(1976) The R Document by Irving Wallace Read Free Book Online

said. ‘We should have someone in California. Either you or - perhaps someone of stature who’s been in the Administration longer.’ He paused, then added with emphasis, ‘We’re not going to lose this one. I won’t allow it. I won’t let things go on the way they have. This morning I walked over to the East Room to look at the work being done on it. What a shambles, and what a disgrace. When the President’s house isn’t safe, we know we’re in trouble. And it could happen again. You know those trained German shepherds and Doberman pinschers they made me put out there on the grounds? Security, they said. Last night we lost our sixth one to snipers. Now I’m being advised to allow an electrified barrier to be installed, to surround the White House, to isolate me, to make me a prisoner in my own home, the way most decent citizens of this country have been forced to confine themselves behind dead bolts and alarms. Well, gentlemen, I won’t have it. We’re going to bring civilization back to this land of ours with the 35th Amendment. And we’re going to do it by winning in California.’
    ‘Amen,’ said Tynan.
    At that moment, Miss Ledger appeared. ‘Pardon me, Mr President…. Mr Collins, your bodyguard is at the door. He has to speak to you. He says it is urgent’
    ‘Thank you,’ said Collins. He turned back to the President. ‘I’m prepared to do whatever I can do.’
    ‘I’ll let you know next week. You’d better go now and attend to your business.’
    After bringing Karen forward to join him in thanking the President for the evening, Collins said a perfunctory good night to those in his immediate area.
    Preceding Karen, Collins hastily crossed the Cabinet Room to the doorway where the sturdy figure of his bodyguard, Agent Mike Hogan, was waiting.
    ‘What’s the problem?’ Collins asked as he reached his bodyguard.
    ‘It’s Colonel Noah Baxter, sir,’ said Hogan in an undertone. ‘He’s come out of his coma. He’s conscious. But he’s dying.’
    ‘Dammit, that’s terrible. Are you sure?’
    ‘Definitely. No question. The word came from Mrs Baxter herself to the Justice switchboard, and it was relayed to me in the car. Colonel Baxter’s first words, when he regained consciousness, were that he wanted to see you. He has to see you. It’s about something urgent. He wants to tell you something important. Mrs Baxter begged me to get you to his bedside before it’s too late.’
    Collins grabbed Karen’s arm and headed into the corridor. ‘Okay, let’s get over to Bethesda. We’d better not waste a minute.’ He looked down at Karen. ‘I wonder what the devil this is all about.’
    *
    The Cadillac limousine had gone at breakneck speed north on Wisconsin Avenue, crossed the Maryland line, passed the golf course of the Chevy Chase Country Club, slowed through the business district of Bethesda, taken the curved road into the hospital facility, and braked to a halt before the main entrance of the white tower that was the main building in the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center complex.
    Bidding Karen to remain behind in the car with Hogan and Pagano, the driver, Chris Collins hastened into the building. As he entered, a Navy officer wearing two bars on his open-collared shirt quickly intercepted him.
    ‘Attorney General Collins?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Follow me, sir. They’re on the fifth floor.’
    As they ascended in the elevator, Collins inquired, ‘How is Colonel Baxter?’
    ‘When I came down twenty minutes ago, he was hanging on by just a thread, I’m sorry to say.’
    ‘I hope I’m in time. Who’s with him?’
    ‘The Mrs, of course. And their little grandson, Rick Baxter. He’s staying with his grandparents while his parents are in Kenya on some Government business. We tried to reach them tonight. No luck. Then, there are two doctors and a nurse in attendance. And - I almost forgot - Father Dubinski is standing by. He’s from Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown, the church the