While Justice Sleeps(17)
After Avery left the office with a curt nod, the Chief returned to her desk, forcing Major Vance to come around to the opposite side. Vance’s phone buzzed, demanding his attention. As the Chief watched, he lifted the phone to his ear, the volume too low for intrusion. The stolid face held its marble flatness, the jaw too rigid by nature to offer clues. Instead, the Chief listened to a one-sided conversation peppered with three quiet “yes, sir” responses to unheard questions. After ninety seconds, Vance disconnected the phone call.
Anticipating her question, he said without preamble, “This is not news one delivers over the phone, ma’am.”
“True,” the Chief allowed. “What exactly do you intend to tell him?”
“The truth.”
“Which is?”
“Howard Wynn delivered a sealed document to your office for safekeeping. In my presence, upon learning of his incapacity, you opened said envelope and learned of his intent to appoint his law clerk Avery Keene to serve as his guardian. I raised questions as to her appropriateness, which you and Ms. Keene have dismissed.”
The Chief suspected his actual report would contain a more colorful description of their encounter. “Do you intend to investigate Ms. Keene?”
“I had my team pull her NCTC file while we awaited her arrival. When I have additional information, I will review it as well. This is a matter of national security, and I intend to do my job.”
“Come now, Major Vance.” The Chief relaxed against the padded leather chair and lifted her lukewarm tea. “In my two decades on the bench, I am not aware of anyone serving in quite the same role that you currently occupy. Even with the creation of Homeland Security, I find it interesting that you retain military title and weaponry, as well as occupying a civilian office. What exactly does a liaison from the”—she lifted his card from the desk—“Science and Technology Directorate do, and why would you be assigned to the Supreme Court?”
“My duties are fluid, Chief Roseborough.”
“And vague. So what do you want, Major Vance?”
“For now, your silence. The president believes Justice Wynn’s condition to be a matter of grave importance. Until otherwise determined, information about him and his choice of a guardian is considered highly classified.”
“Is this about a specific case?”
“The president is concerned about the operations of the Court,” he responded. “Unless you believe a specific case should be of concern?”
“You know I can’t tell you that.”
Vance leaned forward. “You should reconsider that posture.”
The Chief stood. “I will pretend you didn’t ask me to do something unethical, Major.”
“This is simply a request from a grateful president,” he temporized. “The Court has important decisions to make in the next ten days, and neither of us wants the validity of your work compromised, Chief.”
“It won’t be.”
“Both the president and I would consider it a personal favor if you would limit discussion of the power of attorney to necessary personnel until we have had time to vet Ms. Keene.”
“You won’t find anything.”
The absurdity of the statement startled him, until he realized the Chief was serious. “Everyone has secrets. Avery Keene’s might provide an ulterior motive for securing guardianship.”
From behind her desk, Chief Roseborough scoffed. “An ulterior motive? My God, the child barely has a direct one. I will not have you destroying her reputation over an old man’s decision.”
Vance stood then too, his hands coming together behind his back. The military pose was lost on neither of them. “Justice Wynn’s life is a matter of great importance to many people, Chief Roseborough. There are those who will see his illness as an opportunity to strike at America, to aim for her heart—the rule of law. Surely you understand why we must be vigilant?”
“As long as vigilance doesn’t stray too far afield,” the Chief retorted.
“Good day, Chief Roseborough.” Vance turned and strode across the room to the door.
Once her office cleared, she summoned Mary. “Are the justices assembled?”
“As you requested, Chief. They’re waiting for you.”
“Notify the clerks that I’ll meet with them at nine. I need to see Gary Stewart briefly now.” The press hits would come fast, and no one was better equipped to parry them than the Court’s press secretary.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“For the next hour, tell the switchboard to route all calls coming into the building to either you or him. No one else is to answer a phone or dial out. Understood?”
Mary knew better than to ask why. “Yes, ma’am.”
SIX
A hemisphere away from DC, Indira sat at the oblong table with its teak surface, chopped from an ancient forest that had long disappeared beneath the advance of civilization. Around the gleaming length, eight men and one other woman waited for the hastily called meeting to come to order. A wide television screen hung suspended at the foot of the table, where a distinguished gentleman with burnished copper skin and alabaster hair watched from a compound in Davos.
“Lady and gentlemen, I thank you all for agreeing to this emergency caucus,” she began, her voice clear and steady. “As we are all now aware, there have been some major developments in America that will impact our upcoming merger with GenWorks. Justice Wynn, who represents a key vote on the U.S. Supreme Court, is in a coma.”