Storm Unleashed

by Michael R. Stern

  “Well, Badenhof made parts for weapons and chemicals for explosives, and he sold to anyone who could pay cash, even if sanctions had been imposed. I've heard his products are excellent.”

  “Daddy, do you know any of these other names? Marvin Atkinson, Loren Whitmore, Massoud, Max Ingram, a guy named Trellingham?”

  “I'll have to think about it. Some of them sound familiar.”

  Fritz wasn't done. “Why would a group of wealthy businessmen want to kill the president—or kill me?”

  “You? You don't matter. Either you're rich, or you don't matter.”

  “Don't, Fritz,” Linda snapped.

  “Look. Disrupting government guarantees that nothing changes. You got in the way with your toy. Those guys make money just by breathing. They're competitive and ruthless. They know how to manipulate and how to create chaos. If someone gets killed, oh well. People are pawns.”

  “So this whole thing is chaos for its own sake? No matter who gets hurt?” asked Fritz.

  “Maybe a little extreme, and maybe something personal, but when you consider who gains from it, that's the answer. Problem is that a lot of people fit the profile. People you never hear about.”

  “Like the man we're looking for,” said Linda. She glanced at Fritz.

  “Fritz, you're in over your head. You can't solve this,” said Tim.

  “I have to try. Ash and Jane being shot hasn't helped. We still don't know if they'll make it.”

  “Ash and Jane?”

  “You met them, Daddy. Ashley is the English teacher, and Jane works for the president.”

  “The tall guy and the pretty girl? They were shot?”

  SATURDAY MORNING, Fritz and Tim watched the president's address from Delaware. Afterwards, Fritz got a call. “See you then.” Tim stared. “He'll be here in an hour. Lin, I'll go to the store and get some snacks or something. Any ideas?”

  “Fritz, he probably ate on the plane.”

  “He took Marine One, so I doubt it. I'll just get some stuff.”

  “Do what you want,” she answered. Fritz rubbed his face as if she'd smacked him.

  * * *

  FRITZ WAS AT the curb as the black SUV stopped in front of the house. Parked across the street, Jim Shaw waved. At the front door, the president kissed Linda's cheek, and spotting her parents, said, “Emily, Tim, good to see you again.”

  Although Tim was silent, Emily said, “We're glad you're okay, Mr. President. Please come in.” She led him to the dining room, where the table was filled with cold cuts, bread, and salads. Mary carried in two pitchers of iced tea.

  “Hello, Mary. How are you?”

  “I'm fine, thank you, Mr. President. How are the girls?”

  “Making me feel old. They said to say hello.”

  “Please give them my best.”

  “Jim's across the street, Mary,” Fritz said. “Why don't you bring him a sandwich and a drink.” He asked the president, “How's Ash?”

  “Fritz, he's still critical. They had to sew him together. A lot of internal damage.” Fritz sucked in his lips. “And they still don't know if Jane will make it. The sniper hit spots where she wasn't wearing armor. The Israeli prime minister said the flak jacket stopped ten bullets. One shot hit under her arm.”

  “What about the attackers? Could they be identified?”

  “That's what I wanted to tell you. No one knows who they were.”

  “And you believe them?” asked Tim.

  “I do. Someone would have talked because they were all blaming each other. But the sniper was after them, not me, I think.”

  “Was it the Caballeros?” asked Linda.

  “I think so. The sniper didn't start until the broader attack began. If he was serious, he'd have killed me. It looked more like random shots coordinated with the other confrontation. I don't know what we would have done if we'd been alone. So once again, Fritz, I owe you.”

  “Did anything happen in Turkey?” Fritz asked.

  “Not a thing. It was a unanimous decision to go on to the next stop. Even the Palestinian president went with his arm in a sling.”

  “Mr. President, you could have told us all this on the phone. You didn't need to come here. There's something more. What?” Linda asked.

  “You won't buy that I like it here?” The president laughed at Linda's raised brow.

  “What happened to the colonel?” asked Fritz.

