I Do Solemnly Swear (34 page)

Owens fixed his stare on Kate, but sat quietly.

“This is not a time for blind loyalty,” Kate said. “Are you forgetting that I’m in a position to help you? Give us the leaders’ names, and perhaps I can consider leniency.”

“You really don’t get it, do you, Madam President? The leaders are untouchable. And they won’t rest until the mission is completed.” Owens stared out the window. “I have nothing more to say.”

“One more question, Walter,” Kate said. “Why are you giving us all this proprietary information about the so-called movement? Aren’t you betraying their loyalty by telling us these things?”

“What do you think you’re going to do with this information? It’s meaningless. You don’t know who they are, where they are, or
where they’ll strike next.” Owens’s eyes twitched to a smile. “But rest assured. They
will
strike.”

“You disgust me, Walter,” Kate said. “You’re the vice president of the United States, for crying out loud. How could you betray your country this way?”

“You would never understand my reasons.”

“Is that your final word, Walter?” Kate asked.

Owens sat silently and didn’t utter a sound.

Kate and Kramer looked at each other. Kramer nodded.

Kate picked up her telephone and pushed the intercom button. “Please send them in, Emily.”

Two FBI agents marched into the Oval Office and stood by the door at attention.

Walter fixed his squinting eyes on Kate. “You can stop me, but you will never stop the movement.”

Kramer motioned to the agents. “Arrest the vice president for the murder of President Rodgers and conspiracy to assassinate President Miles.”

Each agent grabbed an arm and escorted Owens to the door.

The vice president looked over his shoulder at Kate. “This is just the beginning.”

Kate rubbed her bruised knee and limped over to Kramer. He was blankly staring at the door. “Do you think he’s a madman?”

“I certainly hope so, Madam President. If he isn’t, he’ll likely spend the rest of his life in prison.”

“This may sound crazy, but I almost feel sorry for him,” Kate said. “Or maybe I just feel sorry for his family.”

“You’re anything but crazy, Madam President. It’s an honor to work with you.”

“Thank you for everything, Carl.”

“I’m sorry it’s taken so long to piece things together.”

“What about Miller? Will we ever find him?”

“It’s doubtful.”

“Is Victor part of this?” Kate asked.

“Personally, I think he just got caught in the web. But that’s for the FBI and DA’s office to figure out.”

“You realize that, even if he’s vindicated, he can no longer head the CIA.”

“I feel sorry for him.” Kramer’s voice was shaky.

“The CIA could use a leader like you, Mr. Kramer.”

He looked at her with oversized eyes.

“Are you interested?”

“More than you could ever imagine.”

She put her arms around him and embraced him. “Congratulations, Mr. Director.”

***

“It’s been a bizarre couple of weeks since I took office, Daddy,” Kate said. “And the last few days have been surreal.” She set the cup of tea on the saucer and stared into the blazing fire. “Is it possible that there truly is a conspiracy so widespread that it’s infested all facets of our society?”

“Anything is possible, honey. Nazism, fascism, skinheads, and Muslim extremists are challenging free governments throughout the world. To what extent is a frightening question.”

“How can you fight something you can’t see?”

“By arresting Walter Owens and exposing his movement, you’ve attacked their most valued asset—their anonymity. Thanks to the media, there’s a new consciousness in America. Citizens will now be more aware that antigovernment groups live and breathe and prosper. It will be more difficult for them to operate
secretly. You’ve foiled their progress and set them back twenty years.”

“Why don’t I find any solace in your words?”

“Because you’re an idealist. Until you mend every crack and plug every hole, you’ll always be troubled. That’s why history will confirm my premonition.”

“And what premonition is that?”

“Katherine Anne Miles will prove to be one of the greatest presidents this country has ever seen.” He held her close, and they sat quietly, enjoying the warmth of the fire.

Krieger walked into the diner and quickly surveyed the crowd. He wore a fedora low on his forehead, and sunglasses. He had summoned Miller and Hoffman to meet him at this diner without offering an explanation. Krieger hustled to the booth and sat opposite them. He kept his head down.

“It’s been a long while, Jack,” Krieger said. He shifted his look to the other man. “Jakob.”

“We are honored, sir,” Jack Miller said.

Jakob Hoffman nodded.

“The meeting had to be here,” Krieger said. “I could not take any chances.”

Hoffman said, “I’m sorry that—”

“You assured me that Guenther Krause would not fail,” Krieger snarled. “He was supposed to be the best.”

“No one was more shocked than me,” Hoffman admitted.

Krieger looked at Hoffman with blazing eyes. “Mistakes like this are inexcusable. This can
never
happen again.”

“I understand, sir.”

“I have a new plan,” Krieger said. “Did you bring the money, Jack?”

