Chapter Thirty
Sam took the call from Nick. “Hi, honey. How’s your day going?” She grimaced at the chief as she forced the cheery tone with her husband.
“Is it true that Cox threatened you?”
“How do you already know that?”
“Answer the question, Samantha.”
“He said something that some might consider a threat.”
“Tell me exactly what he said.”
Sam told the story yet again. “Henry is his nephew and admin, and he’s probably just being protective of him.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Please don’t do anything.”
“Sam, he threatened you. Who in the fuck does he think he is?”
“I understand you’re upset but think about it. How stupid would he have to be to come anywhere near me?”
“I don’t want to find out if he’s that stupid.”
Her gaze took in the captain and chief. “If we overreact to this, we may miss our chance to figure out why he’s so intent on keeping us from investigating Henry Allston. I want to see that through. If you remove Cox, Allston goes with him, and who knows if we’ll ever find him? I’d rather keep them both at Justice, sweating out whatever they’re trying to hide. We’ll find it.”
“How am I supposed to hear that one of my cabinet secretaries has threatened my wife and do nothing about it?”
“Your wife is fine. She’s surrounded by world-class security and top-notch police officers. Let me do the job. You can deal with him after, okay?” He was silent long enough that Sam began to wonder if he was still there. “Nick?”
“I’m here.”
She walked away from the others. “Talk to me.”
“You know how I feel about you being in danger. To think that one of my people is putting you there is intolerable.”
“I know, and I’m sorry you’re upset, but I honestly believe he was flexing his muscles more than anything. Don’t worry, okay?”
He huffed out a laugh. “What? Me worry?”
“Vernon and Jimmy won’t let anything happen.”
“They’re the only reason I can sleep at night.”
“The only reason? Clearly, I need to do a better job of wearing you out.”
“You’re doing just fine, babe. Be safe and get home to me soon.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“What’d he say?” Freddie asked when she returned to the conference room to deal with the other men in her life.
“He wants to hang the AG out to dry, but I convinced him to stand down. Before we quit for the day, I want to see Bryant. I have an itch, right here…” She scratched the back of her neck. “We’re missing something in this Cox-Forrester-Bryant Bermuda Triangle, and I want to know what it is.”
“I’ll ask him to come in for a chat.”
“You think he’ll come?”
“I’ll tell him it’s in his best interest to cooperate with us.”
“What’re we doing about the AG?” Malone asked.
“Nothing for the moment. He was looking for a big reaction, and I don’t want to give him that satisfaction. Instead, I’m digging deeper into what he’s so eager to keep hidden from me and the rest of the world. And once I figure out what that is, I’m going to nail him.”
Damien Bryant had lostsome of his swagger since Sam last saw him at the state dinner. His complexion had taken on a waxy appearance, and he had huge bags under his eyes. When Sam walked into the room, he scowled.
“What now?”
“Is that any way to greet an old friend?”
“Old friend. Right. You’re out to ruin me.”
“Not hardly. We wouldn’t even know each other if you hadn’t been breaking the law for quite some time now.”
“You can’t prove anything. I came in when you called. What do you want now?”
“Who’s Henry Allston?”
Bryant’s expression went blank as he blinked and swallowed. “I don’t know him.”
“Come on. Your entire demeanor changed when I mentioned his name. Who is he?”
“He works for Cox.”
“I already know that. Who is he to you?”
“No one. I know him through his boss. That’s it.”
“Damien, I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t believe you. In fact, I believe you know Henry Allston very, very well, and you know exactly what he and Cox are up to.”
“What’s in it for me to rat out the AG and his stooge?”
“Depends on what you tell us.”
Bryant shook his head. “I want the incentive package first.”
Sam glared at him for a hot second before she got up and left the room to call Faith. “Bryant has info about Cox and his shady assistant, Henry Allston. He’s looking for a deal.”
“Do you think he’s got the goods?”
“I’m not sure. How about you come over and listen to what he has to say with the goal of getting him to roll on Cox?”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
While Sam waited for her, she called her sister Angela. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“It’s been a tough day. Ella has an ear infection, and Jack is extra sad today. I’ve got the worst heartburn I’ve ever had, and the baby is having a party in there. Other than that…”
“I’m sorry, Ang. I wish there was something I could do to help.”
“You’ve got your own hands full. I’ll get through it. Everything is harder without him.”
Sam’s heart ached for her sister. “I wish I knew what to say.”
“I appreciate you checking on me—and connecting me to Roni. She’s been an amazing source of support.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. She’s the best.”
“She is. One of these days, I might even check out her Wild Widows.”
“I hope you do. She says they’re awesome.”
“I talked to her friend Iris, who was also left with three little kids when her husband died. That helped. At least I know I’m not actually insane, despite how I might feel at times.”
“You’re doing great. Spence would be so proud of you.”
“I guess.”
“He would be. We all are.”
“Thanks.” She sniffed. “I’d give anything for this to not have happened.”
