Storm Unleashed

by Michael R. Stern

  “GOOD JOB, EVERYONE. That last little maneuver, the Speaker's bedroom, shook him up. He's alone. His family is out of the District. I asked him if he had plans for New Year's Eve. He said no.” A devilish grin shown on his face. “Let's go sit for a bit.”

  When the soldiers had departed, Tony entered the classroom with James and Mel. The president exhaled, “It's been a hell of a year.”

  “How do you think it went?” asked Linda.

  “Only one person needed to be here. Everyone else provided camouflage. Those who didn't know would have had to be told shortly.” The president looked at his watch and took out his phone. “Lily, please call the Speaker at home. I just want to know if he's there. If he answers, tell him to expect a call from me in a couple of minutes.” He grinned.

  “What are you up to?” Fritz asked, as the president's grin widened.

  “One more trip. I'm going to invite him to the White House for a New Year's Eve party. If he accepts, it's back on despite the ship bombing. I want him to see me just pop in and then disappear into the glowing box. So far, he hasn't seen that. I think that will be a perfect final touch.”

  In less than five minutes, the door opened. The president sported a smaller grin. “He's coming.” Everyone laughed. “So,” said the president, “what're you doing New Year's Eve?”

  “I know that song,” said Ashley. Jane shook her head.

  “Seriously, I outsmarted myself. Can I convince you guys to come, at least for a while?”

  Linda shook her head. “Honestly, I can't believe you boxed us in after all. Do we use the portal?”

  “Fastest way. Bring TJ. I ordered a crib ready for him.”

  She looked at Fritz and sighed. “What do we wear?”

  Chapter 7

  WHEN ASHLEY had said he would bring his sneakers, Jane hit him.

  “I'm serious,” he said. “What better way to end the year than one-on-one?”

  James greeted them when they entered the Oval Office. Pointing to a suit draped over a chair, he told Tony that his roommate had dropped it off and ushered him to a place where he could change. When the president and First Lady welcomed them, a gym bag hung from Ashley's arm.

  “I couldn't talk him out of it,” Jane said.

  The First Lady laughed. “Are you going to do this before or after?”

  “After,” they said together.

  “Let's celebrate,” the president said, leading them into the heart of the White House. “Let's hope next year will be better.” The president's gaze swept the hall, a distant look on his face. “This time next year, we'll be getting ready to move.” They reached the center hall and headed into the State Dining Room.

  “We're using the Blue and Red Rooms, too” the First Lady said. “Check out all the Christmas decorations.” Ashley excused himself and went to say hello to the vice president. As they shook hands, he whispered in the vice president's ear, which brought a loud guffaw. TJ, in Linda's arms, made a noise that sounded like a laugh, and General Beech said, “Sounds like a vice president in the making.”

  Fritz spotted a number of the morning's attendees. Standing on the periphery with Linda and Jane, he understood why they had been invited. The president and First Lady walked the room. When he reached the Speaker, they whispered to each other, and Fritz saw the speaker glance at him. The president waved for him to join them.

  “Come on, Lin.”

  “I'll stay here with Jane.”

  “I'll be back,” Fritz said in his best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice. Linda sighed.

  Fritz approached the president cautiously.

  “You remember Jack, don't you, Fritz?”

  “He's vaguely familiar, Mr. President. Mr. Speaker, I'm a news junkie, and I think that's the first time I've ever seen you smile.”

  “Well, Fritz, it's either smile or be afraid of you. You gave us quite a demonstration.”

  “Mr. Speaker, this is a party. But everything we told you really happened. If you're scared, well, you should be in my shoes.” The Speaker, hearing one of the president's standard phrases, looked at the chief executive.

  “Must be rubbing off,” said the president, tilting his head. He turned to the rest of his guests, who were standing around the table. “Hey, everyone, this is a party. The food's great. Please help yourselves.

  LINDA SMILED as she followed a volley between the general and Jane.

  “Telling a story, General?” asked the president.

  “I was just telling Linda, sorry ma'am, those of us who know your last name have been asked not to use it. Well, I was telling her about my first meeting with Jane. You were one stubborn young woman, let me tell you.”