Jack Miller slid the briefcase across the table. Krieger set it on the booth beside him and opened it. He looked around the diner to be sure no one was watching. It was three a.m., and the usual drunks were gulping coffee and eating greasy bacon and eggs. Nobody seemed to care about three men making plans in a Greek diner.

From the briefcase, Krieger removed ten thousand-dollar bills. Then he reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. He handed the money and envelope to Jack Miller.

“New identity,” Krieger whispered. “Passport, credit cards, airline tickets, and enough money so you can eat surf and turf every day.”

Jack Miller opened the envelope and looked at the contents. He studied the airline tickets for a moment. “Tonga, sir? Why the South Pacific?”

“A hundred agents are hunting for you, Jack. I don’t think they’ll look for you on a remote island.” Krieger smiled. “Besides, I hear the scuba diving’s fantastic.”

“Thank you, sir,” Miller said. “How long should I stay there?”

“You’ll be contacted.”

There was silence for several minutes.

“What do you want
me
to do, sir?” Hoffman asked.

“Our business is completed, Jakob.”

Hoffman’s cheeks filled with blood, but he obviously knew better than to question his leader’s authority. He quietly left the diner.

“He’s the weak link in the chain, Jack. Can’t be trusted.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Not all is lost,” Krieger said. “Ellenwood is out of the way.”

“How about Walter?”

“He was a loyal member, but he knew the risks going in,” Krieger said. “I made it perfectly clear that if Miles did not resign or Guenther failed to assassinate her, Walter would have to be the fail-safe. That was the deal.”

“What’s going to happen to him?” Miller asked.

“Think any sane jury’s going to believe his crazy story?”

Miller grinned and shook his head. “I suppose not.”

“He told the president just enough for her to conclude that he must be delusional. That was part of the plan.”

“Brilliant idea.”

“There’s another bit of unfinished business, Jack. We no longer require the services of the Menendez girl. See that somebody handles the situation before you leave the country.”

“Yes, sir.”

They sat quietly for several minutes.

“Tell me about your new plan,” Miller said.

“First, you must congratulate me,” Krieger said. “The president has appointed me director of central intelligence.”

It was a recurring dream, one Kate hoped would fade with time. She could see his face. His shaven head. The swastika tattoo. Her body jumped as if a charge of electricity surged through her. She opened her eyes, rolled on her back, and peeled the covers from her drenched skin.

McDermott would be released from the hospital tomorrow, back to work in a couple of weeks. Kate had told him to take as much time as he needed, to enjoy a vacation. But true to his nature, he was anxious to roll up his sleeves and dive back into his work.

There were enormous tasks waiting for Kate. The Healing of America bills were her first priority. Congress, she believed, might view her credibility with a refreshed perspective and embrace the bills with greater objectivity. She was also faced with the difficult task of appointing another VP. At this juncture, she had no one in mind. But one thing was certain: this time she’d be wiser and more selective. Her quest to locate Jack Miller would be an ongoing mission. He was a key link to the conspiracy puzzle, and if ever apprehended, Miller could answer vital questions about the leaders of the radical movement.

There were personal issues to deal with as well.

Heaped on top of Kate’s pile of things to do was an onus she’d wrestled with for most of her adult life. Now more than ever, Kate could not ignore her thundering biological clock. No longer would she allow conventional thinking to enslave her. Yes, Peter and she were going their separate ways, but she did not need a husband to conceive a child. Medical advances and contemporary philosophies had changed the whole concept of motherhood. At this juncture, she was unsure what approach she’d take, but Katherine Anne Miles was determined to be a mother before her fertile body surrendered to middle age. Of this, more than any aspect of her life, Kate was certain.

Before facing the duties of the presidency and tackling her personal agenda, Kate, mentally exhausted and physically drained, needed to remove herself from the limelight. To give herself a period of self-evaluation and much needed rest, she planned a week-long visit to the White Stallion Ranch. To spend some quality time with her father, to purge her soul of all unfinished business, of unspoken feelings, was long overdue. And of course, in between hugs and kisses and tearful reflections—and savoring Maria’s sumptuous creations—Kate would find time to saddle up Breezy and follow the trail she’d ridden a thousand times as a child.

Kate reached toward the nightstand and grasped her lucky silver dollar. She fondled it affectionately and remembered how many times it had protected her when the demon of loneliness had paid her a visit. Kate had slain this demon. Never again would he torment her. She pressed the coin to her heart, rolled to her side, closed her eyes, and tried to dream a happy dream.

I would like to thank the following people for their support and invaluable contributions to the creation of,
I Do Solemnly Swear
. If I’ve forgotten anyone, please accept my sincere apologies.

Jill Marsal, Terry Goodman, Jacque Ben-Zekry, Charlotte Herscher, Ashley McDonald, Leslie LaRue, Kaila Lightner, Justin Golenbock, Jennifer Ann Chasser, and the dozens of support people at Amazon Publishing who worked behind the scenes to make this book possible.