Photographers were called in to record the moment for posterity. Taylor and Foss shook hands for the cameras. They’d successfully hammered out the means to be pro-active. They could take action outside their own borders. They could with a formal invitation. They could do it without a signatory nation’s full approval. It represented a sweeping change in the way the war on terrorism would be fought.
SAPATA would also help stabilize smaller governments: those with insurgent forces they could not uproot themselves. Taylor requested that the countries sign in alphabetical order, based on an English standard. That placed the United States at the bottom. The president wanted to erase any notion that SAPATA was actually a “Taylor Doctrine.” Foss may have felt blindsided by Taylor’s strong-arming tactics at the session, but even the prime minister agreed mutual “defense” agreements were outdated. Today’s global threats required a posture that embraced the notion of mutual “offense.” SAPATA was it.
“Congratulations, Mr. President,” Foss said as Morgan Taylor came up to add his name to the document.
“The same to you, Mr. Prime Minister.”
The two old warriors stood at attention as the still cameras and TV crews shot their pictures. Then Foss explained to the world the momentous step they’d taken together at Government House.
What the hell is this all about? Gonzales wondered after decoding the message encrypted in an eBay bid for classic rock and roll ‘45s. It worried him. Midway through the communiqué was the heart of the problem:
He asked if it was pure luck or coincidence that every break came at somebody else’s expense?
The question was so pointed, so specific.
How does he know?
There was more.
Can you get into The New York Times?
Gonzales could. A complication? he wondered. Yes, but not insurmountable.
“Philadelphia, Detroit, Miami, Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Chicago,” reported Jassim. “Dixon’s personally talked to many of the leading big and tall men’s stores.”
“And?” D’Angelo asked.
“Based on purchases in the last six months, we had likelies in each of those cities. Factor in the exact measurements, and we narrow the possibilities to Detroit, Indie, and Chicago.”
“Any name matches?”
“Let me get Dixon. He can fill you in more.”
Dixon, the CIA liaison to the FBI, was on a call. When he finished, he joined Jassim and D’Angelo.
“What’s the latest on Razak,” Jassim prompted.
“Still nothing one-to-one, but we are assuming he could be using a different name.”
“Correct,” D’Angelo replied.
“Well, based on that last call, I’m down to two cash customers who fit the description of a six-four-to-five-plus Middle Eastern weightlifter. One who gave a name and address and another who didn’t. We’re checking on the one who did. He’s in Indianapolis. Right measurements. Right age. Right look.”
“And the other?”
“Chicago. A guy who shopped earlier in the year at Rochester Big & Tall. He came in wearing summer clothes…in January. He needed a lot to keep him warm.”
“Can you help me out, Robin?” O’Connell asked one of his friends on the business desk.
“Whatcha want?” the Wall Street writer asked, looking up from her computer.
“I’m working on an article on Elliott Strong.”
“Strong the yahoo?”
“That’s the one. I have his radio stuff down, but I need info on his net value. Can you run down his financials?”
“I don’t know, Mike.”
“Just get me started.”
“I’m on a deadline,” she said.
“You know where to look. Please.” This should have been a simple yes or no. Instead it was a negotiation.
“What do you need?”
“Everything. Loans, leans, holdings, tax history, tax problems, partnerships. The whole nine yards.”
“That’s an awful lot.”
Yup, she’s negotiating, O’Connell thought.
“I hope this isn’t a rush, Mike.”
“It’s a big rush. Weaver is on my ass to get an article out before the march on D.C. Strong’s talking it up on his show.”
“I don’t know, I’ve got this enterprise piece of my own.”
“Come on, get me started.” Time to pay up. “Look, if there’s a solid business angle, we can team up on a sidebar.”
This was just what the business reporter wanted to hear. She smiled thinking she’d gotten the best of O’Connell. She had a lot to learn.
“Okay, but just one hour. I’ll e-mail everything over to you.”
“Let’s talk a little about the political parties in the U.S. of A.” Elliott Strong represented neither and attacked both. Some people tried to describe him as a libertarian, but they’d be wrong. Strong defined himself as a cultural conservative, an anti-Beltway, and “the living, breathing voice of the Founding Fathers.”
“They aren’t representing you. They’re not doing the work of Jefferson, Adams, Madison, and Washington. They’ve allowed the government to grow to suit their own needs, not yours. They come at it from different sides and say the same things. The Republicans argue against big government, but they’ve added new Cabinet departments and ballooned deficits to the trillions. And the Democrats?” The jab was deliberate. “They’re the greatest social spenders of all time. The Democrats have run up bills we’ll never afford to pay from here to Hyannis Port. Well, maybe not from here,” he joked. “Don’t count on either party to be the loyal opposition. They’re both the loyal resistance: the resistance to the future. They’re not the ones to lead. For God’s sake, they don’t even see where the country is already going; where you want it to be; the nation your children deserve to inherit. There is a man who does see it right, who does see the light. Bob Bridgeman.” He decided Bob sounded better than Robert.
Strong was getting to his point. “He’s already a leader. He’s a leader you can count on. He’s a leader you can trust. He’s a leader who can end the January Siege.”
The host had been looking for another way to describe the inauguration of Lamden and Taylor. Now it just rolled off his tongue. “The January Siege.” He smiled in his mirror, quite proud.
“The January Siege! January 20, the day we lost control of the country. Well, Bob Bridgeman is going to Washington and you’re his army. You’re his instrument of justice. Show America that we are united and that you want Congress to change the laws or get out of the way.
“General Bridgeman stands with you. And unlike the parties which created the travesty of the January Siege, Bob Bridgeman also stands for you.” Strong was leading up to his final point. “Bob Bridgeman won’t suppress your freedom of speech. He supports your right to assemble, and he will not take away your ability to own and bear arms. He’ll tell you as much in Washington. So come ready.” The word ready was an intentional choice. The implication, though unstated, was for protestors to come armed and ready.
“Your calls coming right up.” He threw to a McDonald’s commercial. Strong Nation was sailing down the main stream.