by Nick Harlow
“Good idea. Let’s do it. And great job getting it done. My radio is in the Situation Room.” She quickly headed in that direction, with Scott following her.
“You gonna do the talking this time?”
“I don’t know. Got any ideas about what we should say?”
“Give me a minute to think about it.”
“Well, considering the battery situation with those radios we have a limited amount of time and we don’t know how limited it is, so don’t take too long—” She stopped short when she saw the image on the giant flat screen television. Her father, his face beaten to a bloody pulp. “Oh my God...” her hands flew up to her mouth. “Dad...”
Scott put one hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Syd. Bastards. They didn’t have to do that. So much for trusting Mayfair with another deal.”
“You think he’s still alive?”
“Of course. They’re not going to kill their most valuable hostage. But they’re trying to make a statement for some reason. They probably want to scare us. You, especially.”
“If that was their intention it worked.”
“And as long as you realize that, it will help you deal with it.”
“You’re right. And I don’t think we should be making any more deals with Mayfair. We obviously can’t trust him.” Sydney’s eyes welled up a bit as she read the bottom of the screen. Speaker of the House to address the nation shortly regarding 25th Amendment. Then her arms dropped as her hands tightened into fists. “Well, I guess we don’t have to guess their motivation any longer. This wasn’t about scaring me. Here comes the reason they gave my dad a beating. You know damn well your father was behind this.”
Scott nodded as his eyes narrowed. “I know exactly what he’s up to. He’s constantly reminding people he’s third in line to the Presidency and it kills him that the three times he ran he got destroyed in the primaries. He wants to show that your dad is compromised so he can be the acting President, and that means he’s got something else up his sleeve he wants to do before this whole thing is over. Something that won’t take much time because he won’t be in power for very long. Trust me, Syd, I’ll make him pay for this.”
She stared daggers at the screen. “Take a number.”
“No, this one’s mine. He’s going down, but nothing will be worse than being taken down by his own son. When I’m done, I don’t just want him in jail, I want him to be the most hated person in the country. He’s pure evil and the world needs to know that.” He pointed at the radio. “Meanwhile, we need to focus and get back to the task at hand.”
She picked up the radio. “I know, I know. I need to talk to Mayfair right now.”
“You’re too upset, Syd. You sure you don’t want me to do it?”
She shook her head as she kept staring at the television. “No. I’m upset but this time I’ve never been more focused. He hurt my dad and I want revenge. So you come up with a plan to deal with your father, and I’ll take care of Mayfair. I’ve got an idea that will speed things along as far as throwing a monkey wrench into your dad’s immediate plans. I’ll be damned if he’s going to run the country, even for a few hours. Time to give the FBI some hard evidence on who’s behind this.”
“All we have is the recording when Ryan interrogated Klein. And we can’t get that to them yet. No way to upload the file from a cell phone into that old computer.”
“Oh, I’m not going to give the FBI that evidence. Mayfair is gonna give ‘em something else they can use right now.”
“AGENT LAURIA! I THINK we’ve got something!”
Brett Lauria quickly walked over to the technology expert who had been monitoring the frequency the people in the bunker had sent him. “Turn it up. You’re recording this, right?”
He pulled off his headphones. “Absolutely. I’ve been doing so since we accessed the frequency. It’s crystal clear. Anyway, someone is trying to get in touch with Mayfair.”
Lauria grabbed a chair and slid it next to the speaker. He pulled a small pad and pen from his pocket and prepared to take notes.
“Hey, Mayfair. Come in. Mayfair, you there? Mayfair, need to talk to you right now.”
“Yes, Miss Donovan. Are you ready to talk terms?”
“Well, I was after seeing your sign of good faith releasing the hostages. But then I see what you’ve done to my father and it makes me think you can’t be trusted again. There was absolutely no reason for you to do that. Why did you have to beat my father?”
“It was necessary.”
“It was NOT necessary. I thought we went over this before. Why are you still taking orders from Speaker of the House Rusch when he’s planning to double-cross you? He may be the person behind this but you need to realize he simply hates my father.”
Lauria’s eyes bugged out as he sat up straight. “What the hell? Did I just hear her right?”
“You did,” said the tech guy. “Wow. Can that really be true? Sterling Rusch is behind this whole thing?”
He pointed at the speaker. “I think we’re about to find out.”
“It was necessary to keep the Speaker thinking that I am still following the script. The removal of the soldiers from the red line was only half of his plan. He needs to show the world the President is compromised so that he can assume the Presidency.”
“What for? This will all be over in a few hours and then my father will be back in charge. Or the Vice President will be when he wakes up from surgery.”
“The Speaker insisted that he only needed a few hours as Commander-in-Chief to issue a military order.”
“What are you talking about? What’s he planning to do?”
“He wants to remove other troops in another part of the world. By the time your father was back in charge, the enemy would have moved in and taken over the area he was ordering to be vacated.”
