Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Move forward, name”?

“Eddie Novak”

“Sir we do not have an Eddie Novak” said a White House security official. “We have an Edward George but no Novak”.

“That’s me, my name is Edward George Novak” said Eddie.

“I’m sorry sir” said the security man.

The three Chronicle newsmen looked at each other. This was their big moment that was sinking down the pan fast. At that moment, a tall man in his early forties stepped forward from nowhere. Eddie recognized his face but for an instant couldn’t place him. “There’s no problem here, everything is fine” he said. The relief on Eddie’s face was palpable.

Mr. Frank moved to the front of the line, “Thank you Mr. Vice President, I’m David Frank Washington Chronicle”.

“No problem, good to see you all” replied Vice President Lorenzo Conti.

Great to have friends in high places, thought Eddie if only it were true. The three newsmen shuffled forward waiting their turn to enter the James S. Brady Briefing Room, part of the West Wing. As they entered the press room they saw at the its head a podium with presidential seal, flanked on one side by the stars and stripes and on the other the presidential flag. The room was filled with seats for the many invited journalists. At the rear of the room a television crew was already setup and ready to go. The Washington Chronicle team found three seats together in a fairly central position in front of the podium. Within a very short time of about ten minutes or so the room was full and soon filled with chatter. One or two started to glance at their wrist watches as the whole preceding seem to be running late. “What’s Bianchi up to” asked Dennis.

“Don’t know, maybe he’s afraid to show his face” uttered Eddie.

Nothing could be farther than the truth. President Bianchi was waiting, believing he was building the tension in the room. As far as he was concerned he was about to ambush a room of journalists especially those representing the Washington Chronicle. Then Mr. Frank was aware that Chief of Staff Elena Bianchi and Presidential Aide Alberto Martelli were now standing at the back of the room. The White House Press Secretary marched to the front of the auditorium and announces the President of the United States. Everyone is now showing respect for the office held by Bianchi not for the man thought Eddie. This is the occasion when Eddie and his colleagues believe the President will squirm uncomfortably as he attempts to defend himself. This is when the President will try and prove he is not financially corrupt and this is the time when Congressman Denver Black will officially accuse the President of commercial malpractice. As Eddie looks around the room at his sharp minded peers, he is imagining the killer questions that will be thrown at the President. Suddenly, two more figures emerged at the front of the room to stand behind the President. One they had met a few minutes ago, the Vice President. Who would not expect the Italian American Lorenzo Conti to stand shoulder to shoulder with his President? But the second man, this was Congressman Denver Black who was carrying all the hopes and aspirations of a malcontented Washington Chronicle. What has happened to all that time that Dennis Chapman had invested briefing the senior politico?

All three Chroniclers looked at each other aghast at what they were looking at. The President was smiling from ear to ear as he believed he had just trumped any attempt to impeach him. Congressman Black looked a little uncomfortable but he was there at the right hand of the President. He of course had been blackmailed with intimate photographs with Miss Candy Cotton. President Bianchi with both hands firmly holding the lectern confidently looked around the room before he started to speak. As he scanned the faces of his audience, Luca Bianchi caught sight of a scarred face that he recognized immediately like knowing your own signature. He turned to his Vice President to ask how it could be that Eddie Novak had managed to gain a seat at his presentation. The whispered reply was “Don’t worry, he’s not a problem”. The signal came from the TV producer at the back of the room and the President was live.

“My fellow Americans, I speak to you today directly from the White House. This Administration has enemies who would seek to damage its reputation at any opportunity. To this end, these dark forces have been spreading ugly rumors about your President. Such dark forces are trying to bring down this President, harm the standing of this Government and the good character of this nation”.

Eddie was beginning to have a sinking feeling. He thought Bianchi would be admitting his wrongs, showing contrition and throwing himself at the mercy of the American people. Instead he was confident, bullish and about to receive the support of the one man who could have instigated his demise.

