Read Online Girl of Vengeance by Charles Sheehan-Miles - Free Book Online
Authors: Charles Sheehan-Miles
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about, Collins.”
Leslie thought furiously. If McMillan’s people hadn’t shot at Thompson’s wife, then who did? And why? It didn’t make any sense.
Richard Thompson. May 5 .
I understand, Richard. I really do. But the political liability at this point is massive. And we can’t have the Secretary of Defense wrapped up in a scandal on the eve of his confirmation hearing.
Richard Thompson gritted his teeth in rage as he sat in the back of the car and rode back toward the base at Fort Myers. As always, traffic in and out of Washington was snarled. At least he didn’t have far to go, Fort Myers was right across the river. He presumed that he would have some days to clear his personal property out of the house there. The bigger sting was the President just dropping him. As if he had no confidence that Richard would survive this storm.
Survive he would. But first he had to make it through the next few days. And those would be difficult enough.
The last week had consisted of nothing but wave after wave of shocks. First, the news that Adelina’s daughter, Andrea, was coming to the United States, after he’d expressly ordered Adelina to keep her away. It was bad enough that Carrie’s height continually reminded him that Senator Chuck Rainsley had been with Adelina— Senator Chuck Rainsley, of all people —but to have a second daughter by him. It made Richard queasy to think of it.
In truth, he’d tried to be a good father to both of them. But he just couldn’t stomach it when it came to the youngest girl. He supposed it was because he knew from the first that she wasn’t his. Carrie he’d had as a baby, and it stayed that way until she’d had her blood typed at six years old. With Andrea, he knew from the beginning—he knew in the surest way possible that he was not her father, because he hadn’t touched that hag since the night he’d, in a drunken stupor, forced himself on Adelina and conceived the twins.
Richard Thompson no longer drank to excess.
His phone rang. Richard almost pressed the ignore button, because he recognized the number. It was Joseph Bergmann, the senior staffer of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Bergmann had been a thorn in his side for weeks as he’d prepared for his confirmation hearings—hearings that had been scheduled to proceed in the morning, but were now pointless. But the fact was, this scandal wouldn’t last. He’d be cleared soon enough, and then hopefully he’d be able to move on with minimal damage to his career.
“Richard Thompson speaking,” he said, answering the phone.
“Ambassador Thompson, this is Joseph Bergmann.”
Ambassador Thompson, not Secretary Thompson. Clearly Bergmann had gotten the word already.
“I suppose you’ve heard the President is rescinding the nomination?” Richard asked.
“I have, I’m sorry to hear that, Ambassador. Please allow me to offer my condolences. I’m sure when all this is sorted out you’ll be back on top again.”
“Thank you, Joseph,” Richard replied in a dismissive tone. He didn’t need sympathy from a mere Senate staffer. “If there’s nothing more, I’ll—”
“Actually, Ambassador, I was just calling to verify that you’d gotten word the hearing is being moved to the Central Hearing Facility in the Hart building because of the increased interest from the public and media.”
“Excuse me?” Richard said. “ What hearing? Why would you hold confirmation hearings when my nomination has been withdrawn? Get it together, man.”
Bergmann’s tone went cold. “There’s no need to be rude, Ambassador. In fact, Senator Rainsley insisted on going forward with hearings into your conduct at the Central Intelligence Agency, and specifically events in Badakhshan, Afghanistan in 1983.”
For the first time in years, Richard was rendered speechless. He sat in the seat, phone at his ear, unable to speak, unable to think of what to say. Your conduct at the Central Intelligence Agency? He’d never been
Leslie thought furiously. If McMillan’s people hadn’t shot at Thompson’s wife, then who did? And why? It didn’t make any sense.
Richard Thompson. May 5 .
I understand, Richard. I really do. But the political liability at this point is massive. And we can’t have the Secretary of Defense wrapped up in a scandal on the eve of his confirmation hearing.
Richard Thompson gritted his teeth in rage as he sat in the back of the car and rode back toward the base at Fort Myers. As always, traffic in and out of Washington was snarled. At least he didn’t have far to go, Fort Myers was right across the river. He presumed that he would have some days to clear his personal property out of the house there. The bigger sting was the President just dropping him. As if he had no confidence that Richard would survive this storm.
Survive he would. But first he had to make it through the next few days. And those would be difficult enough.
The last week had consisted of nothing but wave after wave of shocks. First, the news that Adelina’s daughter, Andrea, was coming to the United States, after he’d expressly ordered Adelina to keep her away. It was bad enough that Carrie’s height continually reminded him that Senator Chuck Rainsley had been with Adelina— Senator Chuck Rainsley, of all people —but to have a second daughter by him. It made Richard queasy to think of it.
In truth, he’d tried to be a good father to both of them. But he just couldn’t stomach it when it came to the youngest girl. He supposed it was because he knew from the first that she wasn’t his. Carrie he’d had as a baby, and it stayed that way until she’d had her blood typed at six years old. With Andrea, he knew from the beginning—he knew in the surest way possible that he was not her father, because he hadn’t touched that hag since the night he’d, in a drunken stupor, forced himself on Adelina and conceived the twins.
Richard Thompson no longer drank to excess.
His phone rang. Richard almost pressed the ignore button, because he recognized the number. It was Joseph Bergmann, the senior staffer of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Bergmann had been a thorn in his side for weeks as he’d prepared for his confirmation hearings—hearings that had been scheduled to proceed in the morning, but were now pointless. But the fact was, this scandal wouldn’t last. He’d be cleared soon enough, and then hopefully he’d be able to move on with minimal damage to his career.
“Richard Thompson speaking,” he said, answering the phone.
“Ambassador Thompson, this is Joseph Bergmann.”
Ambassador Thompson, not Secretary Thompson. Clearly Bergmann had gotten the word already.
“I suppose you’ve heard the President is rescinding the nomination?” Richard asked.
“I have, I’m sorry to hear that, Ambassador. Please allow me to offer my condolences. I’m sure when all this is sorted out you’ll be back on top again.”
“Thank you, Joseph,” Richard replied in a dismissive tone. He didn’t need sympathy from a mere Senate staffer. “If there’s nothing more, I’ll—”
“Actually, Ambassador, I was just calling to verify that you’d gotten word the hearing is being moved to the Central Hearing Facility in the Hart building because of the increased interest from the public and media.”
“Excuse me?” Richard said. “ What hearing? Why would you hold confirmation hearings when my nomination has been withdrawn? Get it together, man.”
Bergmann’s tone went cold. “There’s no need to be rude, Ambassador. In fact, Senator Rainsley insisted on going forward with hearings into your conduct at the Central Intelligence Agency, and specifically events in Badakhshan, Afghanistan in 1983.”
For the first time in years, Richard was rendered speechless. He sat in the seat, phone at his ear, unable to speak, unable to think of what to say. Your conduct at the Central Intelligence Agency? He’d never been
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