“Me, too. Everyone who loves you and your kids would give anything to have him back.”
“I got your message about the hearing tomorrow. I want to go, but I’m just not sure I’m up to it.”
“I’ll be there, so don’t feel pressured to come.”
“Can I let you know in the morning?”
“Of course. Either way is fine. It’s going to be a long road, so you need to pace yourself. This is just the preliminary hearing.”
“I want to be there for him. These people sold him poison. I want them to see the lives they’ve ruined.”
“You’ll have plenty of chances for that before this case is fully adjudicated.”
“Thanks for all the support. I don’t know what I’d do without you and Trace, Mom and Celia… Everyone has been so amazing.”
“We love you and the kids. We’ll always be right here for you.”
“That means everything to me. Ella’s waking up from her nap, and it’s time for more medicine. I’ll text you in the morning, okay?”
“Sounds good. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Sam closed the phone and took a couple of deep breaths to get her emotions in check so she could focus on what she needed to do so she could get out of there. Her new watch read five thirty.
As she left her office, Faith came into the pit.
“Interview one,” Sam told her.
She followed Faith down the hallway.
When they entered the room, Bryant perked up.
“I believe you know Assistant U.S. Attorney Faith Miller.”
“I’ve had the pleasure.”
“Lieutenant Holland tells me you’re interested in a deal.”
“If I give you Cox and Allston on a silver platter, what’s in it for me?”
“That depends on whether the info you give us is something we can use to prosecute them and is contingent upon your willingness to testify.”
He hadn’t expected that last part. “Testify? Cox will have me killed before that can ever happen.”
“We have ways of keeping you safe.”
“Sure you do, and he’s aware of every one of them.”
“It’s up to you.” Faith crossed her arms. “Either you’re in or you’re not.”
“I’d rather be dead than spend the rest of my life in prison, so I guess I’m in.”
Faith sat next to Sam at the table. “I’m listening.”
“Cox is heavily into gambling. Has been for decades. The first wife left him when he ran them into bankruptcy. The second wife has no idea he’s burning through her money as well as his own.”
“How did this not come up during his confirmation hearings?”
“It’s very well hidden.”
“Hidden how?”
“It’s all done through Allston.”
“Oh my God,” Sam said. “I knew there was something.”
“Reggie took Henry out of an abusive home. His sister’s ex-husband was beating the shit out of both of them. She refused to leave the guy. Reggie rescued Henry and took him in. He and the first wife raised him as their own. There’s nothing Henry won’t do for Reggie.”
“What does Reggie gamble on?”
“Everything. Sports, horse racing, fights.”
“How did you find out about it?” Faith asked.
His gaze shifted between them as he seemed to weigh how much he should say. “I run some gambling rackets. Interested people tend to find you when you’re in the business. He was in heavy to me over the last seven years. Right now, he owes me about one-point-five.”
“Million?”
“Yeah.”
Faith stared at him in disbelief. “The Attorney General of the United States has a one-point-five-million-dollar gambling debt?”
“That’s just to me. Who knows what else there is?”
Faith sat back in her seat. “This leaves him open to blackmail.”
“I’m aware, and so is he.”
“How did Tom Forrester play into this?”
“As they go way back, Tom was aware of Reggie’s past problems with gambling, but he didn’t know it was ongoing until Henry Allston’s name popped up during his investigation into me. That led him right back to Cox and the gambling.”
“Is that what the three of you were fighting about shortly before Tom was killed?”
He nodded. “Reggie was after Tom to forget all about that part of the investigation, but Tom, being Tom, wasn’t having it.”
“Did Reggie have Tom killed?” Sam asked, even though she still believed the Peckhams had been responsible for Tom’s murder.
“No! God no. Reggie loved Tom like a brother.”
“And his brother was about to blow the lid off his dirty secret.”
“Tom said he wouldn’t tell anyone, but only if Reggie got serious help.”
“How would he do that as the current Attorney General?”
“That was a sticking point. Reggie swore he’d resign and get help as soon as the investigation into the former joint chiefs was completed.”
“That could take months,” Faith said.
“Which was understood. Reggie felt it was important that he personally oversee that situation.”
“Why?” Sam asked. “Couldn’t that have been handed off to a deputy AG?”
“Tom said the same thing, but Reggie insisted on seeing to it personally.”
Again, Sam’s gut was telling her there had to be more to the story. “So Tom was willing to wait, possibly months, to reveal what his investigation into your campaign finance irregularities had uncovered?”
“No, he was going to handle the two things separately.”
“Was Reggie’s debt covered by campaign money?”
Sam could tell that question made him uncomfortable as his gaze darted toward Faith.
“Are you giving me immunity or not?” he asked.
“I’m concerned about your credibility problem.”
“Everything I’ve told you is true.”
“And you’ll testify to that?”
“If you protect me and keep me alive long enough to do that.”
“Do you honestly believe the sitting AG would have you killed for revealing his gambling issue?” Sam asked, incredulous.
