The Simple Truth

Fiske looked bewildered. I dont understand.

I was the guard on duty that night, John. It took me twenty-five years to figure out what happened, but I couldnt have done it without you and Sara. I think the PCP angle hit me right after it did you at your office. I never even knew about the drug testing at Fort Plessy, although I guess it wasnt something they broadcast.

Whether anybody else knew or not, I dont think anyone back then cared about what happened to Rufus Harms.

Actually, I cared. McKe

Fiske studied the man for a moment, still reeling from this last development. Well, youre doing something about it now.

Twenty-five years too late.

Rufus is going to be free, isnt he? Thats all he cares about.

McKe

Fiske looked toward the road. What about Perkins?

McKe

Go? Go where?

Perkins is going to see the fifth person who was in the stockade that night.

Who? Who was it?

Youll find out. Soon youll know everything.

["C60"]CHAPTER SIXTY

When the woman opened the door, Richard Perkins burst in past her. Where is he?

In his study.

Perkins raced down the hallway and threw open the door. The tall man looked back at him, a calm look in his eyes. Perkins shut the door. Everythings gone to hell and Im getting out of here.

Jordan Knight sat back and shook his head. If you run, theyll know youre guilty.

They know Im guilty now. I kidnapped Sara Evans. Leo is probably dead by now.

You followed her ever since she left the Court today. I hoped, when I contacted you, it would all have been taken care of. But its still only her word against yours.

Why would she make up something like that?

Jordan rubbed his chin. Think about it. She was fired today. You escorted her out the door. She makes wild accusations against you; perhaps you can invent some others to bolster your position.

Rufus Harms is still out there. I saw him.

Jordans face darkened. Ah, the celebrated Mr. Harms.

He killed Frank and Vic.

Two fewer people to worry about, then.

Thats damn cold-blooded of you. You were the one who told them to kill Michael Fiske. You got all this started.

Jordan looked thoughtful. I still dont know how Rufus Harms was able to identify me in that appeal. He knew all of you. I wasnt even in the Army.

He didnt ID you.

Knight looked shocked at first; then there was a glint of hope in his eyes. Perkins explained, I talked to Tremaine. Rayfield lied to you. You werent named in the appeal. Just the four of us.

So Im the only unknown. Jordan stood up and looked at Perkins. God, that meant he still had a way out. Only one more thing, one more person to deal with, and this nightmare was over. He almost trembled at the thought of it.

Who knows for how long. God, all this for what? We shoot the bastard up with PCP and it comes down to this.

You actually shot him up, Richard.

Dont act high and mighty now. It was your idea to use the PCP, Mr. CIA.

Well, naturally I was there conducting the testing. And listening to all of you complain about Harms. Just trying to do you a favor. He eyed Perkins with an u

Stumping to the end? How about anti-murder? How do you feel about that, Senator?

I never killed anybody.

How about that little girl, Jordan? How about her?

Rufus Harms pled guilty to that crime. As far as Im concerned, that plea hasnt changed.

Well, it will soon enough if we dont do something.

Are you certain you want to run?

Im not hanging around for the ax to fall.

I suppose youll need money?

Perkins nodded. I dont have a nice little retirement package like we put together for Vic and Frank. I have the bad habit of always living beyond my means.

Jordan took a key from his pocket and unlocked his desk drawer. I have some cash here. The rest will have to be by check. I can give you fifty thousand, to start.

That sounds good. To start.

Jordan turned and pointed a pistol at Perkins.

What the hell are you doing, Jordan?

You burst in here, clearly out of your mind, telling of these outrageous crimes youve committed, including kidnapping Sara Evans, for what purpose I dont know. You threaten me. I manage to get out my gun and kill you.

Youre crazy. No one will believe that.

Oh, they will, Richard. Jordan pulled the trigger and Perkins dropped to the floor. He heard a scream from the hallway. Jordan moved to the body, quickly searched Perkins, found his gun, placed it in the dead mans hand and fired a shot into the wall. Its all right, he called out, rising from the floor and putting the pistol down. Im all right. He opened the door and froze as Rufus Harms stared back at him. Behind Rufus were Chandler, McKe

McKe

I have no idea what youre talking about.

I was the guard on duty the night you and your friends came calling on Rufus at Fort Plessy. It was my first and last time pulling guard duty at the stockade. Probably why nobody remembered me.

Jordan Knight flinched. Am I supposed to know what youre talking about?

I let you in to see Rufus because I was a greenhorn scared private and I had a captain ordering me to. And then Rufus came busting out of his cell, knocked me down and changed everybodys life forever. For twenty-five damn years Ive wondered what really happened in there. I kept quiet about all of you because I was scared. Rayfield was the most senior. He probably wouldve remembered me. Guess no one mentioned my name to him. Lucky. Rayfield fixed it up so I wouldnt get in trouble, but he made it clear I had better keep my mouth shut about all of you being in there. And I never knew what had happened anyway. And by the time I got the courage to say something, it was all over, and Rufus was in prison. Ive lived with that guilt all these years. But I got off easy. McKe

Jordan cleared his throat. Very touching, Agent McKe

CIA records will show that you were at Fort Plessy conducting PCP tests on soldiers stationed there, McKe

If you can get those records, get them. Even if I was there, so what? I was in the intelligence service back then. Thats no secret. The public is aware of that.

I wonder if your constituents would be bothered by the fact that you were administering PCP to soldiers, Chandler said heatedly.

Even if I did and Im not admitting anything the program was perfectly aboveboard and legal, as my wife could certainly tell you.

U.S. v. Stanley? Sara said bitterly. Jordans gaze did not leave McKe