Stone - 25 - Collateral Damage

face of Southern California was still visible as the curvature of the earth came into view. The room went dark, and then the lights came up slowly.
    The president spoke for the first time. “I want to thank all of you who had a part in finding and disabling this device before it could be set off. The entire country—indeed, the entire world—owes you all a debt of gratitude that can never be fully expressed. Indeed, it will never be expressed, since no one will know until most of us are dead. The public knowledge of this incident will be limited to the announcement that two bombs were discovered and disarmed on the site of the hotel and that one was set off by a coconspirator at Santa Monica Airport. After that, the airplane carrying McCallister to London was diverted to Kennedy Airport in New York, where his brother attempted to help him escape. Both were shot and killed by a CIA team dispatched to stop them. Dr. Kharl met his death a few hours later in Dubai, shot by a CIA sniper, who then made good his escape.
    “As I’m sure you know, last year both houses of Congress passed a bill called the National Security Act, which I vetoed, because I felt that some parts of the bill were unconstitutional. Both houses then passed a revised version that I signed into law. One of the provisions of that act is that, by order of the president, information harmful to national security can be suppressed until fifty years after the death of that president. I view the nuclear nature of this event as falling under that provision of the act, and I am issuing an executive order, which you may read in the folders before you, invoking the National Security Act. Also in each folder is a statement that I wish signed by each of you present, saying that you are aware that the Act has been invoked, and that you swear to keep secret everything you have seen and heard here today, even to the extent of discussing them with each other, and also to keep secret your part in the events covered by the Act.
    “I hope that each of you, having seen what the explosion of the device would have wrought, will agree that the country should not know these things for a long time to come. Later today I will address the nation and tell them of the bomb plot at The Arrington and how it was stopped. It is very likely that, after my broadcast, you may be contacted by members of the media for a statement. In that case, I ask you to refer all questions to the White House Press Office and to make no further comment.
    “Now, with the pens provided, please sign your personal statements and give them to Tim Coleman.”
    Stone glanced at the brief statement and signed it. So did everyone else. Tim Coleman collected the statements.
    “I want to thank you all for traveling here today and for your help in dealing with this very troubling situation,” Will Lee said. “Good day to you all.” He got up and left the room, followed by Tim Coleman.
    Kate Lee spoke up. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure it has occurred to you that there was one other person present at The Arrington who possesses much of this knowledge. Kelli Keane, a reporter for Vanity Fair , has already agreed to keep her silence. Holly Barker spoke with her before the president decided to invoke the Act, so Holly will travel back to New York with a copy of the statement for her signature. She will be allowed to include a description of the search for the conventional bombs at the hotel but not to ask any of you for comment. Thank you all, and the helicopter is waiting for the New York contingent.”
    —
    Everyone was very quiet during the helicopter ride back to New York.
    —
    Stone sat in the restaurant Patroon, sipping a drink and waiting for Holly to arrive. Ken Aretsky, the owner, joined him for a while but left as soon as Holly walked in. Stone ordered her a drink.
    “How did it go?” Stone asked.
    “How did what go?” Holly asked in return.
    “Let me put it this way: Are you satisfied with the way your day’s work went?”
    “Entirely,” Holly replied. She raised her glass. “Now we need never speak of this day again.”
    “I’ll drink to that,” Stone said, and he did.

Stone watched the president’s address about events at The Arrington. It was brief enough to be delivered in its entirety during a time-out of a big football game being televised. His phone rang twice that evening, while he and Holly were in bed, and he did not answer either call.
    The following morning Holly