Page 23 of An Impossible Love
Karlsson nodded. “Agents, while I have many problems with this administration, I can assure you that if Max Neal had anything to do with the bombing at the high school, I will do everything in my power, give you ever piece of knowledge I have, to bring him down.”
Emmy was impressed with the man. From her point of view, Karlsson was being genuine, but she knew first impressions were not always correct. Going by her gut was not an option here, although of course, it helped.
“Martin, perhaps you be would so kind to tell us how you met Max Neal.”
“We met at Princeton. We were both members of an open society club although the organization’s ethos ended up leaving Max unsatisfied and frustrated. He always complained that we didn’t go ‘far enough,’ but what he meant by ‘far enough’ we could never get out of him. Max was a loner, didn’t date, a good student, but he would spend his evenings writing political tracts and manifestos.” Karlsson’s mouth hitched up in a smile. “Of course, this was before the internet, so sadly, there’s nothing online. He handwrote them all. God knows where they are now, but you could check his mom’s attic.”
Emmy grinned. “Well, that’s a start at least. But seriously, sir, did he give any indication of being radicalized by any far-right groups around that time?”
“He certainly took notice of them, but to be fair to him, he never aligned himself with them. Not back then. Jump forward in time, it was when former President Ellis was in office that we started to hear about Max’s group. Ostensibly, they were just a conservative group with minimal influence. Max would get in contact with me, and then if I agreed with him, I’d take his concerns to the president’s advisors.”
“Ever straight to the president?”
“No. As much as I admired President Ellis, I was never in his close circle of advisors. I couldn’t be, you see, to do my job.”
“Damage control.”
Martin nodded. “Exactly. I had to be discrete from the chief of staff and his underlings.”
“Lester Dweck.” Duke said and shot a glance at Emmy. She nodded.
“What’s your read on Dweck?” She asked Karlsson, whose eyes immediately flashed with anger.
“He’s a king-sized asshole who wouldn’t know the word loyalty if he was hit in the head with it.” Martin stopped and sucked in a breath, looking away from their curious gaze. “Sorry, but that guy really pushes my buttons.”
“So it seems,” Duke said dryly, but Emmy was more sympathetic.
“Can I ask, Martin? What drives your loyalty to former President Ellis? No snark, I swear, I’m just curious.”
Martin Karlsson nodded. “It’s a legitimate question, Agent Sati. The Brookes Ellis I know would never, could never have done the things he was accused of. His politics could be, perhaps, a little too right wing at times, but human trafficking? I just don’t believe it.”
Emmy suddenly realized something about Karlsson. “Mr. Karlsson… are you a Democrat?”
Martin grinned. “Yes. I know, I know… a Dem doing damage control for a Republican president sounds contrary. But that’s my job, regardless of party sensibility. Same with your job—you protect the president regardless of your own preference.”
“We do.”
“If we can get back to the questions,” Duke said. “So, when did you lose touch with Max Neal?”
“A year ago, just after all this started. He just vanished. I didn’t think anything of it until this week when you called. Now… it makes sense if he’s a suspect in something. The one thing I can tell you for sure? He was enraged that President Ellis was impeached.Enraged.”