“There have been allegations” continued the President, “there have been allegations that this President has been involved in financial wrongdoing, some sort of property scam. At my side on my right I have Congressman Black, Co-Chair of the Crime Prohibition Caucus who has looked into my affairs, looked at the alleged evidence against me and has determined that there is no case to answer. These vexatious and spurious charges are nothing more than a distraction by enemies of this great nation to deflect from the business of government by its elected representatives. Now if there are any questions from members of the press in front of me then I or Congressman Black will be happy to answer”.

The small balding figure of Congressman Black looked visibly apprehensive but nevertheless he was there. Eddie knew the President had defended the allegations and he would come away from this even stronger than before. Eddie sprang to his feet. “I have a question Mr. President, Eddie Novak Washington Chronicle”. Dennis looked up at Eddie and given what had just been said, Dennis wondered where Eddie was going to go with his question. “Can you confirm CIA operative Jonathon West was involved in Project Q” asked Eddie stroking his face to remind Bianchi who he was if ever that was needed.

A visibly surprised President who just looked as if he had received a curved ball at the Yankee Stadium “You know I can’t comment on CIA ops”.

“Can you tell us what the national interest is in Project Q or Quebec?” challenged Eddie.

“No comment” replied President Bianchi.

“Why is the US supplying billions of dollars to the Union Fleurdelise to help with self-determination for a French speaking state of Quebec?” pressed Eddie.

“Look I don’t want to comment on such speculation, I’m here to talk about the things said about my financial irregularities” said Bianchi.

Eddie still standing says “so there are financial irregularities”.

“No” said the President. For the first time today Bianchi appeared to be on the defense. White House Chief of Staff Elena Bianchi ran forward from the back of the room to whisper in the President’s ear. Luca Bianchi taking a valuable pause of several seconds with the help of his wife knew he had to take control of the situation as millions of live viewers were watching his press briefing live on national television. “Let’s take timeout Mr. Novak can we have a private word”?

“Sure” replied Eddie who knew he’d gotten Bianchi on the ropes. The TV produces went straight to some commercial messages. Eddie moved to the isle, turned and winked at his two colleagues. The President stepped down, patted Eddie on the back and went into an adjoining room. They were followed Elena and Alberto. As the door closed behind them, a Secret Service Agent stood sentinel.

“You maggot, what the hell do you think you’re doing out there” said the President.

Eddie smiled “You need to answer for your actions Mr. President, so far you’ve literally gotten away with murder. I received criminal battery, you murdered my daughter and you attempted to murder my ex-wife”.

“You know you can’t prove any of these things” said Elena Bianchi.

“Not before a court of law I can’t but this family will be judged before the American people” protested Eddie. “You may think you’ve gotten away with your property scams but you won’t get away with Project Q, I’m going to hang you out to dry Mr. President”.

“I could have you arrested Mr. Novak for espionage and sedition for undermining our national security”, said a seething President who was now frothing with anger.

“Oh could you now” said Eddie pressing his scarred face against the President’s. “And by the way you look like the low life from where I’m standing” continued Eddie.

Elena Bianchi exploded pushing Eddie away from her husband. She lunged at her cousin Alberto and snatched his Derringer pistol from his ankle holster. In one smooth movement, she swung her arm and pointed the pocket firearm at Eddie. Without any thought for her executive position, her way of life in the Family came to the surface and without hesitation she pulled the trigger. A patch of scalp exploded on Eddie Novak’s head and as he gave her a fleeting stare of inevitability, he fell to the floor crashing against White House furniture. In the work of a moment Eddie was shot dead. Secret Service Agents burst into the room followed by an athletic Vice President. The very people the Secret Service were trained to protect were now about to arrested. They took the firearm from the First Lady and Chief of Staff Elena Bianchi then looking for reassurance looked across the room at Vice President Lorenzo Conti. He nodded and the President, the First Lady and presidential aide Alberto Martelli were arrested and taken away. The Vice President ordered the TV cameras to be switched off.