THE PRICE SHE'LL PAY: For the secret she never knew she had...

by Cara Charles

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN -- TO PROTECT…

  DESIREE RECEIVED her morning reports from Eamon, then she IM’d the President.

  The President entered his ID code, his high school graduation date. Desiree’s coded message to him read as one-liner jokes from funnyjokesandantedotes.com.

  The coded joke read… ‘Why do doctors slap babies’ bottoms after they are born? To slap the penises off the intelligent ones.’

  The President chuckled at the joke knowing Michelle would love it.

  Those jokes translated into… ‘Another favor sir. We need you to replace the hair sample. Please return the new sample to same place to keep our very resourceful “Slavic Princess” from acquiring more leverage. If you’re able to leave at the same hour and arrive at the same time as before, everything will be re-set in motion. We cannot adjust the timetable without great effort. Hope that’s acceptable. To expedite, please obtain a sample from your cubs. Changing hairstyles is less complicated than asking Mama Bear. Your samples would add another layer of protection. If you could carry original sample with you until this is resolved or just destroy it, we would be most appreciative. Your call. Dear.’

  The President IM’d Desiree immediately.

  ‘I’ll destroy it, if threatened. Otherwise I’ll carry it. Will arrange stylings tomorrow. Day for delivery. Tomorrow nyt. All busy, schedules tight w/ holiday festivities. Will try lunch appts. Will keep u informed. Tight schedule on my end too. Flying to Japan, then over the poles to London for Holiday visit with PM early day after signing extension bill, then onto Hawaii. Happy to do it.’

  ‘Thought you’d like the relief of your own “hands on mission accomplished,” sir. Your call.’ Desiree replied.

  ‘Ur right. I’d be sleepless not knowing how secure it was. Glad to help. Want to ck. on the homeless woman, Alva. Any news on her or her issue?’

  ‘Can’t locate her. Sources say she sometimes stays near the North side of the park, near the alleys. But good news! Issues with inheritance resolved! Her signature forged. Analysis shows forger to be Eva Lindley, Eric Lindley’s mother. DNA shows Officer Eric Lindley is half African American. Need a sample from Alva, and her signature to set it right. On paper, Alva’s a wealthy woman. Appreciate opportunity to right a wrong.’

  ‘Great work! I’ll relay departure and return times. I’ll need Sean as back-up.’

  ‘Good. Will notify Sean. Sorry for the inconvenience, sir. Dear out.’

  ‘No worries. Glad to help. CP out.’

  POTUS looked at his other phone, checked his daughters’ schedules. They were free for lunch, thankfully on their Winter Break. Michelle was busy at a function. He set up a lunchtime appointment with their stylist. He’d join them for lunch. The girls had been talking about new styles. His treat. He’d explain to Mama Bear later. He hated deceiving her.

  The girls were lunching with the President when their hairdresser arrived.

  “Toby!” they both jumped up and hugged her.

  “Toby is going to give you those new styles you’ve been showing Mom and I.”

  “Wow, Dad! Thanks.” Malia said.

  “I’m not sure.” Sasha said.

  “It’s OK if you change your mind,” the President said.

  “You’ll look hot, Sasha. The pictures are you, girlfriend,” Toby said.

  “OK.” Sasha said.

  With the girls in their cover-ups, Toby began.

  The President swept up.

  “Thank you sir, that is so not necessary.” Toby said, embarrassed.

  “Idle hands, idle hands,” the President said. He left the room with the dustpan.

  Later, both girls looked very sophisticated.

  Michelle walked in, “Wow, look at you two!”

  “Daddy surprised us with new hair styles.”

  “Dad’s full of good surprises. I love them. Where is he?”

  “In his office, I think,” Malia said.

  Michelle walked down the hall to the President’s office.

  “Wow Honey!”

  Her husband was putting his daughters’ hair into an envelope. The President jumped, but recovered smiling, and crossed the room to kiss her.

  “Hey, my love. Didn’t expect you. Did you like the surprise?”

  “Yes, wow. They love it. They are beaming. What are you doing there?”

  “It may be the last time we ever get to save their baby hair.”

  “That’s so sweet! Time has flown. Soon, we’ll be planning weddings.”

