by Marie Force
Hanigan asked for a word with Derek, which gave Sam, Nick and Scotty a second to themselves.
Nick put his arm around her and kissed her temple. “How’re you doing?”
“Just dandy. You?”
“Even dandier.”
Scotty laughed. “You guys are so weird, even in the White House.” He helped himself to another cheese and cracker as well as a handful of grapes. “It’s pretty cool that we can get snacks and stuff anytime we want them.”
“You’re going to get your own snacks,” Nick said, “and not become spoiled by the White House staff.”
“Why do parents have to ruin everything fun?”
“That’s our job,” Sam said.
“What does this mean for our dog project?” Scotty asked. “My birthday and Christmas are coming up, and either would be the perfect opportunity to gift me with a dog. I checked Google on the way over here, and did you know that most presidents and their families have at least one dog? Many of them have two. We should try to keep up with tradition by getting two dogs. History will be watching.”
“I can’t with this kid,” Sam said to Nick. “You’re the one who found him and brought him home. Deal with him, will you?”
Nick and Scotty laughed.
“I know it’s not the time or the place,” Scotty said. “So don’t mind me.”
“It’s still under advisement,” Nick said. “We’ve got a few things to figure out first, and then we’ll see what we can do, okay?”
“Okay.” Scotty held up his hands. “Not trying to make it about me or anything.”
“We appreciate the comic relief,” Nick said.
Hanigan returned a few minutes later. “Mr. Vice President, if I might have a word.”
“Duty calls,” Nick said. “I’ll be back. Don’t go running for the exits when I’m not looking.”
“We’ll be here,” Sam said.
“Counting on that.” Nick left them with a smile as he went off with Hanigan to see to the fate of the free world.
“He’s losing it, isn’t he?” Scotty asked.
“He’s always calm and cool under pressure, but he has to be having a meltdown on the inside. Anyone would be.”
“Is it going to be a thing that he just told the world he doesn’t want the job?”
“I suppose it probably will be.” Sam was already exhausted from battles they hadn’t even fought yet. “But if anyone can navigate something like this, Dad can. He’s been working in this game his entire adult life. He knows what strings to pull and how to get things done.”
“That’s true. He’ll figure out a way to spin it as a positive thing, even if he just said he didn’t want it.” Scotty gave her a wary look. “Are you losing it and pretending not to be?”
“What? Me, lose it? Nah.”
“Right… What about your job?”
Leave it to him to home right in on her biggest concern, other than the loss of privacy, the scrutiny, the security… “I don’t know, buddy. I just don’t know.”
“But you’re going to fight to keep it, right?”
She looked at him, noting the wary expression on his sweet face. “Hell yes.”
Chapter Three
Hanigan escorted Nick to the West Wing and into the chief of staff’s office, where Nelson’s national security advisor Teresa Howard waited for them.
She stood to shake hands with Nick. “Mr. Vice President, you were briefed yesterday about the ongoing situation in Iran?”
“I was.”
“Earlier today, I updated President Nelson on the latest developments.” Teresa provided a detailed analysis of message traffic intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies. “We believe they’re planning to test a nuclear warhead in the next seven to ten days. President Nelson authorized Secretary of State Ruskin to leave tomorrow with orders to defuse the situation. We need to know if you wish to continue with that plan.”
It’s up to me, Nick thought, whether the U.S. secretary of State traveled to Iran on a mission to calm a potentially dangerous situation for the U.S. and the rest of the world. “What specifically did President Nelson instruct the secretary to do?”
Teresa went through the list of concerns and demands that the secretary would take with him.
“What about sanctions?” Nick asked.
“They’re on the table if diplomacy fails,” Teresa said.
Nick nodded. “Tell him to go ahead.”
Hanigan picked up the phone to pass along Nick’s order.
“If there’s anything I can do to assist in the transition, I’m at your service, sir,” Teresa said.
“Thank you, Teresa.”
She shook his hand before she left the room.
It would also be up to him whether to retain Nelson’s staff, cabinet and advisers or to bring in his own people. He’d give them the opportunity to resign if they wished to, and go forward from there. Nelson’s team would be loyal to the late president, not him. He didn’t want anyone working for him who didn’t want to be there, or who’d be unable to transfer their loyalties to him.
When Hanigan hung up the phone, he said, “All set. Ruskin will leave as scheduled in the morning.”
“I’d like to call Terry to notify him of what’s happened.” Nick referred to his chief of staff, Terry O’Connor. “Is there any reason why I shouldn’t do that?”
“Not that I can think of, but of course please ask him to keep it under wraps until we’ve prepared the official statement for the media. Our primary goal is to get Mrs. Nelson here and swear you in. After that, we’ll release the video of you taking the oath along with information about President Nelson’s death. I don’t have to tell you how important it is that this story gets released on our timeline and not someone else’s. Thankfully, the press corps presence is light tonight with it being a holiday.”
