The Kremlin Letter Read online

  “It sounds like you had a run-in with him.”

  “Not a chance. We each knew where the other lived. He kept his distance. I spent five years looking for an excuse to cut his liver out and he knew it. You seem mighty fascinated by him.”

  Rone was aware of this. He also knew he was wandering further from the answers he wanted.

  “What was the Pepper Pot after?”

  “I’ll tell you when the time comes.”

  “But we’re going in where he left off, aren’t we?”

  “You read the messages—draw your own conclusions.” Rone decided to press his luck. “Why was I picked?”

  “It’s like I told you before, you were the back-up man for Uncle Raymond.”

  “But why me? Why someone new? Why not one of your own men? Why not someone you’ve worked with before?”

  Ward popped a section of apple into his mouth. He chewed with slow deliberation. He answered before he had completely swallowed. “There aren’t that many of us left. We’re getting old, you know.”

  Rone’s fears began to rise. “But why me in particular? You apparently had the pick of anyone you wanted for a given job. I’m interested in why you decided on me. What were the aptitudes you were looking for? What was it I had?”

  Ward spit out several seeds. He broke into his familiar grin. “You’re afraid we’re going to stick you back on computers, aren’t you?”

  “Are you?”

  “Now I ask you, Nephew Charlie, do we look like the kinda guys that would have any use at all for them contraptions? No, you don’t have to worry about that. As to the rest, well, I don’t exactly know what an aptitude is, but you did have a few abilities we found kinda useful. I don’t want to go into all of them now, but among other things we kinda got the impression you could let someone else die in your place without giving a good goddam. Now that ain’t easy to come by!”

  After dinner, the two black suitcases were brought to the kitchen. Ward picked one up, placed it on the breakfast table, took out a key and opened it. When he swung back the top Rone could see that it was divided into three metal-topped sections. Ward opened the first. It was filled with files. He looked through them rapidly, stopped at one, pulled it out and threw it to Rone.

  “You might find this interesting,” he said.

  Rone looked down at the manila envelope stamped “top secret”; there was a sticker on it with typed words: “Security Investigations and Clearance—CIC for ONI.” Below it he read, “Subject: Rone, Charles Evans.”

  If there was one major taboo in modern intelligence organizations, it was an agent examining his own investigation.

  Rone looked up. Ward had already closed the first suitcase and was busy opening the second. It was crammed full with packs of money. Ward threw a couple at Rone and said, “Start counting.”

  Rone counted the old twenty-dollar bills. There were ten thousand dollars in each bundle. Within half an hour he had counted an additional one hundred and ninety thousand in tens and twenties. He had no idea how much Ward had counted. He handed Ward the paper with his additions and then helped him put the money back in the suitcase.

  “You better get some sleep, Nephew,” Ward said. “You may be getting an early call.”

  Rone started for the stairs.

  “Hey, don’t you want this?” Ward called, holding up the security clearance.

  Rone walked over, took it, and went upstairs to his room.

  Later, as he lay upon the starched sheets, he began reading it:

  TOP SECRET

  SECURITY INVESTIGATION FOR TOP SECRET CLEARANCE

  FOR

  CHARLES EVANS RONE

  COMPILED BY THE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE CORPS

  FOR

  OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

  INDEX OF MATERIAL COVERED

  PAGE OR PAGES

  ORIGINAL APPLICATION

  1

  AGENCY CHECKS

  FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

  2

  ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE

  3

  STATE POLICE

  4–9

  INSTITUTIONAL CHECKS

  BIRTH CERTIFICATE

  10

  PARENTS’ MARRIAGE LICENSE

  11

  PARENTS’ BIRTH CERTIFICATES

  12–13

  GRANDPARENTS’ NATIONALIZATION

  14–16

  HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL

  17–20

  DENTAL

  21–24

  EDUCATIONAL

  25–31

  FINANCIAL

  32–34

  OCCUPATIONAL

  35–37

  NATIONAL CREDIT BUREAU (SPEC)

