by C. G. Cooper
“You know I can’t do that, Cal.”
“You asked, Mr. President,” Cal answered with a shrug.
“So what do you propose we do when we find these corrupt officials?”
Cal grinned. “Go after them with everything we’ve got.”
“And how would we do that?”
“We’d run it case by case. We’ve been known to get creative.”
“You’d have to promise me that no one would get hurt.”
“You mean physically?”
The president nodded.
“That wasn’t my plan anyway, sir. There are plenty of ways to skin a cat.”
“So you’re saying you’ll do it?”
Cal looked to his two friends.
“I’ll do it on two conditions.”
The president’s eyes narrowed.
“And what would those conditions be?”
“One, I bring in anyone I need.”
“And the second?”
“The gloves are off, Mr. President. We expose these crooks to the world. No second chances.”
“Agreed,” replied the president without hesitation.
“So, where would you like—.” Cal was cut off when five Secret Service agents burst into the room.
“What is it?” asked the president, more annoyed than concerned.
The first agent into the room answered. “There’s been an attack, Mr. President. We need to get you to safety.”
“Where?”
“At the Air and Space Museum.”
The president’s eyes widened. Cal, Daniel and Brandon looked confused.
“The first lady?”
“She was wounded by the blast and taken to the closest hospital for emergency surgery.”
The president stood up from his chair and moved toward his security detail. He looked to his guests.
“I’m sorry, gentlemen, but if you’ll excuse me.”
The three men rose quickly and moved in the direction of the exit. One of the large agents put his hand to stop them from coming closer. Cal looked annoyed.
“Mr. President,” said the lead agent.
The president turned to face him.
“There’s more, sir.”
“What do you mean?”
The agent’s stoic face hesitated momentarily.
“The vice president is dead.”
Chapter 3
Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
11:09am, December 15th
At the direction of the president, Cal and Daniel accompanied one of the Secret Service vehicles heading to the scene of the deadly attack. The agents hadn’t been happy about it, but took their orders.
They sat in the back of the armored SUV as it maneuvered through the winding streets of D.C. Tourists stared as processions of siren-wailing vehicles sped in the same direction.
“How many people were hurt?” Cal asked the agent sitting in the front passenger seat.
The man held up an index finger as he listened to the chatter on his earpiece. Cal waited. Finally the man turned.
“Initial estimates say forty-two civilians killed, another fifty wounded. We lost four agents along with the vice president.”
“I’m sorry,” offered Cal.
The man nodded.
“You want to tell me why the president asked for you two to come along?”
Cal shrugged. “I’m in the dark, just like you.”
The agent stared at his unwanted passengers, and then huffed.
“Just do me a favor and stay out of the way, okay?”
“No problem.”
The agent glanced at the driver and turned back to listening to his earpiece.
Daniel nudged Cal and whispered, “What do you want me to do?”
“Let’s just go see what we can see. Who knows, maybe two dumb Marines will be able to do some good in a shitty situation.
+++
They arrived at the scene minutes later. The attack had occurred on the National Mall side of the museum, so their vehicle parked along the grass edge of Jefferson Drive SW. A mix of metro police and FBI had cordoned off two full blocks. Everyone looked on edge, weapons drawn.
Cal and Daniel got out of the vehicle and looked up at the devastation. Half of the windowed entrance of the Air and Space Museum was gone. Glass littered the ground both inside and out.
The driver handed each a badge on a lanyard.
“Put these on,” the man ordered. “Remember what I said. You can take a look around, but stay out of the way.”
The two Marines nodded and were left alone. They surveyed the scene.
“How do you think they did it?” Cal asked his companion.
“I’d say it was some kind of mortar or rocket.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Let’s go take a look inside.”
Federal personnel rushed around them as they ascended the stairs. It looked like the majority of the wounded had already been triaged and the worst of the injured had been transported to local hospitals. Near the welcome desk was a growing row of bodies laid side by side. They looked to be covered with curtains that someone had ripped down from inside the building.
Museum pieces that were once hanging now sat on the ground or dipped precariously. Everyone avoided walking under them, and workers were already trying to secure them in place.
Cal pointed over to where the center of the carnage appeared to be. They had to dodge pools of blood as they walked carefully around debris. A crew of forensic men and women were taking pictures, using large cameras with high wattage flashes.
Cal tapped one of the photographers on the shoulder. The man turned and looked down at Cal’s badge. He adjusted his thick glasses as he sized up the stranger.
“Can I help you?”
“Is this where the vice president was standing?”
“Yeah. There was a podium right there,” he pointed to a spot on ground now gouged and twisted. “Witnesses say he was introducing the first lady when the explosion happened.”
“Where was the first lady standing?”
