The 22nd Secret (110 page)

Days after Tom returned to Washington D.C. from Alaska, the rumors of the defection of a high level American nuclear missile scientist to China began leaking to the media. At first, no one linked the plane crash killing two mafia figures with the three dead men found near Otter Bay, or with the rumors of defection. But more leaks gradually surfaced. As one investigative reporter published a clue, another would find something else to link the seemingly unrelated events. The nation had languished in a void of scandal to feed the ever-growing news media.

But seasoned national reporters could smell this one coming. It was going to be big, maybe as big as the Iran-Contra affair or even the Granddaddy of them all, Watergate. The media desperately needed a genuine government disaster to boost ratings. An attempted cover-up of a national crisis would create an explosion in media attention. Between the actual discoveries of fact, the usual parade of analysts and experts would fill the airwaves of news programs. All the elements of a truly spectacular media festival were in place by early summer, when Congress called for hearings into the disappearance of Patty Lawrence. The mafia would assist in the hearings under the premise of federal impunity. The fact the FBI, CIA, Los Alamos, and the President refused to cooperate or release any information signaled a constitutional battle with a background of espionage, treason and the China–Los Alamos connection.

It soon became a foregone conclusion that Tom Walker would take the fall. A Korean Airlines stewardess who remembered the handsome young couple when she waited on them in first-class identified Patty’s photograph. The Chinese were protesting the boarding of their research vessel by an American warship in international waters. They knew nothing about the three dead Chinese men found near Otter Bay. None had any identification, and all wore American-made clothing. The two guns found at the scene not belonging to Henry Lo were American-made and stolen. Furthermore, the Chinese knew nothing about the stolen FBI snow cat or the snowmobile that had been stolen from a garage near Otter Bay two weeks earlier. Finally, they had no knowledge of the stolen oil company snow cat found at the end of the tracks that led away from the dead men, or for that matter, the late model Suburban’s tracks that led away from the cat and disappeared into the heavily trafficked Anchorage streets.

National Security required that the first testimony be given behind closed doors, without the presence of the media. They were forced to wait just outside the chamber doors to catch the witnesses and congressmen as they left the hearings. The witnesses would say nothing or not comment on the advice of their councils. The politicians welcomed the media exposure and voiced their growing frustration at the refusal of the witnesses to actually provide any information. They all promised the American people they would once and for all stop the Chinese–Los Alamos pipeline of missile technology.

Except for a few minor witnesses, the list of witness was a who’s who of the 22nd Secret. Dr. Woolum said he had recruited Patty as an intern and she had worked with him on some of Los Alamos’s most sensitive technologies. But really, she had little knowledge that would be useful to the Chinese. She had taken a leave of absence to return to school. He knew nothing of her relationship with Ben. That would have been Henry Lo’s department and Lo died under mysterious circumstances in Alaska. Cosa Nostra boss Franco Gianelli, on the advice of his counsel, told the congressmen behind closed doors exactly where they could put their questions. Billy Worth was more than willing to tell Congress everything he knew, until he exercised his Fifth Amendment rights on the advice of his counsel, David Hensel. Congressman Paul Jones of Vermont chaired the hearings and pressured the Justice Department to repeal the plea bargain signed by retired Judge James Anderson, and prosecute Jim Mitchell for the treason charges. However, the Attorney General, acting under direct orders from the President, refused.

That left Bob Bradley, the Berkeley shadow, and Tom Walker. They would become the witnesses who would be paraded in front of the media in televised open hearings. Bradley was called first, and related the chance meeting between Chen Wen Bin and Patty Lawrence, and the subsequent romance that developed between them. He testified that Henry Lo had known about this and even seemed to expect it. Lo also knew of Chen’s involvement with the Chinese missile programs. Henry Lo, who was his immediate superior, repeatedly told him this was okay and to not interfere. When Chen and Lawrence suddenly disappeared and he was not able to contact Lo, his growing suspicions led him to contact Tom Walker’s office, which triggered the investigation. Politicians from both parties and the media were in love. At last, they had a truly great disaster on their hands. It had everything, treason, espionage, romance; even the President's personal orders not to pursue the prosecution of Jim Mitchell hinted of White House cover up.

It was Tom Walker’s testimony that put a damper on the public’s bloodlust. He had done many things wrong. He was publicly chastised for his decision not to alert the airports, and his loyalty to the government was in question after choosing not to board the Chinese research vessel before it left United States territorial waters. However, he had not committed a crime, and he would not be prosecuted. It became apparent that the Congressional hearings were going to reveal nothing but a Los Alamos mid-level security agent selling out to a well-known mafia figure, and a valueless research intern, and her Chinese lover. No one involved thought to link Tom Walker directly to Henry Lo and Patty, except for one over stimulated analyst appearing on CNN. He was asked to appear along with several of the best-known analysts as the media’s approach to
Pattygate
descended from investigative journalism to sideshow farce. He was laughed at for his paranoid theory that a small group of individuals, led by Patty Lawrence, had walked away with America’s secret
invisible
Star Wars technology. He was quickly discredited by the other so-called experts and a sneering Larry King. What began as a promising national crisis expired with a whimper within two months. Politicians fled from
Pattygate
as fast as they could.

