by Ali Vali
“Yes, ma’am, and our backup should be here shortly, loaded for bear,” Commander Bruce “Poncho” Thompson said. “We’ll take it from here.”
“Contact me once you’re on the ground. I have a new assignment for you if you’re interested.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Lead us home, Junior.”
“You got it.”
“This is Cletus,” she said, calling the Jefferson. “Come in, Jefferson.”
“Go ahead, Cletus,” the radio operator said.
“Have Captain Sullivan check on Vader. If he and his backseat are okay, he’s going to need a ride back on board.”
“We’ll take care of it, Cletus. Just get back here before they start sending us a bill for all this hardware you guys keep destroying,” Aidan said.
“Yes, ma’am.” They headed back, but she set a course to where Vader had been shot down. The area that had been bombed was out of the way of the high-level targets, but there had to be a reason they’d used resources on it. “What was the other target today?”
“We’ll update you when you get back,” Aidan said.
“We’re coming about, ma’am. See you in a few minutes.”
* * *
“The attack today, in our professional team’s opinion, was a diversionary tactic,” Director Jonas Chapman said as the emergency Security Council meeting got underway. “The Capitol incident yesterday put us on high alert, and their fighter jets were meant to ramp up the fear and panic already in the streets.”
“Chandler sacrificed a squadron of fighters to free Jeffery?” Marcus Newton asked in a way that made him sound skeptical.
“We’ll have to find him to ask him, but we believe so. If that’s indeed accurate, it gives us insight into Chandler’s mindset.”
“Can he be delusional enough to believe he can actually pull off a coup?” George Butler asked. “I mean, Dick could be a real asshole, but I never thought he was freaking crazy.”
“Mr. President, he’s laid the groundwork,” Marcus said. “How he was able to recruit what seem like dedicated and able-bodied soldiers is a mystery, but he’s done that in spades.”
“The dead men identified at both the Capitol and in the perimeter of the detention facility were active members of both the army and the marines. These guys were in no way mercenaries,” Jonas said. “The preliminary reports on the downed planes and pilots are that the hardware is Russian and Iranian, but the pilots are all homegrown ex and active members of the armed forces.”
“Has Jeffery Chandler said anything else?” Olivia asked, still upset that these idiots had desecrated Peter’s body. It was bad enough that they’d killed him, but what had happened yesterday had added insult to that already sad fact. “Chandler is a threat that must be contained. We need to focus on how in the world he’s getting all these guys to commit these acts of terror. No service people, active or retired, should ever think of firing on the capital of the United States for any reason.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jonas said, and Marcus nodded. “This has been a joint task force between the FBI and CIA, and not only have we gotten what we think is reliable information, but a way to bring Chandler in.”
“You say that, Jonas, but you’ve cut us out of the loop when it comes to Jeffery Chandler. Remember that Walby Edwards works for me.”
“Mr. Edwards, I believe, works for the US government,” Drew said. “Worry about doing your job and not about what everyone else is doing. Right now, the CIA needs to find any chatter about Chandler, no matter where it’s coming from.”
“I am doing my job,” Marcus said with what seemed like extreme agitation. “Madam President, we have to proceed cautiously. We can all argue that Chandler’s the head of the snake, but he’s fortified the body with fanatics,” Marcus said, speaking directly to Olivia. “When we move, it has to be when we can ensure we capture the information we need to weed out the rest of his followers, no matter how many there are, and not before.”
“I agree, but we have five dead senators, twenty-one dead congressional staff members, five Secret Service members, and twelve MPs. That’s something neither I nor the American people will forget anytime soon, since it played out on national television.” Olivia placed her hands flat on the table, her voice calm and soft. “The time for action is now, gentlemen. If anyone doubts my resolve for absolute justice, he will be sadly mistaken.”
“I’m a hundred percent for that,” George said and saluted Olivia.
“Thank you,” she said. “I also want heavy security for Peter’s funeral. Eva and the girls deserve to lay him to rest with the upmost decorum.”
There was a chorus of “yes ma’ams” before they stood to go. The funeral was that morning, and they were all attending. The United States did not negotiate with terrorists, and her leaders did not hide in fear at times of uncertainty. Olivia was steadfast in her decision-making.
“George, I’d like you and Victoria to join Gabriel and me. If anything, it’ll make it easier on the security detail,” she said.
“We’d love to, and you have a good team here, Madam President. I’ll be forever in your debt for letting me sort out my legacy by allowing me to help however I can. Peter and I had some long talks as we went through the transition, but we both agreed on you as his choice for vice president. You’ve done him and the rest of us proud in the last few days.”
“Thank you, and my mom always said you sometimes don’t recognize crazy until it hits you in the face with a pie. You couldn’t have known Dick was this kind of nut before you chose him, so no thanks necessary.”
“I appreciate you all the same. Let’s go pay our respects to our friend.”
“Gone way too soon.”
Chapter Fourteen
The honor guard stood at attention in the rotunda as Eva and her daughters entered, followed by Olivia’s family, George and his wife, and all the living presidents and their families, the foreign dignitaries in attendance bringing up the rear. There would be a procession to the National Cathedral before his burial in Michigan, and eventually he and his grandparents would be moved one more time after his presidential library was completed.
