The Courage Within (Riley Bennett)

by Andy Coltart

  ‘Well have fun in DC, kids,’ said the woman as she headed off in a different direction.

  ‘Well done,’ said Riley.

  ‘Yeah, quick thinking,’ said Alex.

  They left the station and crossed into the park. It wasn’t long before they were next to the Capitol building with the vast expanse of the Mall stretching out before them. They could see the Washington Monument towering up like a giant stone needle into the sky in the distance.

  ‘That’s where we are heading for next,’ said Alex.

  The three of them set off along the mall. Riley was pulling at her hoodie.

  ‘You okay?’ asked Alex.

  ‘Yeah, just getting used to the vest. I’ve never worn one before,’ she replied.

  ‘Look!’ said Casey pointing to their left.

  ‘The Air and Space Museum!’ said Alex. He turned and walked towards it. The others followed.

  ‘Where are you going, Alex? It’ll be shut for hours yet,’ said Riley.

  ‘I know,’ he replied. ‘I just want to look in through the window.’

  As they approached the front of the museum they could see planes and an Apollo Space Capsule inside. Alex’s face lit up.

  ‘We have to come back here!’ he said.

  ‘Yeah, just not right now!’ said Casey pulling him away from the window and back towards the Mall.

  They arrived at the Washington Monument at around 8.00 a.m.

  ‘Alex, remember to text your dad to say we’ve gone downtown for breakfast and some shopping,’ said Riley.

  ‘Good point, well remembered,’ said Alex. He got out his phone, hoping his dad had come home late and assumed they’d gone to bed. He sent a text and there wasn’t an immediate reply.

  ‘Perhaps he’s not up yet,’ said Riley.

  ‘We should start walking towards the White House,’ said Alex, putting the phone back in his pocket.

  Chapter 31

  In the Line of Fire

  The night shift staff were signing off and getting ready to leave the White House. Several vehicles were arriving and others going. Amongst those arriving was a white van delivering fresh linen. Joe’s friend, Jonny the cleaner, had arrived at work around 5.00 a.m. His supervisor had instructed him, as usual to oversee the delivery of clean linen.

  ‘Hi Jonny, can you sign here please,’ said a Secret Service Agent. They oversaw all deliveries to the White House. Jonny signed the form.

  ‘So what’s coming in today?’ said the Agent.

  ‘Towels and bedding,’ said Jonny. ‘Always is on a Saturday.’

  The Agent looked at the twenty or so crates. ‘Well I’m not going through that lot,’ he said, ‘take ’em up to the residence, Jonny.’

  Jonny, looking slightly relieved, said ‘yes’ and started unloading the crates. Once he was in the stockroom he located the gun which was hidden in some towels.

  Jonny then collected his cleaning trolley and made his way to the State Floor. He found the blue room on route and went to clean it. He knew this was part of the tour and had arranged to leave the gun under a chair by the portrait of President James Monroe. He made sure no one was watching. Using a duster to cover the gun he took it from his trolley and placed it under the chair. Using an adhesive to hold it out of sight. Just as he finished his supervisor walked in.

  ‘What are you doing?’ he said. ‘You should be on the top floor of the residence, not down here.’

  ‘Oh, sorry,’ said Jonny, quickly picking up his things and heading out of the room. His supervisor followed him glancing back at the room, but everything seemed in order so he went off to check on other staff. At the end of Jonny’s shift, around 8.00 a.m. he texted Joe to let him know everything was in place.

  Riley, Casey and Alex made their way across the grass of the Eclipse towards the White House. They could see the railings and the fountain on the South lawn as they approached.

  ‘Where is it we need to go?’ said Riley.

  ‘The East Wing Entrance I think,’ said Alex, getting the tickets out to check.

  ‘Yeah, Visitors Reception, East Wing,’ said Alex, tapping his finger on the tickets before putting them back in his pocket.