Nick certainly understood the importance of optics at a time like this. “I’d still like to call Terry and my communications director, Trevor Donnelly.”
“Mr. Vice President, you’re the boss. You can call anyone you want as long as you trust them to be discreet.”
“I’d trust them both with my life.”
“Please feel free to use my office.”
“I’ll go to my own, but thank you.” Nick left Hanigan’s office and encountered Brant outside, waiting for him as always. “Sorry to interrupt your holiday, Brant.”
“No such thing as holidays in my line of work, sir.”
Nick had grown to like the earnest young man charged with leading his detail and considered him a friend. “What a night.”
“Indeed, sir.”
They walked to the vice president’s office together. He didn’t feel right using the Oval Office until he’d taken the oath and the staff had the chance to remove President Nelson’s personal effects.
“I’ll be here for a few minutes before I rejoin Sam and Scotty in the East Room.”
“Yes, sir.”
Nick went into his office and closed the door. The first thing he did was reach for his cell phone to text Sam. Be back in a few.
We’re fine, she replied. Take your time.
She was so calm. So unnaturally calm that it had to be shock. Her mind was probably racing the same way his was with details, scenarios and concerns. So many concerns.
He picked up the extension on his desk and put through the call to Terry, who answered on the second ring.
“Mr. Vice President.” No matter how many times Nick told him to call him by his first name, Terry rarely did. “Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.”
“We did, until about an hour ago when Hanigan called to tell me President Nelson had passed away.”
“What?”
Nick could almost hear Terry sitting up straighter and see the shock in his expression. “You heard that right.”
“What happened?”
“No one knows yet, but Hanigan said there was no immediate sign of foul play. I assume there’ll be an autopsy that’ll hopefull
y provide some answers. Sam, Scotty and I are at the White House awaiting Mrs. Nelson’s arrival from South Dakota before I take the oath.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Had a feeling you might say that. Needless to say—”
“I won’t say a word, sir. To anyone.”
“Thank you. Will you ask Trevor to come too?”
“I’ll take care of that. Mr. Vice President… Nick…”
“I know. I’ll see you soon?”
“On my way.”
Nick was relieved to know his own people were coming to help guide him through these next few hours. With that detail taken care of, he was eager to get back to Sam and Scotty. He was on his way to the office door when a thought occurred to him that had him returning to his desk to place another call, this one to Sam’s chief of staff, Lilia Van Nostrand. Since he didn’t have her number, he asked the White House switchboard to put through the call for him.
“Mr. Vice President,” Lilia said when she took the call. “Is everything all right?”
“I’m sorry to disturb you on a holiday, Lilia.”
“It’s no problem at all, sir.”
“I’m also sorry to have to tell you that President Nelson died this evening.”
“Oh my God. What happened?”
“We don’t know yet. Mrs. Nelson is on her way from South Dakota, and when she gets here, I’ll take the oath. I thought it might be helpful to Sam to have you here, if that’s at all possible.”
“I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Thank you for calling me, sir.”
“If my friend is with you, please ask him to join you.” Lilia was dating Nick’s close friend Dr. Harry Flynn.
“I’ll do that.”
“I’ll see you when you get here.”
Nick felt a thousand times better knowing Sam’s trusted aide would be there to see her through this challenging transition. Making sure she was cared for would be one of his top priorities over the coming days and weeks. She’d already had her world rocked recently when she lost her dad. Added to that, this new development might be enough to take her right over the edge.
She was on his mind as he left the office and went to rejoin her, determined to guide their family through these tumultuous days the best he could. They’d take their lead from him, and he would show them nothing but calm, cool collectedness, even as he quaked on the inside.
Mrs. Nelson arrived shortly after midnight in a Marine helicopter that landed on the South Lawn after having conveyed her from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Her daughters, Amanda, Camille and Collette, accompanied her, all of them wearing expressions of shock and sorrow.
Sam and Nick were waiting for them as they came inside.
Nick went to Mrs. Nelson. “Please accept our heartfelt condolences.”
Sam and Nick both hugged her.
Sam partook in the proceedings with a surreal feeling and sympathy for the late president’s family. Derek had told her that the image of the late president’s wife standing next to the new president would provide assurances to the country and the world that a smooth transition of power had occurred.
“Thank you,” Gloria said, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue Collette handed her.
“We’re sorry for the loss of your father,” Nick said to her daughters.
“Do they know what happened?” Camille asked.
“I haven’t heard anything yet,” Nick said, “but due to national security concerns, there’ll be an autopsy.”
“Yes, we need to know,” Gloria said. “The country needs to know.”
“We’re taking care of everything, ma’am,” Hanigan said.
“Oh, Tom.” Gloria hugged their old friend. “You must be heartbroken too.”
“We all are, ma’am.”
They were escorted by Hanigan, Derek and other staffers Sam didn’t recognize back to the East Room, where Chief Justice Byron Riley waited for them. Also in the room were Terry O’Connor, Lilia Van Nostrand and her partner, Dr. Harry Flynn.
