To Kill a President (27 page)

Chapter 56

As Bobby listened to Jane, Faraday and David explain their findings he was as confused as ever.  How could they use this information to stop the assassination?  There were four of them and between them they had one gun, what were they hoping to achieve?  They were sat around the table by the window watching the rain pouring down.  The television was blaring in the background.

“Okay so we know now for sure that Oswald is a patsy, but what can we do to stop it?”  Bobby asked.

“The only option we have is to go to Oswald and warn him.”  David suggested.

“I don’t think we can do that David.  It’s too risky, they’d kill us and even if we could stop Oswald from going in to work that wouldn’t save Kennedy.”  Bobby replied.

“Anyone got a better idea?”  David asked sceptically.

“I don’t think we can stop this.  I think our best chance is to try and stop Oswald getting the blame.  If we can get Polaroid cameras we might be able to photograph the assassins.”  Jane suggested.

Bobby considered this for a moment.  “That’s not a bad idea.  Maybe we should try and workout where each of us should position ourselves during the assassination.”

“So what we are just letting him die?”  David asked, clearly infuriated.

“Well how can we stop it David?”  Bobby asked.

“We buy guns, we can stop them ourselves.”

Bobby shook his head.  “No, I agree that we should probably buy guns.  One between four of us will not work, but getting into a shootout with the CIA and the Mafia would be insanity.  We would all die and if we somehow survived we would be arrested.”

David was silent now, he couldn’t really argue with Bobby’s logic.  “So perhaps we should get cameras to catch the assassins and guns that are only to be used if we need to protect ourselves.  But where do we position ourselves?”

“Well someone needs to be at the Dal-Tex building.”  David stated.

“Do you want to do that?”  Bobby replied.

“I could.  I think it might be an idea to ask Silvia Odio to come with me, she might be able to identify the men who visited her.”

“Would she do that?”  Faraday asked.

“She said she would help us and she gave me her number.  It could work.”

“Okay well let’s give that a try.  Will you be going to the hospital after the shooting?”  Bobby asked.

“It would make sense.  I could try and gain access to Kennedy’s body.  The actual autopsy was carried out at Bathesda Naval Hospital in Washington.  Apparently the Secret Service removed the body from Dallas whilst they had their guns pointed at the Pathologist attempting to carry out an autopsy here.”

“Okay so that’s pretty much you occupied for the day David.  I think someone needs to be with Oswald, I would like to do it.  That way I can gain his trust before he is arrested and he will approve of me being his lawyer.”

“So what do we do?”  Faraday asked.

“Well we need someone near the grassy knoll.  I would suggest someone should be stationed on the grass between Elm Street and Main Street.  That way they will have a view of both the knoll and the motorcade.

Lastly I think we need someone at the intersection of East 10
th
Street and Patton Avenue.”

“Why?”  Jane asked.

“That’s where Officer Tippit was shot.”  Faraday stated.  “I’ll go there, Jane you can try to get a picture of the motorcade and the grassy knoll.  You’ll be much safer there.”

“I agree.”  David stated.

“Great!”  Bobby said.  “Well as I said I’ll stay with Oswald, when he is arrested I’ll go to Dallas Police Head Quarters and get access to him as quickly as possible.  David will be at the hospital, if you two could just find out as much as you can after the assassination you can come to see me at the police station and give me what you’ve got.”

The room was silent for a moment.  Everyone seemed to be pleased that after so long they finally had a plan.  Their joy was short lived however as the voice of the Dan Rather reported news from the black and white television.

“You will remember that we broke the news recently that New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison had been hospitalized following the murder and attempted murder of Jack Martin and Guy Bannister respectively, he was hospitalised due to fears over his sanity.  Tonight we must report that Mr Garrison has died during a routine Electric Shock procedure.

The procedure is used in cases of severe depression and its use has attracted some controversy due to side effects such as memory loss or brain damage.  Reports from the hospital tonight suggest that Mr Garrison had requested the procedure earlier this week.

Coincidentally this comes just hours after Guy Bannister was found dead after committing suicide.  He was found in his office after being released from hospital yesterday.”

“What the fuck?”  Faraday shouted.

“Jesus, they’re cleaning house already.”  Bobby said.  Everyone in the room was stunned by the latest developments.

“He didn’t mention anything about electric shock treatment, he just wanted out.  He would never have requested that there was nothing wrong with him.”  Jane said clearly getting emotional.  Faraday pulled her towards him and put his arms around her.  They were interrupted by the telephone ringing.  Bobby struggled to his feet using his new walking stick and went into the hallway to take the call.

“Hello.”

A man with a deep voice responded.  “Hello I’m looking for Bobby Stinson?”

“That’s me can I help?”

“Well I hope so.  I’m a friend of Jim Garrison’s I don’t know if you heard the news?”  The man spoke with urgency, he sounded incredibly nervous.

“I just heard it just now, it’s terrible.”

“We both know what happened Bobby.  They wanted to shut him up, same with Bannister.”

“I would agree.  So who are you?”

“Firstly I must ask you a question.  Are you intending to stop the assassination?”

Bobby was not sure whether to go with the truth or not.  In the end he decided to.  “I was but I don’t think that’s possible, I am planning to expose the people behind it.”

There was silence on the line for a moment.  “Well in that case you need my help.”

“Are you the CIA agent that helped Jim?”

“Yes how did you know that?”  Bobby could again sense the anxiety in the man’s voice.

“He mentioned that he’d had help to my friend Jane.  I don’t know if he told you about her?”

