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“Fair enough.” Wassen took another sip and then in a slightly embarrassed tone said, “You know not all of us think you’re a monster.”
“Just your boss.”
“She can be passionate at times.”
Rapp said nothing.
“I got a call this afternoon from a friend in New York. He asked me, ‘What makes your boss think that we Americans want to extend our constitutional rights to a bunch of homophobes who recruit retarded children to be suicide bombers?’”
“Did you pass along the message?”
“No.”
“You should.”
“I might,” Wassen said without much enthusiasm. “Maybe in the morning…which, by the way, they are talking about closing the morning session.”
“I heard.” The Judiciary Committee Meeting Room was secure, and it was not uncommon for them to shut the spectators and the cameras out when they didn’t know what to expect.
“Why are you doing this?” Wassen blurted out.
“Doing what?”
“Testifying. Any sane man would take the Fifth and make it hard on them.”
“One could argue my sanity, but I think taking the Fifth makes it easy on them. It’s the game they are used to playing. Being open and forthright is something this town is not used to.”
“You’re right, there. That’s why they’re moving to close the morning session. They’re nervous you might say something that will embarrass them.”
Rapp took a sip of his beer and smiled.
“I think you’ve got something planned.”
“The only thing I have planned is to go before the committee tomorrow and answer their questions.”
Wassen nodded and then finally admitted, “I have tried to convince her to drop this whole matter.”
“I can’t see that happening.”
“No.” Wassen shook his head. “As much as I’d like to see her do it, I don’t think she will.”
“Then she and I will be locking horns in the morning.”
Wassen nodded sadly and then said, “I would like to help, if there is a way. This infighting is bad for all of us.”
“Agreed,” Rapp said, “but we appear to be pretty far apart on some major issues.”
“Which brings me to my main question—why?”
“Why what?” Rapp asked.
“Why risk your entire career on an operation like this?”
Rapp smiled. Wassen was the first person to get it. “Ralph, that’s the million-dollar question.”
CHAPTER 53
KARIM finished tying the gag around the man’s mouth and then removed his shoes. He held the tip of the knife a few inches from the man’s eyes and said, “Toenails can grow back, but toes will not.”
