To Kill a President (41 page)

“So where did we find it Oswald?”  Fritz asked.

“I think you made this picture.  You are railroading me.  You’ve been doing it all along!  I’m a patsy!”

Fritz laughed again.  Hosty gave a smarmy smile.  Bobby wanted to tear their heads off.  “Interesting theory, everyone is out to frame you.  That’s why so many separate people saw you fleeing the Tippit murder.  That’s why your rifle was at the School Book Depository.  That’s why people saw you carrying a long package that could have been the rifle.  That’s why you tried to shoot a police officer when you were arrested.  That’s why we found an order form for the rifle at the Paine’s address.  You are fucked Oswald just admit what you did?”  Fritz yelled.

“I admit to attempting to shoot the officer that arrested me.  But my gun did not work, the firing pin was faulty.  So how could I have killed Officer Tippit using that gun?  I do not own a rifle I never have.”

“Officer Hawkins told me yesterday that the scope on the rifle was not adjusted correctly and that the firing pin was faulty on the Mannlicher Carcano rifle.  He also said a Mauser rifle was found.”

“How convenient, it was Officer Hawkins who told you that.”  Fritz commented. 

“How do you mean?”

“It’s just that Officer Hawkins was murdered last night.  Perhaps you should be sharing a cell with Mr Oswald.”

Bobby could not believe his ears, he looked at Oswald who also seemed shocked by the news.

“You son of a bitch Fritz you killed him!”

“Officer Hawkins was a good man.  We found the murder weapon and I’m willing to bet it was yours.”

“What weapon was it?”

“It was a Fireball XP-100.”  Fritz said with a smile.  “Weren’t you arrested recently for firing such a weapon?”

Bobby felt like he was going to faint they were setting him up, Ruby was right.  Bobby remained silent.

“Well you don’t have to answer my questions, when the prints have been examined and we trace the owner of the weapon we will know for sure.  At the moment though we must go to the line up room.”

Fritz and Hosty stood up eagerly.  Oswald looked at Bobby and Bobby just returned the look.  They would probably be cell mates by the end of the day.  “Come on boys.”  Fritz said.  Bobby struggled to his feat as did Oswald.  They were led along the corridor that was slightly quieter today, although there were still reporters blocking the way.  Hosty led Oswald into the room to stand alongside the line up fillers.  Bobby and Fritz went into the room behind the glass.

“You and Oswald will make a nice couple.”  Fritz laughed after he spoke.

“Fuck you Fritz!  You know I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Well time will tell.”  Bobby gazed through the glass.  Oswald was again lined up beside three men in suits.  But Bobby didn’t care anymore, he was heading to the chair just behind Oswald.  Two men were led into the room beside Bobby and Fritz.  Yet again they were railroading Oswald.

“Hello gentleman thanks for coming in.  This won’t take long the man that shot the President and Officer Tippit is just in there.  Do you recognize him?”  Both men nodded in agreement. 

“It’s the guy with the cut eye and the white t-shirt.”

“Yeah that’s him.”

“Excellent.  Well thank you both for coming in.”  The two men were led out of the room by Fritz.  Bobby could feel rage building up inside of him.  How could people do this to one another? Fritz actually seemed to be enjoying himself.  As Fritz closed the door and turned back towards Bobby he was hit in the face by Bobby’s stick.  He let out a groan and put his hands up to his nose which was broken.  Bobby swung his stick again this time hitting Fritz on the back of the neck, he fell to the ground still moaning in pain.  Fritz was on all fours leaning on his elbows, Bobby swung his right foot and connected again with Fritz’s face.  Fritz fell onto his back unconscious.  Bobby smiled as he looked down on the man.  His joy was short lived as the door was swung open and Agent Hosty entered the room with two police officers.  Bobby was handcuffed and led to a cell.  Oswald was on his own now.  