  38

  NATIONAL NEWSPAPER CLIPPING SERV. (SPEC)

  39–45

  SPECIALIZED REPORTS

  MEDICAL

  46–47

  PSYCHIATRIC

  48–50

  HANDWRITING ANALYSIS

  51–52

  STANFORD-BINET IQ

  53–54

  U OF CHI APTITUDE

  55–56

  LANGUAGE APTITUDE (SPEC)

  57–58

  SPECIAL REVIEW BOARD

  65

  SUBJECT INTERVIEWS

  UNDERCOVER ROOMMATE

  59–60

  CIC SCREENING BOARD

  61–64

  PERSONAL INTERVIEWS (110)

  See section II

  SPECIAL IQ TESTING

  See section III

  CIC

  Application for Special Assignment

  Secret

  NAME: RONE CHARLES EVANS

  AKA: NONE

  HEIGHT: 6' 1½"

  WEIGHT: 190

  EYES: BROWN

  HAIR: LIGHT BROWN

  MARKS: NONE

  DATE OF BIRTH: 9 JANUARY 1929

  PLACE OF BIRTH: RAWLINS, WYOMING

  FATHER’S NAME: CHARLES LAWRENCE RONE

  FATHER’S OCCUPATION: DOCTOR—RANCHER

  FATHER’S ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 12, RAWLINS, WYOMING

  LIVING OR DEAD: DECEASED 6/6/39

  MOTHER’S NAME: (MAIDEN) ELSIE EVANS

  MOTHER’S ADDRESS: NOT APPLICABLE

  LIVING OR DEAD: DECEASED 6/6/39

  BROTHERS OR SISTERS: EVAH--DECEASED 6/6/39

  EDUCATION:

  GRAMMAR SCHOOL: RAWLINS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, RAWLINS, WYO. GRAD. 1942

  HIGH SCHOOL: RAWLINS HIGH SCHOOL, RAWLINS, WYO. GRAD. 1946

  COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY: LELAND STANFORD U., PALO ALTO, CALIF. GRAD. 1950

  YALE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL, NEW H. GRAD. 1953

  MILITARY SERVICE: NROTC STANFORD UNIVERSITY ENLISTED USN 5 JULY 1953

  OCCUPATIONS: HUNTING GUIDE--JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING 1941–1946 (SUMMERS) AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC--RAWLINS, WYO. 1942–1944 (PT) RIDING INSTRUCTOR--PALO ALTO, CALIF. 1946–1948 (PT) SKI INSTRUCTOR--YOSEMITE N.P. 1948–1950 (PT) LANGUAGE TUTOR—NEW HAVEN, COOT. 1951–1952 (PT)

  SPORTS: FOOTBALL--STANFORD 1946–1950 (NOMINATED FOR ALL AMERICAN, NAMED ALL COAST) RIFLE TEAM—STANFORD 1946–1950 (PLACED THIRD IN HAT. COMB.) ALPINE CLUB—STANFORD 1947–1948

  LIST OF REFERENCES:

  Rone turned the page.

  CIC

  AGENCY REPORT

  SUBJECT:

  RONE, CHARLES EVANS

  AGENCY:

  FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

  OFFICE:

  NEW HAVEN, CONN.

  NEW HAVEN FBI REPORTS THAT BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL OFFICE FIND NO DEROGATORY INFORMATION CONCERNING SUBJECT.

  T. STEIN

  FIELD AGENT

  CIC

  CIC

  SUBJECT:

  RONE, CHARLES EVANS

  AGENCY:

  ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE

  ADDRESS:

  JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

  NO DEROGATORY INFORMATION CONCERNING

  SUBJECT.

  CIC

  AGENCY REPORT

  CASE NO:

  SUBJEC
T:

  RONE, CHARLES EVANS

  AGENCY:

  STATE POLICE

  OFFICE:

  NATIONWIDE

  ALL FORTY-EIGHT STATES RESPONDED, NEGATIVE INFORMATION WITH THESE EXCEPTIONS:

  ARIZONA--KINGMAN, 16 JUNE 1949--SUBJECT ARRESTED FOR SPEEDING ALONG ROUTE 66. ACCUSED OF DOING 90 MPH IN 60-MPH ZONE.

