To Kill a President (24 page)

“Well you’ll know I went to the meeting and then went for a few drinks with Jack and a friend of mine Jane.”

“Yes I am aware of that but why were you asking Bannister and Ferrie questions about the assassination, you have all of the information you need surely?”

“Well Meyer I’m just curious as to what is going to happen, innocent people are going to be killed.”

Meyer stayed remarkably calm.  “Bobby do you know what compartmentalisation is?”

“Yes.”

“Right well think of this as a compartmentalised idea, everyone has their own role and doesn’t really need to be aware of anything other than that.  For example you must keep Oswald quiet and I must ensure that you, Hoover and Chauncey do as you are told.  That is where my problem lays Bobby, because Hoover and Chauncey are doing as they are told.  You on the other hand have caused nothing but problems.  Like your investigator Derrick Stinson who happens to be CIA, why would he go to Jim Garrison and tell him about the assassination, unless you told him to?”

“I don’t know Meyer he wasn’t following my orders he put a friend of mine in the hospital last night.”

“Do you remember what happened to Bugsy Siegal?”

“Of course I remember.”

“Good because the heads of the Mafia held three meetings about Bugsy before I finally gave the go ahead to take him out, you know I didn’t want to do it but there is only so much I could do.  Now they have already met twice to discuss you and that has been in the last week.  Do you understand what I am saying Bobby?”

“I’m on my last chance?”

“That is correct and Marcello wants you dead now.  So I’ve been informed to tell you that if you try to interfere anymore or don’t follow your instructions to the letter both you and Nancy will be taken out.  This is my last warning to you Bobby. There is no coming back if you continue to meddle in our affairs.”

After all they had been through Meyer was willing to let them take him and Nancy out.  “Understood."  He replied.

“Well that’s a relief now you better head back to Dallas.”

Chapter 50

When Bobby arrived back in Dallas it was 03:00.  He had decided to head back to the condo and get some sleep before going to visit Faraday in the morning.  As his taxi pulled to a halt he could see a police car sat right by the entrance to the building, he knew it was bad news.  He got out and paid the driver then entered the lobby where Kevin was pacing frantically back and forward.

“Kevin what’s going on?”

Kevin looked relieved when he saw Bobby.  “Mr Stinson there’s been a break in, I don’t know how they got past me I didn’t see anyone come in.  The policemen are in your condo just now.  I’m so sorry.”  Kevin looked terrified.

“Don’t worry Kevin it’s not your fault do you know if they got much?”

“No Mr Stinson it looks as though they have just trashed the place, I’m so sorry I never saw them.”

“Kevin just relax. It happens.”  Bobby entered the elevator and couldn’t decide if it was the CIA, FBI or the Mafia.  As he arrived on the twelfth floor he saw that the door had been badly damaged.  He walked into the hall and gazed into David’s bedroom, everything was smashed, even the bed was broken and his clothes were all over the floor.  He limped towards his own room and saw that the situation was much the same they had even gone to the trouble of tearing his suits.  He entered the living room, once more he was surrounded by carnage but this time there were two of Dallas PD’s finest to greet him.  He recognised them immediately as the two police officers that had arrested him.

“Hello again Mr Stinson.”

“Sergeant Hill and Walker I believe?”

“Actually Detective Walker, it appears we’ve had a break in.”

“You might just be right Detective.”  Bobby replied.

“Looks as though they haven’t taken much.  It’s strange that they would come to the twelfth floor purely to wreck your home.  Do you have any idea if they may have been looking for something?”

“No I’m not sure detective.”

“Any idea who might have done this?”

“No.”

“Have you got anywhere else you can stay?”

“I’ll find a hotel, it’s not a problem.”

“Would you like us to take you to a hotel Mr Stinson, we will need contact details so we can let you know of any developments.”

“I have a feeling you won’t catch them boys, but here is my card.”  Bobby handed over his card. “Could you take me to Parkland Hospital?”

“Are you injured sir?”

“No just visiting a friend, I’ll stay there tonight.”

Chapter 51

Bobby hobbled towards Faraday’s room his hip was playing up it had been another bad day.  As he got closer to Faraday’s door it opened and David came out.  “Bobby thank God.”  David threw his arms around Bobby and hugged him tightly.  When he released him he said “I was just nipping out for a smoke do you want to join me?”

“Sure.” They made their way to the nearest fire door and stepped outside.  “So how is he David?”

David lit his cigarette before answering. “He’s fucked.  Derrick gave him a pounding.”

Bobby inhaled on his cigarette before responding.  “He had help. That prick Gerry from the club was there too.”

“Son of a bitch.”

“Does he know why they attacked him?”

“Probably but he can hardly speak they broke his jaw.”

“Hoover told me they took out his eye.”

“Yeah he doesn’t know yet, he’s slept most of the time.”

“Poor kid this is our fault David.”

David considered this and took another pull on his cigarette.  “It’s not Bobby we had to do what we did.”

“We didn’t David, we’ve done nothing.  Everything has failed.  Thanks to us Jack is dead, Faraday has lost an eye and Jim Garrison will probably be executed.”

“You haven’t heard about Jim?”  David asked.

“Oh God please don’t tell me he’s dead.”