Chapter 86

As David opened his eyes he was lying along the backseat of the car.  He was no longer handcuffed.  He pulled himself up in the seat and looked out of the window, he was in the middle of a small field.  To his left he saw a small plane, it was dark green and looked like it could only hold a dozen people.  Three men standing beside it, to his right he saw Jim Sibert.  He was standing with his back to the car smoking.  David opened the door and stepped from the car.  The sky was overcast and there was a chill in the air, he had no idea where he was.

“Where the fuck are you going?”  Sibert yelled.

“Nowhere I just wanted to stretch my legs.”  David replied.  He raised his hand to his jaw after he spoke it was swollen and all he could taste was blood.  Sibert raised a gun and took aim at David.  “Walk over to the plane.”  David did as he was told and headed towards the aircraft.  As he arrived at the entrance to the plane he was greeted by an odd looking man.  He was wearing a bad fake red wig and had drawn on eyebrows.

“Is this him?”  The man asked.

“That’s him.”  Sibert answered.  “This is your pilot David Ferrie.  Get rid of him Ferrie.”

“No problem.  Gerry you sit with him during the flight make sure he behaves himself.”

David looked towards the man named Gerry, he recognised him immediately as Gerry Hemming one of the men that had attacked Faraday.  He was huge, David had figured he could perhaps take Ferrie but he had no chance against Hemming.  Sibert and the other man headed back towards the car.  Ferrie boarded the plane first and opened a small wooden door to his right that led into the cockpit.  David went next he turned to his left and saw three rows of chairs on both sides of the plane.  There were three seats in each row giving the plane a capacity of 18 passengers plus the pilots.  David took the seat nearest the aisle in the front row on the left hand side of the plane, Gerry closed the door of the plane and then sat on the seat nearest the aisle in the front row on the right hand side of the plane.  

Within five minutes of being on board the plane began to move.  David looked out of the window, the field didn’t even look big enough to take off from.  As the plane began to gather speed it got very bumpy.  He didn’t think the field was an ideal runway.  To David’s surprise the plane did manage to get off the ground and he was thrust back in his chair as it did so.  There was no way out now.

Chapter 87

As Faraday waved at the cheering crowds he suddenly became confused.  How did I get here?  The sun was beating down on him. He was in a black open top Lincoln limousine driving through Dealey Plaza.  David who was driving the car was wearing a black suit with Lee Harvey Oswald sat to his left in a white shirt underneath a black round neck jumper and black trousers.  Behind them Bobby and Nancy were sitting waving at the crowds.  Bobby was sat on the right hand side of the car wearing a suit and a cowboy hat directly in front of Faraday.  To Faraday’s left he saw Jane wearing the pink suit that Jackie Kennedy had been wearing when JFK was shot.

As Faraday looked out to the crowds on the right hand side they suddenly became hostile.  A man ran right up to the car and threw a playing card at Faraday.  He picked it up and saw that it was the Ace of Spades.  He looked to his left once more and saw Jack Kennedy sitting in between himself and Jane.  He was wearing a charcoal suit with a white shirt and a red tie.  On his lap sat an hourglass the top bulb was almost empty as the sand poured into the bottom bulb.

“What are you doing here?”  Faraday asked.

Kennedy seemed to be upset by the question, he began to cry.  “I think we are out of time.”

“Why?  What do you mean?”

“It’s too late to save them now.”  There was a flash of light and for a moment Faraday saw Kennedy with half his face missing, the right side of his head looked as though it had exploded.  The light flashed again and he was back to normal.

“Why is it too late?”

“They are dying.” 

Faraday looked towards David who was no longer driving his head was pressed against the steering wheel, the horn was sounding.  He looked as though he’d been shot.  Lee Harvey Oswald seemed to be writhing in pain holding his abdomen.  He suddenly became still.  Nancy let out a shriek as Bobby started to have some kind of seizure, she tried to hold him tightly but couldn’t stop the shaking.  Jane too began shrieking as Faraday looked at her she was covered in blood, Jack Kennedy was now lying in her lap with pieces of his skull on her dress.