  NO DRIVER’S LICENSE. (WYOMING REQUIRES NO LICENSE.) FINED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25.00) AND RELEASED.

  CALIFORNIA--LOS ALTOS, 21 SEPTEMBER 1946--

  ARRESTED SPEEDING, 50 MPH IN 20-MPH ZONE.

  FINED FIFTEEN DOLLARS ($15.00).

  LOS ALTOS, 4 MAY 1950--ARRESTED

  SPEEDING, 50 MPH IN 20-MPH ZONE.

  FINED FIFTEEN DOLLARS ($15.00).

  MENLO PARK, 23 AUGUST 1946--ARRESTED

  NOT STOPPING AT STOP SIGN. FINED

  FIVE DOLLARS ($5.00).

  PALO ALTO, 17 OCTOBER 1946--ARRESTED

  FOR THE FOLLOWING:

  DRIVING ON WRONG SIDE Off STREET.

  DRIVING ON SIDEWALK.

  DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHTS.

  DRIVING ACROSS CITY PARK.

  CHASING FOOT PATROLMAN

  ACROSS CITY PARK IN AUTO.

  DRUNKEN DRIVING.*

  *NOTE: SUBJECT WAS CLEARED OF DRUNKEN DRIVING. HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ALL OTHER CHARGES WITH SUSPENDED FINES. APPARENTLY STANFORD UNIVERSITY HAD WON FIRST FOOTBALL. GAME IN TWO SEASONS. RONE SCORED WINNING TOUCHDOWN. JUDGE’S SON ON TEAM ALSO.

  ATTEMPTING TO BACK CAR INTO S. PACIFIC R.R. ST. TYING FEMALE UNDERGARMENT … TO CAR AERIAL.

  OVERLOADING CAR (9 PERSONS).

  SQUEEZING TOOTHPASTE IN ARRESTING OFFICER’S POCKET.

  PALO ALTO, 5 AUGUST 1947--ARRESTED SPEEDING, 60 MPH IN 25-MPH ZONE. FOUND GUILTY--SUSPENDED FINE.**

  **NOTE: SAME JUDGE AS ABOVE. PALO ALTO, 25 JANUARY 1949--ACCIDENT REPORT:

  AT ONE-FIFTEEN A.M. RONE’S CAR WAS TRAVELING SOUTH AT ESTIMATED 60 MPH (LEGAL SPEED) ON HIGHWAY 101 (A THREE-LANE HIGHWAY WITH A CENTER LANE FOR PASSING). SUBJECT MADE CORRECT SIGNAL TO PASS TRUCK IN FRONT OF HIM. HE MOVED HIS CAR INTO CENTER LANE AND ACCELERATED FOR PURPOSE OF PASSING. APPARENTLY AT SAME TIME CAR APPROACHING FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION ALSO DECIDED TO PASS TRUCK HEADING NORTH. CARS MET HEAD-ON AT ESTIMATED 70 MPH. ALL PASSENGERS IS. APPROACHING CAR (FATHER, MOTHER, THREE CHILDREN) WERE KILLED INSTANTLY. GIRL SITTING BESIDE SUBJECT WAS THROWN THROUGH WINDSHIELD AND KILLED—SUBJECT APPARENTLY HAD TRIED TO SAVE HER AT LAST MINUTE BY THROWING SELF IN FRONT OF HER, BUT HIS HEAD SMASHED AGAINST WINDSHIELD, BREAKING JAW AND NOSE BUT SAVING HIS LIFE (SEE MEDICAL REPORT). TRUCKS WERE UNHARMED. INVESTIGATION ESTABLISHED THAT ONCOMING CAR HAD BOB SIGNALED CORRECTLY. (ATTESTED TO BY BOTH TRUCK DRIVERS) AND THAT CAR ALSO HAD WEAK LIGHTS. SUBJECT WAS CLEARED OF ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENT. SUBJECT HAD RECENTLY BEEN ENGAGED TO GIRL KILLED WITH HIM (SEE INTERVIEWS RW 3, 8, 14, 24, 25, 37).