“Nope, he’s been sent to a mental institution they think he’s nuts.”

“Jesus he has kids David.”

“How did you and Nancy get on today?”  David asked before puffing once more on his cigarette.

“Terrible.”

“What happened?”

“Hoover knows I’m from the future, he then listed half of the people on the planet as potential assassins.  Nancy has gone, she is pregnant and its Derrick’s.”

“Oh God.”

“Yeah so she doesn’t want to hear from me again. Then Meyer told me if I step out of line again he will kill me and Nancy.  Then I got back to Dallas and found out our condo had been broken into.”

“We have to stop now Bobby.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“Good Jane agrees as well and even if Faraday doesn’t he won’t be out of here until after they’ve killed Kennedy.”

“At least Faraday has a bed, the condo is trashed.  They broke the beds. They even tore my suit’s.  I don’t know where we’re going to live.”

“Well we can just stay with Faraday for now.  Why don’t you just hire people to sort out the condo?”

“I could.  To be honest I’m not sure I want to stay here anymore.”

“Because of Nancy?”

“Partly but what do I have left? I doubt the mob will throw much work my way that’s if they even let me live, Nancy’s gone and the condo is wrecked.”

“Do you regret everything we’ve done?”

“Yup.”

“Well you shouldn’t, we did what we thought was right at the time we did it.  You know the day Faraday and Jane arrived?”

“Yeah?”

“He told me that the reason he had the tip of your cane was because he had found it by Loch Ness.  He thinks that you committed suicide, he knows I committed suicide and he knows we didn’t try to stop the assassination.”

“We committed suicide?”

“Yes it makes you wonder what we did differently.”

“Do you still believe we can change things?”

“I would call it more a hope than a belief.  I’m going to try and save Sharon but to do that I’d have to be alive.  I don’t think it’s possible to stop the assassination and survive.”

Bobby took a deep draw on his cigarette and flicked it away.  David stubbed his out on the wall.  They both headed back to Faraday’s room in silence.

Chapter 52

It was Wednesday 20
th
November 1963 when Faraday was released from hospital.  His body still ached but it was the loss of his eye that had caused him the most pain, both physically and emotionally.  Bobby had paid for his medical costs and Faraday wore a contact lens in his right eye and an eye patch over his left.  His beard was now wild and his hair was going the same way.  Bobby had followed David’s advice and hired people to clean up the condo and had then purchased all new furniture.  They had spent their time between the hospital and a hotel and had finally managed to get back into the condo on the 17
th
.  Bobby had also had to buy new clothes for everyone, the break in had left them with nothing.  The police had not been in touch regarding the break in.

The subject of the assassination had not been mentioned in days.  Everyone was broken and exhausted by what had happened.  Once they had got Faraday home Bobby decided to head out and buy some lunch for everyone.  As he stepped from the elevator she was speaking to Kevin.  She was wearing a black dress and looked as beautiful as she had when he had last seen her.  As she turned and saw Bobby her face lit up and she ran towards him.

“Thank God Bobby, I don’t know if you remember me.”

“I do Gail how are you?”

“Not good, I need your help.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Its Jack please come?”

“Sure.”

Gail drove Bobby to the Carousel Club breaking the speed limit at every turn.

“Gail what’s going on?”

“It’d be better if you talked to Jack, there’s no one else around.”

As they got out of the car Gail took the steps two at a time, Bobby hobbled up the stairs behind her.  Jane took him through to Ruby’s office where he was sat in his chair with his dog Sheba in his lap.  His eyes looked glazed, when he saw Bobby his expression changed to one of fury.  He rose from his chair rushed over to Bobby grabbed him by his suit jacket and pushed him against the wall.

“Jack don’t he’s here to help.”  Gail screamed.

“Help?! You son of a bitch Bobby why didn’t you warn me you piece of shit.”  Ruby swung a fist that connected with Bobby’s eye.  He fell to the ground dropping his cane in the process.  Ruby aimed a kick at his stomach that took the wind out of him.

“Jack please!”  Gail tried again.

Bobby struggled to get his breath back as Jack walked back behind his desk and sat down.

“What are you talking about?”  He gasped.

“You know what I’m talking about!  You’ve known all along!”

Bobby managed to struggle to his feet.  He picked up his cane and then hobbled towards a chair.  As he sat down, Gail sat down beside him.

“When did you find out Bobby?”

“The day we met Jack, I didn’t think it was my place to tell you.”

“The bastards.  They don’t mind giving the order but they don’t carry it out, that’s left to us.”

“So who told you Jack?”

“Hoffa.”

“What did he tell you to do?”

Ruby sighed loudly.  “I’m to ask the local PD to kill that freak Oswald, if they don’t I have to do it.”

“Are you going to?”  Gail asked.

“No.  Why should I?”

“They’ll kill you Jack.”  Bobby interjected.

“Why us though?”

“I guess we’re expendable.”

“So what do we do?”  Ruby asked.

“We do as we’re told Jack.”

“You’re kidding right?  You’re going to let them kill the President.”

“I wouldn’t have thought you would be a fan of Kennedy?”  Bobby responded.

“I’m not but I’m a fan of the constitution.  We can’t let this happen.”