Patty and Ben walked along the busy Beijing thoroughfare toward their apartment after sharing dinner at one of their favorite restaurants. The late summer evening was pleasantly mild, and the couple walked hand in hand along a popular downtown street.

“Patty, I think it’s time for me to begin installing our programs at our missile sites,” Ben said.

“We’re as ready as we’re going to get,” Patty said. She smiled bravely, though she knew what was coming. “I’m looking forward to traveling around China with you. China is such a beautiful, interesting and historic country.”

Ben stopped and turned to face Patty as throngs of pedestrians maneuvered around them.

“I have to do this alone, Patty.”

“Alone? What do you mean? Why?”

“There are some national security issues and well… people are more used to seeing Caucasians in Beijing. It’s not my decision. If it was up to me, I’d have you with me. But it’s not. The decision has already been made. I do this alone.”

“Oh, Ben.” Patty threw her arms around Ben and held him close. “I don’t want to be left here alone. I’m afraid.”

“Everything’s going to be fine,” Ben said with a soothing voice. “There’ll be a security man assigned to you 24 hours a day and I’ll be back every weekend or so.”

Patty knew there was deception in Ben’s words. She had planted the idea that her value to the Chinese and to Ben was diminishing. He believed that he now would be able to take what Patty had shared with him and expand on it. His ego was easy for Patty to manipulate. He no longer needed her. Patty had methodically planted the notion that he was beyond Patty’s knowledge, that he was the one who had actually developed the Level 21 shield. It had taken several months. He was not aware of the extent of Patty’s manipulation of his thoughts, and the actual function of the Level 21 program he believed he had created. Patty looked forward to a future in which she would not have to be intimate with Ben.

The next several months marked a steady erosion of their relationship. Patty made a point of getting out daily for a brisk walk. She had certain routes she would follow. Occasionally, she would stop and do some shopping. A group of security men were assigned to follow her constantly. One of them would always follow a short distance behind her on these outings. Ben’s visits grew less frequent and eventually deteriorated to an hour or two every week for lackluster sexual encounters. Patty stopped working to disguise her disinterest in Ben’s lovemaking. Patty could read Ben’s mind and knew he was developing a serious relationship with a Chinese girl. She was a young medical intern from the right family. Unlike Patty, she would be able to share Ben’s prestige in the scientific community and the Communist Party.

The end came in the first week of October. Patty had returned to the apartment from her daily walk late, having done some shopping. Her arms were full of groceries. She struggled not to drop the awkward packages as she unlocked the door and pushed it open with her shoulder. She was surprised to find Ben alone on the couch.

“Ben, you startled me. I didn’t expect you.” She set the bags down on the small kitchen counter in the corner. She noticed the bottle of Black Label Scotch that Ben usually kept in the cabinet above the refrigerator. An empty glass sat next to the bottle.

“What’s for dinner?” Ben asked as Patty stuffed groceries into the pantry.

“Rice and beans. I didn’t expect you. I have a little chicken too if you’d like.” Her back was to Ben, and she heard him fill his glass again. She knew he was going to get drunk. When he got drunk he could get mean. Ben slowly developed the habit of getting drunk when he came home to visit. As his importance within the Chinese government grew, their relationship deteriorated and the drinking began.

“Rice, green beans and chicken?” Ben downed another shot of his scotch. “Why do you still eat American food?” She heard the contempt in his voice.

“They’re Chinese foods too,” Patty said sheepishly.

“Maybe, but you cook like an American.” He walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her, and held her breasts in his hands. His breath reeked of whiskey. “You fuck like one too,” he said, laughing at her. He began to fumble at the buttons on Patty’s Chinese jacket.

“After dinner, Ben.” She turned from his embrace to put away more groceries. “Have another drink and relax. I know you’ve been working hard. I’ll start our dinner.”

Ben could wait. He was as fond of his whiskey as he was Patty, his American mistress. He returned to the couch and his bottle.

By the time Patty had served dinner Ben was completely drunk. The food sobered him temporarily, but Patty could tell tonight was going to be bad. She was tired of the constant pressure of not knowing what the next day would bring. She knew Ben could give the order at any time. She knew what most of the security men that protected her really felt about Ben’s blond American whore. She knew most wanted to have their turn with her. She was less than human in the Chinese social structure, and Ben had long ago abandoned her as his future bride.