A live shot showed the outside of George Washington University Hospital. There was nothing to see. The anchor cut to a reporter at the hospital. He had no facts other than what O’Connor had relayed to Addis.

“The police,” the reporter said, “have no idea about the motive.”

Shit, Gillian Silva, Raymond DeNoefri, now Dunne … .

The show returned to the local anchor: “Sadly, these days motives are not always needed. And on a personal note, let me say … .”

He went on to report that he knew Dunne socially, that Dunne had been of help to him when the anchor developed a substance abuse problem, that he was certain some people will question what Dunne had been doing in such a notorious and dangerous neighborhood on his own, late in the evening, and that …

Addis turned off the set before the anchor finished his point. He saw a black van drive past his house again.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

“Where?”

“Ever been inside the White House?” he asked.

35 - The White House June 29

35

The White House June 29

The meeting was under way when Addis entered McGreer’s suite.

“Do we have to do anything,” Ken Byrd asked, “other than issue a statement expressing shock and saying the President and Sally are praying for him?”

Kelly cracked his knuckles. “What’s important,” he said, “is that we look like we’re in control.”

“Put a special FBI team on it?” McGreer asked.

“That makes sense,” Mike Finn said.

They all looked toward Jake Grayton.

“I just got off the phone with the police chief,” Grayton said calmly. “He’s throwing everything he’s got into this. I think we should let them handle it initially. I hate this, too. But a shooting in Simple City isn’t that extraordinary. And, to be candid, the cops know how to work that turf better than the Bureau. We will, of course, offer them all the support.”

An uncharacteristically immodest moment for Grayton, Addis thought. He cleared his throat.

“I’d like to remind people,” Addis said, “that not only was Clarence until recently an official at the White House, he also was a key witness before a presidential commission investigating a presidential assassination. If you don’t do anything, people will wonder.”

“Wonder what?” Grayton asked. “Wonder what he was doing there on his own? Wonder why the attempted murder of an ex-White House official receives more attention than the murder yesterday of a fifteen-year-old on a bus, on her way to tutoring some kids?”

“Alfre Marvin,” Byrd said.

Grayton looked angry at being interrupted.

“That’s her name,” Byrd said nervously.

“Since the assassination, Clarence has been acting erratic. Not showing up to meetings or training classes. Not filing reports. Who knows what’s going on in his head? Do you, Mr. Addis? Any ideas what he’s been up to?”

Addis did not say anything. McGreer broke the silence.