“Over there, behind that corner, waiting to be announced.”
Cal and Daniel looked to where he was pointing. Black streaks marred the wall’s sturdy white surface.
“Hey, I need to get back to taking these pictures.”
Cal let the man get back to his work.
“Let’s see where the first lady was standing,” Cal suggested.
Walking around the corner, they found a small area marked with orange cones. In the center of the cones was an index card taped to ground. It was labeled, First Lady. Blood spatter streaked angrily along the floor.
“That’s a lot of blood,” Cal thought aloud.
“Yeah. She was darned close to the explosion,” said Daniel.
They took another loop through the site, and then exited the way they’d come. Federal agents and emergency personnel continued to stream in and out of the entrance as the Marines walked out onto Jefferson Drive. Daniel cupped his hands over his eyes and surveyed the area.
“What are you thinking?” Cal asked.
Daniel pointed across the lawn. “What’s that building over there?”
Cal squinted. “I think that’s the National Gallery of Art.”
“Let’s go take a look.”
Cal and Daniel scanned the vicinity as they walked across the now crowded National Mall.
“There don’t seem to be many vantage points on this side of the museum,” said Cal.
“I was thinking the same thing. They would’ve needed some serious weaponry to shoot from across the lawn. From looking at that point of impact, it reminded me of some of those laser guided systems we used in Afghanistan.”
“Those things are pretty big. How the hell did they get it in here without being seen?”
Daniel didn’t answer and continued to inspect the scene.
As they neared the opposite side of the Mall, Cal pointed.
“Loo
ks like they’ve already got the area cordoned off.”
Masked men in black SWAT suits guarded the entrance to the columned structure. Cal and Daniel showed their badges and were ushered through.
Cal walked toward an agent barking orders.
“Excuse me.”
The agent turned, an annoyed look already plastered on his face. He glanced down at Cal’s badge.
“Can I help you?”
“Find anything?” asked Cal.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but can’t you see that we’re pretty busy around here?”
“We’re not here to get in the way. The president sent us over to take a look around. That’s all we’re doing.”
The annoyed agent stared at both men for a moment as if deciding whether to continue the conversation.
“And what makes you so special?”
Cal shrugged. “We’re not. Just a couple of dumb grunts.”
The agent actually grinned.
“Okay, dumb grunt. We’re trying to find out where the weapon was launched from.”
“Going with line of sight first?” Daniel questioned.
“Yeah. The most obvious place was here because of the clear shot.”
“Any surveillance video?”
“Not yet. Some of our guys are working on that now.”
“Have you found pieces of the warhead?”
“Just fragments so far. Forensics is still putting it together.”
“What’s your gut telling you?” Cal interrupted.
The agent shook his head. “I’m not sure yet. One thing I will say is that shot was a little too precise.”
Cal nodded. “That’s what we were just talking about. Would’ve been one helluva shot unless they used some kind of laser-guided system.”
A policeman interrupted their conversation.
“We’ve got the video you wanted.”
The agent thanked the cop.
“You two want to come see?”
“If you don’t think we’ll be in the way, sure,” answered Cal.
They followed the police officer and the Secret Service agent back down the stairs and into the sunlight. There was an emergency response vehicle laden with antennas parked at the base of the steps. The back door of the large vehicle was open and the four men piled in.
Technicians manned the impressive array of computers lining the sides of the mobile command post. The officer pointed to a tech near the front of the space.
“He’ll show you.”
The Secret Service agent walked up to the man.
“What have you got?”
Without looking up from his work, the tech answered. “I’ve got views from three different angles. It’s not much.”
“What do you mean?”
“From my initial analysis, there’s no obvious perpetrator.”
“What about the explosive? Any sign of where it came from?”
“That’s what’s really weird. I thought there’d be some kind of back blast or rooster tail, but there isn’t.”
“But whatever it was did come from outside the building, correct?”
“Yes. It’s just a blur, but it definitely came from outside. Here, let me show you.”
There was silence as the visitors watched the scene unfold. One second the entrance was there and the next there was an explosion. The angle of the camera should have given a perfect vantage point for any incoming rounds.
“Can you clear up that image?” asked the agent.
“This is the best I can do for now. Once I get back to the lab, I’ll be able to scrub it.”
“What about you guys? Any thoughts?”
Cal and Daniel stared at the monitor. A look of recognition lit Daniel’s eyes.
“What is it?” Cal asked.
Daniel reached over the tech’s shoulder and grabbed the mouse. He slowly moved the video forward and back.
“I’ve seen that type of impact before,” he said.
“Where?” demanded the agent.
“Overseas.”
Chapter 4
Washington, D.C.