  Fritz listened as General Beech reached the punch line. In the middle of a briefing, Jane had told him he didn't know his ass from Israel. “I was furious. And I told the president. When I got back to my office, a folder on my desk contained enough analysis to sink a ship and prove Jane right.” Jane smiled as Ashley came back and took her hand. “Jane and I have argued about tactics ever since. I looked at your plan when I got home. It'll be hard to make work, but it's brilliant.”

  “Thank you, General. Let me introduce my fiancé, Ashley Gilbert.” She closed her eyes, realizing her mistake.

  “Congratulations! And don't worry Jane. I know a thing or two about classified information.” He smiled, still shaking Ashley's hand. “Nice ring, by the way. You should know, Ashley, a lot of smoke from extinguished flames will be floating all around Washington.”

  The president returned with his daughters and a woman, who would watch TJ in the Red Room. A swing and a crib had been placed in a dimly-lit corner.

  “I want you guys to have some fun tonight. Ms. Davis will watch him, and you'll be right nearby.”

  Linda handed the baby to her. “First time out?” she asked. Linda nodded. “We'll be in the next room.” Fritz and Jane stroked his head, which he had put sleepily on the babysitter's shoulder.

  James walked in with two women, followed by Mel Zack, barely recognizable with her hair down. The president welcomed them and pointed toward Fritz and Linda. James's wife, Lucy, smiled and waved.

  “Everyone,” the president said as he took the woman by the hand, “I want you to meet Sharon Andrews, Tom's wife. Sharon, this is Fritz, this is Ashley. Guys, Sharon knows the story.”

  Fritz shook her hand and introduced Linda, whose eyes were suddenly puddled. Ashley, instead of shaking hands, hugged her and held on for a minute. “We're all so sorry. Tom was a great guy. Please accept our sympathy.”

  When she stepped out of his grasp, Sharon had tears on her cheeks. “Thank you, Ashley. Tom could never tell me the whole story, but I know the two of you saved him in Geneva. He spoke about you both as superheroes.”

  “Well, Fritz isn't. But I am,” Ashley answered with a smile.

  “Tom said you were a wiseass. He couldn't laugh at you when he was working, but he told me some stories. So did James. Thanks. I needed a good laugh.”

  “Sharon,” Fritz said, “stick around. He's on a roll.”

  “Maybe I will. Hello, Jane. I understand congratulations are in order. You too, Ashley. Thanks for inviting me, Mr. President.”

  “Glad you're here, Sharon. Let me introduce you to some others.”

  When the president left, Linda said, “Can't the two of you behave, just for one night. Honestly! Lucy, don't let James spend too much time with them. I think they're contagious.”

  The First Lady, with a daughter on either side, introduced them to the growing crowd in the corner. “Where's TJ?” asked the younger.

  “He's in the next room,” said Linda, winking at her. Linda had met both of them when she was hiding at the White House for a couple of days at Thanksgiving.

  “Can I hold him?”

  “Sure. Let's go see if he's still awake.”

  The First Lady sighed. “They've grown up so fast. They were both little when we moved in. It's going to be quite a change for them, living somewhere else.<
br />
  Fritz asked, “Do you know where you might move?”

  “My husband keeps talking about Riverboro, but probably here or Chicago. Or maybe Hawaii.”

  FRITZ, LINDA, AND ASHLEY wandered from room to room. Linda kept checking on TJ, asleep in the Red Room. They looked out the Blue Room windows and admired the spectacular decorations. They said hello to the secretary of defense, whom they had first met in September. Everyone who had been at the morning's meeting stopped to say hi.

  The good time froze when phones around the room started ringing. The president asked Jane to join the crowd moving toward the hall. “Another attack,” he told them. “This time in Norfolk. Four ships.” The president thanked everyone for coming, apologized that some of them would be heading to the Situation Room, and asked Fritz and Linda to hang around.

  One woman said that the attacks were like Pearl Harbor. Creases appeared on Linda's brow. Ashley's worry ruts appeared. He asked, “Do you think he'll need us?”