  On the other side of the White House several stretch limousines were pulling into the driveway. Each car carried the flag of a different African nation. The first was South African, the second Kenyan and the third Tanzanian. These cars carried the Presidents and senior ambassadors from these countries. They were all meeting with the President for the final round of talks on a new initiative for the African continent. As they pulled up and everyone started to get out, they were greeted by the White House Chief of Staff. She then led them inside to meet with the President in the Oval Office.

  When they arrived at the White House, Riley, Casey and Alex found a crowd of tourists waiting to get in. They joined the queue and waited for the gates to open.

  ‘Can you see them?’ said Riley.

  ‘Not yet,’ said Casey.

  ‘I hope we’ve got the right date,’ said Alex.

  ‘We have,’ said Riley. ‘It was definitely this Saturday.’

  The crowd was starting to move through security to the visitor reception. It didn’t take long for Riley, Casey and Alex to be at the front of the line.

  ‘Hi you two, can I see your tickets please,’ said the security guard. Alex handed him the two tickets for Casey and himself.

  ‘I.D. please,’ said the security guard. Casey and Alex both got out their passports. Riley just stood quietly watching them.

  ‘Okay, you’re clear to enter,’ said the security guard. Alex went first walking through the scanner. Then Casey went through. They both turned to watch as Riley followed them through without setting off the alarms.

  ‘Wow,’ said Casey, ‘I was expecting that to go wrong!’

  ‘Well I’m glad it didn’t,’ said Alex.

  ‘Me too,’ said Riley.

  They moved to join the others on their tour. As they turned the corner to where the main crowd was waiting they saw the gang. Vince, Joe and Sam were all there. Suddenly Riley felt a cold shiver down her spine. This was really happening, there was no avoiding it now!

  ‘Good morning everyone and welcome to the White House. My name is Angie and I’ll be your guide for today,’ said the tour guide. Everyone gathered round her.

  ‘So where are you folks from?’ she asked a family.

  ‘New York,’ they replied. ‘And what brings you to the White House today?’ asked Angie.

  ‘Well we’re here for the weekend and we’ve never done the tour before,’ said the mum.

  ‘Well I hope you enjoy it,’ said Angie, ‘and we do have a treat for you today as we will be witnessing the President make his African Initiative announcement later on.’

  There was a stir of excitement at the prospect of seeing the President from amongst the tourists.

  ‘Well let’s begin, shall we?’ said Angie, as she led them along the corridor from the East Wing.

  As soon as the guide had finished speaking Riley pointed out the gang members to Alex and Casey. Alex had never seen them up close and Casey only briefly.

  ‘Let’s each stay close to one gang member, until we know who has the gun,’ said Alex quietly so only the girls could hear him.

  Casey kept Vince in view at all times and Alex did the same with Sam. Riley left her two friends and stood right next to Joe. She could hear his heavy breathing. His heart rate must be going like the clappers, she thought to herself.

  Joe and the other gang members had spent the night before in a local hotel. Their friend Jonny had called in for dinner to run through the plan with them. Riley wondered if the other gang members were in the same nervous state as Joe. Then she started to wonder if he was more on edge because he was the one designated to use the gun. Only time would answer that one.

  Angie took the tour party into the blue room and started to talk through its history. Riley noticed Joe moving towards the back of the group in the di
rection of the Monroe portrait, so she followed. Casey looked at her and silently mouthed,

  ‘Where are you going?’ Riley shrugged her shoulders and carried on following Joe. At the back of the crowd of tourists Joe looked around him to see if anyone was watching. The Secret Service Agents on the door were busy in conversation and looking the other way. There seemed to be enough people close by to hide him from the surveillance cameras in the room. So, he made his move, bending down as if to tie a shoe lace, he reached under the chair and pulled the loaded gun from the adhesive holding it there. Quickly, he placed the gun inside his jacket and stood back up. Sweat was running down his face, which he wiped away with a sleeve before moving back into the crowd.

  Joe gave Vince and Sam a little nod. Riley, Casey and Alex noticed it purely because they were watching all three gang members like a hawk.

  ‘Okay, ladies and gentlemen, if you’d like to follow me please, we will be going through to watch the President give his presentation.’