  “Whoa, not so fast…”

  “Yes. Weddings. Gotta run. See you for dinner?”

  “Yes. Then, it’s Tokyo, London, and Christmas in Hawaii, hurray!”

  “Can’t wait! Shopping at Harrod’s with you and the girls is my kind of fun!”

  “Come here, first.”

  Michelle walked into his arms. They kissed passionately. Michelle left the room fanning herself then blowing him a kiss.

  The President’s heart settled down as he put the envelope in his jacket pocket. He took out the museum sample from his other inside breast pocket and sighed. He’d be jogging across town praying the weather held for him, hoping Alva was on her “warm” spot, but hoping she’d gotten a cozy spot inside a shelter. It pained him to think otherwise.

  Sean’s text alert buzzed just after midnight.

  “ANSWER THE CALL SEAN!” he read.

  His cell now rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Balderdash, Sean Rooney? Do you know me Sean?”

  “Yes ma’am!”

  Sean’s heart leapt when he heard her modulated British voice.

  “Sean, suit up. Be at the Smithsonian National History Museum in an hour. Be there as back up if our mutual friend calls upon you. Everything good at home with the Erskines?”

  “Yes ma’am. And thanks for your help. They have interviews next week.”

  “Good. Now… I want you two blocks away from the National History Museum, awaiting his call. Stay away from the police, especially Officer Eric Lindley. Sending Eric’s photo next. Our friend will be the jogger. Remember his caller ID is “Chicago Pizza.” Also CP. Mine is “Madam’s English Muffins. Also MEM. Copy now to your contacts.”

  “Yes ma’am and yes ma’am.”

  “Call me upon your arrival. Watch for police patrols. Bring your credit card. I’ve increased your limit. And will reimburse for any expenses. MEM, Out.” She was gone, music in her place.

  Sean noted the photo of Eric Lindley in his police cadet class photo, then hurried into his clothes, grabbed his cell, pepper spray keychain and wallet. He slipped out before Little Sean caught him.

  AFTER DINNER in the White House Residence Dining Room, and supervising homework with the girls completed, the First Lady begged the President’s leave.

  “Honey? Sorry, I’ve got tons of homework too,” First Lady Michelle said.

  “It’s OK. I’ve got a load of schooling too. Give us a kiss and let’s get to it.”

  Michelle walked into his arms. They embraced and kissed tenderly.

  “I feel better now. I’m so looking forward to our alone time,” Michelle said.

  “Me too. You have no idea how much I miss you.”

  Michelle blew him a kiss as the First Couple went to their separate offices.

  An hour later, the President checked on her. Her desk was empty.

  She was asleep in her bed with her glasses on, her briefing book and I-pad on her lap. He tucked her in, checked her calendar, then set her alarm, and put her books on her table.

  He shut down her I-pad and turned off the light. He checked on the girls, they were asleep too. He walked to his room.

  The President shook his agents’ hands. “I just want to say you’re doing a fine job.”

  “Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. It’s our pleasure.”

  In his room, the President changed out of his business clothes, took a Ziplock sandwich bag out of his pant’s pocket and got into his new winter jogging suit. He added the
girl’s hair in the envelope to the Ziplock bag and put it in his jacket’s inner zippered pocket.

  He IM’d Desiree. She gave him the exit codes. He memorized them again as they deleted themselves.

  Dez added, ‘Sean will be cruising nearby in his Saab, should you need him. Here’s his phone and license plate numbers. Enter it on your contact list under “Mickey.”

  ‘Good kid. And good idea, thanks. On my way.’ He texted.

  Poised at the threshold to the secret stairway, the President listened for his agents.

  He expected them to interrupt, but not this time. Time to go.

  Very quickly, the President was outside the Renwick on his way through the dark streets to the Old Smith’s National History Museum depository. This time, the President jogged in an effortless style. His lungs more conditioned. He’d increased his workouts and now they were paying off.

  The President got to the Smithsonian in record time, then searched for Alva all around the building. But she wasn’t around. He hoped she was in a shelter.

  He got inside easily, deposited the girls’ hair specimen, fed Indy the cat, then IM’d Desiree.

  ‘Deposit completed. Leaving building. No sign of Alva.’

  ‘Excellent time! I’ll release Sean when you’re safely home and tucked in. Out.’

