CHAPTER 33
All sects are different, because they come from men;
morality is everywhere the same, because it comes from God. -Voltaire
During the week after the NLP convention, the nation’s attention turned to Washington, D.C. and the United States Senate. News crews from around the globe had flooded into the nation’s capital, and every seat in the Senate gallery for the day of the historic Christian Amendment vote had been claimed for weeks- most by members of the clergy. Every day leading up to the vote, crowds of people had jammed the hallways of the Russell, Dirksen and Hart Senate Office Buildings, trying desperately to lobby their senators one final time- including small groups holding prayer sessions outside members’ office doors. But scarcely anyone believed that there existed a single senator whose mind was not firmly made-up on this historic issue. After all, the amendment on which they were voting was crystal clear: The Congress of The Christian Republic of the United States of America shall make no laws in violation of the New Testament of the Holy Bible and the tenets of the Christian religion.”
And now, it was Thursday, the day that the entire nation had been awaiting. Toby had barely slept during the night, because neither Trey nor Senator Stevens had been heard from since lunchtime on Wednesday. After resting for perhaps an hour or two, Sullivan got up around 5:30 a.m. and turned on the large video screen in his bedroom. The vote on the amendment was the only story. And the latest twist to the story was the apparent disappearance of Senator Langdon Stevens.
“The biggest question on the minds of most political observers this morning is ‘Where is Senator Langdon Stevens of Georgia?’” the capitol reporter said. “The senator disappeared on the eve of what may be the most important vote of his career and possibly of this generation. No one, including his wife or his staff has heard from the senator since he left his office for a luncheon with constituents yesterday around 11:30 a.m. Trey Rawlings, the FBI agent who was accompanying him, has also vanished.”
“What does this mean for today’s vote?” the anchor asked the reporter. “Will it be postponed?”
“That is a good question,” the reporter replied, “but the latest word we have is that the majority leader decided that Stevens could have vanished for the very purpose of delaying the vote, fearing that his side would lose. Therefore, the voting will begin as previously scheduled- by roll call exactly at 10 a.m.”
“What did I just hear?” Tad asked as the voices on the television began to awaken her.
“The senator and Trey are still missing,” Toby replied.
“Oh my God,” Davenport answered. “You don’t think that Trey has done something to Stevens, do you?”
“I think- I hope- that I know Trey better than that,” Sullivan answered. “We knew he was going to hide the senator someplace, but he was supposed to be in touch with us last night.”
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At 10 a.m., more than 100 million people were believed to be watching or listening to the proceedings in the chambers of the United States Senate. The tension inside the chambers was extraordinary, as it was also in churches, office buildings, homes and automobiles throughout the country. This was clearly one of those defining moments in the history of a nation.
Although there can be no tie vote on an amendment, which requires a 2/3 majority of those present for passage, the vice-president was presiding in the hope that his presence would keep in line the one or two members of the CDR Party who had committed to support the amendment, but were clearly not enthusiastic about it. The administration was counting on passage of this monumental measure to prove to the Christian Council of Churches that it could deliver in the Congress so that the Council would deliver on Election Day.
At exactly 10 a.m., the vice president had the clerk begin the roll call.
“Adams of Missouri.”
The short, balding junior senator from the Show Me State answered “Aye,” and the clerk repeated, “Adams of Missouri votes ‘Aye.’”
Next came Anderson of Tennessee.
“Aye,” said the senior senator from the Volunteer State.
“Anderson of Tennessee votes ‘Aye,’” recorded the clerk.
The vote proceeded extremely slowly, because some senators were not present when their names were first called, and some took time making their way to their desks to call out their historic votes.
Meanwhile, Toby and Tad were frantically attempting to reach Senator Stevens and/or Trey. When Trey left the day before to pick up the senator, he was supposed to keep in touch. Obviously, something had gone wrong. They tried every phone number they had, but with no luck. They also had the Bureau activate the tracking equipment on the car Trey had been driving, but it led them only as far as his home, where he had possibly switched to another car.
“Bates of South Carolina.”
“Bates of South Carolina votes according to the wishes of my Lord, ‘Aye,’” said the dark-haired middle-aged man in a deep southern drawl.
“Bates of South Carolina votes ‘aye,’” repeated the clerk.
Next, the clerk called out, “Callahan of New York.”
A tall, distinguished-looking grey-haired man replied loudly, “Callahan of New York, home of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, votes as Hamilton would have voted, “Nay.”
The secretary repeated, “Callahan votes ‘Nay.’”
Sullivan and Davenport were sick with worry and had no idea what could have happened to the senator and Trey. Rather than sit around and do nothing, they decided to join the massive FBI search that was underway. Their first destination was Trey’s house, and they continued to listen to the senate vote on the car radio as they sped up the Rock Creek Parkway.
“Clay of New York,” the clerk called out.
“On behalf of people of all faiths, Senator Clay votes, “Nay,” said the NLP presidential candidate.
“Clay votes, ‘Nay,” the clerk repeated.
“Elliott of Nebraska,” called the clerk.
“Aye,” a deep voice responded.
