"Now, Mr. Gordon, I want you to relax and tell me what you last remember," the doctor spoke softly.
"I keep getting images of a meeting…"
"Yes…yes…go on…keep going. What was the meeting about? Maybe if you could remember it will help the other memories come."
"It was a high level meeting…most of the cabinet was there…we were waiting for someone…someone important. I was there to…to…" Artie paused, frowning.
"Good…go on…why were you there? What was the purpose of the meeting?"
"I don't know. That's when everything gets fuzzy and my head starts to hurt. I see jumbled pictures…nothing makes any sense," Artie paused again his head throbbing like a full force hurricane were blowing through it.
"You said you were there to deliver information…what was the information?"
"I don't…I can't…I don't know."
"That's all right, Mr. Gordon. Just lie back and relax. We'll try again later," the doctor handed him some papers, "when you think your eyes can take the strain you may want to read these it should help recover your memory," the doctor spoke softly, and with a bit of sadness as he rose and left the room.
Why do I get the feeling that I shouldn't tell him the things I do remember? And I do know enough to know that you don't push a man with amnesia to remember…you let the memories come on their own. So why are they so set on finding out why I was at that meeting and what information I was to deliver?
Artie idly picked up a newspaper and leafed through it. His interest was piqued when he noticed a particular article. His vision was still blurry but if he didn't move his head he could just make out the words...Wait a minute! This can't be right. That vote wasn't supposed to be taken for at least two or three months! He read further into the paper and another article caught his eye. Okay, now this is getting serious!
Letters arriving from around the globe expressing sorrow at the passing
of President Grant. Dignitaries from all countries are expressing their…
Artie quickly scanned the papers, reading more articles as his tension and fear grew. What the…Artie called out for a nurse and the doctor came rushing in.
"Something I can help you with, Mr. Gordon?" the doctor asked.
"Yes, there is. You can explain this…this cruel joke!" Artie thrust the newspaper at the doctor who took it and placed it on the bed.
He pulled a chair up to the side of the bed and, with a sigh, proceeded to fill Artie in on the last few months.
"That's impossible!" Artie protested.
"No, Mr. Gordon, I'm afraid it's true. You've been in a coma for three months."
"That part I can understand. But the rest…no way do I believe it!"
"Mr. Gordon, I assure you…"
"NO! Unless I see it for myself I'll never believe you! Jim isn't…he can't be…I'd know if he were gone…I'd know," the last comment was more of a whisper.
"I know I've given you a great deal of information to absorb, and I had hoped you would be stronger and more healed before we had to have this conversation," the doctor retrieved a pile of papers in the corner and placed them on the nightstand.
"Those were saved for you. Maybe if you read through them it will help. It might also help explain why I have been pushing you so hard to remember," he quietly rose and left Artie alone in the mind numbing silence.
Artie picked up the newspapers, holding them and staring at them. If I look at these I'll have to admit Jim is gone. But if I don't read them I'll just be lying to myself…I have to know. Artie sighed heavily and picked up the first newspaper.
He scanned it looking for articles on the explosion. This paper was from one month ago. Still no leads on bomber… another paper touted the news New Senators voted on…yet another…President Grant's funeral today…finally Artie reached for the last paper hesitantly. Up to now there had been no stories reporting Jim's death…just the grizzly details of the explosions and President Grant's death and the deaths and injuries of those in the room with him.
Why did I survive? Was Jim right next to me? We were both right behind the President according to what the doctor says I've told him. His eyes scanned the front page and his heart sank…TOP SECRET SERVICE AGENT KILLED! This article he just couldn't bring himself to read just yet… Another article proclaimed ONE AGENT STILL ALIVE! Yet another…EXPLOSION ROCKS CAPITAL OFFICE! Artie's eyes filled with tears as he read the accounts of the explosion and the aftermath. His hands began to shake like leaves in autumn when his eyes wandered back to that first article. Jim's name leapt off the page at him. Artie forced himself to read the article...
