Paul looked over at Ann. She was settled back deep in her chair, relaxed, watching the VP as he stirred sugar into his coffee. If she had any of those butterflies, none were apparent on her face. She wasn’t surprised or appalled or even particularly curious. None of this news was news to her. She’d kept a secret. And understated just how big a secret it was. Ann Silver continued to surprise him at every turn.
Paul waited until the VP was again seated and had gestured with his coffee mug for the first question. Paul appreciated the man’s wide-open invitation to ask whatever he wished.
“You were abducted by this man.”
“Yes. I was at my vacation home in Florida. He snatched me off my own boat. He also abducted a lady to write his diary. She’s off-limits by her own request. The rest you can ask.”
“You didn’t have Secret Service with you?”
“I had dismissed most of the detail after two years of retirement, keeping private security for the house and grounds. I had one agent assigned to my family, and I had asked him to accompany my wife that day as she had a public appearance.”
Paul nodded and went for the heart of the problem. “According to the police reports, John Doe called to confess, gave the location of his victims, then shot himself in the head while the cabin burned down around him—that was all a cover-up?”
“Most of it was true. The cabin, the fact he shot himself in the head, the location of his victims—those were the truth. But John Doe never called to confess, and the fire was set in order to destroy fingerprints and hide the fact I had been there, and to help conceal the killer’s identity. That was the cover-up.
“There were only two survivors to what the man had done. The lady he abducted to write his diary, and myself. Neither of us wanted to face the press that would descend when the truth was known. We had those eighteen families to think about as well. They needed their loved ones back, time to properly bury their dead and grieve, without the press hounding them. We could do nothing for the victims he had killed, nor could we further punish the man who had committed the crimes, since he was dead, and we were convinced by the diary details that he had acted alone. We decided, as the only two living victims of the man, to make sure we survived how the rest of it would unfold. She was in pretty bad shape after a week in his company.
“So I made the decision to cover up the truth of what occurred. Three people helped me. My Secret Service agent”—he nodded toward Reece Lion—“a retired Secret Service agent, Ben Harmon, who passed away five years ago but who left a detailed video and written interview of his actions regarding this matter, and a person who will remain unnamed, whom I trusted to help the lady who wrote the diary recover and reenter her life.
“We gave the families closure with recovery of their loved ones, made sure the police knew the cases were closed and the right killer identified, and then I made sure the man who committed the crimes was unidentified by DNA, was cremated, and left in the case files as the John Doe Killer.”
“Who was he?”
“The John Doe Killer was my former chief of staff, Aaron Crown.”
Paul had braced for several names, but that one caught him off guard. “Your chief of staff?”
“That was about my reaction too. He shot himself in the head in my presence and died the same day he abducted me.
“We claimed he was found dead of a heart attack at his vacation home due to the stress of my being missing and presumed dead in a boating accident. We buried an almost empty coffin. What we did put in his casket were the photos of the scene at the cabin, along with a handwritten contemporaneous statement I wrote that day concerning what had occurred, and the cover-up we were going to attempt to keep it from becoming public. When you exhume the coffin, you will find that evidence.”
“Why are you revealing this secret now?”
“We didn’t keep the secret to protect the man from scandal or to protect me from the negative fallout of his close position. We did it to give us time to recover from what happened, to protect his victims and their families from the press. And we didn’t want to give the man the notoriety he craved. So we denied history his name. But the truth was always going to come out. This is the most controlled way I could figure to do it. I’ve written the account in detail for a chapter of my autobiography.”
The VP took a deep breath, then looked directly at Paul for a moment before continuing. “An autobiography is by nature a matter of making decisions about what is included and what is left out. But the account of the day, from the point when the chief of staff on my boat pulled a gun until I was back at my home from the hospital three days later, is complete to the best of my recollection and those who helped me.
“I would like you to choose one or two agents whom you trust and independently verify what I’ve written. I’ll clear whatever time you need with your office. You may use what you learn now and in further investigation after the book is released to write the official FBI report on the matter. Based on what you conclude, you may choose to add a chapter to the book that will be only your words. The book is tentatively scheduled for December of this year, so you have about thirty days to conduct your initial inquiry if you wish to include a statement.
“I’m going to have Ann walk you through the extensive material that has been collected on this matter, give you a copy of the diary text along with the detailed chapter I’ve written. I’ll be available for as many interviews as you wish to have, as will Reece.
“The lady who wrote the diary wishes to remain anonymous. For that reason the diary in her handwriting will not be released, but the text of it will be. Ann has verified the text is word for word identical to the diary. I will in the book mention by name the people who did not write the diary so as to avoid the press descending on them when the guessing begins. I am withholding three things: the name of the lady abducted to write the diary, the person I trusted to help her reenter her life, and the handwritten diary itself.