  ‘K. CP Out’ the President texted back.

  Back outside, the President checked Alva’s “warm” spot once more. Empty.

  The President jogged back a new way across the Mall and up 17th Street, where the shadows from the leafless trees hid him on the paths and sidewalks and joggers would not be uncommon. He felt a bit uneasy doing this, as everything would be unfamiliar. He pressed on following his instincts to find Alva, using his thermo-headset.

  Jogging near a tall hedge the President nearly missed a weak voice.

  “Mr. President? Mr. President? Say that’s you. You know you can’t fool old Alva, your most loyal constituent.”

  He stopped to listen.

  “Mr. President?”

  He walked back several steps. “Alva? Is that you?

  “Yes. Yes. Here! Darlin’. Over here! Keep coming to my voice! Too far, now… back up.”

  “Where? Where are you? My friends have been looking for you!”

  “Dear Jesus! Ain’t that funny? I felt it. Lord have mercy, I knew it was you. Back up ten more steps. I’m under the hedge. Down an old drain, hiding. See my head?”

  The President jogged back ten steps, and looked under the hedge, finally a tiny thermal signature registered. When she reached up and waved, his thermoscope barely found her. He knelt beside her to help her while she climbed out of the drain one rung at a time. She was wet and her hands were freezing cold.

  “Did you fall in? Are you hurt? You’re wet and freezing cold. Do we need the Paramedics?”

  “I’m strong as an ox. Need both hands though, thank you kindly. I’ll be slow, but I can make it. Be right with ya. I finally get to shake the hand of my President!”

  Alva crawled out on her hands and knees and crawled away from the hedge, keeping her right lower leg off the ground.

  “Kindly help me get up on my good leg, Mr. President. That’s it.”

  The President pulled Alva up on her good leg. She was a big woman. He kept a hold of her.

  Alva wiped off her hand well, and put it out for the President, “A pleasure, sir. An honor and a pleasure.”

  The President shook Alva’s hand vigorously. It was stone cold. She was completely soaked and now she started to shiver.

  “Alva, My God. You’re soaking wet and you’re hurt!”

  “Don’t bother yourself with my leg, now. Alva be all right. Got a crutch in my basket. But first, let me get a look at you. Can’t you tell I’m blushing, sir? Meeting my precious President. My, my, my.”

  He examined and was concerned about her swollen, mottled ankle.

  “Never you mind about that. It’s just a little inconvenience. Besides it’s dangerous for you out here, all alone. You know it is, now.”

  “Alva. Your leg’s broken near the ankle! We’ve got to get you help.”

  “Broken? No. Bruised maybe, but never you mind. I’ll be OK. No need for noisy paramedics. Eric will know it’s for me. He just drove off but he’ll be back. He went plumb crazy, blaming me for losing the money. God works in mysterious ways. I know it’s true, ‘cuz I wished for you and here you are! This here situation is too risky for you, though. Not what I wished for. No, sir. Best get on back to the White House. I’ll manage. Always do.”

  The President speed dialed Sean. “Now Alva, we’ll make this right. My trusted young friend, Sean is going to join us any minute. He’ll help us. He’s a nice, discreet young man. You’d agree we both need a friend right now.”

  “Mr. President? No, now. Won’t have it. Much obliged, but best you get on home. Please.”

  “Trust me now, Alva. Sean? Sean? Come to 17th Street. North of Constitution. We’re near the middle of the long hedge. Hurry.” The President hung up. “Eric Lindley did this?”

  “How do you know about our disappointment, Eric Lindley?”

  “A few nights ago, you saw me out for my secret jog, pursuing my interests in the new exhibits inside. I heard your whole conversation.”

  “Mercy. Mercy, me. Well Eric now, he shouldn’t be a policeman. He’s going to kill somebody one day with that temper of his. Want no trouble mind you, but that crazy fool found me a couple of hours ago, on my warm spot just about the time I was wishing you’d come around again. Wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. He got carried away. Stopped, ‘cuz his partner heard me screaming like a bloody fool to attract attention. Then they got a call. I so hate to be a bother to you, Mr. President. But thank you for stopping, but you’ve got to go, it’s not safe, please…” Alva started to cry, touched by his caring, and whispered to herself, “Yes sir, mysterious ways.”