Elliott votes, “aye,” the clerk repeated.
“How’s the vote going?” Tad asked Toby who was driving his Jag well over the posted limit, but at a speed that he thought was safe.
“I don’t think there have been any surprises yet,” Sullivan responded. “According to the latest count I saw in the paper, the amendment should fail by one vote- if Senator Stevens is there to cast his vote.”
“You don’t think that Trey would purposely detain the senator to prevent him from voting, do you?” Davenport asked. “After all, Rawlings is a staunch supporter of the amendment.”
“I don’t believe Trey would do that,” Toby answered. “Unless I have judged him wrong, he has too much respect for our political system to do anything to interfere with the way the system is supposed to work.”
“Unless he thinks he is responding to a higher calling,” Tad suggested.
“I hope that’s not the case,” Toby replied. “And I hope that he and Stevens haven’t become the victims of people who do believe that they are responding to a higher calling.”
“Humphreys of Kentucky,” the clerk called out.
“Humphreys of Kentucky, home of Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, votes as Lincoln would have voted- ‘Nay.’”
“Humphreys of Kentucky votes, ‘Nay,’” the clerk said as he recorded the vote.
“You tell ‘em, Humphreys,” Tad said as Toby pulled the car into the Rawlings’ driveway.
“That’s strange,” Toby said as he opened his door and got out of the car. “I don’t see Trisha’s car anywhere. “Where would she have gone?”
Davenport and Sullivan walked up to the door and rang the bell. No one answered. They rang it again. There was still no answer. They walked around the entire house, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Toby walked over to the FBI sedan that Trey had left in the driveway and opened the door. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and there was nothing that provided any clues as to where his partner might have gone.
“Let’s go. There’s nothing here,” Sullivan said.
Davenport and Sullivan returned to the car and headed back down the Parkway.
“Johnson of Florida,” the clerk’s voice called out.
“Based on my strong Christian beliefs, I vote ‘Aye,’” a voice responded.
“Johnson votes, ‘Aye,’” the clerk recorded.
“Still going as planned, I think,” Toby said.
“Jones of Illinois,” the clerk called.
“Jones of Illinois, home of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, votes ‘Nay.’”
“Jones of Illinois votes ‘Nay,’” the clerk said in a strong voice.
“It’s helpful that ole Abe had several states that claim him,” Tad said.
“Manley of Mississippi,” the clerk continued.
“Aye,” the senator answered.
“Manley votes ‘aye,’” the clerk repeated.
Still according to plan,” said Toby. “If Stevens shows, the amendment is defeated. If he doesn’t, it passes.
“Where could they be?” asked Davenport. “Do you have any idea?”
“I’m afraid not,” Sullivan answered. “I’ve racked my brain and tried to think where they might have gone, but I can’t think of any place they could be. We might as well drive down to the capitol and go to Stevens’ office just in case he tries to contact his staff.”
Toby pulled off the Parkway in Georgetown and headed down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol. They continued to listen to the vote along the way.
“McIntyre of Arizona,” the clerk called.
No one answered.
“McIntyre of Arizona,” the clerk called again.
“How is Senator McIntyre?” Tad asked.
“I understand he is still very sick, but his condition began improving once he left the hospital and got a private health service to take care of him at his home,” Toby responded.
“Is there any way he can vote from his home?” Tad asked.
“No, I’m afraid all senators still have to be present to vote,” said Toby.
“But you’ve already counted his not voting in your tabulations, right?” she asked.
“That’s right,” he said. “We don’t need his vote to win- if Stevens shows up.”
After three more votes were cast, the radio commentator said,
“We have just reached the half-way point in the voting with the tally to this point being 32 in favor, 16 opposed and so far, two- Senator Jones of Nevada and Senator McIntyre of Arizona- not voting. Based on all of the information we currently have, it appears that this amendment to change the official name of the country to the Christian Republic of the United States of America will pass with one vote to spare if Senator Stevens, who has been missing since yesterday, fails to return to the capitol in time to cast his vote against the amendment.”
“Senator Morrison of West Virginia,” the clerk continued the roll call.
“Aye,” a soft voice responded.
“Morrison votes, ‘Aye,’” the clerk answered.
Sullivan pulled their car into a lot reserved for senate employees and showed his badge to a guard at the entrance who directed him to a spot in the back of the lot. He and Tad then took an elevator up to the street level of the garage and walked across the crowded capitol grounds that were covered with people holding up signs for and against the pending amendment, although the majority clearly favored the measure. Eventually, they reached the Dirksen Senate Office Building that was also packed with people on both sides of the issue. A large number of these people were kneeling and holding hands quietly near the office doors of individual senators.
One of the office doors opened long enough for Sullivan to hear the clerk of the senate call out, “Senator Slevin of California.” Toby and Tad stopped to hear Senator Slevin respond in a loud voice, “Nay,” and the clerk answer, “Slevin votes, ‘Nay.’”
After passing many more offices surrounded by groups of praying people, the two agents finally reached Senator Stevens’ office- an office in which they found several very sad and dejected-looking staffers.