“Paul, when you have looked through what is here and thought about it overnight, let me know your decision. I’ll make arrangements based on your answer. If it is not you to conduct this investigation, I would ask for your recommendation for who should do so.” Gannett looked over at his agent. “Reece, anything you would like to add?”
“I have a comment about the cover-up after the fact. The official Secret Service logs on this incident do not show the chief of staff was in Florida that day, nor do they show anything other than the VP being involved in a boating accident. Both those facts turn out not to be an active attempt to conceal on my part—I simply didn’t correct what other people assumed. For his own purposes, the chief of staff had stayed under the radar about his travel plans, and the boating accident was the working assumption for the VP’s disappearance. I used what people presumed had happened to slip the VP back into his life. By confirming their assumptions he’d had a boating accident, both the VP and I covered up the truth. But I didn’t have to add new information to try and misdirect people. I would have if required, but it turned out not to be necessary.
“The writer of the diary was missing, the police were investigating, and they had a working assumption of what had happened. She was slipped back into her life in a similar fashion. By agreeing with what other people thought had happened, by confirming their assumptions rather than correcting them, she covered up the truth. But she didn’t have to change what people assumed had occurred.
“To the best of my knowledge, neither cover-up caused a problem for an innocent third party. No one was blamed for a crime. This isn’t an attempt to excuse what was done; it is simply a statement of the consequences of these events as I was able to assess them.
“There are numerous people who will rightfully be furious they were at a funeral for the chief of staff, not knowing they were witnessing the burial of an empty coffin, and the memorial, if you will, of a serial killer. There will be numerous members of the families of the victims who are going to be furious we knew the truth and did n
ot reveal it. There will be legal fallout of all kinds for the cover-up that was done. But to the best of my knowledge, the harm done is limited to the embarrassment of not knowing the truth, along with the passage of time that has elapsed before this is made public, rather than the silence causing the wrong outcome for someone.”
The VP nodded. “Exactly, Reece. This cover-up was done with the intent of causing less harm than what would have occurred had events become public the day this happened, and I believe that was accomplished. But I did actively seek to deceive and hide the truth, and I have to live with that and its consequences. Reece and the others helped because I asked them to do so. I still consider it the right decision. The cover-up accomplished what I hoped for, and that was time for the matter to be investigated and settled without the press involved.” The VP got to his feet. “Paul, I look forward to hearing your decision. I’ll leave you with Ann, to show you what we’ve gathered on this matter. If you would join me for breakfast tomorrow and give me your answer?”
“I’ll do that, sir.”
“Thank you.” Two dogs appeared in the door, a white Samoyed followed by Midnight. They both headed to the VP and crowded against his knees. “I’m going to take these two for a stroll around the grounds, then turn in early for the night with a good book.”
Paul watched the former vice president leave the room, and took his first clear breath since meeting him.
“Paul.” Ann waited until he turned his attention to her. She gestured toward the door and led the way back through the house. “I’m sorry for putting you in this position without warning.”
“Were you the one who suggested the VP should ask me to do this?”
“He came up with your name on his own—my guess from the lady shooter case. But I was glad he suggested you.”
“You’ve kept this secret for years.”
“I have. It wasn’t my secret to tell. And that has caused me more than a few difficult nights. From a law-enforcement point of view, the killer was caught and his victims identified. From a legal point of view, if his name was known, the victims could sue the estate of the killer. But the reality is the chief of staff’s will still listed the VP as the executor, the man had no children, and left the disposal of the estate up to the VP’s discretion. The estate took several years to liquidate and settle, as some of it was in trusts which had come through generations, but the money was distributed in full to the families of the victims three years ago. It was called an advance against the book royalties. From an ethical point of view, they have a right to know the truth. And the chapter about the chief of staff does that—it gives them the truth. Justice came a long time after the fact, but it’s happened. I can live with that fact, as I understand the motivations of those involved.”
“Your legal exposure is the fact you knew the truth.”
“Yes. I’m a sworn officer, and the name of the killer is a material fact. I’m liable for what I didn’t do. And I didn’t make the information I had public.”
She coded them through a door and into a hallway.
“The archives for the VP’s book are kept in this wing of the house. There are several secured rooms for classified materials.” She stopped at the third door. “This secure room can be accessed by only three people: Gannett, Reece, and myself.” She opened the door.
“Aaron Crown murdered some very nice people, Paul. That’s what is so senseless. You’ve met the people he killed”—she turned on the lights—“now meet the one who killed them. In this room is the life of the chief of staff.” The room was large, with two tables in the center, file cabinets and storage lining three walls. The door closed behind them. He heard the locks click and engage.
“We spent years after the abduction working it as a criminal case, using the diary he gave as a road map and independently confirming what he had said. We collected everything that was out there about the chief of staff and his life going back decades. Personal calendars, receipts, tax documents, financial statements, personal letters—everything we could find. There are also campaign photographs, and interviews with those who worked with him on various campaigns going back to the VP’s first election as state attorney general. We wrote the biography of Aaron Crown.