  “He's fine. Took a few shots in the vest, but he played dead trying to find where the shooter was.”

  “You seem to think that Ash will survive.”

  “They said he'll be in bed for a week, maybe more. He'll have a problem walking for a while.”

  “Mr. President, you wanted to know about our play. It's next weekend. It was Ashley's baby, but I'm taking over for him. Eric Silver is really running it.”

  “He'll be getting a little surprise this week. I've spoken to George. He sent me Eric's transcript. Looks like he'll be valedictorian. George said it's almost impossible for him to slip in the class rankings.”

  “Let's eat,” said Linda.

  “I forgot something.” He started to rise, but Mel said she would get it. When she returned the president gave Linda a gift-wrapped package. “Happy graduation.” Linda slid the wrapping from the weighty package and lifted the top. Beneath the tissue paper was a brass elephant with hand-painted adornments. “The raised trunk symbolizes happiness and good fortune, Linda. We know you collect elephants. The First Lady found this one on her last Asian trip.”

  “It's beautiful, Mr. President. Thank you both so much.” Linda's words were shaky.

  “We hope it will bring your bike store success even beyond that stemming from your own cleverness.”

  “I hope you'll all come to the grand opening, whenever that is.” Linda was saying the right things, but with no pleasure in her voice.

  While Emily examined the elephant, Tim examined the president and Fritz, their relationship still strange to him. “Excuse me for asking, Mr. President,” Fritz shot a quick look at Linda, “but can't the government find a way to get things done without Fritz's portal.”

  Fritz inhaled and began to speak, but the president jumped in. “Tim, you might call the portal a public sector/private sector joint venture.”

  “That's a glib answer. I was hoping for substance.”

  Placing his hand on Fritz's arm, the president said, “Not glib at all. We have a private sector resource,” he tapped Fritz, “which has been very useful and very valuable. We've saved a great deal of money, and incidentally, a great many lives. You could say it's been a good return on investment.”

  “Investment? What investment? A school door?” Tim's argumentative tone elevated Fritz's temper.

  “You're talking to the President of the United States, Tim. You might consider being a bit more polite.”

  “Don't talk to me about polite,” Tim snapped.

  “Whoa. Tim, let me answer your question before we get too far afield. The most valuable aspect the portal provides us is speed. The second is surprise. Twice in the past few months, it's let us thwart the theft of nuclear weapons.”

  “You should have better control of them,” said Tim.

  “I agree. One was in Russia and the other in Pakistan. The portal allowed us to reach them, stop the thieves, and recover the material. Once they were located, the portal gave us a pinpoint arrival with enough time for surprise. Neither the Russians nor the Pakistanis were capable of stopping what could have been a future international incident. And the weapons ended up in our hands.”

  “I never heard any of that,” said Tim.

  “Of course you didn't.” Fritz glowered. “The portal is secret. Did you expect us to tell the world about loose nukes? How much sense would that make?”

  “More sense than you playing hero.”

  “He is a hero, Tim,” the president said, speaking softly. He glanced at his wrist. “We have to be going. Congratulations again, Linda. Fritz, walk me to the car.”
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  Side by side at the waiting doors, the two men chatted briefly. “I don't know what that was about, and I don't mean to be rude, but it's been a long few days, and I'm not in the mood.”

  “It started yesterday. I thought we were done. He's like that, and I've had enough. I exploded. They'll be here until Wednesday. Oh, I forgot. Are you coming to the play?”

  “No, Fritz. Sorry. My schedule is jamming up, especially with the election and the convention coming. And I think you're right. We should divert attention from the school.”

  “Between us. How are Ash and Jane?”

  The president took Fritz's arm at the elbow. “Ashley is going to need physical therapy before he can come home. The muscles in his right leg were torn pretty badly. It'll take the internal injuries a while to heal.”

  “What about Jane?”

  “Jane took some serious hits. It's still touch and go.” The president didn't look at him. “The doctors don't know, Fritz.” He reached into his pocket. “This is for you,” handing Fritz an envelope. “A small thank you.” Taking a step to the car, they shook hands. “I'll be talking to you.” Nodding to the house, he said, “Good luck.”

