Our search of records at JFK indicates that Diamond flew to London on UAL flight 46, arriving Terminal 2 at 9:00 a.m. British intelligence agency BCHQ informs that CCTV cameras at the airport show Diamond getting in a black BMW 25 minutes later. However, a check of the owner of the license plates indicates that they in fact are counterfeit.
There has also been anomalous traffic which likely are encrypted communications to the office of Focus’s executive producer in Manhattan using unconventional protocols and moving relays, whose whereabouts we are unable to track.
I would respectfully draw your attention to the fact that, anticipating these events, I requested and received permission to fly to London. Am now in an ideal position to liaise with British intelligence. Have already been given working space at the offices of MI5.
With full cooperation of BCHQ, we are focusing all efforts on tracking down any member of Penn’s team and Ed Diamond in London. A big city, but we’ll find them.
Immediately after contacting the White House, Ed Diamond called Sergei Markovich, the rotund spokesman of Russian President Vasily Kozlov. If Ed was going to broadcast charges against the Russian leader, he had to also give him a chance to respond. It was six in the evening in Moscow. Markovich was just getting set to go home, but when his secretary told him who was on the phone, he immediately took the call. He had been stationed for five years at the Russian embassy in Washington. He knew the name Ed Diamond and the impact of Focus. Later, however, he regretted his decision to speak with Diamond that evening. It had provoked a serious bout of heartburn and cost him a night’s sleep.
Kozlov was already in a foul mood when Markovich walked into his office. The president had just received the latest confidential statistics on the Russian economy: unemployment was up, automobile and electrical power production in decline. The U.S. stock market was also down. As a result, the portfolio held by Kozlov’s offshore company had just been shaved by ten million dollars. Muslim dissidents were still raising hell in Chechnya and the Caucasus.
Then in waddled Sergei Markovich to tell Kozlov about the call from Ed Diamond of Focus, that weekly purveyor of American lies and anti-Russian propaganda. “The bottom line is Diamond is charging you have made billions of illegal rubles in various Russian enterprises,” said Markovich.
Kozlov shrugged and looked towards the ceiling. “People are always charging such things. I ignore them.”
“But in this case,” said Markovich, “Diamond says he has the documents to prove it. He claims you have an offshore company in…” He glanced at his notes. “In Cypress and Panama. It is called Pyotr1.”
Kozlov’s eyes narrowed. Unheeding, Markovich went on, “Diamond also claims a bank you control called the Argus Bank made a loan of three hundred million dollars to President Stokes several years ago and that you are also in partnership with him in several other deals.”
Kozlov leapt from his desk and crossed the room until his face was just a few inches from Markovich. “This is outrageous,” he exploded.
“Diamond is asking if we have any statement,” said Markovich fearfully.
“Tell that prick it is all lies! Lies from the usual sources, our enemies in the United States and other countries. They want to destroy us, strangle our economy, and prevent us from travelling. This is an insult not only against the president of Russia but against all Russians.”
Markovich was scribbling furiously.
“So,” said Kozlov, returning to his chair, “that is the official statement.” He thought for a moment. “Now,” he said, “get me the FSB. I want to know how those fuckers got that information. I want to know now! And get Stokes on a scrambled line.”
Over the next hour, Kozlov received calls from five other Russian oligarchs, also just contacted by Diamond. On the record, they were outraged. “The charges are a pack of lies,” Alexei Petreykin had responded to Ed. “You broadcast this at your own risk,” blustered another.
When they spoke with Kozlov however, they were panicking. As Petreykin warned the Russian president, “I’m not going to go down alone.”
Meanwhile back in London, Steve made a call from the bunker to Senator Bill Gurd in Washington on the encrypted line that Sarah Levin had set up. “Senator, I’m not going to get into details, but we’ve got the goods on Stokes and his ties with Kozlov and the Russian oligarchs.
“I’d been wondering what the hell happened to you,” said Gurd. “When’s the broadcast?”
“This Sunday. There’s no way your Republicans can refuse to act once this is out.”
“I agree. A lot have been wavering. Where are you?”
“Can’t say. Just watch Sunday.”
Less than five minutes after that call, Focus’s executive producer, Josh Kantor, called Ed Diamond on the encrypted line. “Ed, we’ve got trouble,” said Kantor.
“What’s the problem?” Ed put the call on speakerphone so that Steve and the others could listen. They were part of this battle.
“Your call to the White House has ignited a firestorm at corporate,” said Kantor. “Chairman Riggs is up in arms.”
“I figured it might provoke something,” said Ed.
“I warned you about taking on Stokes,” said Kantor.
“They’re not really going to cave, are they?”
“It doesn’t look good,” said Kantor. “Stokes just called Riggs. He’s threatening to use every means at his disposal to destroy the corporation if your broadcast goes on.”
“The president had the guts to call himself?” asked Ed. “Have to make that part of our report.”
“You’re out of your mind,” said Kantor. Steve watched as Ed’s face reddened. “Riggs wants to talk with you directly,” said Kantor.
“Just a min….” Ed began to protest.
“Ed,” another voice cut in, “this is Mark Riggs.”
“Hi, Mark,” said Ed. He’d met the CEO only six or seven times over the past couple of years since Riggs had purchased the network.
“Josh, you still on the line?” said Riggs.
“I am,” said Kantor.
“O.K. This is all obviously between us. It’s very confidential.” Ed made no move to turn off the speakerphone in the bunker. Steve moved in closer to listen as Riggs continued. “I just had a call from the Oval Office, from Stokes.”
“Josh told me,” said Ed.
“Stokes is threatening to bring down the wrath of his entire administration on us.”
“I told Josh we should put that in our report,” Ed said. Steve wanted to cheer Ed’s bravado, but he suddenly felt a huge black pit open in his stomach. He’d put himself totally on the line to get the material for this report. Sacrificed everything. Risked Maya’s life. Now it looked as if it all could be coming apart.
“Diamond, you really have lost touch,” said Riggs. “You think you’re back in the glory days of Woodward and Bernstein and Watergate. Well, think again! You don’t know Stokes. He’s a totally different.”
Ed began taking deep breaths as Riggs raced on, “Your broadcast could be not just the end of Focus and the network but of the whole goddamned corporation.” The chairman’s voice now was trembling with anger and fear. “You don’t realize how many ways the government’s got us by the balls: licensing, cable permits, TV broadcast rights, not to mention a massive libel suit. All for the sake of one shitty report on Focus.”
“And what happens with the next shitty report on Focus that takes on Stokes?” asked Ed.
“There won’t be one,” said Riggs. “At least nothing like this.” He paused, as if listening to a nearby advisor. “I understand you won’t reveal the source of your information,” he continued.