Shooting For Justice by G. Tilman (top 100 novels txt) 📗

House security office and reviewed the reports from last night. All was well. He then headed for his office at the war building.

Upon arriving, he requested a meeting when possible with Secretary Lincoln. He took notes during the hour wait before he was summoned.

“Hello, John. What is happening?” Lincoln asked.

“First off, I used a disguise and a lot of dirt and visited the President’s House attacker, Baker’s, bar on 14th Street. I spoke with the men he met with before coming to try to shoot Arthur. I believe he took what he wanted to hear and remembered only it. These men are all second-generation Americans and have no issues with immigration. If anything, I think they would support opportunities for people like their parents.

The anger over immigration is probably there, but I believe it resides in railroad executives who are patrons of various congressmen.”

“Makes sense, John. Second off?”

“Sarah did a lot of research. It seems there are some senators and representatives who are pressing for more domain for the United States. Here are their names and states. A funding source was mentioned, then dropped from the press like a hot potato.

“It’s GC Financial in Dallas. The chairman of the board is a former senator, but she included him on the list I just handed you,” Pope said.

“Old enemies of my father,” Lincoln said after a while, clearly disturbing memories were emerging in his mind.

“John, Senator Shelby was a Confederate officer. Perhaps more importantly, he was one of the founders of the Knights of the Golden Circle. The ‘GC’ in GC Financial stands for Golden Circle.

“The founders had one initial goal. It was to expand the land area of the United States by annexing northern Mexico and parts of southern Canada. Cuba was a possible target, too. The primary interest was on Mexico to avoid issues with England over Canada. The founders were not all southerners. They were power barons from a number of states.

“During the war, it became a southern thing and helped finance the Confederacy.

“It is rumored the Knights of the Golden Circle removed the gold and silver from the Confederate treasury in Richmond prior to burning and evacuating Richmond.

“How much and where it was put remain secrets. They are a powerful and secret organization. And a dangerous enemy. Dangerous both physically and legislatively.

“They absolutely would have the wherewithal to kill a president or change a government.

“We need to talk with Ben together before you go any further. My initial impulse is for you to go to Dallas, maybe with the attorney general and tell them why you are there and ask them straight out if they are involved. I can, however, be swayed by your and Brewster’s thoughts on the approach.”

Lincoln went to the office’s telephone and called the Attorney General’s office. They waited several minutes until Ben Brewster answered.

“Ben. Robert and John here. Do you have a few minutes for us? Yes, it could be very important. Alright. Thank you. See you in five or ten minutes. Bye.”

“He has a meeting scheduled but will cancel it. Let’s go over now,” Lincoln said.

They walked the short distance, then went up the stairs to the Attorney General’s office and presented themselves. His secretary ushered them in immediately.

“John, you must have found something important,” Brewster began.

“I believe it’s more counsel on what to do about what Sarah found,” Pope said.

“John and Sarah’s research has suggested the Knights of the Golden Circle as a possible group behind the threat against Arthur. Especially since the chairman of their funding source is none other than our old enemy, General Shelby,” Lincoln said.

“The Golden Circle was an expansionist movement. One which may have millions if not more in gold secreted around the South and West, right?” Brewster asked.

“Yes. And a number of powerful industrialists and senators and congressmen have been associated with it, by fact or suggestion. Their money may be the Confederate stock of bullion and coins. However, the leadership has never been totally Southern.

My initial thought is you and John go to Dallas and confront them with it. What do you think?” Lincoln said.

“Well, let’s think through it. If we go as attorney general and investigator, it will add an official aspect to the questioning. However, we will spill the proverbial beans on the table about the threat against the president. What if we couched it in terms of an ‘operation’ in the Virginia-Washington area? We could refuse to comment on the nature, leaving a criminal enterprise open as a possibility perhaps,” Brewster suggested.

“And refuse to give details? Perhaps suggest we have heard GC was behind funding it?” Pope asked.

“Yes. My fear is by me being there, it ratchets up the curiosity factor.”

“Ben, what about a subpoena from a federal court to see their records?” Lincoln asked.

“They have been a secret organization for twenty or thirty years. We have no idea who they are, what they want or how much money they have. They have not maintained such a level of security and anonymity by being stupid or without good counsel. They could tie the subpoena up in courts for years without our willingness to admit why we want the information. Years!” Brewster said.

“Perhaps I should just go down alone and push them hard. Could you get me a treasury agent badge? Or some non-military credentials?” Pope asked.

“I agree with John, Ben. He needs to go in without a military angle,” Lincoln said.

“If I tried to ‘borrow’ a treasury badge, it would raise too many questions at the treasury. I am still not sure I trust them to not be part of this mess.

John, I can swear you in as a deputy US marshal. Or, have business cards prepared naming you a member of the Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Prosecution’s office,” Brewster said.

“How about both, sir? I could give the card as my introduction but have the badge in case I need it.”

“Your idea seems reasonable,” Brewster said.

“Be sure to keep your badges straight. A provost marshal with a deputy US