Murder at the Opera - Margaret Truman [130]
“A terrorist attack?” Mac said.
“Right,” the senator replied. “They’ve gunned down Congressman Chapman. Christ, he was out walking his dog. The mayor of Denver survived an attack against him
Two security men whisked the senator and his wife away.
Frazier’s continuous call for order had some effect. The Brazilian band began to play again, and a couple took to the dance floor in a show of confidence.
“Please,” Frazier said, “let’s continue with the evening despite the dreadful attack that’s just happened. Everything will be fine
Mac wanted to leave, but Annabel said it wouldn’t look right if she left. He agreed, and they stayed to the scheduled end of the festivities. There was little dancing; most of the time was taken up with conversations about the event everyone had just witnessed.
Mac and Annabel returned to their apartment and watched the news on TV. The anchors and reporters stumbled through their reports, basing them on the sketchiest of facts. Some guests at the ball were interviewed, but offered nothing of substance: “What were you feeling at the time?” was the most frequently asked question, and elicited little. Chairman Frazier spoke of how shocking the attempt on the life of the president and first lady had been for everyone who was there to enjoy a festive evening celebrating the Washington National Opera. “Thank God,” he said, “that the assassin’s shot went astray and no one was injured
Homeland Security Chief Wilbur Murtaugh was rousted out of bed, briefed, and held a hastily convened press conference: “This was obviously an orchestrated terrorist attack on leading public officials,” he said. “Our hearts go out to Congressman Chapman’s family. He was a dedicated public servant, gunned down in the prime of his life. Fortunately, the President and Mrs. Montgomery were saved through the actions of the heroic men and women charged with protecting them. The gunman is in custody and being questioned as we speak. I can offer no further information about him at this time. The two men whose attempt on the life of Denver’s mayor was thwarted by authorities are also in custody. Congressman Chapman’s killer remains at large. The threat meter has been elevated to Red-Two, and will remain at that level for the foreseeable future. Thank you. I’m not taking any questions at this time
The president’s press secretary’s statement from the White House said only that the president and first lady were fine, and expressed their heartfelt condolences to Congressman Chapman’s family.
Mac and Annabel sat quietly in front of the television and allowed the journalists’ words from its speakers to come and go. Finally, at two, they turned off the set and went to bed, as stunned and angry as the rest of America.
• • •
The phone in their apartment rang incessantly the following morning, the calls a combination of questions and theories about the thwarted assassination attempt on the president and first lady, and the one against the congressman that had succeeded, others rehashing the ball’s success. It had raised more money for the Washington National Opera than any previous Opera Ball. Bad news with good news, the bitter with the sweet.
At eleven, Mac and Annabel took their car from the underground garage—the parking spot had added $35,000 to the condo’s sale price—and drove to Great Falls, where they found Pawkins’ home. He was in front hauling bulging green leaf bags to the garage. An odd sight.
“Welcome,” he announced grandly. “Come on in. Onion soup, a salad, and the best French bread in D.C. is on the menu
They entered the house. “Get over last night?” he asked.
“It’s not something you get over,” Annabel said, “at least not this soon
“We live in perilous times,” Pawkins said. “Might as well get used to it. Nothing new on the news. Just confusion. Come, take a tour of the old homestead
They ended in his elaborate study, where the strains of an