Sam was surprised to see her friend and aide and went to hug Lilia and Harry. “Thank you for being here.”
“Your husband thought it might help,” Lilia said.
“He’s the best, and so are you.”
“Everything will be okay.”
Sam released the other woman, who had been such an asset to her as second lady. “Promise?”
“I promise.”
“You got this, kid.” Harry gave Sam a warm smile that displayed his adorable dimples. “I know this isn’t what you’d had planned, but you’re going to be great. I know it.”
Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly, giving them a bug-eyed look that made them smile. They might’ve laughed if Mrs. Nelson and her daughters hadn’t been there. It wouldn’t do to show any sort of frivolity in the face of their tragic loss.
Nick held out a hand to her. “Samantha?”
For a second, she was frozen, unable to move or think or breathe out of sheer panic, the likes of which she hadn’t felt in quite some time. But then his earnest hazel-eyed gaze collided with hers, calming and centering her the way no one else could. She went to him and took his hand.
The White House photographer arranged them the way he wanted them with Riley in the center, Sam holding the Bible for Nick with Scotty at her side. Gloria Nelson and her daughters were to their right. A camera crew recorded the event on behalf of the White House press corps. The footage of the swearing-in would be released along with the news of Nelson’s death, all of it carefully choreographed.
“If you’d place your right hand on the Bible and repeat after me,” Riley said. “I, Nicholas Domenic Cappuano, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God.”
After Nick had repeated the oath, Riley shook his hand and then Sam’s and Scotty’s. “Congratulations, Mr. President, Mrs. Cappuano, young Mr. Cappuano.”
“Thank you for being here, Justice Riley,” Nick said.
“My prayers and best wishes are with you and your family as you rise to this occasion, Mr. President,” Riley said.
“Thank you so much.”
After Riley left, Hanigan and Terry approached them.
“Is it okay to release the news, sir?” Hanigan asked.
Nick had agreed to the wording of the release before the swearing-in, but this would tell the rest of the world that the United States of America had a new president. “Yes, please go ahead.” The release would mention that he’d be addressing the nation at eight p.m. Eastern Time. It would also report that he’d already been briefed on several pressing issues and had been given the preliminary information he needed as the new keeper of the nation’s nuclear security codes.
“I’d like to get Sam and Scotty home to bed if there’re no objections.”
“We have one additional piece of business that can’t wait until the morning,” Hanigan said.
“We need about fifteen minutes. Would you like to send your family home, or have them wait?”
“We’ll wait for you,” Sam said to Nick. “Take your time.”
“We’ll get him right back to you,” Hanigan said.
Hanigan led Nick and Terry to the West Wing and the Oval Office. A man in a military uniform followed them into the office carrying a large black bag that resembled an oversized briefcase.
The “nuclear football” was actually a metal briefcase inside a black leather “jacket” that served as a mobile command center to use in times of crisis when the president was away from regular communication centers, such as the White House Situation Room. In addition to nuclear-activation codes, the bag also contained the Black Book outlining options available to the president should retaliation be necessary, another book detailing classified site locations and a binder with Emergency Broadcast System informatio
n and procedures.
Nick had traveled with Nelson enough times to know the drill. The football would always be close at hand going forward. He hoped and prayed he’d never have to use it.
“Mr. President, I’m Lieutenant Commander Juan Rodriguez with the United States Navy. It’s my honor to serve a rotation as one of the military aides in charge of overseeing your emergency satchel.”
Nick, who was now the commander in chief, returned the other man’s salute. “Thank you, Commander.”
The phone call from Hanigan informing him of President Nelson’s death had been surreal. Taking the oath of office had been even more so. But this—realizing he was commander in chief of the United States armed forces—made his change in status as real as it got.
After briefing him on what he needed to know about the nuclear codes, Hanigan, Derek and Lieutenant Commander Rodriguez accompanied him back to the East Room, where Sam and Scotty waited for him.
“We’ll pick it up in the morning with next steps.” Hanigan shook Nick’s hand. “The usual protocol would be to put up you and your family at Blair House, but since you live locally and have established Secret Service protection there, the Secret Service has determined that you can remain in your own home until after the funeral. Mrs. Nelson will need some time to oversee the packing of their things.”
“Of course,” Nick said. “We want to be respectful of whatever she needs.”
Nick felt a huge sense of relief at knowing they’d be able to stay at their house, at least for a few more days.
“I’d like to meet with the cabinet tomorrow if you can make that happen,” Nick said to Tom and Terry.
“Yes, sir,” Tom said.
“Let’s bring Secretary of State Ruskin in by videoconference.”
“I’ll see to that.”
“And please keep Terry in the loop on anything we need to know as we make the transition.”
“Will do, Mr. President,” Hanigan said. “We’ll see you in the morning?”
“I’ll be here.”
