MY TAKE ON HENRY KISSINGER (2)
Excerpt # 2 From CrInkum Crankum (Enigma Books, Bartleby Press, 1998)
Henry Kissinger was holding court with two of his top associates in a plush Park Avenue office overlooking 52nd Street when FBI Special Agents Newman and Shaw pushed their way into his presence.
A secretary followed the G-men inside, hollering. “I’m sorry, Dr. Kissinger, I couldn’t stop these men…”
Kissinger remained seated, dignified and waved her quiet. “It’s all right, Helen. Gentleman what can I do for you?”
“FBI!” Newman flashed a gold badge. “You’re under arrest.”
The associates gasped.
“Nonsense,” droned Kissinger. “This must be a joke.”
The gasps turned to guffaws, in deference to their boss, the great elder statesman.
“No joke,” said Shaw. “Please come with us, sir.”
“You dare to barge in on me like this?” droned Kissinger. He turned his attention to his secretary, still standing motionless near the door, wide-eyed. “Helen, get FBI Director Bryant Westgate on the phone immediately.”
Kissinger remained seated in a sofa, ignoring the two special agents, making small-talk with his associates. A minute later the phone on a side table adjacent whistled softly. He picked it up.
“Dr. Kissinger?” said Westgate’s secretary. “This is Cheryl, the director’s secretary. He’s on a call. Do you mind waiting?”
Kissinger sat, phone to his ear, trying to keep his cool, but fuming nonetheless about this Who’s Who lesson.
Finally. “Henry?”
“Bryant, I have two men in my private office who burst in purporting to be special agents with your bureau. I do not appreciate this. May I confirm that they belong to you?”
“Yes, I can confirm this.”
“You wish to arrest me for something?”
“I would prefer to meet with you in private, Henry. You have two options: One, my agents will take you to the federal building in Manhattan for questioning. Or, two, you appear in my office at nine o’clock sharp tomorrow morning.”
“Impossible,” barked Kissinger. “I’m flying to India tonight. I have an extremely important meeting with the prime minister.”
“I’m afraid not, Henry. I want you to surrender your passport to my agents as a condition of not arresting you.”
“This is outrageous,” huffed Kissinger. “I’m a former secretary of state.” He puffed. “I’m Henry Kissinger.”
“Yes, Henry.”
“You must have brass balls to think you can treat me this way. When this is over, I’m going to hang them on my office wall.”
“So, is it option two?”
“I will come to see you—with my lawyer, James Boggles—at nine tomorrow. And you’d better have your boss, the attorney general, with you. You’re going to need him.”
“Please put Special Agent Newman on the line.”
Kissinger held the phone out to Newman. “Your ill-advised director wishes to speak to you.”
Newman took the phone. “Sir?”
“Hello Special Agent Newman. Dr. Kissinger has agreed to surrender himself tomorrow morning. I want you to seize his passport. If he refuses to give it to you, book him.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
Excerpt # 3 upcoming.
Hello Robert,
Please contact me at warrendbutler@gmail.com or 805 705 7488 at your earliest convenience.
Thank you,
Warren Butler