  Riley moved to join her friends for a moment as they walked through.

  ‘I’m scared,’ she said.

  ‘You’ll be fine,’ said Alex. ‘You’ve got the protection of the vest.’

  ‘We are here with you,’ said Casey, ‘and we won’t leave you.’

  ‘Thanks guys,’ said Riley as she moved toward the front of the crowd.

  In the press room there was a stage with a podium bearing the Seal of the President of the United States. Next to it was a second podium with various African emblems on. There were several rows of press sat at the front and the tourists were filing in behind them. Casey watched as Riley made her way down the side past several White House staff and Secret Service Agents to stand near the front. Vince, Joe and Sam had waited to come in last and as a result were stood at the back close to the door.

  The night before Joe had told the others,

  ‘I’ll make the shot. Your job will be to hold off any quick thinking Secret Service who might try and stop me. Do whatever you have to do to keep the way clear,’ he said.

  Everyone got to their feet as the White House Chief of Staff stepped on to the stage.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States,’ she said. Everyone clapped as the President walked in and went to the podium.

  ‘Please be seated,’ he said. ‘Thank you all for coming. I’d like you to welcome my colleagues from South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.’

  At that moment three finely-dressed gentlemen appeared alongside the President.

  ‘We have been working together to change our world for the better,’ he said, ‘to eliminate poverty over the next decade and create a safe and stable Africa for all its nations.’ The crowd started to clap.

  Each of the African leaders spoke and added something to what had been said. Riley was stood watching Joe wondering when he was going to act. Then, as the President stepped back to his podium, she saw him reach into his pocket. It was as if the world was working in slow motion. Riley started to move to the centre of the room placing herself between the President and Joe, who was now pointing the gun at him. As the Secret Service Agents realised what was unfolding they started to run towards Joe, but it was too late. The gun had fired! Realising there was no time for an energy pulse Riley jumped as hard and as high as she could. Smack went the bullet into her chest and she fell to the ground.

  Agents ran to protect the President, but as they did something unexpected happened. A shimmering light came from the ground beneath the podium revealing Riley lying there with a gunshot wound to her chest.

  ‘Riley!’ screamed Casey from the back of the room. Before anyone could move Agents had guns pointing at Casey, Riley, and the three gang members.

  The President and his visitors were led from the room.

  ‘I want to see that kid and anyone with her as soon as possible,’ he said.

  ‘Yes sir, let us secure the scene first,’ said his personal body guard.

  Alex grabbed Casey’s hand.

  ‘Stay holding it,’ he said. ‘That way they’ll take us both.’

  ‘Okay,’ she said, shaking. ‘Is Riley okay?’ asked Casey. ‘I can’t tell, there’s too many people around her,’ said Alex.

  Agents had removed Joe. They’d also seized Sam and Vince as they’d pushed Agents back while Joe took his shot. ‘This way, you two,’ said one of the Agents. Casey and Alex followed the Agent out of the door they’d entered by. They wanted to stay with Riley but knew not to argue with the Secret Service. Their last glimpse of her was to see medics kneeling on the floor next to her.

  Chapter 32

  The Oval Office

  ‘Hey kid, are you okay?’ said one of the White House doctors. Riley opened her eyes.

  ‘Can you see me?’ she said.

  ‘Yeah kid, we can see you,’ said the doctor. Riley lifted a hand and looked; it wasn’t shimmering anymore.

  ‘You’ve just been shot,’ said the doctor. ‘I need to take a look.’

  ‘Yeah sure,’ said Riley, feeling the pain in her chest for the first time. The doctor, with some help from another medic, took off Riley’s hoodie to reveal the bulletproof vest, complete with the bullet embedded in the centre of her chest.

  ‘What the hell?’ said the doctor. ‘Kid, you’ve got some explaining to do.’

  They helped Riley to her feet and took her to an interview room.

  ‘We need you to take off that vest,’ said an Agent.