“Even I know he can’t do that without consulting with the Secretary of Defense and Congress.”
“Not in this case. It’s something that is supposed to happen very fast, as he has coordinated it with a rogue general and the leader of another country.”
“What general and what country?”
“Sorry, that part is classified as far as I’m concerned.”
“Is my father conscious?”
“Yes, Miss Donovan. I might need him in that condition in case things go sideways.”
“Let me talk to him.”
“Not now.”
“I swear to God, Mayfair, if you hurt him again you’ll never get the thing you need to get out of here.”
“Calm down, Miss Donovan. Unless Sterling Rusch tells me otherwise, your father’s time as a punching bag are over.”
Lauria finished taking notes on the details as the conversation between Sydney Donovan and Mayfair ended. He stood up and pulled his phone from his pocket. “I need to call the Attorney General right now. She needs to hear this before Rusch does something we can’t undo.” He tapped the tape recorder. “Cue it up to the beginning.”
“No problem. So what’s the one thing Mayfair needs to get out of here? I mean, besides an airplane?”
“Beats me. I’m sure we’ll know eventually.” He placed the call as something in a monitor caught his eye and sent his pulse rocketing.
The Speaker of the House moving toward a podium for a news conference.
He tapped the technology expert on the shoulder and pointed at the TV. “Call The Director right now, tell him I’ll be right with him and email him the audio file.”
“I’m on it.”
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Sterling Rusch did his best to suppress a grin as he looked out at the media, all on the edge of their seats. He stepped to the podium that was set up next to a large flat screen television, adjusted the microphone, and stood up straight. “Thank you for coming. Time is of the essence considering the circumstances so I’ll get right to it. We have a new development in regard to the situation at the White House. While you have just seen several hostages released unharmed, we now know this
is unfortunately not the case with President Donovan, despite what you just heard from the White House Communications Director. By now you have all seen this disturbing photo released to the media by the terrorists.” He picked up a remote and pointed it at the television. The screen filled with the now-viral photo of the President’s bloody face. “I know I share the sentiments of all Americans in the hope that the President will survive this incident and recover from this horrible beating. We pray that he has not suffered any permanent head injuries and that we may extricate him from this situation so that he can get the medical treatment he so desperately needs. But this new development does create a situation which, by law, requires my immediate attention. Since the President is obviously compromised physically and currently unable to carry out the duties as Commander-in-Chief, and since the Vice President is still unconscious following surgery this morning, I am forced to assume the temporary role of President as outlined in the Constitution under the twenty-fifth amendment. Hopefully this will only be for a short time, but until the situation at the White House is resolved, America cannot operate without someone in charge, as this would provide our enemies an opportunity to easily take advantage of us. So to the world I say that the United States is not rudderless and operating normally. And now I’ll take questions.”
“Mister Speaker, do you really believe you have the authority to do this simply because of a photo?”
Rusch nodded. “I have already been in contact with a member of the Supreme Court, who, in fact, insisted I take this action immediately for the good of the country. Actually, the Justice called me. And I think the photo speaks for itself, don’t you? How could anyone operate with one hundred percent of his faculties after a beating like that? I certainly could not make important decisions if that had happened to me.”
“Which Justice have you conferred with?”
“Chief Justice Baines. She called me once she saw the photo and told me this was the proper course of action according to the Constitution.”
“Have you discussed this with the Attorney General and the Joint Chiefs? Members of the Cabinet?”
The Speaker shook his head. “That is not necessary. The Constitution is quite clear about situations like this. And we can’t sit around having a legal debate while this country goes without leadership. Even for a short time. The wheels of justice turn much too slowly and the forces of evil can move in a heartbeat. We cannot let our guard down for one second and we need to be on high alert. No, the steps I am taking now are both necessary and required by law.”
“How can you tell from a photo that the President is compromised? For all we know this could have been Photoshopped and President Donovan hasn’t been touched. Would your temporary ascension to the presidency hold up in a court of law?”
“It would, and the photo is real. Our technical experts have verified it is an original taken a short time ago and it has not been altered. So, again, I ask you, how could anyone operate at full capacity after receiving several blows to the head? We don’t even know if the President is conscious, or if he’s still alive for that matter. And considering we still have no idea if the terrorists might want something else, the United States needs someone who is in possession of his full faculties in case there needs to be a negotiation. Right now I wouldn’t think President Donovan is in any condition to make decisions pertaining to national security. Or anything else for that matter. He certainly cannot negotiate with the terrorists.”
“Do you plan on taking any action in your temporary role?”
“Not unless something is vital to the security of the country. I say again, our enemies could see this situation as an opportunity to take advantage of the United States, and I cannot let that happen. I will not let that happen. So as of this moment, I am the President of the United States and will fulfill the duties of that office. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get down to the business of running the country.”
The Speaker headed away from the podium as the reporters shouted a barrage of questions. As soon as he left the room and was alone he couldn’t help but smile.
