Part 22 (1/2)
Senator Engels's face flushed hot with fury; he already suspected what the President was going to say.
”I've accepted Governor Baker's offer; the Vice President and I will be leaving for Austin in two days.”
”Mr. President, I can't tell you how disappointed I am. This is an egregious error in judgment; you and your successor would be going into what one could only consider a hostile and unpredictable rogue state. You do remember they seceded from the union?”
”Fred, I understand your concerns. I don't agree with Baker on anything at all, you know that; but he's not going to let anything happen to us, and he's surely not going to try anything himself. Baker is fiery and radical in his views, but he isn't our enemy.”
Senator Engels tried rein in his rage, but it was becoming apparent.
”Might I ask why you're doing this?”
”Baker claims he has proof that the terror attacks and the a.s.sa.s.sination were perpetrated by people other than who the CIA and FBI claims are responsible.”
”Mr. President, you almost sound like you believe this nonsense! I a.s.sure you he has nothing of the sort; the CIA's investigation is airtight. This is a political ploy of some sort by the governor to embarra.s.s you!”
”I'm sure you're right, but Baker truly believes he has proof and he's on the verge of causing a full blown regional secession; we've got rumors about states from Louisiana to Utah saying they are going to throw in with Austin if we try anything rash.”
”It's all a bluff sir; can't you see what they're doing?”
The President's tone had changed from cordial to confrontational; the senator cursed to himself, he had pushed too hard and too fast.
”It's not a bluff, Fred! I trusted you; I trusted your counsel! We've really screwed up on the border; you've really screwed up the border, admit it! I will not be the President that presides over a civil war; I will not be another Lincoln!”
”Look, Mr. President, you need to remain calm-”
”No; I'm tired of being calm; being calm and towing your line is what got us here! Everything that you and your people have told me has blown up in my face; the border, the economy, the speech that d.a.m.ned speech was a disaster Fred!”
”Some very gifted and knowledgeable experts contributed to that speech sir. Look, I know things aren't going as expected, but we have to give these things time. Until then, I have to advise against the trip to Texas.”
”Give me one reason why I shouldn't go; the notion that this is political wrangling by the governor isn't good enough.”
The senator struggled to develop a riposte, but words failed him. Before he could respond, the President continued.
”That's exactly what I thought, Fred. I'm going to Texas, the decision has been made; and when I get there, if that ignorant, cowboy governor has anything resembling evidence that what we released to the American public was false,” the President paused for a moment and took a deep breath, ”heads will roll Fred, and yours will be one of them, do you understand me?”
”Mr. President with all due respect, I believe this trip may be very dangerous for you if you choose to follow through with it.”
”Is that a threat, senator?”
”Absolutely not, sir. How could you suggest such a-”
”When I return, some things are going to change in this town; I want a meeting scheduled with you and your policy makers when I get back.”
”I'll have Becky set it up with Angela, sir. Have a safe trip.”
”Oh Fred, one more thing; the governor told me something strange in our last conversation. He said he knew I would get a lot of grief if I made this trip; but he also said he had a message for anyone in my inner circle whose objections to this were without reason or justification.”
”Oh? What's our governor's message?”
”He said, 'It's a buyer's market,' do you know what that means?”
”It's a what?”
”Buyer's market.”
”Sounds like all the other senseless bilge that is pumped from his mouth; I have no idea what he's talking about.”
”Well, never mind then; I look forward to our meeting when I return, senator.”
”Likewise, sir.”
Click.
The senator slammed the phone against his desk repeatedly as he roared with acrimony over the conversation. Who does he think he is! He glanced down and noticed the President's biography that lay on his desk; he flung his hand in a fierce sweeping motion and sent the book sailing across the room. The book collided with an antique lamp atop an even older end table, and sent it cras.h.i.+ng to the floor; the broken lamp only exacerbated the senator's rage. His secretary cautiously cracked the door to check on the senator.
”Is everything alright sir?”
”Get out!”
The senator closed his eyes and tried to regain his composure; this was not the time to lose his senses. He paced the office while he gathered his thoughts; there was not much to consider, he knew he had only one recourse remaining.
He retrieved the phone and dialed Becky.
”Yes sir?”
”Becky, bring me some coffee with three splashes of Irish cream.”
”Yes sir.”
”And Becky, I'll be on a conference call for the next hour; no disruptions, alright?”
”Yes sir; be right there with your coffee.”
He sat on the plush couch and waited impatiently for Becky to bring his drink. After several minutes, she arrived with a nervous smile and handed it to him; he took it without a word and waited until she left before transitioning back to his desk.
He procrastinated by tidying his desk and taking several sips of the concoction Becky had brought him. Finally, he picked up the phone and dialed a number; the phone rang several times before her heard a man's voice on the other end of the line.
”Yes?”
”It's me.”
”I know who it is.”
”The President and Vice President are going to Texas; I tried to dissuade him but he's determined to go.”