“You have to save them Faraday!”  She yelled.

Chapter 88

Nancy had managed to procure a television from somewhere in the ward, she and Clint had been watching the coverage of the Kennedy assassination for the majority of the afternoon and most of the evening.  Jane was unable to watch the television, she kept her eyes on Faraday.  The doctor hadn’t been available to come to see Faraday until 15:00.  By that time he was asleep once more.  The doctor examined the wound and Faraday’s temperature, the wound was infected.  They had taken him away and returned him to the room at 18:00.

Jane had wet a wash cloth and was dabbing it on Faraday’s forehead, he was burning up.  He had been muttering in his sleep which was causing him to writhe in pain.  He kept repeating the words.  “They are dying.”  It was usually followed by him groaning loudly and struggling for breath.  The doctor had been in again to see him at 20:00 and had warned Jane that the signs did not look good.  He said there was nothing more they could do.  He was on antibiotics to fight the infection and morphine to ease his suffering.

They were interrupted as a nurse came into the room to announce that there was a phone call for Clint Hill.  Clint followed the nurse out of the room and was gone for around ten minutes.  Faraday managed to open his eye, Jane gasped as he did so.

“Bobby.”  He sighed.  As he groaned in pain Jane could not help but cry.

She spoke through tears.  “He’s okay baby, don’t you worry about Bobby.  He can take care of himself you know that.”

As Nancy watched them she could not hold back tears either.  Faraday looked terrible, she knew he didn’t have long left.

“I love you Faraday.  Don’t you leave me here.”  Jane spoke again through tears.

He didn’t respond his eye closed once more.  At first Jane thought he was dead but she heard him groan.

“I can’t do this.”

“He’ll pull through Jane.”  Nancy replied.

“No he won’t look at him.” Nancy looked at Faraday and saw that his skin was starting to look yellowish.

“He must have Jaundice.”  She said.

Jane nodded her head slowly.  “He looks terrible and he’s in so much pain.”

“He’s in the best place, these days doctors can work miracles.”

They were interrupted as Clint entered the room with a worried look on his face.  “Is everything alright?”  He asked, not sure what else to say.

“I don’t think he’s going to make it.”  Jane replied.

Clint was unsure how to reply, how could he tell them what he had heard on the phone?  But he had to.  “He’ll pull through he said so himself.”  Clint replied.  “He’s a tough kid.” 

“Exactly he said he would be fine and he will be he just needs rest.”  Nancy said reassuringly.

“Maybe.”  Jane managed through tears.

“Listen I’m sorry to bring this up now but I have some bad news.”

Jane and Nancy stared at Clint.  He could see the look of terror on their faces.

“Is it Bobby or David?”  Nancy asked feeling guilty for wishing it was David.

“I’m afraid it’s both of them.”  Clint replied.

Nancy let out a sob.  “What’s happened?”  Jane asked.

“Well we don’t know exactly.  David is missing, it seems that he disappeared after the autopsy last night.  Mr Kennedy has asked everyone that was present and they don’t know where he is.”

“What about Bobby?”  Nancy asked.

“Bobby has been charged with the murder of a police officer named Hawkins.  I met the man on Friday.  He was supposed to be helping Bobby so I’m not sure what has happened.  He has also been charged with the murder of Salvatore Maranzano.  I hadn’t heard of him but Mr Kennedy told me that he was some mob boss that was killed in the thirties.  I thought Bobby was pretty young how old is he?”

Nancy looked towards Jane.  Jane could see the shock on her face.  “I don’t know.”  Jane replied.

“He could surely only have been a kid in the thirties.”  Clint reasoned.  “He has also been charged with the attempted murder of Captain Fritz that was the guy that was running the Oswald inquiry.”

“Jesus Christ!  What was he thinking?”  Nancy managed.

“Anyway Mr Kennedy thinks they will come for us next and he wants us to return to Washington.”