The Cold Six Thousand - James Ellroy [200]
Littell gauged it.
Mr. Hoover was old. The world outgrew him. He outlived his reign of control. His hate dispersed. His hate coalesced. His hate found Dr. King.
Littell gauged his own hate.
He lived by hubris. He overcommitted. He outflanked his sphere of control. His hate dispersed. His hate condensed. His hate scattergunned. He outgrew his world. He retained his ideals. He outgrew his love of intrigue. His hate dispersed and coalesced. His hate found John Edgar Hoover.
He acted on it. He acted passively. Wait. Do nothing yet. Let Mr. Hoover HATE.
Let the world rock. Let Dr. King meld with Bobby. They have bold designs. They despise the war. They may collaborate.
Dr. King planned revolt. Lyle Holly detailed it. Littell destroyed Lyle’s notes. Let Dr. King live the notes. Let Dr. King act nonpassively.
Peace broadsides. Voter drives. Antislum campaigns. Revolt in its early stages—planned through ’68.
Wait. Do nothing yourself. Let Mr. Hoover HATE.
His hate burns. His hate shows. His hate discredits him. Dr. King plans. Dr. King schemes. Dr. King’s status grows.
Don’t push too hard. Don’t push too fast. Don’t strain credibility. Let the world rock at its own pace. Let some things go.
LBJ fights his foreign war. Mr. Hoover approves. LBJ pushes civil rights. Mr. Hoover fumes silently. Mr. Hoover spews hate.
LBJ might assess him. Edgar—you’re moribund. You’ve got to go.
The war will extend. The war will divide. The war might derail LBJ. Bobby might run in ’68. Dr. King might downscale his agenda. Bobby might endorse it.
He watched Bobby. He read the Senate Record. He tallied Bobby’s votes. Bobby was smart. Bobby never said “The Boys.” Bobby hated circumspectly.
Hate strong. Hate brave. Don’t hate like Mr. Hoover.
Mr. Hoover called him. The phone rang in mid-July. Mr. Hoover stirred some fear.
The spot tails were gone. He knew it. He was safe per Chuck Rogers. He was safe per Lyle H.
Still—Mr. Hoover stirred fear.
He was brusque. He was rude. Howard Hughes and Las Vegas—update me on that.
Littell said Drac’s crazy. Drac fears state taxes. Drac’s booked a whole railroad train. Drac trained to Boston. Drac brought his Mormons. Drac booked a floor at the Ritz.
Drac wants hotels. I’ve braced the registered owners. It’s pro forma. The Boys have the points. The Boys will rig the fees.
Mr. Hoover laughed. Mr. Hoover schemed. Mr. Hoover promised a no-skim-bust policy. Let’s not stir enmity. Why stir publicity? Why sully the Count and his kingdom?
Littell digressed. Littell said Drac has a plan. He’ll hit Vegas in late November.
The red tape will clear. He’ll have his cash. He’ll storm the DI then. He’s booked a floor. He’ll bring his slaves. They’ll bring his blood and dope.
Mr. Hoover laughed. Mr. Hoover probed:
I pulled some bugs. I pulled some taps. A House Committee made me. I got a tip: Lyle Holly braced Bobby. Lyle sent him a posthumous “confession.”
Littell feigned shock: Not Lyle H.! Not our WHITE RABBIT!
Mr. Hoover probed. Mr. Hoover ranted. Mr. Hoover steamed. He disdained WHITE and CRUSADER. He dissected their “twin moral voids.” He blasphemed WHITE the betrayer.
Littell assessed the rant. Littell concluded: He doesn’t suspect me/he buys the “confession”/he buys the “betrayal” that way.
Mr. Hoover digressed. Mr. Hoover attacked Dr. King. His HATE showed. His HATE beamed. His HATE crescendoed.
Littell said let me help. You know I have documents. They detail my “Mob donations.”
Mr. Hoover said no. Mr. Hoover said it’s too little. Mr. Hoover said it’s much too late.
Littell heard hate. Littell heard resolve. Littell knew this: He’s got new plans. He’ll escalate.
Mr. Hoover signed off. Mr. Hoover omitted:
Mail-fraud news. News per one arm of BLACK RABBIT. A big success/gloat-worthy. A telling omission.
Littell translated said omission. Littell knew this:
He’s got new plans. He’ll escalate.
Wait. Do nothing. Let his hate show. Let his hate self-indict.
The Boys had plans. It’s time for relocation