(1976) The R Document Read Free

crowd.’
    This hit a nerve. Karen had made the same point, over a month ago, when he had decided to accept the job of Attorney General. He had had some answers for her then, but he was not going to bother to repeat them to a virtual stranger. Instead, he said, ‘Would you like to see someone else in this job? Someone Director Tynan recommended? Why do you think I took this job? Because I believe nice guys can finish first.’ He glanced at his wristwatch again, and stood up. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Young. We’ve run out of time. I told you when you came in, I have a stack of cases to review. Then I’ve got to get over to the White House. Look, I’ll know a good deal more, perhaps be able to help you
    further, in a few months from now. Why don’t you give me a ring then?’
    Ishmael Young was on his feet, putting away his note-paper, taking up his tape recorder and shutting it off. ‘I will call you. If you’re still around. I hope you are.’
    ‘I’ll be around.’
    Then I’ll be calling. Thanks a lot.’
    Chris Collins reached over and shook the writer’s hand, and then watched him waddle toward the conference room that led to the reception room and the hall elevator.
    Suddenly, he was inspired to ask the writer something he had neglected to ask before. ‘By the way, Mr Young, how long have you been working with Director Tynan?’
    Ishmael Young halted in the doorway. ‘Almost six months. Once a week for six months.’
    ‘Well, you haven’t told me - what do you think of him?’
    Young offered a weak half-smile. ‘Mr Collins,’ he said, ‘I’ll cop the 5th.’ He grinned. There still is a 5th, isn’t there?’ Then he added, This work is my bread and butter. I never risk that. Besides, I was sort of pressured into taking this assignment. Thanks again,’
    He was gone.
    Collins remained where he had been standing, thinking about their exchange, about the crisis in the country, about the new Amendment that was to stop all that, about Director Tynan himself, assessing in turn what he felt about each of these. Then he realized it was taking too long, and there was too much to do. Finally, he settled down in his chair, rolled it up to his desk, and began to examine the papers lying there.
    Soon he had forgotten his visitor completely. He was utterly absorbed by the cases that required his immediate attention - an interstate kidnapping, a violation of the Atomic Energy Act, an Indian Lands claim, an antitrust suit, a tremendous narcotics case, an appointment of a Federal judge, a subversive plot against Congress, a deportation, a number of riot problems, a series of leads on five conspiracies aimed at disrupting or overthrowing the Government.
    Absorbed though he was, Collins was acutely sensitive to
    sound. Now, in the stillness of the huge seventy-foot office, he could hear the brush of her footsteps on the thick Oriental rug. He looked up from his two stacks of papers to see Marion Rice, his secretary, coming hastily toward him from her adjacent office. She was holding up a large manila envelope,
    ‘Just came in - hand-delivered - from across the street,’ she said.
    Across the street meant across Pennsylvania Avenue -the J. Edgar Hoover Building and the FBI and the FBI Director.
    ‘It’s marked Confidential and Important,’ she added. ‘It must be from the Director.’
    ‘Odd,’ said Collins. ‘He usually has everything in before noon.’
    She handed the manila envelope across the desk to him, and hesitated. ‘Unless there’s something else, Mr Collins, I’ll be leaving now.’ He was surprised. ‘What time is it?’ ‘Twenty after six.’
    ‘My God. I’m not even half through yet. I shouldn’t have let that writer fellow take up so much of my time.’ He thought about it. ‘Well, maybe it was useful. He was interesting.’ Ruefully, he looked down at the first stack on his desk. ‘I guess I’ll have to take most of this home. Okay, Marion, you can lock up and go.’
    ‘You’ll have no more