There were still things she didn’t understand, but she was convinced that Carter and Quincy had played her. And why? Maybe because they believed she could be easily manipulated. Of course she’d agree and be on Senator Quincy’s side. As for Carter—being Quincy’s chief of staff would certainly bring him more power, more prestige, and even more money. In this city, only one of those goals was enough reason for betrayal.
Now Ellie understood that Quincy had no intention of doing anything about the veterans, like Frank Sadowski, who’d been physically and emotionally affected by Project 112. It was all a show for Quincy to make himself look good, to wield his authority—or look like he was. At the end of the hearings he would do nothing more than any of the other committees that had had their chance in the years before. At the end of the day, Senator John Quincy would pretend he had done everything he could, then deliver absolutely nothing at all.
They were taking a short break after Mr. Sadowski’s testimony. A chance for everyone to stretch his or her legs. An opportunity for the media to get their sound bites out for the next news cycle. Ellie knew when they reconvened, Quincy would most likely be wrapping things up.
She saw Amelia Gonzalez come in a side door, her arms filled and her eyes darting around as if looking for permission to enter. Ellie waved at her assistant and watched her small frame politely weave through the crowd. The girl had listened to every word Ellie had told her, taking notes to make sure she got all the instructions. And here she was, the stack of envelopes in her arms, the task complete and just in time. Gonzalez would become an excellent chief of staff as soon as Ellie fired Carter.
She helped her distribute the envelopes, one at each committee member’s place. Ellie took her seat and the shuffle of the room followed suit. In minutes Quincy was restoring order.
“We’ve heard from all our witnesses,” he said. “If there’s no objection, we’ll conclude these proceedings.” He didn’t even look around the room and was ready to dismiss them for the day when Ellie spoke.
“With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I believe each of us reserves the right to recall any of those witnesses if we wish to have some clarification. Is that correct?”
She used her most polite tone and he shot a bemused look around the room, one that said without any words that, sure, they could make time for the only woman on the committee.
“Yes, of course, that’s correct,” he told her. “I’m sure our clerk won’t mind asking Mr. Sadowski to return.”
“Oh, I have no more questions for Mr. Sadowski.”
Quincy looked confused now, but Ellie didn’t hesitate.
“I’d like to recall Dr. Abraham Hess.”
55.
They had to wait almost five minutes for the room to settle down and for the clerk to find Colonel Hess. During that time Quincy glared at Ellie while she instructed the committee members to wait before opening the envelopes she had left at each of their places.
Colonel Hess shuffled in with Colonel Platt beside him. The two men had been inseparable during the last several days. She had seen the same admiration in Benjamin Platt’s eyes that Ellie once felt for the colonel. As she watched the others in the room and the way they revered this man, she suddenly felt butterflies in her stomach.
What in the world was she doing?
Hess settled into his chair and adjusted the microphone to accommodate his slouching. Then he looked up at her and waited. They were all waiting.
“Dr. Hess,” she began with the same polite tone she had addressed Quincy, “you were kind enough to tell us the history and the importance of Project 112 and Project SHAD. As you pointed out, the 1950s and ’60s were a tumultuous time. It’s difficult to understand the level of threat when many of us here were children or, in some cases, weren’t even born yet.”
Hess nodded and she noticed that everyone seemed to ease back for what they now believed would be a boring summary and public pat on the back for Dr. Hess.
“I think what none of us realized was that these tests—like those that were simulated for Project 112—weren’t the only ones going on across the country.”
She paused and let that sink in. She hoped to see Dr. Hess look surprised or at the very least maybe just a little rattled. He remained unmoved, his gaze unwavering. Perhaps he tilted his head a fraction as he waited her out.
“What exactly are you saying, Senator Delanor?” It was Quincy who appeared anxious. This wasn’t what he had expected.
“There were other tests,” she said casually. “Minneapolis, Saint Louis, Detroit.” She waved a hand at the envelopes. “Go ahead and take a look. The evidence was documented many years ago. It just hasn’t been brought to the attention of this committee. Or, to my knowledge, to any of the committees that have investigated Project 112 or Project SHAD.”
“Those tests have nothing to do with either,” Dr. Hess said in a calm voice. “If you’ve read the reports, you certainly know that.” The professorial tone was back.