Page 109 of The 9th Man

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LUKE FOCUSED ON THE SCREEN AS AN IMAGE OF ELM STREET CAMEinto view, the camera pointed up the slope toward the book depository, which framed the left side of the screen. From the right Kennedy’s convertible appeared on Houston. It slowed for the turn onto Elm then eased into the center lane. The camera was aimed at the convertible’s windshield, not exactly centered.

“I had the unit inside the backpack,” Eckstein said. “I pointed the pack in the general direction, just going for the big picture to impress the people who wanted to steal the technology. I was going to let them develop the film to see the quality. So I wasn’t trying for details. The camera was sensitive to motion and could adjust its focus. That’s what made it special. Along with the image. Unlike Zapruder’s film, which is blurry, this one is clean and clear.”

Clearly visible were Agents Greer and Kellerman in the front seat, Governor and Mrs. Connally seated behind them. Kennedy and Jackie in the rear seat. Behind them, the trail car accelerated to close a gap that had opened between the two cars.

Exactly as Luke already knew.

The camera’s focus pulled back slightly to encompass Kennedy’s limousine. The president and First Lady waved to onlookers. The camera panned right and then left to show the crowd. Standing on his concrete plinth Abraham Zapruder briefly appeared, filming, before the camera returned to Kennedy’s limousine.

A slight lift occurred.

The image tightened on the trail car, then panned back to the presidential limousine.

Kennedy’s hands rose to cover the neck wound Oswald’s first bullet had inflicted. Jackie turned toward her husband and reached for him. The camera zoomed and the screen filled with Kennedy and the First Lady.

The limousine drew even with the camera. The frame widened. On the left Kennedy slumped forward, then sideways toward Jackie.

Kennedy’s skull exploded in a red mist.

Agent Clint Hill launched himself on the trunk. The limousine surged forward and sped toward the triple underpass. The camera followed for a few seconds then panned right.

The trail car came into view.

Eckstein hit thePAUSEbutton, freezing the video. “There, do you see him, at the center of the frame, in the trail car?”

Luke and Jillian leaned in close.

A man was pitched forward with one hand braced on the windshield’s upper frame, the other clenched around the AR-15’s pistol grip. The muzzle hovered a few inches above the windshield, parallel to the car’s hood.

“Take it back to where Zapruder appears, then pause on the trail car,” Eckstein said.

Luke did so and made a quick head count of the passengers in the trail car.

Nine men.

“Did you catch it?” Eckstein said.

Neither of them knew what he meant.

Eckstein rewound the file to the point where Kennedy’s limousine was almost perpendicular to the camera, then hitPLAY. “Watch. Kennedy’s hands come up. He slumps against Jackie. The car draws even with me. One second, two seconds, three seconds. Boom. There’s the kill shot.” Eckstein rewound again. “I’ll slow it down. When Kennedy slumps forward and the camera pulls back, keep your eyes on the trail car.”

Luke nodded. “Go ahead.”

Kennedy slumped, the frame widened. Luke focused on the right side of the screen. Moving in slow motion a figure rose from the back seat of the trail car then tumbled forward. Yes. Definitely. The barrel of the AR-15 was level with Kennedy’s limousine.

“That man on the screen,” Eckstein said. “Carrying the AR-15. He was on the driver’s side, rear seat. You can see him plain as day, falling forward, finger on the trigger, then an instant later Kennedy is hit.”

Yes, you could.

“This is the only evidence of that happening?” he asked.

“It is. The only film of its kind. Zapruder’s never shows the trail car, only the first limousine. And there are these.”

The old man slid a stack of eight-by-ten black-and-white photographs from the envelope and laid the first one on the table before them. “Love Field, Dallas airport, 11:38A.M.Kennedy and Jackie arrive for their appearance at the Trade Mart. Here you see the two of them shaking hands and accepting gifts while handlers guide them toward the limousine. Walking behind Kennedy are David Clay and Ken O’Donnell, his assistants.”

Another photograph hit the table.

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