Toby approached the receptionist. - “Hello, I’m FBI Special Agent Sullivan and this is Agent Davenport. Is your chief-of-staff here?”
The young woman, obviously very curious that someone from the FBI was there, called a Ms. Williams and told her of the visitors.
“Bring them back,” came the immediate response.
The receptionist led the two agents to a large back office filled with photos of Senator Stevens posing with various politicians and constituents from back home in Georgia.
“Hello, I’m Donna Williams,” said the attractive woman who was dressed in a fashionable navy blue business suit with a white silk blouse. “Do you have any news about Senator Stevens?”
“No, I am afraid not,” said Toby. “We were hoping that you had heard something.”
Dejectedly, she responded, “No, not a thing since he left yesterday with that agent wearing the bowtie. This is completely out of character for him.”
Toby glanced at the large plasma screen mounted on the wall.
“What’s the latest on the vote?” he asked.
“Not good, she said. “Unless Senator Stevens shows, it looks like the other side wins.
“Willingham of North Dakota,” The clerk called.
A tall, rugged-looking man wearing a suit clearly in need of pressing called out, “Willingham votes ‘aye.”
“Willingham votes ‘aye,” the clerk said as he recorded the vote.
Toby noticed on the bottom of the screen that the vote now stood at 64 in favor, 32 opposed, 4 not voting.
“Yates of Idaho,” called the clerk.
“Senator Yates votes ‘aye,’” said the young, handsome junior senator.
“Yates votes ‘aye,’” repeated the clerk.
“It looks like it’s all over,” Williams said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Doesn’t it take 67 votes to pass an amendment?” Tad asked
“No,” explained the chief-of-staff. “In the National Prohibition Cases related to the 18th Amendment the Supreme Court established that the vote required to propose an amendment was two thirds of the Members present- assuming the presence of a quorum- and not a vote of two-thirds of the entire membership.”
“Has everyone voted?” the vice president asked the clerk. “If not, call the names of those who have not voted.
Suddenly Toby’s phone rang. He glanced at the number on the caller i.d. and quickly answered. “Trey, where in the hell are you?”
“At the capitol. Where are you?” Rawlings answered.
“I’m in Senator Stevens’ office. Where is he?” Toby asked.
“If you’re watching television, you’ll see in a second,” Trey responded.
Toby glanced at the television.
“Jones of Nevada,” the clerk called, but there was no answer.
“Where is Jones?” Davenport asked Steven’s chief of staff?
“Our information is that he planned to oppose the amendment, but received a lot of pressure to stay away.”
“McIntyre of Arizona,” the clerk called.
After waiting, the clerk called, “Stevens of Georgia.”
As Toby and Tad stared at the screen with Senator Stevens’ dejected chief-of-staff, they suddenly saw the doors of the senate chamber swing open and Senator Langston Stevens of Georgia stroll in and proclaim in his booming voice, “When God gave us life, he gave us liberty at the same time. Senator Stevens of Georgia votes ‘nay.’”
Suddenly, everyone in Stevens’ office began to scream with joy. Not only were they relieved that their boss- and political mentor- was safe, but it appeared that he had cast the deciding vote in defeating the amendment.
But just as quickly as their hopes had risen, they were suddenly dashed.
“The chair calls on the senator from Nevada,” yelled the vice president.
Suddenly from nowhere a tall, lanky man entered the chamber and said, “Senator Jones of Nevada votes ‘aye.’”
“What happened to Jones?” Tad asked. “I thought he wasn’t going to vote.”
“Apparently his blackmailers demanded more,” Williams said angrily. “We heard that he was being blackmailed by someone working for the Christian Council of Churches and the CDR,” Williams responded.
“Blackmailed, how?” Davenport asked.
“Well, it has long been rumored that Jones may be gay- or at least had a gay relationship sometime, and apparently someone in the Christian Council has some photographs of the senator with another man in a…well, you get the idea.”
“So they got to him and told him how to vote?” Toby asked.
“I don’t know for certain,” Williams answered, “but that is the rumor.”
Meanwhile, Sullivan was still talking to Rawlings. “Damn, Trey, where have you two been?” Toby asked, happy that his friend had returned, but still upset that they had vanished.”
“We had to pick someone up,” Trey answered. “Keep looking at the television and you’ll see what I mean.”
After Jones had voted, giving the proponents of the amendment what appeared to be a certain victory, but before the vice-president could close off the voting, the doors to the senate chamber swung open once again and, as a murmur swept the floor and gallery, a young man pushed a wheelchair into the chamber.
“Not so fast there, Mr. President,” a feeble, old man in the wheelchair said in a rasping voice. “McIntyre of Arizona votes ‘nay.’”
Suddenly an obvious minority in the gallery burst into applause and the vice-president slammed his gavel down several times.
“The senate and gallery will come to order. Doorkeepers – Escort anyone out of the gallery who is demonstrating in any way.”
Instantly the mood in Senator Stevens’ office transformed again from downcast to ebullient. Staffers rushed into the senator’s office where Toby and Tad began to share in the excitement.
“I can’t believe it,” Tad said. “The Christian jihad has been defeated.”