This first novel is, I think, severely short-changed by the back-cover blurb. A thriller about a Hillery-esque first lady out to overthrow the president? Not quite.
Carolyn Alden Lane is the hyper-ambitious wife of Senator Warner Lane, and she doesn’t intend to let anything – including a loveless marriage – stand in the way of putting them both in the White House.
But while Carolyn believes she’s controlling Warner’s campaign, there are more powerful forces manipulating events without her knowledge – forces who won’t hesitate to intimidate or kill anybody who stands in the way of a Lane presidency.
This is a classic page-turner, partly because Carolyn Lane isn’t a classic heroine: She might want the White House in order to strengthen the war on drugs, but she’s willing to cut some moral corners to get there. And this makes her a formidable opponent when she realizes she’s up against an organization to which power is everything.
Six years. I interviewed ex-CIA, Secret Service, state troopers, gubernatorial and senatorial security details, SWAT, local law enforcement, people from Cabinet-level positions, physicians and others.
I was warned by a credible source that I may be stepping on some powerful toes with my questions, and I had better be careful. I laughed and remarked that I was a nobody from California. Who would notice me? The individual issuing the warning did not laugh. This was a sobering moment. I was told that if you ask the right kinds of questions, of certain people, you hit the radar screen very quickly.
I'd be lying if I didn't say this scared the hell out of me. I took about three days to evaluate what I was doing and where I was going with this project. I decided to go forward, but I changed the tack of my questions.
I also sent a manuscript out of state to an undisclosed location, just in case something did happen to me.
I was never told precisely what aspect of my research caused the warnings. But I can tell you that at that point, I was heavily involved in investigating and researching the Clintons' time in Arkansas. Much of this had to do with Hillary, her relationship with Vince Foster, and of course her power as the first lady of Arkansas.
I was also learning a lot about Bill's misadventures with other women. Of course, this was long before the scandal broke about his affairs. And my sources proved to be extremely accurate.
In fact, an editor of mine had been working with me as I refined much of my information. She was shocked when the scandals publicly unfolded and she realized exactly how accurate my sources were.
The death of Vince Foster is very unsettling. There is an amazing amount of inconsistent information surrounding his death, the investigation and the autopsy. And, of course, his close relationship with Hillary was intriguing. One of my sources told me that all meetings with Hillary at the Rose Law Firm included Vince Foster. He was always in the room.
When I was writing the novel, and being that it's a thriller, I'm certain that my subconscious referred back to my research on his death. In a way, the Mark Dailey character in my book has some Vince Foster overtones, but he's not meant to be Vince Foster.
Well, the novel was really born when Bill Clinton was elected president and Hillary asked for a West Wing office. She broke with the tradition of all first ladies before her by not taking an East Wing office. This made me very curious about the power of first ladies, and to whom they are accountable.
What I discovered is that first ladies are accountable to no one. The Constitution does not regulate them in any way, yet they are immensely powerful. They have access to all the world leaders, our leaders in government and business, the media and wealth. There's not much else you need to wield power. Yet their position can be one of stealth, working behind the scenes.
It is well documented that throughout history, first ladies have had incredible influence on both domestic and foreign policy. In fact, Edith Bolling Wilson literally ran the country when President Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralytic stroke. This was prior to the 25th Amendment, which wasn't ratified until 1967, that dictates the succession of power and presidential disability.
Anyway, I guess this a long way of saying, "No." The first lady in “Capital Offense” is not tailored after any one specific first lady; she's meant to be a compilation of many powerful first ladies throughout history.
I think that parallel is drawn because Hillary Clinton is our most recent powerful and controversial first lady. Plus, Hillary was a very overt first lady. She came to the White House and openly used her power, i.e., her office in the West Wing, heading up health care reform, etc.
The mother of a White House press officer read the book and loved it. So he had the book personally delivered to first lady Laura Bush, then they took 12 more copies to hand out on Air Force One and around the White House. I received a very encouraging letter from Mrs. Bush. It was wonderful.
When our forefathers wrote the Constitution, they weren’t thinking about politically ambitious women. Women couldn’t even vote! So, it’s obvious why the position of first lady wasn’t addressed in the Constitution. Yet history has shown that this position is immensely powerful in both domestic as well as foreign policy issues.
Like Edith Wilson, noted previously, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, Eleanor Roosevelt are other examples of very powerful first ladies. So questions – like should the position of first lady, or first spouse, be regulated or overseen by an entity other than the president? Would this position already have checks and balances in place if a man had occupied this role? – become very socially and politically relevant.
My novel also addresses the issue of manipulation of the press, which is a hot topic these days. I’ve been told that this is another reason for these comments.
“Capital Offense” is a well-constructed, beautifully written and fast-paced political thriller that will keep you up late at night and have you telling family and co-workers that it is a “must read.” The premise alone – a first lady grasping the reins of government – inspires immediate interest.