  “Probably not tonight,” Fritz said. “The damage is done. I hope no one was hurt.”

  A short while later, the president returned. When he joined them, he said, “Sorry Ash. No game tonight. It appears to be the same deal as San Diego. We'll know more when we can see what happened.” He frowned as he went to say goodnight to Washington's powerful.

  “We should get TJ,” Linda said.

  “Lin, let's wait until we can leave. No point in making him wait.”

  “It won't be long,” said Ashley. “But where's Jane?”

  “I didn't see her come back,” said Linda.

  The president and First Lady had said goodnight to most of their other guests. When James started to move toward the door, the president held up his hand.

  “Hang on a minute, James. Jane and General Beech are calling to get info. I'm really sorry about this. I wanted everyone to have a nice evening.”

  THE AGENTS LEFT from the North Portico with Sharon Andrews. The First Lady shooed the girls up to the residence. Ashley and the Russells followed the president and First Lady back to the Oval Office, where Jane and Tony were waiting. General Beech was on the phone in the outer office.

  “One of these days, I'd like to look around here when everything's not nuts,” said Fritz. “Does that ever happen?”

  The president exhaled sharply. “It doesn't feel like it sometimes. What's up, Jane?”

  Jane told them the MO matched the San Diego bombing, with greater damage. Four ships had sunk. “The admiral said they got a carrier, too. Still afloat, but a lot of damage.”

  “Casualties?”

  “They don't know. Some injuries on deck. Most of the crews are on shore leave, but they'll have divers out at first light. The Admiral said he didn't want them back yet. But every diver in the area is being contacted.” The electric glint in her eyes conveyed her anger.

  THE PRESIDENT BALLED his hands, told the First Lady he'd be a while, and told Jane to stay near a secure phone. She said she'd go to the airport with Tony. Then he pulled Fritz and Linda aside. He said he didn't know what plans they had for childcare, but he would like a secret service agent to go back with them. He wanted them to have someone with them at all times. Mary McElroy was great with kids and would be happy to take care of TJ. Shaken and grateful, they agreed. Although they had chosen a very reputable agency, they had not picked a particular nanny yet since Linda didn't have to go back to school until two days after Fritz's classes began.

  “Let's get you guys home. Mary has suitcases.” A clock chimed midnight. The president shook his head, and they left for Riverboro High. “Happy New Year,” he said, but nothing in his voice sounded remotely happy.

  BEFORE TJ was born, Linda could plan a schedule. School during the day, work at home. She was planning to finish her MBA in the spring. Her boss at the publishing house had sent her a steady flow of work, and she had gotten it all done. But she'd fallen behind. She realized it would be a huge help having Mary there a few days earlier than they'd planned to bring a nanny in.

  Chapter 8

  IN A GREEN leather recliner, the man glanced at his watch and returned to the annual report on his lap. It was just past nine. It had been a great year, and his greeting proclaimed it when the phone rang.

  “They sank four missile cruisers. You were right. They also have the Bush listing. I don't think she'll go down, but they'll have a problem moving her.”

  “Make sure we get the pictures to the right people.” He hung up. He raised his glass in a toast to the empty room, “Happy New Year.” He left his report, went up a fifteen-foot-wide staircase, and began dressing for his guests. The steps heard “Auld Lang Syne” as he climbed.

  * * *

  “HAPPY NEW YEAR. NOT,” Fritz said. Linda frowned in response. Fritz turned on the TV as soon as they got in. Linda put TJ to bed and showed Mary the guest room.

  “Fritz, this smells like the fall all over again.” He scanned for reports, but all the stations were carrying New Year's shows. Anderson Cooper was still in Times Square. There was no crawler. The news hadn't yet become public.

  He said, “Let's go to bed. We'll have all day to watch.”

  “THANK GOD FOR coffee makers.” Fritz yawned. Linda was booting her laptop, her coffee at arm's length. She glanced up at his slurp. “Sorry. It's hot.”