  PALO ALTO, 30 JANUARY 1949--ARRESTED SPEEDING, 65 MPH IN 30-MPH ZONE.

  FINED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25.00).

  NOTE: SINCE SUBJECT’S FIANCEE HAD BEEN KILLED ONLY FIVE DAYS EARLIER THIS INVESTIGATOR TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE CHANCE OF EMOTIONAL STRAIN OR EXCESSIVE DRINKING. APPARENTLY NEITHER WAS THE CASE. SUBJECT BORROWED CAR AND HAD DATE. ARRESTING OFFICER BELIEVES HE STOPPED SUBJECT AT 3:30 A.M. (AND AS HE REMEMBERS FEMALE COMPANION’S CLOTHING WAS NOT ALL ON).*

  *See special investigation on page 72.

  Rone turned to page 72.

  SECRET

  SUBJECT:

  REQUEST FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

  TO:

  CHIEF, DIVISION OF SECURITY INVESTIGATION

  FROM:

  CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF REVIEW

  AFTER EXAMINING AND ANALYZING THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN THE SECURITY INVESTIGATION OF LT. J.G. CHARLES EVANS RONE (CASE # ONI 1687–224-3588) THE BOARD OF REVIEW FINDS ITSELF UNABLE TO RECOMMEND OR NOT RECOMMEND THE ISSUANCE OF A SECURITY CLEARANCE TO SUBJECT.

  IN ALL, SUBJECT’S RECORD IS EXCELLENT BUT CERTAIN SPECIFIC INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED THAT RAISE THE POSSIBILITY OF OVERT COWARDICE OR POSSIBLY SOME TYPE OF MENTAL DISTURBANCE. EVEN THOUGH THESE EVENTS OCCUREED WHEH SUBJECT WAS BETWEEN THE AGES OF SEVENTEEN (17) AND EIGHTEEN (18) AND EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO SUBSEQUENT SIMILAR EVENT, IT IS STILL FELT THAT A SERIOUS DOUBT AS TO SUBJECT’S ACCEPTABILITY HAS BEEN RAISED.

  WE THEREFORE REQUEST PERMISSION TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL BOARD OF INVESTIGATION, COMPOSED OF THREE PSYCHIATRISTS AND THREE SENIOR INVESTIGATING OFFICERS, TO SECURE AND REVIEW ADDITIONAL AND MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION. WE ALSO REQUEST THAT SUBJECT BE ASKED TO SUBMIT TO CERTAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATIONS.

  THE REASONS FOR THIS BEQUEST ARE HEREIN SUMMARIZED FROM MATERIAL PROVIDED IS HIS INVESTIGATION. REFERENCE TO ORIGINAL REPORTS ARE INCLUDED:

  1. In summer of 1945 subject was employed as hunting guide Grand Teton Lodge, Jackson Hole, Wyo. On June 19 of that year he led a party of four hunters up into the Teton Mountain Range in search of Kodiak bear. At approximately eight thousand feet they spotted a wounded tear on the ledge above them. Subject led party above prey and then dropped down on ledge to trap him. However one of party slipped giving hear advance warning and when they dropped onto ledge hear had moved and was now blocking their escape route. Also bear was on thin ledge which meant only one man could get to him. Although subject was not only guide and responsible he was an excellent hunter-and-climber--yet he let another man go in his place. Man was severely mauled by animal and even though knocked to lower ledge was not killed. He eventually lost arm. Only after man was mauled did subject finally act and kill bear. Man and party sued hotel but suit finally dropped. Inhabitants of Jackson Hole accused subject of cowardice. (SEE: INSTITUTIONAL CHECKS # 12, PERSONAL INTERVIEWS # 5, 6, 7, 8.)

