Supporting Rumors - Part 89

Officer Jolen and his partner, Dow, patiently waited in General O'Neill's outer office until the General's secretary indicated that they could enter.

Jolen barely hid his surprise at how well O'Neill was looking. He thought back to the man he had last seen in his wheelchair, waiting to leave the hospital...

The General looked up from his desk. "Take a seat ... Officer Jolen and ... ah, I know we've met but ..."

"Dow, sir," said the officer politely as he sat.

"Now, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Jolen couldn't help but smile at the brisk manner of the man. He'd kept himself up to date with the General's career – and what a career. O'Neill was steamrolling through the Washington DC power set. He knew he hadn't been dealing with an ordinary hero.

"Minucos's lawyers are trying to build a case for an appeal."

Jolen watched the General's face carefully. He was good ... very good ... not so much as a flicker.

"And?"

"I just want to assure you that there is no doubt as to his state of mind, in that he should never see the light of day again. Even if the appeal was, for any reason whatsoever, upheld, he would stand trial for attempted murder."

"And that is meant to reassure me how?"

Dow coughed to clear his throat. "Well, yes sir... I can see ..."

The General leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "Pray tell, Officer Dow, just what can you see?"

Jolen smoothly brought the attention back to himself. "Minucos's lawyers are about to release a statement that the high powered arrests of so-called traitors are simply aliens taking out the government bit by bit."

The General's teeth ground together. "Did anyone ever tell you what happens to the messengers of bad tidings?"

Jolen released a tight smile. "Minucos has also recently visited the dentist."

"Officer, if you think I give a damn about the ..." The General's voice lowered to a growl.

"He requested that all his fillings be taken out so that the devices the aliens implanted in them can be examined," finished Dow quickly, giving his partner a pointed look - obviously not wanting to upset the General further.

O'Neill leaned back in his chair, his manner relaxing somewhat. "And of course x-rays were taken?"

"Yes sir. They were clean as expected and the results have been documented. Minucos's allegations were also recorded and documented. There may be a two minute wonder as the claims are, ahem, filtered to the press, but we want you to be fully in the picture, no surprises." Jolen reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a large, fat envelope. "These are transcripts of the interviews, sir. You may find them ... reassuring."

He placed the envelope on the desk and rose. "Thank you for your time, General. If you need anything or have any questions, please don't hesitate to call me."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Jack sat eying the envelope for a while after the officers had left. He couldn't say that Minucos had been put completely out of his mind - nothing could ever erase that episode from his life. Taking a deep breath he steeled his resolve. He thumbed the intercom and put calls and visitors on hold until further notice ... and began to open the envelope...

It was well after lunch when Jack leaned back into his chair. He knew he had hated Minucos with a vengeance, not only for what he had done, but for what Jack himself had lost. However, always in the back of his mind had been the idea that perhaps it wasn't really insanity that had caused Minucos to act as he did, but actual knowledge or even the promise of money. Some of his hate drained as Jack carefully folded the transcripts and placed them back into the envelope.

He rose with difficulty, being stiff and tired after such a long day, and moved across his office to open his personal safe and carefully place the envelope inside. As he closed the safe door, he knew he was closing the door on that episode in his life. Minucos was clearly insane. There were no doubts, no shadows lurking ... the guilt he felt died along with much of the hatred.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

TBC