“The materials are organized in the files by date and cross-referenced by subject. The critical documents have been scanned and are searchable. That database of materials will be released to the public along with the VP’s autobiography.” She pointed to the near table. “I have a copy of the diary and a copy of the VP’s chapter printed out for you.”
“Ann, do you believe the chapter and these files are an accurate record of what occurred?”
“I’m skeptical by nature. I can say having spent years with these records and investigating the victims, that it feels reasonably complete. The records here are consistent with the diary. The VP chapter matches what I can put my hands on to prove or disprove what he says.
“The VP knows how to manage a cover-up. It has held together for years. He kept the truth of what happened at the cabin to five people. Who knows what else he covered up, if he left it to only himself? The VP is a smart man. Did he never suspect the chief of staff was a murderer? I think he had to suspect something was wrong somewhere along the way.
“I dated Reece Lion, so I’m not exactly an impartial observer, but I consider him to be an honest man. His actions are consistent with what is here. He helped a man he was assigned to protect, a man he trusted, cover up what occurred. The VP would do it with or without his help, and Reece understood why the decision had been made. He did it out of loyalty. I also like Gannett and believe he’s a complicated but good man. But ghostwriting his autobiography has shown me the VP will do what he believes is in the best interests of the nation, and he can live with the gray areas if he has to. He would cover up what occurred and sleep well with the decision. So I don’t disbelieve what is here. I just don’t know if it is everything. If pushed, I would assume it is not, as there is always something that gets tucked away and not said.
“Did the chief of staff murder eighteen people? Yes. Is the diary his words and rationale for why he killed them? Yes. Did he abduct the VP and intend to kill him? Yes. Did the VP cover up what happened at the cabin? Yes. Is this the record of all that happened? Probably not. I know it can be accurate and still not be complete. The skeptic in me always doubts, and I assume I don’t know everything that happened.”
Paul went to the core question he had. “Did the VP kill the chief of staff?”
“He says no, that the chief of staff pulled the trigger and shot himself in the head during a desperate struggle with the VP and the lady who wrote the diary. I believe that is the truth. It is consistent with the medical examiner’s report on the body.”
Ann leaned back against the closed door. “Do you want this, Paul? Or would you rather have this dumped on someone else? It’s not going to hurt your career or what I think of you for you to wisely say let this be someone else’s problem.”
Paul smiled. “Do you expect me to decline? Or do you not know me that well?”
“I expect you to take this case, run with it, and relish every minute of it. And that’s because I do know you.” She ran her hand through her hair in a gesture he had rarely seen before. “This is a bombshell that is going to go off in a few months. You want Sam and Rita? This is going to have to be done quietly and fast, and you trust the two of them.”
“It will be like old times. The lady shooter case is quiet until her next letter arrives, and I’m not expecting it for another two or three weeks. Rita’s watching for it, but I can shift that to Zane, as he’s already read into the case. We can be back in Chicago the same day the letter comes in. It’s not the first time we’ll have juggled two critical investigations at the same time. When the lady shooter case goes hot again, we’re in Chicago, and when it pauses we’re back on this. Or I tell the VP now to hand this case to someone else.”
“Keep it, Paul. You’ll do a good job, and that?
??s what matters. I’ll fly your team back and forth to Chicago as needed. I’ll get you security codes for this room, a lot of coffee, and dinner. The VP’s chapter will take about three hours to read, taking notes. The diary, it’s much tougher reading. I’d recommend saving that for tomorrow. Are you still interested in a good steak?”
“Only if you join me.”
“There’s a good chef here. I’ll be back in thirty minutes. I’m now hungry.”
He laughed. “I find I am too.”
He glanced at the clock as the door closed. And then he picked up the chapter the VP had written and settled in to read.
Ann was back in twenty-five minutes and kicked the door. “Paul, hands.”
He pushed open the door and rescued two plates and carefully balanced silverware. The plates were so hot he hurried to set them on the table. She disappeared and came back with two more plates and drinks. “One more trip.” This time she came back with a stacked plate of brownies. “This day demands chocolate.”
“Nicely done, Ann. Two perfect steaks, French fries, and dessert. I’m impressed.”
She looked at the arranged meal. “I forgot the ketchup.” She went out again and came back with ketchup and steak sauce. “Now that looks right.”
She settled in with him at the table. He reached across for her hands and asked if he could pray. At her quick nod, he asked God’s blessing on the food, and for direction on the important decisions they had to make.
Ann cut into the steak and sighed after the first bite. “I’m glad I know people who can cook.” She glanced at him. “I have a friend who can fly Sam and Rita here. Or I can go get them. I wouldn’t mind getting out of here for a few hours.”
“Have your friend bring them down.”