"Of course, but no one can stand behind him if he doesn't put in an appearance. Sixty seconds after the President is swept from office, someone has to take the oath as successor. The rumor mills have him hining out until the last minute so he won't be associated with the President's crazy policies."

"What about Moran?"

"This is where it gets sticky. He's claiming he has proof that Margolin committed suicine and that I am covering up the fact."

"Anybody believe him?"

"Doesn't matter if he's believed. The news media are jumping on his statements like ants on honey. His news conferences are getting massive attention, and he's demanding Secret Service protection. His aides have already drafted a transition plan and named his inner circle of advisers. Shall I go on?"

"The picture is clear," Oates said resignedly. "Alan Moran will be the next President of the United States."

"We can't allow it," Emett said coldly.

The others stared at him. "Unless we can produce Vince Margolin by tomorrow," asked Brogan, "how can we prevent it?"

"Any way possible," said Emmett. He produced a folder from an attache' case. "I'd like you gentlemen to take a look at this."

Oates opened the folder and studied the contents without comment, and then passed it on to Brogan, who in turn handed it to Metcalf.

When they finished they gazed at Emmett as if silently nominating him to speak first.

"What you gentlemen read in the report is true," he said simply.

"Why hasn't this come out before?" Oates demanded.

Because there was never a reason to order an in-depth investigation into the man before," answered Emmett. "The FBI is not in the habit of revealing skeletons in our legislators' closets unless there is Solid evidence of criminal activity in their backgrounds.

Dirt on divorces, petty misdemeanors, sexual perversions or traffic violations we file in a vault and look the other way. Moran's file showed him to be clean, too clean for someone who clawed his way to the top without benefit of education, average intelligence, a penchant for hard work, wealth or important contacts. Nothing about his character indicated aggressiveness or talent. As you can see the results aren't exactly a recommendation for a Pope."

Metcalf scanned the report again. "This stock brokerage firm in Chicago, what is it called? Ah, yes, Blackfox and Churchill."

"A front to launder Moran's bribery and payoff operation. The names came off tombstones in a Fargo, North Dakota, cemetery.

Bogus stock transactions are conducted to hide bribe money from shady special-interest groups, defense contractors, state and city officials seeking federal funding and not caring how they get it, underworld payments for favors. Speaker of the House Moran makes the Bougainvilles look like Boy Scouts."

"We've got to go public with this," Brogan said adamantly.

"I wouldn't push it," cautioned Oates. "Moran would go to any length to deny it, claiming it was a frame-up to keep him from leading the country to reconciliation and unity." I can see him pleading for the American tradition of fair play while he's hanging from the cross.