  ‘Yes of course,’ said Riley, only too happy to be rid of the thing. She handed it to the Agent, who placed it in a clear evidence bag.

  ‘Am I in trouble?’ she asked.

  ‘It depends,’ said the Agent.

  ‘On what?’ asked Riley.

  ‘On what you tell us in the next half hour or so,’ replied the Agent.

  ‘Can I see my friends?’ she asked.

  ‘All in good time,’ said the Agent. Riley slumped into the chair. Why did it feel like she was the criminal, when it was her who had saved the President?

  In another room Casey and Alex were being asked questions about how they’d known about the gun and what their relationship was to Riley and whether they were part of the gang. They did their best to answer honestly. The question they hesitated on was the one to do with how Riley had been invisible until the bullet hit. They decided in light of their current situation that honesty was the best way forward. So they told the Secret Service about everything that had happened to them.

  ‘You expect us to believe that,’ said the Agent interviewing them.

  The White House Chief of Staff stuck her head round the door.

  ‘The President wants to see these two now!’ she said.

  ‘We’ve not eliminated them as a potential threat,’ said the Agent.

  ‘It doesn’t matter, Potus has overridden protocol on this one,’ she said.

  ‘Very well,’ said the Agent. ‘Come with me, you two.’ Casey and Alex got up and followed the Secret Service Agent as he led them through the West Wing and into the Oval Office.

  ‘Sir,’ he said as he entered, ‘this is Casey and Alex.’

  ‘Welcome to the White House,’ said the President.

  ‘Thank you, Mr President,’ they both replied. He gestured to them to sit down. As they turned to walk to the sofa they saw Riley sat there. Forgetting where they were for a moment they both ran to hug their friend.

  ‘Riley,’ said Casey, ‘are you okay?’

  ‘Yeah I am,’ she said. They sat down either side of her and the President sat opposite.

  ‘Somehow, you three saved my life this morning. My Secret Service Agents seem to be confused on the details so I wanted to ask you myself. But first I wanted to thank you and especially Riley for your extraordinary courage.’

  ‘Thank you, sir,’ said Alex.

  ‘Can you tell me about this invisibility?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes sir,’ said Casey. The three of them talked him through their accident and discovering the invisibility. T
hey explained how Riley had been invisible and overheard the gang’s plan without them knowing. They told him how she’d saved her class at school from a collapsing roof in the school hall with her energy pulse.

  ‘This is truly incredible,’ said the President.

  ‘One thing we can’t explain is why being shot made her visible again,’ said Casey.

  ‘I have a theory on that,’ said Alex. The others sighed.

  ‘He always has theories,’ said Riley.

  ‘Go on,’ said the President.

  ‘I think the shock of being hit may have triggered a brain burn without the spinning. She did have epilepsy before this all began. A shock like that could have cause a seizure.’

  ‘It’s possible,’ said the President, ‘but I’m no scientist.’

  ‘The only other thing we don’t know,’ said Riley, ‘is if I can still become invisible.’

  ‘With your permission, sir, she could test that right now,’ said Alex.

  ‘Yes, by all means. This I’d like to see,’ said the President.

  Riley got to her feet and walked into the middle of the room.

  ‘Will you two catch me if I fall?’ she said.

  ‘Yeah sure,’ said Casey as she and Alex got up. The three stood in a line in the middle of the Oval Office. Riley started to spin around and around until suddenly a burning sensation started in her brain. As it did the President saw a slight shimmer of light and she disappeared before his very eyes. Casey and Alex grabbed her to stop her falling until her head cleared.

  ‘Incredible,’ said the President, ‘and you two can still see her?’

  ‘Yes sir, but we are the only ones who can, as we were struck by the same lightning bolt,’ said Casey

  The President looked around. ‘So where is she?’ he asked.

  ‘Look at your desk, sir,’ said Alex.

  The President stood and watched as his chair span round and a pen moved on its own across the desk.

  ‘And that’s Riley,’ he said.

  ‘Yes sir,’ said Casey.

  ‘Tell him I’ll reappear,’ said Riley to Alex.