The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (35 page)

             
“
I think you leave me no choice then
,
John,
”
said the President.  John was suddenly see
ing bad mob movies run
through his head.  He was going to end up buried under the White House! 
“
I will have to divorce my wife, which I would anyway.  This has nothing to do with politics; she
’
s just not who I thought she was.  I will also have to resign.  For all I know Archibald has been using my position for his own gain.  There
’
s no telling what Lisa was doing that I wasn
’
t aware of.  Even if neither of them did anything, there is too much suspicion for the American people to trust me, and the one thing we cannot have is the people of this country believing that their President is in the pocket of a wealthy businessman, and there being some evidence supporting that.
”
 
John was impressed.

             
“
Sir, I don
’
t get into politics much, regardless of what some may think,
”
said John.  The President smiled catching the obvious reference to John being tied to
Senator Cosby
. 
“
But what I do know is honor, and what you are get
ting ready to do sounds like an
honorable, but more importantly, the right thing to do.
”
 
John stood up and offered the President his hand.  The President stood up and shook John
’
s hand. 
“
As far as I
’
m concerned
,
sir
,
this talk never happened if that is what you want.
”

             
The President buttoned his coat and straightened himself. 
“
I would appreciate that John.  I would also appreciate if you would turn over every rock and dig in every
hole
Lisa and her father had any dealings with.  Those two deserve whatever you can find.
”
 
John smiled and so did the President.

             
“
Sir, you
’
d better believe they have both made my list.
”
 
Trip raised his eyebrows.

             
“
Ho
w are you going to do that
,
John?  Y
ou
’
re just a PI?
”
 
Trip asked smugly.  Both of them were shocked when the man from the Washington bureau
,
they had both forgotten was in the room
,
answered.

             
“
If John wants back in, then there will be no resistance from us,
”
he said.  John decided to double down and go for broke.

             
“
And Jessica and Chet?
”
 
John asked.  Trip groaned inwardly.

             
The man from the bureau smiled. 
“
John
,
they are safe.  I
’
m not for sure that you
’
re safe from Arthur Moore.
”

             
“
There
’
s a shock,
”
said John sarcastically.  That brought a chuckle from the man from the bureau which surprised everyone in the room.  John and Trip started out of the White House.  When they exited John heard Trip chuckle behind him.  There, waiting for John, was Bruce.

             
Bruce did a slow clap as he walked up to John.  Trip ignored the two and walked past them.  Trip didn
’
t know if he could take any more excitement today, and he was sure he didn
’
t want to see this exchange. 

             
“
John I have to give it to you,
”
Bruce said. 
“
Three years out of the game, and you pull this one off?  That is just impressive.  Dude
,
you have got serious skills
.
”

             
John was a little taken aback.  He wasn
’
t sure what game Bruce was playing but John knew he needed to proceed very cautiously. 

             
“
Thank you
,
Bruce.  I appreciate that.  How did you get here?
”

“
Oh, a bunch of us jumped in a plane in New York and flew down.  The bureau loaned us cars to get down here to the White House to help out if needed.  Obviously we weren
’
t.  Good job
,
sir, good job.
”

John offered out his hand and Bruce shook it.  John released Bruce
’
s hand, and was quickly herded off by other agents to begin to answer questions for the reports that had to be filed.  Bruce stood and watched John leave.  Bruce looked back at the White House.  Bruce chuckled and shook his head.  Bruce
’
s phone rang.  It was a blocked number.

             
“
Bruce Cosby,
”
he answered.

             
“
Mr. Cosby,
”
said the voice on the other end. 
“
I could use your help on a matter; I believe it could make someone
’
s FBI career.  If you
’
re interested simply show up at the address I
’
m going to text you.  I will include the time of the meet in the text as well.  If not, please disregard this phone call like it never happened.
”
 
The phone call ended.

