by David DeLee
“Bannon and his team?” Kingsley guessed.
“Yes, sir,” Grayson said.
“Excellent. Tell me what you need and it’s yours.”
“For now, I think it best we let them do their work without interference. Keep it strictly clandestine. Off the books. Need to know, just you and I, sir. Until Brice has more to tell us.”
“Agreed. Keep me apprised.”
“There’s one more thing,” she said. “Ethan Wright? Are you still considering removing him from the ticket?”
“In light of recent events, I don’t think that would even be possible. He’s publicly credited with saving my—our—lives.” Part of the public spin put out to keep the role Bannon and his people played in the shadows. “Rather poor taste to fire the man after that, don’t you think?”
Grayson agreed.
One of the Secret Service agents cleared his throat and approached. “Excuse me, sir. Vice-President Wright is here, requesting a word.”
In unison, Kingsley and Grayson turned. Ethan Wright stood beside the other Secret Service agent, a discreet distance away. He carried several file folders by his side.
Kingsley summoned him over. “Morning, Ethan.”
“Good morning, Mr. President.” He nodded toward Grayson. “Elizabeth. How are you, after your ordeal?”
Wright and Grayson exchanged a polite hug. She’d known and actually worked with and for Wright over the years during her military career. “I’m fine, thank you, Ethan. Thanks to you and the work you did up here.”
“I’m just relieved everyone’s all right.”
“Not everyone,” Kingsley reminded him. He’d spent a good part of the last three days writing condolence letters and meeting with family members and attending memorial services for the American civilians that were killed at Tiamat Bluff.
“Of course, sir, I meant present company only.”
Kingsley clasped his shoulder. “I know. What can I do for you, Ethan?”
Wright handed over the files he carried.
“The after-action reports you requested, including the debriefs from DoD, Secret Service, FBI. Justice.” He nodded toward Grayson. “Homeland Security and Coast Guard. I’ve taken the liberty of adding my recommendations on who should be part of the internal investigation to tease out what happened and how we can prevent it from happening going forward.”
Kingsley accepted the files. “Thank you, Ethan.” He extended his hand to shake. “I believe we’ve got time scheduled to get together later in the day to talk, at length.”
“I’m looking forward to it, sir.”
They shook hands. Wright again nodded to Grayson. “Elizabeth.”
He backed away and retreated past the two stoic secret service agents.
As he walked away, Vice-President Ethan Forester Wright tugged at the sleeves of his dress shirt where they’d ridden up under his suit jacket. The crisp white cuff again covered the small, bluish-black tattoo on the inside of his wrist. A sea dragon, surrounded by seaweed and waves. But not simply a sea dragon. A sea monster.
A raising Leviathan!
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ALSO BY DAVID DELEE
Grace deHaviland Bounty Hunter series
Too Far
Stare at the Moon
Takedown
With Intent to Deceive
Pin Money
Fatal Destiny
Runners
Brice Bannon Seacoast Adventures
Siege at Tiamat Bluff
The Yakuza Gambit
Strike of the Stingray
The Oceanic Princess
Facing the Storm
Nick Lafferty Crime Thrillers
Out of the Game
Crystal White
Flynn & Levy Police Thrillers
While the City Burns
Moral Misconduct
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David DeLee is the author of the Grace deHaviland Bounty Hunter series, including the novels Fatal Destiny, Pin Money, With Intent to Deceive, Takedown. And Too Far. David's also written many short stories featuring Grace, most notably Bling, Bling, which appeared in the anthology The Rich and the Dead edited by Nelson DeMille.
David’s other work includes the novel Crystal White which SUSPENSE MAGAZINE called “…a dark portrayal of the evil that men—and women—can do.”, the second novel in the Nick Lafferty thriller series, Out of The Game, and Moral Misconduct, his Flynn & Levy police procedurals, and his Brice Bannon Seacoast Adventures.
A member of the Mystery Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers organization, and a former licensed private investigator, David also holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He makes his home in New Hampshire.
For more information, check out David’s website: www.daviddelee-author.com
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