So, when the blue suited police officer stepped to Jackson's cell and turned the heavy key before sliding open the iron gate, Jackson stood with a purpose.
"You've been bailed out." He said.
Jackson nodded and followed the officer to the front of the police station. He collected his belongings and walked to a pale blue Cadillac that sat idling before the steps of the police station.
He pulled open the passenger door of the car and nodded to Mike Jones.
"Thanks, Mike."
The car started to pull away from the curb and Mike merged with the early morning Washington traffic. He turned to face Jackson.
"What the hell was all that about, Jackson? They were about to pin a medal to your chest, and you storm off stage and shove the White House Press Secretary into the first row of reporters? Now, don't get me wrong. It made great TV, but I've got to say it was one of the weirdest things I've ever seen."
Jackson nodded and picked up a pack of Camel filters from the cup holder of Mike's recently refurbished "Sunday driver."
He lit the cigarette with shaky fingers and took a deep draw of the smoke before speaking. "It was him."
"What the hell are you talking about, Jackson? Have you lost your mind?"
Mike truly looked concerned as he rolled the driver's window down.
"And since when do you smoke?"
"Mike." Jackson's voice was as cold and hard as steel as he paused, taking another long drag from the cigarette. "It was him. The voice on the other end of the conference call at Carmike, it was the President."
Mike pulled the car over and set the parking brake. "Are you saying that the President of the United States killed your family in an effort to cover up a plot to execute a terrorist attack on the United States?"
Jackson flicked the cigarette out of the window of the now stationary car and turned to face Mike.
"That's right," he said deliberately, his hands shaking as he stared through the car's passenger window at the capitol dome to their right. "And I have to kill him."
The End
Did you enjoy Iron Triangle: A Jackson Pike Novel?
If so, be sure to find more of Patrick Adams’ full length works including book two of the series entitled Capitol Crimes: A Jackson Pike Novel at fine eBook retailers everywhere!
Iron Triangle: A Jackson Pike Novel (Book One of The Iron Triangle Series) Page 20