Berkley stood at attention with tears in her eyes as Eva and her girls made their way to the casket and laid their hands on its top. Her emotions were on overload from watching the two little girls trying to be brave for their mother, but their pain was right at the surface. Anyone could see that with no problem. That President Khalid had to be placed in a new casket after the attack was a national disgrace, she thought as Eva was joined by her extended family. The late president had only a few living relatives, and those elderly aunts would be at his burial.
After a call for silence, the Khalids’ pastor said a short prayer before they made their way out. The marine unit placed their hands on the casket and slowly started to the caisson waiting outside the Capitol. In two days, the same ceremony would be carried out for the senators who’d been killed in the rotunda, but today was Peter’s day.
All the military personnel who lined the stairs of the Capitol saluted as the flag-draped casket was carried down. On the street, the DC police estimated the crowd to consist of over a million people along the route. The same number that had come to watch his inauguration was here now to pay their respects. From Berkley’s understanding, the secret-service detail had wanted the Khalids, the president, and the other dignitaries to ride to the cathedral in bulletproof vehicles, but Eva had chosen to walk, and Olivia wouldn’t hear of letting her do that alone.
Aidan walked beside her, and Berkley’s eyes were restlessly scanning the windows and the crowds along the way. The president had died because he’d shaken up the status quo, and in a nutshell, she and Aidan were some of the biggest examples of that turnover. If President Michaels was a target, the two of them were also high on the list of people Chandler would make an example of, if given the opportunity.
“Believe me.” Wiley Gremillion’s voice came through her earpiece. “If Ski
nner’s out here, he’s going for the money shot.”
“Where exactly is that?” she said softly. It was an honor to be walking right behind the president and former first lady, but she wasn’t keen on it being the last honor of her life.
“I’m thinking that would be the leader of the free world while you’re still close to the seat of government, aka that building behind you. But don’t worry. I’m watching.”
Wiley was on a roof somewhere that hadn’t been disclosed on the chance they had a mole and would be moving as they made their way along. “If you let these guys mess up our pretty uniforms, I’m going to seriously question our friendship.”
“Keep your eyes open, and try to appear regal with all that stuff pinned to your chest. Any more shiny bits on that pristine uniform, and I’d be blinded by the reflection.”
“Remind me to punch you in the eye later.”
“What would the nuns from Sacred Heart say if they could see you now?” Wiley said, making her smile.
The procession was now assembled, and they were all ready to move. She saw Aidan take a deep breath, and she understood the nervous tic, since she was more comfortable in a cockpit than with all these eyes on her. President Khalid deserved to be remembered for his short but effective tenure, though, so she started walking. They’d be walking a mile or so at the beginning and the same distance again at the end to minimize the danger as much as the Secret Service could talk the president and the former first lady into.
“Anything?” Aidan asked softly.
“She didn’t tell anyone where, but Wiley scoped the area and chose the second-best nest.”
“She left the honors of the best nest to her competition?”
“If he shows up, he’s in for a brain enema he won’t soon forget,” Berkley said softly, and Aidan groaned.
“Don, heads up,” Wiley said, having put Don Smith on the other side from where she was. Her handler Don wasn’t in charge of a couple of retirees simply because he’d drawn the assignment, but because he’d served General Greenwald as well.
“Got it, but there’s two,” Don said and hummed. “And then there was one,” he said seconds later.
“Get some agents up there,” Wiley said after obviously eliminating the shooter that was left.
“Scan for any others,” Berkley said, glancing at Aidan momentarily. “If there’s a third we have to move all these people to cover.”
“Our team is scanning, Captain,” Don said. “They’re reporting all clear for the next mile, so Wiley and I are moving.”
“Trust him, Cletus. We don’t want to give these people the satisfaction of any more panic. That’s what President Michaels wanted to avoid at all costs,” Wiley said.
“I also don’t want the honor of attending another presidential funeral, so be sure.” Berkley stared ahead to Agent Lainey Willcott and gave her a nod. The sign made Lainey move closer to Olivia, and that prompted the rest of the details to do the same with their charges. Lainey switched her radio to Berkley’s channel and nodded back. “Two snipers eliminated, and our team is moving to the next nest. We hold for now.”
“Are you willing to gamble with the president’s life?” Lainey asked.
Lainey stared at her as if trying to override her need to keep her charge safe, especially now that she’d been promoted to the lead of the president’s detail. Shimmy Laurel, the former lead of the president’ detail, was still there, but he was now the number-two agent in charge, and he glanced back with the same worry. The helicopters probably transporting Wiley and Don flew wide of them and forward. “I’d never put her in harm’s way, Agent Willcott, but you have the final call.”
The decision seemed gut-wrenching, but Lainey looked forward and stayed at Olivia’s elbow. “Keep up the chatter, but we hold for now,” Lainey said, speaking into her sleeve.
“What now?” Aidan asked.
“Two down and hopefully none to go,” she answered, the sound of the helicopter rotors in her ear. “Anything, Wiley?”