A well-drawn, believable and sympathetic protagonist (first lady Carolyn Lane) and a likeable journalist (Jack Rudly) pull the reader into the story where he will find political intrigue, heart-pounding suspense, and more than a few assassinations carried out by widely varying methods.
This novel offers a fresh take on some methods of murder. Let's analyze a few excerpts.
The concept of the frozen bullet was derived as I was having a discussion with a nuclear physicist who works with my engineering and construction firm. And once my brain settles on a concept, it spins compulsively until I have the details worked out. My brother was in medical school at the time, so I called him. The conversation went something like this:
“I want to kill someone with a frozen bullet.”
“What?!”
“In a book, Dan.” Sigh of exasperation. “I need a chemical that will freeze, cause immediate death, and look like cardiac arrest – a natural cardiac arrest, of course.”
Needless to say, my brother did some research for me and the idea became plausible, fictionally speaking. Since that time, we’ve had many conversations about murder for my novels. We’ve had a few good laughs thinking about the reactions of anyone who might be tapping our phones.
No doubt, if that were the case, we’d have the FBI knocking on our front doors.
She noted that the subject was predictably on time. …
Timing was critical to this mission because of the chemicals involved. A cryogenic freezing unit resembling a small, benign cooler sat next to her.
She marked a checkpoint and timed the subject with a stopwatch. He was moving at the expected pace. The assassin … assured herself that the temperature on the freezer was precisely as it should be. … [I]f the temperature inside the freezing unit rose or fell one-tenth of a degree, the chemical structure of the bullet would be altered and the mission would have to be aborted….
Timing was critical. She wouldn't have a second chance. She wouldn't need one, she knew, her grip firm on the weapon. The bullet she would fire contained frozen sodium azide, a metabolic inhibitor. In solid form it could be fired from a high-powered rifle.
At a muzzle velocity of 2,798 feet per second, the round would melt after precisely 100 yards. Upon hitting the target, it would penetrate the body like an injection, but leave no sign of entry. When sodium azide invaded the bloodstream, the substance blocked all of the cells' ability to produce energy; the bodily functions affected simply stopped. The key was to hit the target in the chest so that the first organ to fail was the heart, giving the appearance of cardiac arrest. …
The assassin flipped open the cooler. She grasped the metal tongs to shift the bullet to the gun. The projectile could only occupy the chamber for a maximum of 5.2 seconds.
She kept her eyes trained on the target as he crossed the bridge and followed the road to the right. Ten ... nine ... eight . ... Although excited, her hands remained steady. She'd rehearsed until her timing was ingrained. She glanced up at the target to check his progress, then down at the stopwatch. Three ... two ... one . ... With the tongs, she picked up the bullet, loaded the rifle, and set the timer. She glanced again at her target, then drew in a calming breath.
The jogger passed a tree, then started up Seventeenth Street toward the White House. The end of the Reflecting Pool, at the base of the Lincoln Memorial, was designated as the kill zone. The assassin took aim. The jogger reached the zone. She discharged her weapon, the suppressor muffling the report. The subject took a stride, then collapsed onto the lawn like a child exhausted from play. ...
April 30, 1996
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator William Rudly of Missouri died yesterday morning while jogging. Preliminary reports indicate the senator had a massive coronary. His body was discovered near the corner of Seventeenth Street and Constitution Avenue by another jogger. Paramedics tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
I love this scene and the method chosen to bring about the victim’s demise. Could this happen? Maybe, maybe not, but the narrative surely makes it believable. Why? First let’s look at the method chosen to deliver the toxin.
A frozen bullet is ingenious and unexpected, and the lengths to which the assassin has gone to make this method work are evident. She knew what temperature was necessary to freeze the “bullet,” how long it would take to liquefy, and how far it would travel during that time. Clever, to say the least.
The result is that the “bullet” reaches the victim as a high-speed liquid packet not unlike the needle-less injectors used for immunizations today. In these, the column of liquid medicine is fired at high speed into the skin. It leaves behind only a small mark, less than would a metallic needle.
It is likely that the unfortunate Senator Rudly would have a bruise or small abrasion at the point of impact, but this might be deemed of no concern by the coroner. After all, who would consider a liquid bullet? Of course, since the toxin absorbs through the skin (see below), a breakage of the skin is not necessary for this method of delivery to work.
Sodium azide, the toxin chosen for this deed, is perfect. It is a liquid (as in this situation) or a solid salt and its effects are immediate. It readily absorbs through the skin. It has several effects, but the two that would be operative here are the production of hypotension (low blood pressure) and the “poisoning” of the metabolic systems of the cells of the body.
The latter effect is similar to cyanide in that sodium azide shuts down the energy-producing enzymes within all the body’s cells, causing rapid cell death. This sudden drop in blood pressure and the poisoning of cellular enzymes would lead to a sudden collapse and death and would look very much like a heart attack to any observer.]