  Far off a car was coming. Its lights brightening up the deserted street.

  Alva grabbed his sleeve as the President naively stepped toward the hedge,“Get your text ready. But stay here ‘til you know it’s your friend. Could be that crazy fool.”

  “You’re a savvy woman, Alva. I could have blown my cover.”

  They let the car pass them. It was Sean’s Saab.

  The President texted him, ‘back up about 50 feet.’

  “May I say, it’s so nice to meet you Alva? Barack Obama.”

  “Alva Mae Cross. This is my pleasure, sir.”

  “The pleasure mine. Miss Alva. Come here. Let me warm you up,” he put his arm around her wet body.

  Sean backed up.

  The President helped Alva through the hedge, leaning and hopping. She looked up and down the street, hoping Eric wasn’t hiding.

  Sean got out, ran around to help the President with Alva.

  “Ma’am. Let me help. Nice to see you again, sir.”

  “You know each other? Wonders never cease. If you don’t mind, can we take my things? It’s all I’ve got left in this world. Please? But only if it’s safe,” Alva asked leaning on the both of them, hopping to the open door to the back seat.

  “Sean? I’ll help change Miss Alva into dry clothes. You get her things in the car and watch for patrols. We’ve got a case of police brutality here, from Eric Lindley. He beat her and broke her leg. See? She’s very bravely calling it a bruise.”

  “Looks like a broken leg to me too, Miss Alva.” Sean said.

  “Oh you boys stop fussing. Just cut these off. Here are my shears. That bag on top has clean clothes.”

  She pulled long sharp shears out of her sleeve.

  Sean moved cart one to the trunk and handed off the bag to the President.

  After the President had cut Alva’s pants off and helped her dress in dry clothes, they covered her with a lap robe and a hat, just as Sean finished dumping her worldly possessions of two full carts into his trunk. Sean and the President propped up her bad leg. Sean ran the squeaky carts back to the sidewalk.
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br />   “I’ll hide those. You take her to a hospital in Maryland. Is that far enough, Alva?” The President asked.

  “Yes sir, that’ll do. I’m so glad I voted for you, Mr. President.”

  “I’m so glad, too. Have a wonderful and safe holiday, Alva.”

  “Everyday will be like Christmas because of you. Come here.”

  Alva kissed him on the cheek, patted it, and held his face.

  “Don’t let anyone, especially those crazy Congressmen get you down, now. You’re a fine man, a fine, fine man. Everyone’s hero. Made me so proud today. Feels so good to be proud of someone, again.”

  “Thank you, Alva. You’re a hero in your own story. We are glad to help. Got to get back, before they miss me. Once again, great work Sean, and Merry Christmas.”

  The President kissed her forehead, shook Sean’s hand, and waved as he headed back in the direction of the Renwick Gallery, pushing the carts back through the hole in the hedge.

  “Anytime, sir. Merry Christmas. Thank you,” both Alva and Sean said as the President waved, then disappeared through the hedge into the dark night.

  Sean was sweaty and rolled down his window for a minute to cool off. He thought he’d heard something, something new besides Alva’s squeaky cart. He worried about the President. ‘I should have driven him home.’

  “What is it?” Alva was on edge now, too.

  “Nothing, I guess. I’m on edge is all. You warm enough?”

  “Very nice, honey.” Alva wouldn’t mention her leg.

  Sean started the car and immediately turned left to find the highway.

  The President shoved one of her two carts, into the hedge. He was pushing the other cart ahead of him. The damn thing began to squeak. He was searching for a place to hide it. The squeak worried him, but he didn’t want the carts associated with one another if Eric came looking for Alva. Instinct was warning him to ditch the cart. Now! He could feel the sanctuary of the Renwick beckoning. It was still a mile away.

  Eric Lindley had worked the split shift as a favor. He’d just gotten off duty. He thought he’d swing by the Old Smith through the alleys to check on Alva. He’d seen the Saab pass by his alley. The Metro’s air vent noise covered his idling engine. He watched the echo of the Saab’s taillights stop. He imagined the guy was taking a leak or it was probably a drug deal, but he didn’t care. Then the car went on its way. Eric waited another fifteen seconds for insurance, then shifted the car into drive.