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Mercier had the look of an atheist buttonholed by a Hare Krishna at an airport. "Lincoln said it: 'you can't fool all the people all the time." It won't be easy keeping the President and Vice President out of the public eye for more than a day, at most. And you can't simply erase Larimer and Moran; they're too highly visible around Washington. Then there is the Eagle's crew to consider. What do you tell their families?"
"Jack Sutton!" Fawcett blurted as though he was having a revelation.
"Who?" Simmons demanded.
"The actor, the spitting image of the President who plays him in TV commercials and on comedy shows."
Oates sat up. "I think I see your point. The resemblance is remarkable, but we'd never get away with it, not on a face-to-face basis. Sutton's voice is a far from perfect imitation, and anyone who is in close daily contact with the President would see through the deception."
"Yes, but from thirty feet his own wife couldn't tell the difference."
"Where is this leading?" Metcalf asked Fawcett.
The White House Chief of Staff took his cue. "Press Secretary Thompson can hand out a press release saying the President is taking a working vacation on his New Mexico farm to study congressional reaction to his Eastern aid program. The White House press corps will be kept on the sidelines-a situation that's not uncommon when the President isn't in the mood to answer questions.
All they'd see from a roped-off distance would be him-in this case, Sutton the actor-entering the helicopter for the flight to Andrews Air Force Base for departure in Air Force One. They could follow on a later plane, of course, but be denied entry onto the farm itself."
"Why not have a phony Vice President go with Sutton?" Mercier suggested.
"Both men can't fly on the same plane," Lucas reminded him.
"Okay, send him on a plane leaving at night," Mercier persisted.
"Not much news coverage is given to Margolin's movements. No one would notice a stand-in."
"Or care," added Oates, alluding to the public apathy toward vice presidents.
"I can handle the details from the White House end," offered Fawcett.
"Two down," said Simmons. "Now what about Larimer and Moran?"
"This is an odd-numbered year," Mercier said, warming up to the scheme. "Congress recesses for the entire month of August only two days away. Our one slice of luck. Why not invent a mutual fishing trip or a junket to some out-of-the-way resort?"
Simmons shook his head. "Scratch the fishing trip."
"Why?"
Simmons gave a tight smile. "Because it's known all over Capitol Hill that Moran and Larimer relate like syrup and vinegar."
"No matter. A fishing hole conference to discuss foreign relations sounds logical," said Oates. "I'll write up the memorandum from the State Department end."
"What do you tell their office staffs?"
"This is Saturday; we've got two days' grace to iron out the bugs."
Simmons began making notes on a pad. "Four down. That leaves the Eagle's crew."
"I think I can come up with a convenient cover," offered Metcalf. "I'll work through the Coast Guard Commandant. The crew's families can be told the yacht was ordered on an unscheduled cruise for a top-secret military meeting. No further details need be given."
Oates stared around the room at his companions. "If there are no further questions-"
"Who else do we let in on the hoax?" queried Fawcett.
"A poor choice of words, Dan," said Oates. "Let's call it a 'distraction."
"
"It goes without saying," said Metcalf, "that Emmett of the FBI will have to handle the domestic end of the investigation.
