Atherton shot out of his seat at the dinner table, waving off his wife. “No Sir. That won’t be necessary. How can I help you?”
“I sent you a folder just now concerning the incident at Fisherman’s Wharf. It contains a video record of what US Marshal McCarty witnessed along with his actions in the matter. The other file contains dealings between former disgraced Senator Diane Cameron and your Assistant DA Dorsett. No one in public knows this but Cameron resigned under pressure because of evidence found by Marshal McCarty tying her to terrorist organizations. I wager Dorsett didn’t show you the video Marshal McCarty put in her hands, did she?”
Atherton’s features tensed. “No… she didn’t. I’m beginning to understand your point here. Is McCarty an asset of CIA?”
“I can’t tell you specifics, but Marshal McCarty because of his combat experience and logistics training consults with CIA, FBI, and Department of Justice. He has thwarted numerous terrorist cells and attacks on the homeland. He was asked in to assess the hostage situation because of his skills as a sniper. The situation was handled incredibly well without civilian or police casualties. The reason we have the file connections between Dorsett and Cameron is because anyone dealing with Cameron gets added to the terrorist watch list we have on the former Senator. May I ask that you view the folder and call me back here?”
“Of course, Sir. I will do so immediately.”
“Thank you.” Gilbrech disconnected.
*
The knock on Atherton’s office door halted the conversation in progress with another Assistant DA, a retired Navy Commander with a grim featured persona spread over his ebony features. Assistant DA Dorsett waited at the door. Atherton motioned her in. Dorsett walked in with a smile that disappeared when confronted by the dour looks on her boss and co-worker’s faces.
“Sit down, Emily,” Atherton said. When Dorsett was seated, Atherton continued. “I won’t make this long and drawn out. You’ve committed some grave errors which cannot be ignored. I told you to keep me updated on the hostage situation that happened at the Wharf.”
“It was a domestic dispute, Sir.” Dorsett could see the aggravation building in Atherton’s body language.
“I have the video in my possession of the incident you withheld. I also have a file containing your dealings with former Senator Cameron and her pursuit of US Marshal McCarty. Her reasoning was revenge for his ending the Senator’s selling out of the nation. Your reasoning was obviously financial… and oh my, you certainly received that.”
Dorsett leaped to her feet. “Where the hell do you get off spying on my personal life?”
“I didn’t. When you continued dealing at Cameron’s beck and call even after her forced resignation from office, your name showed up on the terrorist watch list for consulting with her. The authorities tracked your dealings under Homeland Security auspices. Nothing would have happened to you but in choosing to pursue Cameron’s vendetta on Marshal McCarty, you committed a number of felonies. They will be recorded in your file. We will not be implementing legal proceedings against you. Pack your things and clear out of your office. There are two policemen waiting for you there to make sure you don’t commit any other crimes.”
“I’m being set up! You see what’s going on here, don’t you, George?!” Dorsett turned to her fellow district attorney for support.
Retired Commander, George Whittaker, stood too. “I was given this case because I still have a Top Secret clearance from my naval career. Former Senator Cameron is a traitor. You conspiring with her to frame Marshal McCarty proves you’re no better than she is. My advice is this. Don’t say another word. This meeting has been recorded. I will be prosecuting those two bastards Gayle and McKinley on so many felonies, they won’t see the light of day for fifty years. Anything else you have to say will be used against you in a court of law and by God I’ll be the one doing the honors. If not for Marshal McCarty, the wife, kids, and probably numerous civilian hostages would have been murdered.”
Atherton waited until Whittaker finished before standing. “If I hear even one word of bullshit from you either here or in public I will have George pursue every single felony against you. I will have you frog-marched in handcuffs from wherever you are, directly into a jail cell. Now get out of my office.
A terrified Dorsett left the office without a word as ordered.
“I still think we should have charged her, Daryl.”
“I know. The only reason I’m not pursuing her is I don’t want any distraction from putting those idiots away for as long as we possibly can. That video scared the shit out of me. They were on the verge of executing everyone on the pier.”
“I will get them. Don’t worry about that. I’ll update you at the end of the day.” Whittaker left the office.