“The time traveller, of course he mentioned her.  My name is Garrett Underhill.  Would it be possible to meet tomorrow?”

“Sure, what time?”  Bobby replied.

“How about 17:00?”

“Yeah that’s fine.”

“Okay wear a suit, I’ll pick you up outside your building.  I drive a black Cadillac Coup Deville.”

“Okay I’ll see you then.”

Chapter 57

The morning of Thursday 21
st
November passed quickly.  David was working all day and had left the condo at 08:30.  Bobby, Faraday and Jane used the time to purchase four Polaroid cameras and three Smith & Wesson 38 calibre revolvers.

At 16:00 Bobby began to get himself ready for his meeting with Garrett Underhill.  He decided to have his second shower of the day.  After all he had no idea where he was going and considering he was told to wear a suit he presumed it was somewhere posh.  As he stepped out of the bath he dried himself and then got himself dressed.  He had chosen a grey suit, white shirt and black tie.  When he opened the bathroom door he was met by Faraday who told him they had a visitor.  Bobby followed Faraday into the living room where he saw Jane sitting next to Gail Raven who had clearly been crying.

“What’s wrong Gail?”  Bobby asked.

“It’s Jack.  Bobby you have to help him.”  She spoke through tears.

“I tried Gail.  I’m not getting involved with him again.”

“Please you have to!  He didn’t mean what happened to Rose it was an accident.”

“An accident?  He had her murdered!”  Bobby yelled.

“No he didn’t she’s alive.  She’s at a hospital in Jackson.”

“Really?”

“Yes I promise you Bobby she is alive.  They tossed her from the car and she was picked up by another driver who took her to the hospital.  She called me!  She said that she had spoken to a Lieutenant Francis Fruge and told him that Ruby is involved in the plot.”

Bobby smiled now.  “That’s great so is he warning them to cancel the trip?”

Gail shook her head.  “They didn’t believe her, she’s a drug addict and a smuggler.  They just assumed she was high.”

“For fuck sake!  How many times do people need to be warned!  Stupid son of a bitch!”  Bobby punched the wall in his frustration.

“Bobby please I need your help.”  Gail repeated.  Faraday and Jane turned towards Bobby who’s face was one of anger.

“What do you need?  Why should I help that scumbag?”

“Jimmy Hoffa came to see him today.  He told Jack that he had to meet with a man named Charles Nicoletti tomorrow morning.  They want him to help in the assassination!  He’s beside himself he doesn’t know what to do he’s talking about leaving town.”

Chauncey had been right, Bobby thought.  Nicoletti was involved in the assassination.  “Well what do you want me to do about that?”

“I don’t know!  I just couldn’t think of anyone else to go to.”  Gail replied as tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

“I can’t help him Gail.  If I was you I’d get as far away from Jack Ruby as I could.”

“I can’t just abandon him.  They’ll kill him!”

“They’ll kill you too Gail.  Jimmy Hoffa’s favourite saying is the best way to keep a secret between three people is to kill the other two.  He lives by it Gail.”

“I won’t leave him.”  Gail responded.

“Well I can’t help him, they’ll kill me too.  If you find anything out tomorrow or over the weekend I’ll probably be with Oswald at the police station, so come and see me.”

“Fine.”  Gail replied grumpily.  “You know I thought you were better than this Bobby, I thought you would do what’s right.”  She stood up and let herself out of the condo.

Jane looked up at Bobby and was the first to break the silence.  “Are you okay Bobby?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”  He glanced at his watch it was 17:05.  “Shit I need to go.  I’ll see you both in a bit.”

“Good luck!”  Faraday yelled as Bobby hobbled towards the door.

Chapter 58

As Bobby hobbled into the street he immediately saw the black Cadillac.  He went towards the passenger door and got in.  He took his seat and looked towards the driver, he was a rotund man with slicked back brown hair that barely covered his balding head.  He was wearing a navy suit. 

“Are you Garrett?”  Bobby asked, only just realising he should have asked this before getting into the car.  Luckily the man nodded.

“Bobby?”

“Yep.”

“Great, I think I can help you.”  Garrett started the engine and began to drive.

“So what do you know Garrett?”  Bobby asked.

“Way too much.”  Garrett replied nervously.  He was constantly looking in his wing mirrors to ensure they were not being followed.  As they drove Bobby began to sweat he wasn’t sure if it was nerves or the Texas sun beating down on the car.  After a short journey they arrived on Harlandale Avenue, it was a quiet suburban neighbourhood.  The houses were all wood panelled with a garage and a garden.  Garret pulled up across the street from a house numbered 3128.  He turned off the ignition and gestured towards the house.

“That’s the safe house.  They have been planning the assassination from here.”

“Okay, so who’s carrying out the assassination?”

“There’s a bloody hit squad carrying out the assassination.  They’re hitting him from every angle.”  Garrett seemed jumpy probably because of their close proximity to the safe house.  As Bobby considered his words a police car appeared on the opposite side of the street and parked outside the house.  “Don’t look!”  Garrett whispered.  Bobby turned away from the house towards Garrett and the opposite side of the street.  After a couple of minutes Garrett began talking again.

“Okay he’s gone inside.  We can talk now.”

Bobby could feel himself getting jumpy, Garrett was making him nervous.  “So what do you know Garrett?”

“Absolutely everything.” He replied almost looking upset.  He turned on the ignition once more and drove around one hundred metres down the street.  When he had pulled over once again he looked around in every direction to ensure that they were not being watched.  Once he was satisfied he reached towards the backseat and pulled a black ring binder folder onto his lap.  “It’s all in here.”