Although still irritated by the writer’s fidgeting and his reluctance to come to the point, Collins obeyed his wife and waited.

‘He doesn’t like you, you know,’ said Young.

‘Who? Tynan?’

‘He doesn’t like you at all,’ Young repeated.

‘I’m not surprised,’ said Collins, ‘but how did you find out?’

‘I’m there, with him, every week. I’m there, but lately he doesn’t seem to realize it half the time. He talks on and on. He answers the phone. He makes calls. He leaves notes and memos lying around. Mostly, by now, he’s not aware of

me. It is as if I’m not a person. He may be right. I’m a blotter.’

‘So he doesn’t like me,’ said Collins.

‘I decided if he doesn’t like you, then I should. Anything or anyone Tynan is against, well, it has to be good. As you know, when we first met, I told you he’s not my kind of guy. I made up my mind he’s not your kind either. I realized, whether you’d admit it or not, we’re on the same side. That’s why I wanted to see you at once, to warn you about something.’

Karen looked troubled, but Collins remained impassive. ‘Go on.’

‘All right.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Tynan and the FBI have been investigating you.’

‘Oh, Chris,’ Karen gasped.

Collins waved her silent. He held on the writer. ‘So what else is new? If that’s all -‘

‘But I thought-‘

‘Naturally I was investigated by the FBI. It’s their job. They had to investigate me the minute the President nominated me for Attorney General. It was routine.’

‘No, you misunderstand, Mr Collins. I know they investigated you weeks ago. I know that was routine. I’m trying to tell you that Tynan instigated a new and secret investigation of you the other day. It’s in progress right now.’

Collins blinked at Young - letting it settle in, finally comprehending. He exhaled, and said, ‘Well, now…’ Then he said, ‘Are you sure?’

‘Positive. Not the first time Tynan’s checked on you, either. Once, last month, I overheard him speak on the phone about Baxter and the Holy Trinity Church and made a reference to the Collins thing -‘

Collins interrupted. ‘I know about that. This is more important right now. You say you’re positive? You heard that Tynan was investigating me again?’

‘Absolutely. I was with him a long time yesterday. He got this call. When I’m there and we’re working, he usually takes calls only from the President and Adcock. The call wasn’t from the President. While he was on the phone, I

went into the bathroom, but I left the door partly open. I could hear his side of it. Your name was never mentioned. But there was some reference - I don’t remember exactly what - that made it clear they were talking about you. It had to do with an investigation now going on. Tynan finally said to Adcock, “Well, keep trying. And keep after the others.”’

Karen had picked up the last. ‘The others? What did he mean by that?’

‘I have no idea,’ said Ishmael Young. He turned back to Collins. ‘But there was no question the discussion was about you. Does it make sense? Would there be any reason for him to investigate you now?’

‘There might be, yes, there could be,’ said Collins slowly.

‘Well, I thought I shouldn’t waste any time in warning you,’ said Ishmael Young, ‘so that you can have your guard up.’

‘I appreciate it,’ said Collins sincerely. ‘Thank you -Ishmael.’ He glanced distractedly around him, found their waiter, and beckoned him. ‘I think this calls for another round of drinks.’

After Collins had ordered, Karen drew closer to her husband. She tried to repress her agitation. ‘What does all this mean, Chris?’

‘I’m not sure, darling. Probably nothing.’ He tried to comfort her. ‘Not all investigations are sinister. Sometimes they’re done to check on someone I’m associated with, in order to protect me.’

‘That could be true,’ Young said hastily to Karen, also eager to reassure her.

‘But at least he ought to tell you,’ said Karen to her husband, ‘not do this sort of thing behind your back. I mean, you’re his boss. Really, he’s a horrible man.’

The second round of drinks had appeared, and Young lifted his glass. ‘That’s something I’ll drink to, Mrs Collins.’ His eyes roved the vicinity to see if anyone was listening. ‘He - meaning you-know-who - is the worst bastard - forgive me - the worst egomaniac and the most unprincipled bastard I’ve ever met.’

They drank, and before the conversation could resume,

the maitre d’ had appeared to take their order.

They all agreed on Onion Soup Gratinee for starters, then Collins ordered Toumedos Rossini for Karen, waited while Young examined the menu again and finally asked for Beef Stroganoff, and for himself ordered Coq au Vin.

Ishmael Young had returned to his Jack Daniels. Tn fact, speaking of Tynan,’ said Young, addressing Karen, ‘I can find no one who loves him except - and I’m only guessing here - except his mother and Adcock. Everyone else either respects him or fears him or plain hates him.’

Collins became interested. ‘Except his mother and Adcock, you said. Was that just a crack about his mother? Or were you being literal? Does he have a mother around?’

‘You wouldn’t believe it, would you? That Vernon T. Tynan could have a mother. Well, he has. Just a stone’s throw away from here. Rose Tynan. Eighty-four years old. She’s in the Golden Years Senior Citizens Village in Alexandria. Nobody knows this except Adcock and myself, but Tynan goes to see her every Saturday. Yes, the monster has a certified mother.’