“I think people have killed for much less of a reason than that. Being the AG has been the pinnacle of Cox’s life. He loves the attention, the fawning, the respect, the access to power. I do think he’d kill me or anyone who might threaten to reveal him for what he really is—a broke, broken addict who lies to his own wife to cover his trail of financial ruin. Tom was pushing him hard to resign before this came to light.”
“Do you think there’s a connection between Cox and what the joint chiefs did?” Faith asked. “Is he sticking around to prosecute or protect them?”
Bryant appeared to give the question careful thought. “I’m not sure. To be honest, it hadn’t occurred to me that there might be a connection, but now that you say that, I wouldn’t rule it out.”
Jesus,Sam thought. What have we stumbled upon?
She glanced at Faith, who seemed similarly shocked.
“What else?” Faith asked.
“I don’t understand.”
“What else do you know that we didn’t ask about?”
The two women stared him down until he blinked.
“I heard some talk about the president’s military attaché, the one the joint chiefs suspect alerted the president to what was happening with them.”
Sam tried desperately to figure out who he was talking about.
“Lieutenant Commander Juan Rodriguez,” Bryant said.
She recalled the handsome, dark-haired officer who was frequently in Nick’s company as one of the keepers of the so-called nuclear football, which was actually a briefcase containing the nuclear launch codes.
“What about him?” Sam asked.
“They blame him for ruining their plan and leaving their careers and reputations in ruins.”
Sam got up and left the room, pulling the secure BlackBerry from her back pocket as she walked quickly toward her office.
The voice-mail message Nick had recorded picked up with instructions to press number sixty-nine for assistance and him laughing as he told her he’d call her back as soon as he could.
She ended that call and put through another to Terry on her regular phone.
“Hey, Sam.”
“Terry, I need you to call me on the BlackBerry immediately.”
“Will do.”
As she slapped the phone closed, she appreciated that he didn’t ask any questions. This conversation needed to be had on a secure line.
When the BlackBerry rang, she answered it. “Terry… I’m hearing rumblings that Lieutenant Commander Rodriguez is suspected of tipping off Nick about the joint chiefs. I tried to call Nick, but he didn’t pick up. Rodriguez’s life could be in danger.”
“I’m on it. Thanks for the info.”
She wanted to ask about Lindsey, but she didn’t want to delay him acting on behalf of Rodriguez.
Malone came to the door of her office. “What’s up?”
“I just received information I needed to pass on to someone who could do something about it.”
“What did you hear?”
She waved him in and waited for him to close the door before she updated him on what they’d learned from Bryant.
“Holy. Shit.”
“I alerted Terry O’Connor about the possible threat to Rodriguez. I figured he’d know what to do.”
“He’ll bring in the Secret Service and Rodriguez’s chain of command. They’ll take care of him.”
“Nick has spoken so fondly of Rodriguez. He’ll be devastated if anything ever happened to him.” She remembered him telling her about the info Juan had brought to him and how upsetting it had been to realize the military leaders had been plotting to overthrow his administration.
“You’ve done what you can there. Next question is what’s the plan with this info you uncovered about Cox?”
“I have no idea. This is way above my pay grade, and it’s riddled with conflict of interest for me. I was going to bring it to you guys to figure out next steps. What do you do when you find out the country’s top LEO is seriously compromised?”
“You report it to his boss and have him removed from office immediately.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Who’ll do that?”
“The chief will make that call. Do you feel the information is credible?”
“I do. Even though Bryant is angling for immunity, I feel like he’s being straight with us.”
“And he understands he may need to testify if charges are brought against Cox?”
“He does.”
“He’ll need protection.”
“Faith is aware of that and said she’d arrange it.”
“Are you comfortable with him getting full immunity?”
“Not entirely. He ordered the murder of one of his own guys in an effort to make us believe his son was dead so he could get him off the hook on the murder-for-hire charges. We know that much for certain, and I don’t like the idea of him getting away with ordering the killing of Zachery Calder. But… We won’t nail Cox without Bryant’s testimony, and to get that, we have to give him something.”
“Bryant’s crimes are more significant than Cox’s.”
“Maybe so, but the AG is ripe for blackmail, which could imperil the entire country.”
“Do you like Cox for the Forrester murder?”
“I would’ve liked him and his shady assistant-slash-nephew for it if the same gun hadn’t been used in Avery’s shooting. To my knowledge, Cox has had nothing to do with Avery Hill, other than being his boss’s boss.”
“We’re moving forward with the plan to use the judge to lure Harlan Peckham out of hiding?”
“We are. There’s a meeting at zero eight hundred on that.”
“Give me the White House chief of staff’s phone number. We’ll take the Cox matter from here.”
Sam found Terry’s number on her phone and wrote it down. She tore the page from her notebook and handed it to him.
“This is the end of your involvement in the Cox investigation. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal.”
“Good work.”
“Thanks. I think.”
Malone grimaced as he stood to leave. “Only you, Holland. Only you.”