  “Fritz, start scrambling eggs, and I'll look for news.” As he went to the refrigerator, Ashley and Jane walked in wearing their previous evening's clothes and with dark circles under their eyes. They grunted their greetings and went straight to the coffee. A wide-awake TJ gurgled in Mary's arms. Jane told them about the damage.

  “What time did you get home?” Fritz asked.

  “A little after the sky was bright enough to see,” answered Ashley, taking a sip. “They got a carrier. And an eyewitness filmed it again.”

  Jane rubbed her eyes. She said she had talked to the president at seven. Once more, NBC had the pictures. Another exclusive. “This is all wrong.”

  “NBC. Not the others?” asked Fritz. “Are they going to give up the film?”

  “I don't know yet. A cabinet meeting is starting at 11:30. The president ordered all nearby videos to be confiscated. The Navy probably won't have all of them until tomorrow.”

  Jane watched the TV with her usual intensity. In the NBC film, the underwater explosions were loud thumps, but no significant fireworks were visible until the USS Bush. That explosion was at water level.

  Thinking aloud, Jane asked, “Why did they only have one device?” She took out her phone. “Good morning, Lily. And you, too. Is he available?

  “Mr. President, we may have spotted something on the Bush. We need to look at the shore videos as soon as they come in. I think we'll see the divers again.” She listened and then said, “I can if you want. Tony's up.” She asked Fritz if he could get her to the Oval Office.

  Fritz shrugged. “I'll go get ready.”

  * * *

  TONY PACED by the school door. Jane said, “Fritz, I won't be back until later. Maybe not until tomorrow. Tell Ash I'll call.” Before the classroom door closed, the president, in shirt sleeves and wrinkled pants, called out. His eyes revealed a weariness that came from more than just lack of sleep.

  “Fritz, are you going to be home?”

  “I expect so.”

  “I may need to visit New York. NBC's still giving me a hard time.”

  “Call me. We'll be there.”

  “Why don't you come for dinner?”

  “Thanks, Mr. President, I'll ask Linda.”

  “I know. You don't want to come, so you are setting up to blame her.” He laughed. “Talk to you later.”

  WHEN FRITZ ARRIVED home, he told Linda they had been invited to dinner.

  “I haven't made anything. Jane will be there.”

  “So, you want to go?”

  “Might as well.”

  Fritz asked if any new stories had been reported.

  “Not yet,” she said. “Call about dinner.”


  They watched planes removed by crane from the aircraft carrier, which was listing to starboard. The NBC film of the explosions, complete with audio, showed rescue boats shuttling around the harbor in the aftermath. After the explosions, searchlights combing the water furnished no new information.

  * * *

  THE PRESIDENT was waiting when they crossed the threshold at dinner time and flashed a knowing smile at Fritz. “Glad you could make it,” he said. “Nothing fancy. Some of the stuff that was left from last night and a casserole of something. Jane's upstairs.” They ate in the residence with the First Lady, the girls, and James. The crib and swing had been moved to the family dining room, and TJ napped while they ate. The president bantered back and forth with Ashley about the bowl games. Heads swiveled as the debate continued. Fritz thought that it was incredible that the president could be so engrossed given all the problems confronting him. He shook his head. The president noticed. As if he had sucked the thought out of the air, he said, “Compartments, Fritz.”

  “You really can do it.” Fritz recounted their November conversation about compartmentalization. It seemed so long ago. “It's magic.”

  By the end of the meal, Ashley and the president had made a ten-dollar bet.

  Once dessert was served, Linda asked, “Are you planning to use the portal tonight?” The president shook his head. She was touched they had been asked to the White House just to socialize.

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, Ashley and Jane arrived with five bags of groceries. Fritz jumped to hold the door. “What's all this?”

  “Good morning to you, too,” said Ashley.

  Ashley and Fritz made eggs, bacon, and toast. Jane and Mary joined them in the kitchen. “Time to fill you in.” Jane said. “The president spoke to the president of NBC. In light of the second attack, the network agreed to release the film from San Diego. The eyewitness was taken into custody early this morning. They checked her out, and she was in Washington on New Year's Eve. She's not talking.”