CHAPTER 183

AFTER TWO MORE security checks, they finally arrived at a designated room, where they would wait for the session to start. There was little time left to wait.

Kenan sat on a couch in the center of the room, panting in anticipation of the plenary session, but relieved to arrive there safely.

— We're finally close to ending this! — he looked at Floyd Kenagan who was beside him.

Floyd Kenagan walked over to a table where there was tea, coffee and other things.

— Would you like tea, Mr. President?

— Oh, yes, please! I need to remain calm and peaceful for the debate.

The security guards stood in the corners, constantly vigilant. Tommy tried to imitate them by standing in a corner of the room. Floyd Kenagan poured him a cup and took his own, sitting nearby while they talked.

— Tell me, Kenagan, I haven't heard from your analyst about the ongoing investigation. — and he took a sip of tea.

—This is Agent Danny Martin, — Floyd Kenagan replied.

Hearing this, Tommy squirmed in his seat and looked at Greg, who remained impassive. That was the name his friend had given to the supposed agent who was speaking to him on the phone! Suddenly, all his attention was focused on the conversation.

— I confess that after the media resumed operations, I had no contact with him. After all, — he tried to apologize for his distraction — we turned all our attention to this moment.

— You know we can't close our eyes until everything has proven successful, Greg. Until we complete each step of the process, I can't allow ourselves to lose sight of anything. — the President replied.

— You asked me to solve the case, sir, I have my own methods of putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

— Have you made any progress?

— Yes sir.

— Agent Evans is certainly working the case with priority. His track record is very successful.

— I want an answer about the status of the investigation, Inspector.

— We will have this answer shortly after the meeting, Mr. President.

Gregory Evans was not intrigued by that conversation.

Tommy beside him thought:

So the agent Benedetti was in contact with had a real connection with the President?

What kind of investigation would you be doing?

And worst of all, was that whole story about Kenan's secret plans true?

Tommy didn't know what to think anymore. He needed to talk to them again to clear things up. While he was thinking, he felt his cell phone vibrate. He discreetly took it out of his pocket and looked at what it was. He had received a text message from Carl Benedetti.

"Are you still there? We don't have much time!"

For a few moments, he thought about what he could do, until he turned to Greg who was next to him and said:

— I need to go out for a moment.

— Is there a problem?

Tommy shrugged his shoulders in a sign of indifference. Perhaps his presence in that well-trained group meant he was just an intruder, someone who was there to get in the way, nothing more. And that was what he realized every time the others glanced at him sideways.

TRYING NOT TO BE NOTICED by the President and the inspector, who were talking, he walked lightly towards the exit, leaving the room. In the hallway, he called his friend, who answered:

"... Tommy? Are you able to speak?..."

— Yes, but I don't have much time. — he replied extremely nervously.

"... How nice that we..."

— Carl, put the agent on the phone.

Benedetti fell silent and handed the phone to Martin who answered:

"...Tommy?..."

— Are you investigating something for the Inspector General?

"... Yes and no, Greg is, I'm helping Greg and it was during this investigation that we ended up discovering everything..."

— And why don't you call Greg?

"...Because Greg will be retaliated against and we would lose our only agent who could solve this problem, if our hypothesis is wrong..."

— What if you're wrong?

"... We will fall and a war will begin..."

— And how can you explain all these things? — Tommy asked, trying to disguise the conversation from the security guards who were walking through the corridors. — What proof do you have?

"... There are too many facts to explain at once, but I have in my possession a complete dossier on the President's secret operations. The false terrorist attacks, the true intentions of the plan to combat terrorism, the victims he had caused... In short, the entire construction and project for reelection are in these documents. But tell me, where are you?..."

— We are in Geneva.

"... Geneva? It can't be! Has the session already started?..."

— They are waiting for the starting time.

"... I don't believe it! We don't have any more time! Even if we wanted to release the material we have, it would already be too late by the time it reached the authorities..."

—What do you want to do? — Tommy asked, still full of doubts.

"... Tommy, what the President wants to do is a coup! Unprecedented in all history! If that happens, we could have a new great war!..."

—But how can you be sure that he will be able to fool everyone here?

"... Because he has already deceived us! Everyone believes in the terrorist attacks we have suffered! Everyone is in favor of his interventionist policy! Once approved, in twenty-four hours we will have American and allied troops in several countries in the Middle East!..."

Tommy thought for a moment, he didn't understand anything about these matters. All his diplomatic knowledge was limited to the romanticism of eighties war films. He had never been someone with any political interest. He was happy that voting wasn't mandatory and had never even started a conversation or debate on the subject with anyone. He was a total ignoramus being forced to make an immeasurable decision.

Suddenly, Tommy found himself like someone diving into a sea of icy waters, involved with forces he had no idea about. Agent Martin gave him good reasons to join the cause, but on the other hand, the President was a man of great knowledge.

Wouldn't he be correct in his plans?

Wouldn't there be a much greater strategy in favor of the country?

What could Gregory Evans do to help you?

Tommy replied:

— The President asked the inspector about your investigation, but only after the session should the inspector question Greg about you.

Martin thought it would be too late if he waited for the agenda to be concluded, the decision would already have been made. He then said:

"... We have no other option, take this phone to him!..."

— I don't know if I should... — Tommy replied, trying to avoid exposing himself.

"... We don't have time, Tommy! Take him to him!..."

Tommy entered the room again, imperative. He did not allow himself the luxury of hesitating and thinking about the arbitrary and selfish request that Agent Martin had made to him, ignoring the risks he would run in taking the problem to the President.

Tommy looked at Greg who smiled back as he sensed his nervousness.

Kenan was still talking to the Inspector General about his important matters. Seeing the statesman in his plea, he took a deep breath and looked at each security agent who remained standing, armed, in each corner. There was no way to avoid it anymore, it was necessary, Martin was waiting on the other side of the line, and perhaps his entire nation, on the other side of the ocean.

"Sir," he said, looking at the President, "FBI Agent Danny Martin is on the line."

Floyd and Kenan were surprised by the connection between Tommy and the much talked about agent.

How did they know each other?

The security guards threatened to retaliate when they saw the incautious young man interrupt the President, but were restrained when they heard his question:

— Agent Danny Martin?

— Yes, Sir, he is waiting to say something. Should I allow it? — Tommy asked, diligently studying each word to say, fearful.

Floyd Kenagan sketched a reaction:

— Why would he contact me like that?

— Greg, do you know anything?

— Yes sir...

The President looked to one of the most trusted men in America who nodded to take the call.

— I believe it is important, — replied the President. — In any case, I would like to know what it is about. Any good news would be welcome before the session. Please give me the device.

Tommy walked up to the President to hand it to him, but Floyd Kenagan stepped forward and grabbed the phone, saying:

— For your safety, sir, don't pick up this device, let me activate the speakerphone.

With Kenan's agreement, the Inspector General activated the feature and placed the device on the coffee table.

— Tell me, Agent Martin, is there something important you need to tell me?

Martin took a deep breath on the other end of the line, but he couldn't delay, so he replied:

"... Mr. President, Inspector General. It was necessary to contact you in advance of the board meeting, I could not let this event happen without first speaking to you..."

— Be direct, — said Floyd Kenagan. — We're about to be called.

"... Yes, sir. We have made many discoveries in our investigation and it is important that you listen to what I have to say. Do not proceed with the siege proposal this morning..."

Floyd Kenagan nearly jumped off the couch when he heard the outrage. Kenan sat forward, resting his arms on his knees in surprise.

—And why shouldn't I, Agent Martin? — Kenan asked, showing false calm.

"...Because we have all the proof of their true plans in my hands..."