‘Have you seen her?’ asked Collins.

‘Oh, no. Verboten. Once, when I was interviewing him about his younger days, he couldn’t remember something, but he said his mother would know and he’d find out from her. I told him I didn’t know his mother was alive. He said, “Oh yes, but I don’t talk about it for security reasons, for her safety.” He wanted to be sure I didn’t put it in the book, that she was alive, but he said I could refer to her and he wanted some nice things in it about her. And he told me a little of her background. That’s how I know.’

‘Interesting,’ said Collins.

‘I can’t imagine Tynan’s having a mother,’ said Karen. ‘It makes him sound almost human.’

‘Don’t be fooled,’ said Ishmael Young. ‘Caligula also had a mother. So did Jack the Ripper.’

Collins was amused, but Karen was serious about pursuing Tynan further with Ishmael Young. ‘Mr Young, if you dislike Director Tynan so much -‘

‘I never said I disliked him. I hate him.’

‘Very well. If you hate him, why are you working with

him on his autobiography?’

‘Why? I’ll tell you why….’

But he didn’t right away, because the waiter had rolled up a cart with the onion soup and was ladling-it into bowls and serving them.

No sooner was the waiter gone than Young picked up where he had left off.

‘When I met your husband, I told him I was pressured into writing this book. Now I’d like to explain that, if I may.’ He turned toward Collins. ‘Actually, it is the other reason I wanted to meet with you tonight. I said the first reason had to do with you, and the second with me. I hope you don’t mind my bothering you with a problem I have. It has to do with Tynan, and why I’m writing his Mein Kampf.’

‘Please go ahead,’ said Collins.

‘I was bullied into writing his damn book,’ said Young. ‘I didn’t want to, but Tynan made me do it. What happened was - I’d been living in Paris for some time, researching a book I intended to write not as a ghost but on my own - a book on the Paris Commune. Among the people I interviewed two years ago were an exiled British professor and his wife. Professor Henderson - he was an expert on the Commune - had been deported from the United States long ago for involvement in anarchist activities. The Hendersons had a daughter, Emmy, with whom I fell deeply in love. The first and only time in my life. And she fell in love with me. We agreed to get married. The only trouble was - I was married. Separated for some time, but married. The plan was that I’d return home to New York, get a divorce, then send for Emmy and marry her. Well, that divorce took some doing -‘

‘I know about those things,’ said Collins, taking Karen’s hand.

‘Finally, I lucked out. Had a moderate best seller - a political biography. By turning all the earnings over to my wife, I got my divorce. I prepared to send for Emmy. Meanwhile, Vernon T. Tynan had discovered me and decided I was the only person to write his autobiography. I refused. Tynan doesn’t like being turned down. He investigated me. He learned about Emmy and her parents. He learned that

Emmy, like her parents, had been a confirmed anarchist. Unlike her parents, she had been a passive one, an intellectual one. She’s a gentle, sweet person and a political theorist, no more. Well, there Tynan had the goods. He confronted me with it. If I refused to cooperate with him on his book, he’d block Emmy’s entrance into the United States on the ground that she was an undesirable alien. On the other hand, if I collaborated with him on the book, he’d forget it and allow her to enter the United States the moment the book was done. That was the carrot he dangled in front of me. What could I do? I had to bite. That’s why I agreed to write his book.’

‘Awful, making you do it that way,’ said Karen.

‘Then what’s your problem?’ Collins wanted to know.

‘My problem is - Tynan double-crossed me. Two weeks ago, I got my hands on a whole new cache of material, of additional research for the book - papers, tapes, whatnot. Tynan gave it to me to copy. Lots of it was from the late Attorney General’s papers, lots was new material of Tynan’s. I’ve been copying this research so I can return the originals to Tynan. Well, yesterday, going through some of these papers, I came across a memorandum Tynan had written to Baxter - apparently he’d forgotten he’d sent it - advising him that Emmy Henderson, among others, was to be banned from entry into the United States since she was an undesirable alien. The memorandum had been written after his promise to me that she would be admitted. He still intends to punish me for turning him down in the beginning. You can imagine how I felt. I wanted to confront him with this blatant double cross, but I was afraid to. I didn’t know what to do. Then I realized that a carbon of the memorandum was surely in the files of the Immigration and Naturalization Service as well, and that the Service falls under your control. So that’s the other reason why I wanted to see you tonight. To ask if you could help me.’

Collins did not hesitate. ‘Yes, Immigration is one of my departments. I can rule on the admissibility of aliens. I’ll be only too glad to look up your Emmy’s file. For your part, you send me what papers you have on her application. I’ll review the case. If she is what you say she is -‘

‘I guarantee she’s clean.’

‘ - then I’ll overrule Tynan’s recommendation and see that she’s admitted.’

‘Mr Collins, I can’t tell you how happy you’ve just made me. You don’t know how I appreciate this, what it means. You don’t know what I owe you.’

Collins smiled. ‘I know what I owe you. But that’s not the consideration. It’s a matter of justice.’