  “Thank you, Mr. President.”

  Fritz waved as the car drove away and to Jim as he went in. He sat down at the dining room table, vacant except for the trays of food. He slit the envelope with a clean knife and then made a sandwich. The quiet hum of conversation from the family room gave him a moment to think. He pulled out a letter from the president and a check. A short, hand-written note of thanks said that a presidential scholarship would await Timothy John Russell. The president wrote that a formal letter would follow. Taking another bite, he turned over the check.

  “Lin.” He hurried to swallow. “You need to come here.”

  When she was in view, her grimace and clenched jaw startled him. “What?”

  “What's the matter now?”

  “What do you think?”

  “Lin, I have no idea.”

  “You can't let things go, no matter what.”

  Placing the check on the table, he said, “Let's go outside, and you can explain what you're talking about.”

  “I don't need to go anywhere. You are obviously determined to wreck my graduation. My parents are going to a hotel until then. I'm having dinner with them tonight. Take care of TJ.” She headed to the family room.

  “Linda.” She ignored him. He folded the check, took his sandwich, grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, and went to the backyard. Mary watched as the door closed. Confused and dispirited, Fritz sat on the back steps.

  Chapter 44

  WHEN LINDA LEFT, she said she'd probably be late. Fritz wandered around the backyard. They'd never had a fight they couldn't resolve. This time he was in another galaxy. Having Tim in the mix wasn't helpful. “To either of us,” he said aloud. The vegetables were planted and growing, but they needed water. When he finally went inside, Mary was feeding TJ. “Sorry, Mary. Do you want me to do that?”

  “I'm okay, Fritz. Are you?”

  He rubbed behind his left ear. She laughed. “What?”

  “You know the president does that too.”

  “Does what?”

  “When he's thinking, he rubs his head, always on the left. You just did it. You're more alike than you think. Want dinner?”

  “I'm not hungry.”

  The sun's final rays drew lines of pink across the room, reminding him of the sunrise in the desert. He flipped a page on a yellow pad and lifted a pen. Another list, he thought, glancing at the stack to his left. The top line said “Linda.” His cheek in his left hand, he stared at her name.

  Fritz climbed from an empty bed. The door to their guest room was closed.

  The Sunday talk shows featured guests who argued about the president's failures with the development plan. Everyone's favorite choice for critic, the senator from Texas reminded the president that he wasn't redecorating the White House but changing the course of history in the Middle East, redecorating someone else's house. While Fritz was feeding TJ, Linda came down and poured a cup of coffee.

  “Hi Lin,” said Fritz. “How was dinner?”

  “Fine.” She turned to leave.

  “We should talk. We've always worked things out.”

  “Talk's cheap, and times are changing, Fritz. I'm having breakfast with my parents.”

  He took a walk. Later he worked in the garden, watching for Linda's return. He mowed his lawn, and went to cut Ashley's. As the afternoon turned to evening, he watched TV. With TJ on his lap, he said, “This is the quietest you've ever seen around here, buddy. We'll have a new president soon. Hopefully, by then, this mess will be over.”

  After he put the baby to bed, he took a yellow pad to the kitchen. The equations had changed. The only remaining mysteries were Thomas Richter and why people were trying to destroy the government. He started to make notes but the pad was covered. While he was thinking, he had doodled. The word Linda covered the page.

  He set up the coffee maker and wondered who would have a cup in the morning. All the lights were out, except the one in the family room, where he was sitting. In the dimness, visions of their visitors flashed. The president, Tom Andrews, and James. Jane on her first visit, and how Ashley had responded. Robert E. Lee. After midnight, car lights passed across the windows.

  Linda came in the back, the kitchen already dark, and walked to turn off the family room lamp. When Fritz asked if she'd had a nice day, she jumped. “You scared me. I didn't see you. Why are you sitting in the dark?”

  “Can we talk, Lin?”