  2. In August of 1947 subject was fishing at Jenny Lake, Moran, Wyoming (four miles from Jackson Hole), when a flash storm occurred, trapping a boat with several persons far out in the lake. Subject who is strong swimmer started out to their rescue. When subject saw another boat also go to assistance of floundering people he turned around and swam to shore. The townspeople of Jackson Hole accused subject of cowardice. (SEE PERSONAL INTERVIEWS # 11, 12, 17, 18, 22.)

  WE FEEL THAT THESE TWO INCIDENTS ALONE WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE ISSUE OF COWARDICE AND POSSIBLE MENTAL TROUBLE. THERE IS ANOTHER INCIDENT WHICH THE PSYCHIATRIC REPORT POINTS TO AS RATHER UNUSUAL.

  3. In late January 1949 subject was involved in head-on auto collision in which he was driver of one car. Occupants of other car were tilled and so was subject’s fiancee, who was sitting beside him. Yet five days later he was found in a compromising position with another woman. (SEE AGENCY REPORT—STATE POLICE; Page 15)

  THE PSYCHIATRISTS FEEL THIS REACTION TO TRAGEDY PLUS A RECURRENT DREAM SUBJECT VOLUNTEERED HE HAD AS CHILD MIGHT INDICATE SOME PERSONALITY WEAKNESS.

  TOP SECRET

  SUBJECT:

  REQUEST FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

  FROM:

  CHIEF, DIVISION OF INVESTIGATION

  TO:

  REVIEW BOARD

  REQUEST FOR EXTENDED INVESTIGATION IN CASE OF LT. J.G. CHARLES EVANS RONE (# ONI 1687-224-3588) IS GRANTED.

  SECRET

  REPORT ON SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

  as requested by:

  BOARD OF REVIEW ----- CIC

  SPECIAL INVESTIGATION BOARD

  DR. MYRON ZIEFF (PSYCHIATRIST)

  MAJ. RICHARD B. STEEN

  CIC

  DR. JULES R. JAYLIN (PSYCHIATRIST)

  MAJ. SAMUEL L. AYER

  CIC

  DR. JAMES D. TEE (NEUROLOGIST)

  MAJ. RICHARD B. STEEN

  ONI

  INTRODUCTION: On 17 February 1954 the Chief, Board of Review, directed that a special body of the above-named men be formed to further examine and investigate Lt. J.G. Charles Evans Rone (subject) in light of possible derogatory information found during the course of his security clearance.…

  FINDINGS: The three doctors concur that the “hunting incident�
� and the “boat incident” (IC# 12, PI# 5, 6, 7, 8, and PI# 11, 12, 17, 18, 22) are related directly to a traumatic experience subject suffered on June 6, 1939. On this date subject was out in small boat in Yellowstone National Park with his mother, father and elder brother. The boat was approximately a thousand yards from shore when a flash storm, common to that area, suddenly hit. Somehow the boat was capsized. The subject and his mother did not know how to swim. The subject’s elder brother swam subject to shore, then returned to rough water in attempt to assist subject’s father, who was having difficulty bringing subject’s mother to shore. As the storm increased in intensity subject stood on shore and watched mother, father and elder brother drown.

  In the opinion of the examining doctors this event created serious and spectacular personality change in subject. Prior to this tragedy subject had been a rather restrained “indoor boy.” He preferred studying to athletics or other outdoor activities. After the tragedy the subject was adopted by his uncle (mother’s brother), who was a successful rancher. Subject made immediate transition to athletics. He became an excellent swimmer, hunter, mountain climber, etc. He diligently overcame any phobias he might have, as in the case of mountain climbing. Uncle reports as a boy he would place lit matches and cigarettes to hand until he became impervious to their burning.

  Although this is only a summary of our findings (a complete report is attached), we are also in agreement on the probable motivation for this transition. The subject undoubtedly blamed self for death of his parents and his brother.…