I have to admit that the concept of this type of murder truly came from my character, Jack Rudly. Throughout the book Jack only smoked part of his cigarette, he never finished one. I didn’t understand why he was doing this, but I went with the flow, as it just seemed to fit his personality.
As the writing of Jack’s confrontation with the bad guys culminated, I immediately understood that my subconscious had worked this scene out and waited patiently for my conscious mind to catch up. Of course, Jack would be poisoned by a cigarette and the only thing that kept him alive was the fact that he never finished one.
"Usually Marlboros, but I'm not particular."
The man shook the pack until a tip appeared. "Your lucky day, guy. I smoke 'em too, help ya' self." He held out the pack to Jack, who took the tallest tip. … He lit Jack's cigarette for him. …
Jack … took one drag off the cigarette … another drag, but it didn't taste very good. Even so, he initially ignored the acrid flavor. Then, very definitely aware that the smoke smelled odd, Jack … put the cigarette to his lips, and inhaled again. This time he felt a slight tingling sensation in his mouth, so he put the cigarette out.
Why do I bother? Jack asked himself. I must waste a small fortune on half-smoked cigarettes. Jack looked around for the waitress. He needed a glass of water, but she wasn't there. Suddenly he felt dizzy. Wow, Jack thought, I haven't gotten a buzz from smoking a cigarette since I was twelve.
The walls started to spin. The room was going in and out of focus. Jack tried to rub his temples, but the movement threw him off balance, and he toppled over, landing on the floor. His throat felt swollen. He could barely breathe.
What was happening to him? he wondered frantically.
He thought he called for help. No sound came from his mouth. Thoughts floated around inside his head, like pieces of confetti tossed in the air. Where was he? Confusion engulfed him as he struggled to focus and fought to remain conscious.
Adding a poison to a cigarette that is then inhaled along with the tobacco smoke is a diabolical idea and is relatively easy to pull off. What smoker wouldn’t accept a free smoke? Particularly at today’s prices. In “Capital Offense” we are never told exactly what toxin was used, but several substances would do the trick. Two that very closely fit the above scenario come to mind.
Cyanide is a logical choice and fits the symptoms exhibited by Jack. A very small amount of either sodium or potassium cyanide, both white powders, could be sprinkled into the tobacco and when smoked would be inhaled into the lungs. It is then rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and begins poisoning all the cells of the body.
The victim would become dizzy, short of breath, and may have chest pain, loss of consciousness, seizures and death. If the exposure is very light, the victim may become ill but survive. A larger dose could result in death within minutes.
Benzene is a slightly sweet-smelling liquid that is used as a solvent in paints, oils, plastics, rubber and many other products. It has a very low boiling point (temperature at which it converts from a liquid to a gas) and is easily absorbed through the lungs.
If Jack’s cigarette had been treated with a small amount of liquid benzene, the heat of the burning tobacco would quickly convert it to a gas for inhalation. Symptoms onset immediately and include weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache, chest pain, staggering, confusion and loss of consciousness. If exposure is high, death may occur.]
President Hillary Clinton – wow, interesting concept! To date, I've attended many book clubs and no one has been able to identify my political leanings by reading the book. I count this as a compliment, because I really wanted this book to be nonpartisan, and it seems I've succeeded.
I've gotten controversy and accusations from both sides of the political coin. Some claim that my book champions Hillary, others think I’m slamming her. Of course, the character is not meant to be her at all.
And as your question [implies], she has parlayed her power into a successful senatorial seat and is positioning herself to run for the presidency. By the way, according to my sources, this has always been the plan. First, Bill would be president and then they'd work to put her there.
I did hope that “Capital Offense” would be thought-provoking and cause the American public to consider the role of the first lady or first spouse, and whether or not this job should be regulated.
What’s really interesting is that if Hillary were elected we’d not only have our first Madam President but the first First Spouse in President (he retains his title) Bill Clinton. As I’ve stated before, the First Spouse position is accountable to no one and completely under the radar screen, with an immense amount of influence and power.
This causes me to wonder a few things like: What would the rest of the world think to have President Bill Clinton back in the White House? The ex-president knows all of the classified secrets, how would this affect his role as First Spouse? Should this role be accountable to an entity other than the president? As you can see, there are a lot of questions that come with such a scenario.
But as to whether I'd vote for Hillary, well, I'd say read the book and see if you can guess my answer.
For further questions or comments, Kathleen Antrim can be contacted through her Web site, www.kathleenantrim.com
“Capital Offense,” by Kathleen Antrim, is available wherever books are sold and at:
www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com
“Murder and Mayhem: A Doctor Answers Medical and Forensic Questions for Mystery Writers,” by D.P. Lyle, M.D., is also available wherever books are sold. Dr. Lyle can be reached through his Web site at www.dplylemd.com
Bill Bickel writes for Crime, Justice & America magazine.
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