  “I'm going to bed. I'm taking my parents to New York tomorrow.”

  “Then we should talk now. Lin, I'm sorry.”

  “You should be.” She went upstairs.

  LINDA WAS GONE by the time he poured his first cup. Fritz went outside. The black clouds matched his mood. He wished he could talk to Ashley. What's all this been for? We're still in danger, but from whom? Does this guy know about me? What does Linda expect me to do, just forget everything that's happened? Sitting down, he opened the book he had brought out and read the same paragraph over and over. Even though he expected rain, he watered the vegetables. He dropped a pebble in the puddled water and stared at the ripples. Is this the portal too?

  Mary stepped out on the back steps. “Fritz, do you want company?”

  “Who?” he asked, walking toward the door.

  “Me.”

  He took a moment. “Sure.”

  With a mug in her hand, and TJ in her other arm, Mary said that he needed to talk about what was going on.

  “I can't figure it out. Capturing the Caballeros didn't stop it? They can't find the last one.”

  Mary looked up at the roiling sky. “Fritz, none of it makes sense. But someone has to know where the guy is.”

  “He had to know they were coming. There haven't been the usual leaks. Nothing is tying this together.”

  “I know. The sniper just disappeared into the desert. And no one claimed credit for any of it.”

  “What are you thinking, Mary?”

  “No one claimed anything for the naval bases or the White House either. But they seemed to know, like the Camp David thing.” Fritz listened to her careful choice of words. “When I first heard the story, a mystery man, concealed in the background, knew the workings of the secret service, the military, and the people who were involved. Koppler was giving orders, but he had another guy feeding information.”

  “Wixted.”

  “High enough up, but not visible. A bureaucrat. There may be others. And like terrorist cells, no one knowing what the others know or who the others are.”

  Fritz scratched his chin, processing her thinking. “So who could have known about Camp David? It can't have been many. The president only decided that afternoon. And none of the Caballeros could have known.”

  At the first rumble of thunder, they headed inside. Avoiding another bout with lightning seemed like a good idea.

&nbs
p; “Mary, do you have any suggestions? I'm at my wits' end.”

  “This is very uncomfortable for me. I won't get in the middle. I can see both sides. It's the portal. She's afraid that they'll find it and come after you. And now she's even more afraid than ever that you might end up like Jane and Ashley.”

  Fritz gritted his teeth. “Thanks, Mary.” He picked up a spoon and rolled the handle in his fingers. “That doesn't give me much room. The portal exists. I can't do anything about that.” He tapped a fist against the wall. “She tried to stop me from letting Ash go through the portal. The president was being shot at, and Jane was outnumbered. Nothing I could say could have stopped him.” Taking a deep breath, he said, “Her father picks a fight with the president, and she's mad at me. God, he'll never learn. He's one of the most tactless men I've ever met. It's amazing he actually has clients.”

  Mary said, “Once, when Natalie was here, she reminded Linda about a party in New York, when Tim got into an argument with another guest. 'The man loves to argue,' she said. “He's such a dinosaur, but Linda adores him, and she's the only one who can control him. Her brother won't even talk to him.”'

  “I never thought about Joe. We rarely see him. Come to think of it, Linda doesn't talk to him very often.”

  “That goes way back, Fritz. Nat said it was father–son stuff. Linda took sides. Looks like she's doing it again.”

  “Thanks, Mary. It's good to know.”

  MARY CHECKED the beep on her phone, ran to the family room, and turned on the TV. The breaking news banner headlined the president's speech being interrupted. “What happened, Mary?” Fritz asked.

  “Two of the soldiers moving the wreath at the Memorial Day ceremony had some kind of reaction. They're both in the hospital. Some kind of nerve agent was put on the flowers or the frame. The president gave an abbreviated speech and laid a bouquet instead.”

  Fritz said, “That was stupid. And sloppy.”

  “Or intentional. A warning.”

  * * *

  “DO YOU KNOW who this is?”

  “Of course.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Kennedy Airport.”