“I’m a minute from my new position, but all clear. Repeat, all clear,” Wiley said.
“Good. Keep talking. Lead Agent Willcott will be listening in,” Berkley said as one of Lainey’s people moved closer to her and Aidan.
They walked on, the crowds never thinning and surreally quiet. For once the sentiment of the mob was of the mindset of Ronald Reagan’s doctor the day the president had been shot. Dr. Benjamin Aaron had told the story after the surgery that saved Reagan’s life of how the president had asked him in the emergency room if he was a Republican. Dr. Aaron had responded, “Today, Mr. President, we’re all Republicans.”
Today, for as far as Berkley could see, they were all Americans, and the number of people there to honor President Khalid had to give Eva and her girls some iota of comfort.
“A block to go, Cletus. Be prepared to move. If they have a plan B, this is where it is,” Wiley said, obviously in position. “Don.”
“I see them, but no kill shot if you can help it,” Don said, and Berkley raised her hand to the agent watching her.
Lainey glanced up and appeared to be cursing under her breath, but she didn’t rush the president anywhere. “I’m leading my group in first, after our people sweep the church again like we discussed,” Lainey said, and the agent next to her seemed to repeat the order.
“We’ve spotted two more but are clearing the threat,” Wiley said.
“We’ll wait to go in with the honor guard once the major players are in their seats,” Berkley said.
“Keep us in the loop,” Lainey said, taking Olivia’s elbow and making her walk faster, following the plan everyone had had to memorize before they left the Capitol. Eva and her girls were led in first, followed by the others, and held in the vestibule until the building was cleared.
They didn’t need to wait long before Wiley reported in. “Two more, but only one shooter. Go in, and I’ll finish with Director Chapman’s team,” Wiley said, since the FBI had been listening in the whole time.
It took ten minutes, but everyone inside stood when the honor guard entered and placed the casket at the front of the church. Berkley and Aidan stood, along with the other military personnel present for the service and Olivia’s eulogy. Plenty of people believed Olivia had lost the nomination to Peter because she wasn’t as gifted a public speaker as he was, but there weren’t many dry eyes in the cathedral and outside watching on the large projection screens when she was done.
After the service concluded, Berkley was glad to see the most prominent dignitaries present get into armored limousines, effectively taking them out of the line of fire. It had been reported that the Michaels family would attend the burial service as well, but with the threats they’d dealt with here, she knew Lainey would argue strongly against it. She also knew Olivia would go anyway, and if she didn’t change in the coming years, she and Lainey would be constantly butting heads.
“Are you ready?” Aidan asked her. They were having dinner with the Sullivans and her parents, and they’d already had to cancel twice after her parents arrived in town.
“Dad texted, and he’s around the block.” She pointed to the right and walked through the churchyard to avoid the crowd outside. “You want to change before we go?”
“Maybe they’ll let us cut the wait line if they see you in the spiffy uniform,” Aidan said, tugging on her sleeve.
“Ha.” She glanced down at her beautiful partner. The dress blues made Aidan’s blond hair really stand out, and she knew that today, like every day that didn’t include a physical, Aidan was wearing underwear that was in no way regulation. “You’re the rock star here, Captain Sullivan, and I for one really enjoy serving under you.”
“You’re a troublemaker is what you are.” Aidan slapped her shoulder. “There are your parents, and they’re going to wonder why I’m blushing.”
“They put up with me for years, so I really doubt they’ll have to guess, pretty lady.”
* * *
Wiley
changed into her uniform before heading to the hotel where her family was staying. Aubrey had told her they’d stick close by until she got back, her only plan being to take Tanith to the pool. As the cab made its way through the heavy traffic, she didn’t really focus on any one thing. It was an old strategy to blur her surroundings out as a way of forgetting how the world was missing a few more people because of her.
At first, the assignments had been exciting and had meant something. She’d go somewhere and sit in a nest or lie in wait until she was done. When she was, there was one less evil person in the world, but seeing what was going on in DC, she had no choice but to question her choices more than she had already. Just because someone outranked, they didn’t necessarily have the greater good in mind. How many orders to send her out had Dick Chandler signed himself, but only to further his own cause?
“Did you want me to wait?” the cab driver asked.
“No, sorry.” She handed over the fare and got out. It didn’t surprise her that Aubrey was standing in the lobby. It actually made the piece of herself that lived only in the shadows crave the light even more. “Do you know something?”
“I know plenty, but right now I need you to take me upstairs and kiss me before we have to go out. I’m not looking forward to sharing you, but I’ll do it if you promise to come back here and let me ravish you.” She smoothed Wiley’s lapel and smiled.
“That sounds like a good plan, but did you forget about the kid sharing a room with us?” She took Aubrey’s hand and started for the elevator.
“The kid is spending the night with her very doting grandparents since, according to your mother, they don’t get to see her often enough to properly spoil her.” The way Aubrey squeezed her fingers made her want to stay in, but she didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to spend time with both Tanith and Aubrey before she had to leave them. When she sailed with Berkley and Aidan, it wouldn’t be her usual weekend gig.
