Greenglassâs five-oâclock shadow and pale skin were the most visible signs of the stress and exhaustion of his job. Seated at the table in a dark gray pinstripe suit and Charvet custom shirt and silk tie was Walter Shapiro, one of the top criminal lawyers in the nation. No stranger to the FBI, he most recently represented G. G. Hoterman in the Dele-gate scandal, helping the uber-lobbyist avoid indictment.
Smart, thought Mahoney to himself when he saw Shapiro.
âJust to make sure weâre all clear on whoâs who, Walt is representing Truman in his personal capacity,â said McConnell. âI represent the White House.â
âThatâs what I assumed, but thanks for the clarification.â He smiled weakly. âSorry to be the cause of so much lawyering.â
âNo apology necessary,â said Shapiro with a chuckle. âThe FBI helped me put three kids through college. So on behalf of my wife and children, thank you.â
âYouâre welcome,â replied Mahoney, laughing. âShall we get started?â
âThe floor is yours,â said McConnell, leveling her gaze.
âIâm here to ask questions related to the FBIâs investigation of Perry Millerâs death. While there is some evidence pointing to his being killed by an employee of Adult Alternatives, we are pursuing every possible lead.â He paused. âThat includes the senatorâs professional responsibilities. Mr. Greenglass is not a subject or a target at this time. He is considered a witness. We hope he can help us understand Senator Millerâs work as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.â
âAt the presidentâs direction, every member of the EOP will cooperate fully,â replied McConnell, using the acronym for Executive Office of the President.
Mahoney pulled out a legal pad from his satchel and placed it on the table. It already held series of written notations. âFirst, Mr. Greenglass, on the Iran sanctions legislation. We understand you requested and Senator Miller agreed to a trigger mechanism that authorized military action in the event the sanctions failed to disarm Iranâs nuclear weapons program. Is that correct?â
âNot entirely.â
âOkay, can you educate me on the Iran sanctions bill?â
âWell, the bill is still in the committee, so the process is underway,â said Greenglass officiously. âThe chairmanâs mark included language stating the NSC would report to the president and the DNI would report to Congress within twelve months on the efficacy of the sanctions,â said Greenglass. âSo it was NSC and the DNI.â
âDNI being Director of National Intelligence. What about the trigger mechanism?â
âI would not use that phrase.â
âWhat phrase would you use?â
âIf NSC and the DNI concluded the sanctions hadnât ended Iranâs nuclear weapons program, the president was authorized to take additional measures to render it inoperable.â
âIncluding military action?â
âIt did not specify. But all options are on the table.â
âWho drafted the legislative language?â
âWe drafted it and provided it to the committee.â
âWho actually wrote it?â
âExcuse me,â growled Shapiro, his lips pressed into a thin line, fingers fidgeting, the jowly flesh under his neck vibrating with anger. âIs this a seminar on how a bill becomes a law, or are we trying to solve a murder here?â
Mahoney shot Shapiro a withering look. âMiller was killed the week before he was to bring the Iran sanctions bill to the floor. Weâre looking into whether thereâs a connection.â
âFair enough. But what does that have to do with my client?â
âI think that will become apparent in fairly short order if I can ask questions without being interrupted,â said Mahoney, his eyes
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