12:20pm, December 15th
Daniel explained. “It’s what I thought, Cal. That looks exactly like a laser-guided bomb dropped from the air. But, any explosives I’ve seen would’ve destroyed half the building.”
“Are you saying you think this was a military-grade weapon?” the Secret Service agent asked.
“Something quite a bit smaller, but yes. I think you need to find out what was flying overhead when the attack happened. You’ll also want to see if you can pinpoint whoever was painting the target with the laser. I guess they could’ve used a homing device, but wouldn’t your sweep of the museum have caught that?” said Daniel.
The agent nodded. “Something that accurate would’ve been planted on the vice president or in the podium. Both were clean.” He looked down at his vibrating phone. “I’ve gotta run. Thanks for your help.”
The big agent quickly made his way out of the vehicle, already on his phone.
“You guys need to see anything else?” asked the tech.
“No thanks,” Cal said. “We’ll get out of your hair.”
They thanked the man and made their way out and onto the crowded street. Cal walked back toward the Air and Space Museum.
“I don’t like the smell of this,” Cal muttered.
“Me neither. This airspace is supposed to be sealed. I’d love to know how someone broke through.”
Cal shrugged. “Not really our problem right now. I’m sure the Secret Service will figure it out. Let’s head back to the White House and get our car.”
They walked to a side street and hailed a cab.
+++
The man in the Redskins ball cap stood in the middle of the crowd, watching. He’d nonchalantly taped the events with his small video camera. No one gave him a second glance. He looked just like the rest of the tourists pushing to get a better shot of the wreckage.
With a bored look on his face, he moved away from the crowd and walked north. He palmed a small device he’d detached from the side of his camcorder. Blowing his nose loudly into a Kleenex, he discreetly wrapped the gadget in the used tissue and threw it into one of the many trashcans lining the mall.
There was a small hybrid car waiting at the corner to pick him up. He looked back one last time as he got in, and then left the scene.
+++
Cal and Daniel got back to the White House after a tough slog through the packed streets. It looked like every agency in the U.S. government was sending teams to the Air and Space Museum. They’d even seen four Marine light armored vehicles (LAVs) rolling the way they’d come.
When they got to their car, it was completely blocked in.
“Dammit,” Cal grumbled.
“Let’s go find out how we can get it out of there,” Daniel suggested.
The White House entrance was a complete zoo. Staffers were running around yelling to colleagues, cell phones plastered to their ears. Security had quadrupled. Luckily, they still had the passes the Secret Service agent had given them. After triple checking their identification and receiving an extra thorough pat down, they were allowed back into the White House.
They made their way toward the Oval Office. Walking their way was Senator Zimmer. He was speaking to an aide as he hurried.
“Senator,” said Cal.
Sen. Zimmer looked up.
“Give me a minute, Ted,” he said to his assistant. “What going on, guys? Find anything at Air and Space?”
“Not really,” answered Cal. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”
Zimmer nodded and led them to a tiny office that looked more like a closet.
“Somebody works in here?” asked Cal.
Zimmer smirked. “The perks of working in a building designed hundreds of years ago. So what did you find?”
Cal briefed the senator on little they knew.
“Do you really think someone snuck a missile into D.C. airspace?”
“Are you sure?”
“About eighty percent, sir,” said Daniel.
“That’s not good. Not good at all,” said Zimmer.
“How’s the first lady doing?” Cal asked.
“I just got word from the president. They haven’t released this to the media yet, so keep it quiet. She had a good bit of shrapnel in her legs, and lost a lot of blood. Luckily, they got her to the hospital pretty fast and were able to get her stable. She’s sedated, but the doctor seems to think she’ll make a full recovery.”
“Well that’s good. How about the president?”
“Between you and me, he’s kind of in shock, I think. It’s one thing to lose a bunch of Americans. Add to that the death of your vice president and the injuries to his wife…”
Cal and Daniel nodded.
“So what’s the plan? Does he still want us doing what we talked about earlier?” asked Cal.
“Let’s assume that he does. The attack doesn’t really change anything. What do you need from me?”
Cal stared at the ground for a beat. “I want to make sure we’re all on the same page. You know how we operate, Brandon. When I find out who’s been playing around with government money, we’re on full assault. Nobody is safe. I’m not sure the president gets that.”
“I think he does, Cal. You heard what he said. Remember how I used to be before our trip to Vegas?”
Cal knew what the senator meant. Zimmer had been a self-absorbed and naïve politico before being blackmailed by a secret group of Japanese imperialists. He’d experienced a rude awakening in the aftermath.
“What if this comes back to him? Worse, what if it comes back to you?” asked Cal.
“I think I’m too new to have many skeletons. Besides, you guys know the worst of it. As for the president, that’s his call. If the trail leads back to him, I think he’ll own up to it.”