He was finally the leader of the free world.
BRETT LAURIA MUTED the television as the Speaker wrapped up his news conference, then turned his attention back to the phone call. “Madam Attorney General, I assume you’re going to rule on this, but I want you to hear something first.”
“Unless you have some new amendment to the Constitution I haven’t heard about—”
“I have evidence the Speaker of the House is orchestrating the hostage situation at the White House. He’s behind the whole thing. It’s a coup to assume the Presidency for a short time.”
A short pause. “Excuse me? Did I just hear you right? The Speaker of the House is responsible for the hostage situation?”
“We picked up a transmission between Agent Mayfair, who is leading the terrorist group, and Sydney Donovan, who is in the White House bunker.”
“How did you—”
“Too long to explain, ma’am. Please, just listen for a minute.”
“Go ahead, Agent Lauria.”
Lauria held the phone next to a speaker and nodded at the technology expert, who pressed a button. The conversation filled the air.
One minute later it ended, and Lauria put the phone to his ear. “Well?”
“That’s incredible if it’s real. Can you verify the conversation is legitimate?”
“I can.”
There was a long pause. “Thank you for sharing this with me. I’ll take it under advisement.”
Under advisement? Are you kidding me? “Madam Attorney General, with all due respect—”
The line went dead.
Lauria broke out in a cold sweat.
Could the Attorney General actually be part of this?
CHAPTER TWENTY
Mayfair quickly wrapped up his conversation with Sydney Donovan, not wanting any more of a lecture from a seventeen year old girl.
But more so because he was interested in the high pitched tone he heard in the room every time he keyed the microphone on his radio.
The room being the Oval Office.
He peeked behind the drapes to take a quick look out the window at the mass of media and tactical personnel all focused on the White House. But not worrying since the room had serious bulletproof glass. He toyed with the idea of pulling back the curtains all the way and waving, but thought better of it.
What was the point?
Soon he’d be on a plane to a new life of luxury.
He turned his attention back to his search and keyed the microphone again.
The tone was louder.
Feedback.
He shook his head in disgust. “Dammit, someone left a radio in here.” He keyed the microphone again and again, following the tone as it got louder to find its source. He found himself standing behind the President’s desk.
The feedback was somehow coming from underneath.
He knelt down and looked under the desk, expecting to find a radio.
Nothing. “Where the hell is this coming from?”
He keyed the microphone one more time, and then it hit him.
The feedback was coming from under the floor.
The trap door.
He pulled back the section of carpet covering it, yanked it open and saw two radios taped together. “You gotta be kidding me. What the hell is this?” He pulled out the two radios and studied them, quickly realizing their purpose. He turned off both radios and started to get up, then stopped short as he looked down.
“Well, well... I don’t need an elevator to get what I want.”
He saw a way into the bunker that he had completely forgotten about. He smiled and slowly nodded.
“Isn’t this interesting. The President’s daughter is so smart she leads me right to her. And how nice of her to remind me how to get there.”
SYDNEY TYPED OUT A message for the FBI on the texting website.
Agent Ryan’s surgery went well. He is stabl
e and doctor is monitoring. Checking to see if you were able to hear my conversation with Mayfair via the frequency we sent or if I need to send you a recap.
Standing by for further instructions.
-Sydney Donovan
She hit the send button and leaned back in her chair just as a chocolate bar landed in her lap and Scott took a seat next to her. She picked it up and looked at the label. “A freeze-dried Snickers bar?”
“Hey, old chocolate is still chocolate, don’t complain. I figured the stress is burning through calories like crazy and we need to keep our energy up. There’s a whole stash of this stuff back in the food storage area. Besides, I know how much of a chocoholic you are.” He opened the wrapper on his own candy bar and took a bite.
“You couldn’t find any Lindt?”
“Seriously? God, you’re spoiled.”
“Just asking. And you’re the one who got me a box of those Lindt truffles last Valentine’s Day, so you’re responsible for the addiction.”
“Well, there was no Lindt. Or Ghirardelli either.”
“She cocked her head at his Snickers bar. “How is it? Safe to eat?”
“Surprisingly fresh.” He looked at the wrapper, adorned with a pumpkin. “Halloween, 2011. Trick or treat.”
“Right now I need a treat. We’ve been tricked enough today.” Sydney peeled the wrapper from her candy bar and sampled it. The chocolate, nuts and sugar gave her a shot of adrenaline. “Not bad, considering it’s several years old.”
Scott pointed at the computer. “You just send a text?”
“Yeah. Told Ryan’s FBI buddy that his surgery was okay and asked if they could hear my conversation with Mayfair.”
“It would be huge if they did. Talk about getting a smoking gun on the record.” He looked at one of the TV monitors, showing a static shot of the White House. “So what now?”
She shook her head. “Don’t know. But I don’t want to just sit here and wait for something to happen. There has to be something else we can do to help.”