“You want to tell me about that evening, Grant?”
“Well, sir, after ‘meeting’ Easton in the garage, not a whole lot has come completely into focus.” He revealed all he could remember, with bits and pieces of actual conversation still missing. “What I do remember is Jack telling me why he did it.” Grant shook his head slowly, still not believing. “I don’t know when I’ve felt more shocked.
“But what I remember most clearly was a Beretta pointed at me, and the sound of the gun firing. I wish I could tell you more, sir, because I need answers, too.”
“Joe,” Carr said, “I’ll get to you in a minute.” Then, he returned his attention to Grant. “You knew Jack Henley at the Naval Academy?”
“I did, but after graduation, we never kept in touch, so when we met that night in England, both of us were surprised.” Grant readjusted the sling. He looked away from Carr, momentarily. “I can’t believe he turned traitor because of me.”
“Us,” Adler added, with Grant nodding in agreement.
“You both actually think that’s why he did it?”
“Maybe we could’ve handled that op differently. Maybe we didn’t put enough emphasis on finding Mrs. Henley.”
“Look, the man was obviously deranged. I think his wanting to kill you, Grant, made that pretty damn clear.”
Grant locked eyes with Carr. “Four good men died, Mr. President, because Jack wanted revenge. If he were alive, I’d see that he was charged with treason and murder, just as if he pulled the trigger himself.”
“I’d have to agree with you there. But what about Kalinin? I’d say he was just as responsible, if not more so.”
“Possibly, but maybe the men who were aboard that chopper took it upon themselves to kill those four men, so there wouldn’t be any witnesses. Men for hire have not been known to have scruples. And again, it still started with Jack.”
“Speaking of that chopper, Grant, do you think Kalinin had anything to do with it going down?”
“I… I don’t know. The initial report was some kind of an explosion. Agent Mullins is staying in contact with the Coast Guard. Do you know if NIS has found anything?”
“I’m still waiting for their report.” Carr turned to Adler. “Joe, how about you tell me your part of the story?”
Adler kept his eyes on the President during the entire time he relayed the facts of Grant’s rescue. “Once we were on scene, sir, it was over pretty quick. The cops questioned Mike and me, but I’m sure their investigation will be on-going.”
Grant interjected, “They came to the hospital and questioned me, too, sir.”
“I assume both of you have seen the newspaper article?”
“We have.” Enough was said.
Carr rolled his chair away from the desk, then stood and went to the window. Grant and Adler shot brief glances at each other, expecting what was coming next.
Carr slowly walked to the front of his desk, then sat on the edge, directly in front of the two men. “Joe, how’d you find out where Grant was being held?”
“A phone call, sir.”
“A phone call.”
“That’s correct.”
“And you believed this… caller.”
“Mr. President, we were desperate. We didn’t have a clue where he was, and didn’t know where to begin. But after finding the homing device under his car, we knew it was a planned kidnapping. To tell you the truth, the Team believed that considering the overall time he’d been missing, our chances of finding him alive were pretty slim.” Adler cleared his throat. “Whoever that caller was, we felt we had to put our trust in him.”
“‘Him?’”
“Most definitely.”
“This caller didn’t happen to identify himself, say, with the name ‘Nicolai Kalinin,’ did he, Joe? Or maybe he used the name ‘Nick?’”
“No, sir! I’d definitely remember that! But as soon as he gave me Jack’s address, the phone went dead. Mike and I hauled ass right after… oh, excuse me, sir.”
Dead silence in the Oval Office, until Carr asked, “Grant, what if that was Kalinin? Why do you suppose he would have helped you — hypothetically speaking, of course.”
“Hypothetically?” Carr nodded. “Well, sir, it may have been possible he felt some kind of obligation because I saved him from possibly being killed.”
“I’d hardly expect an adversary to think like that, Grant, especially after you brought him back to the States, and turned him over to the FBI.”
“He was nearly shot by a ‘comrade,’ Mr. President. That had to give him something to think about, something to question, along with the ‘connection’ I mentioned the other day.”
“You know, gentlemen, everybody, and I mean everybody, was looking for that Russian.”
“Agent Mullins notified us the Russian plane departed Dulles yesterday, and … ”
“Kalinin was onboard. Yes, I know, Grant.”
Silence again, until Carr said, “I’m sure you heard that the other Russian plane had been located in the North Sea, along with the black box.”
“We have.”
“I’ve contacted the Russian premier and offered America’s condolences.”
“I hope they find answers soon.”
“Is there anything else you gentlemen need to add — or want to add?”
Grant looked at Adler, who gave a slight shake of his head. Grant responded, “No, sir.”
Carr stood, immediately followed by the two men. The meeting was over.
Carr offered a hand to Adler. “Joe, thanks for your help in finding those weapons, and finding your buddy.”
“Mr. President.”
Carr then extended his left hand to Grant. “Take care of that arm.”
“I will, sir.”
“Oh, by the way. Have your sniper—‘Mike’ is it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Have him report to Indian Head next week. I’ve arranged for him to do some of his own testing with one of those prototypes.”
“Be happy to! Does he get to keep it?”
Carr smiled. “We’ll see, Grant.”
“I’ll guarantee that weapon will never fall into the wrong hands, Mr. President.”
“One final word, gentlemen. You both need to lose that guilt you’re carrying around for Mrs. Henley.”
“We’ll work on it, sir,” Grant answered, then turned to leave.
Adler opened the door, and took a step into the outer office, when he heard Grant call quietly, “Joe, wait up.”
He saw the expression on Grant’s face. Shaking his head slowly, he whispered, “No. Don’t do it.”
Grant kept his eyes locked on Adler’s, and without replying, he closed the door. No matter what the outcome, he knew he couldn’t live with himself unless he cleared up the facts.
Carr stood by his desk, watching Grant, waiting, when the intercom buzzed. “Yes, Rachel.”
“Mr. President, there’s … ”
“Give me a few minutes, Rachel.”
“All right, Mr. President.”
Carr switched off the intercom, then looked at Grant, who was still by the door. “Grant?”
Grant exhaled a long breath, then turned and walked to the desk, standing in front of Carr. “Mr. President, I have a feeling you know what happened, how Nick got to the embassy. It was my decision, mine alone, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”
“Why, Grant? Why the hell did you do it?”
Grant rubbed a hand across his forehead. “I… I just had a feeling in me. Something told me I had to.”
“That gut of yours?”
“Maybe, but maybe there was more to it.”
Carr looked at Grant through narrowing eyes. He’d seen the pictures of Kalinin. Suddenly, a thought registered, a thought almost too hard to comprehend. “Grant, you don’t seriously believe Kalinin’s … ”