James West, Secret Service Agent on temporary assignment to President
Grant died today from his wounds. He served his country with grace,
honor and pride. Mr. West and his partner, Mr. Artemus Gordon, were
in attendance at the high level meeting to give testimony on an issue
known only to themselves and an as yet unknown party. That
information is still unknown as Mr. Gordon is still hospitalized in critical
condition...
The article went on but his eyes no longer focused on the words before him. Tears flowing unchecked down his cheeks, Artemus sat holding the newspaper tightly to his chest as he wept.
WWWWWWWWWW
Colonel Richmond waited until they were back in his office and he had been assured his office contained no covert listening devices. He sat at the large and ornately carved desk and thought long and hard, choosing his words carefully before he spoke.
"Gentlemen, what I am about to tell you never leaves this room. You will not speak of it even to the President," Richmond solemnly told them, Jim's head snapped up at that comment.
"Sir, if the information is that sensitive why even tell us?" he asked.
"Because I'm removing you two from any other assignments until Artemus is found and you may need this information in your search."
"Sir, what was Artie involved in when he disappeared that was so important he was ordered to keep it secret even from me?" Jim asked with a glare that Richmond didn't miss.
"Have either of you heard of the Whiskey Ring Scandal?" Richmond paused as Jim and Jeremy shook their heads.
"Good, I would have been disturbed if you had. The Whiskey Ring Scandal involves many, many government officials and others in the private sector."
"The Whiskey Ring Scandal as it has come to be known involves the diversion of tax revenues. To date millions have been siphoned off federal taxes on liquor. There have been incidents of bribery involving people from tax collectors to storekeepers and we are quite sure senators and other government officials."
"Is that what Artie was looking into when he was on special assignment last week?"
"Yes, James, it was. I had requested that information be kept from you until you and Jeremy could be brought in as well at the time you were busy with other assignments. We were going to brief you two after his initial meeting the day of the explosion."
"Artemus was sworn to secrecy on this mission and he was the only one with very sensitive information, according to what we have been able to find out."
"And Artie may have paid the ultimate price for that secrecy," Jim spat.
"Mr. West, while I sympathize with you do not make me regret involving you in this. You are far too close to this case but by being so close to Artemus you are the only one we can truly rely on with any accuracy," Richmond warned.
"No, sir, that is not my intention. I just want to find my partner."
"Quite understandable, Mr. West. I am quite upset at Mr. Gordon's disappearance myself. Whoever took him orchestrated a devastating explosion…meant to kill a lot of innocent people just to cover their tracks. We think his abduction was meant to stop the investigation into the scandal. We can only assume they took Mr. Gordon because he was the least injured of those still alive and he was the only one with the vital information."
"You think they wanted Artie in order to stop the investigation or that they wanted to pick his brain in order to prevent it?"
"That we don't know. It's all conjecture at this point. But all the evidence would seem to lead to the conclusion they wanted to prevent an investigation. That is why it is so imperative that we find Mr. Gordon. He had not yet made his findings known to his contact."
"What do you mean, his contact? What contact?" Jim asked his concern for his partner growing steadily.
"From what your partner was able to discover there very well may be over 200 people involved…both government officials and those in the private sector. Artemus was reporting directly to the Secretary of the Treasury."
"Artemus was working for Benjamin Bristow? I didn't know he utilized agents outside of the Treasury," Jeremy commented.
"Normally he doesn't. But due to the scope of this investigation and the high level offices involved he didn't trust his own people. He went outside his department and he came to me looking for help."
"I know it is highly irregular but under the circumstances we felt the secrecy was necessary."
"Even from me?" Jim was having a hard time controlling his anger.
"You were out on an assignment, James. I almost wish I had made Gordon wait for you," Richmond replied sadly.
"Then there would be two missing agents to look for, sir," Jeremy tried to ease his boss' conscience, not to mention Jim's.
"Maybe," Jim commented, "but at least he wouldn't be alone," Jim whispered.