             
“
Oh
,
Archibald,
”
said Bruce quietly to himself. 
“
I have heard your voice too many times over the years not to recognize it.  I
’
ll gladly meet you and your cronies. There is nothing I would love to hear more than what plan you have
to get your little daughter out of this mess she
’
s in right now.  It should be quite enjoyable watching you squirm.
”
 
Bruce looked around and saw many of the reporters were leaving. 
“
I do wonder where my father got off to.   Oh, well, who cares?
”

             
Bruce walked over to the car he was loaned, opened the door and sat in the driver
’
s seat.  He suddenly started checking his pockets like he had lost his keys.  He finally found what he was looking for in his coat pocket.  He pulled out a small cloth bag closed by drawstrings.  He opened the bag and looked inside.  He smiled as he pulled out the ring.  It was a simple gold ring.  Inscribed inside
,
it simply read,
“
Always yours, John
”
.
Bruce replaced the ring in the bag, closed it and made sure it was securely tied.  He put the bag back into his pocket and spoke to himself very softly.

             
“
If I had a sister, I wouldn
’
t miss her.
”

             
Bruce started the car and headed toward the address that was texted to him by the caller.

Later that Afternoon

C
hapter 88

             
John walked into the FBI building with a smile on his face.  He looked around upstairs for Bruce but couldn
’
t find him.  He chuckled and walked into Trip
’
s office.  Trip looked up and saw him.  Trip crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.  John stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. 

             
John spoke,
“
I guess I haven
’
t made a lot of friends in Washington.
”
 
Trip choked back a laugh. 

             
“
The rumor I got from Washington is the President will announce his resignation this week.  The official story will be h
e
is going to help his wife.  A few weeks after that will come the sad announcement of their divorce due to irreconcilable differences.
”
 
John continued to rock back on his heels.  Trip dropped his arms from his chest and smiled. 
“
I
’
m surprised we haven
’
t heard from Bruce
’
s d
ad.  I figure he
’
s one of the ones behind the scenes secretly helping him push Lisa out of the President
’
s life. 
Senator Cosby
will want a photo with you by the way.
”
 
John began to laugh and clap
ped
his hands together.  Trip was grinning broadly.  He pulled a folder out of his desk drawer.  He handed it John.  John took it and looked at the file name.  It simply said
“
Samantha Fowler
”
.  John sighed.  He started to open it and stopped.  John looked out the window and did the hardest thing he had ever done.  He handed the file back to Trip.  Trip looked dumfounded.
             
“
I don
’
t understand, did I do something wrong,
”
asked Trip.

             
John smiled and replied. 
“
Nope, you didn
’
t do a thing wrong Trip.  I
’
m not ready.
”
 
Trip looked extremely
confused. 
“
I need to tell you something that hardly anyone knows.
”
 
Trip nodded for him to go ahead. 
“
The night Sam died . . .
”
John looked away, cleared his throat and continued with tears in his eyes
. 
“
The night Sam died
,
I was heading home.  I was going to tell her I was joining AA and leaving the FBI if she wanted me to.  I had bought this locket to
give to her to apologize with; n
ot that the locket itself was much of an apology with all I had put her through.  Anyway, I had been standing a few blocks away trying to think of the right thing to say to her.  I couldn
’
t decide.  I finally gave up and headed to the apartment . . . well, you know the rest.
”
 
Trip folded his hands on his desk and looked down; when he looked back up he spoke.

             
“
Did you ever join AA?
”
 
Trip asked.

John started to shake his head no, but stopped. 
“
I have gone to many meetings over the past three years.  Honestly
,
for a year I went nearly every day, but . . . I
’
ve never spoken or participated.  I
’
ve just sat and listened to all of these people tell their story.  I
’
ve never had the courage to tell mine.  Trip, part of me feels like if I do, I
’
m letting go of Sam.
”
 

Trip nodded that he understood.  When Trip spoke, he did so quietly. 
“
So you left the FBI
,
but you didn
’
t do the part you promised; mind you it wasn
’
t a promise to yourself, but a promise all the same.  You feel like if you do participate, then you will be moving on with your life?
”
 
John nodded. 
“
You don
’
t feel that
’
s right, because you think you should have died with her that night?
”
 
John nodded again. 
“
You feel like you let Sam down
,
John?
”
 
John nodded, tears streaming down his cheeks.