Kompromat

Even though his term still had a few months to run, Silcock could sense that President Matlock was already demob-happy.

‘That will do fine, I’m sure,’ he said.

The president signed the executive order with a flourish. He handed the pen to the Attorney General.

‘Probably the last executive order I’ll sign. Hang on to the pen. It might be worth something one day.’

When Silcock had gone, President Matlock picked up the phone. ‘Could you get hold of Wilbur Brown, please, at the FBI? Ask him to step over here if he has a moment.’

When Brown arrived, the president said, ‘I’ve signed the executive order. Walter Reed is on standby. You’ll do the necessary, won’t you?’

Brown replied simply, ‘The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States.’

Years ago, President Matlock recalled, US President Richard Nixon – about to resign his great office in disgrace – had asked the then secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, to pray with him in this very room. What a lot of history the place had seen. He hoped he wouldn’t leave with a cloud over his head. But what would happen to his legacy, he wondered?

He stood up from his desk and walked over to the window to look out at the rose garden. ‘I’m going, Wilbur, but people like you must carry on the good work.’

‘We will, sir.’ Wilbur Brown, seventh director of the FBI, felt strangely moved. ‘We will carry on the good work. Till hell freezes over. Whatever it takes.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Craig had reached Barnard by phone earlier in the week. ‘Come over for my speech in Fort Lauderdale,’ Craig had urged him. ‘I’m sure you need a break and I could use your help.’

Barnard had checked it out with Harriet Marshall. Nowadays, he didn’t move without Harriet’s say-so. He, Barnard, was officially chairman of the Leave campaign but Barnard was under no illusions as to where the power truly lay. It lay with Harriet. No doubt about that. Sometimes he murmured ‘Take back control’ when Marshall laid down the law – who was to do what and when – but he never kicked up a fuss. When you had a political genius on your side, you didn’t quibble.

Harriet Marshall had been totally enthusiastic about the proposed trip to Florida.

‘Genius!’ she exclaimed. ‘Just what we need. A bit of international exposure just at the right time. Make sure Craig mentions Brexit in his speech.’

Barnard needn’t have had any worries on that score.

Less than three hours after landing in Florida he watched Ronald Craig, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, come to the podium in front of the cheering, flag-waving, trumpet-parping crowds in the Fort Lauderdale stadium.

Craig’s rhetorical style, consisting of short, declaratory sentences, was precisely what his audience was looking for.

‘Thank you. I am so thrilled to be in Fort Lauderdale today,’ Craig began. ‘Florida is my second home. This is such an amazing state, and filled with so many incredible people.

‘We are all going to have to work hard together to win the White House on November 8th. Our victory on November 8th will be a victory for the people.

‘It won’t be a victory for the pundits, the special interests, the failed politicians. It will be a victory for YOU – for your family, for your country.

‘It will be a victory for jobs. For security. For prosperity. It will be a victory for American Independence.

‘We will reject the failures of the past and create a New American Future where every child – African-American, Hispanic, and all children – can live out their dreams.

‘We will bring back our jobs.

‘Rebuild our depleted military.

‘Take care of our veterans.

‘Unleash American energy.

‘Restore law and order.

‘And we will make government honest once again.’

Towards the end of his speech, Craig turned to Barnard, sitting on the dais behind the lectern:

‘Come up here, Ed,’ Craig commanded. Then, lowering his voice as though imparting some confidential information, he added, ‘This is the man who’s helping to set Britain free. He has started this incredible movement. You’re all part of this movement. This movement that we talk about so much. That’s been written about on the cover of every magazine all over the world. It’s a movement that is just sweeping. It’s sweeping across our country. It’s sweeping frankly across the globe.’

Craig strode over and hoisted Barnard’s arm into the air.

For the moment the two of them stood there, arms held high, like the golden arches of McDonalds, as the crowd went wild.

‘Let’s hear it for Britain!’ Craig trumpeted. ‘Let’s hear it for Ed Barnard and all who are working with him! They’re doing it over there. We can do it over here! Look at Brexit! Much smaller example, but it’s still something you can look at. People want to take back control of their countries and they want to take back control of their lives and the lives of their family.’