by Mark Spaid
“Don’t miss your chance,” She said. Kulagin smiled but as he started to press the trigger a knife flew across the room and went deep in his neck from the side. He choked and spit up blood before dropping his weapon. He turned to see Little Wolf standing on one leg and Julieta holding him. It was the last thing the Stalinist saw before he fell backwards and died. Security men entered the room and saw Justin and Andy on top of Lanewsky and Jozette holding an assault rifle. They aimed at her but Vladimir, who was sitting up with some pain began shouting in Russian and they backed off and corralled Lanewsky.
“Please help us, we need many ambulances,” Julieta said. Dave went to Tatiana. She was groggy but alright as Dave held her in his arms. Orders were barked out and emergency personnel came into the room and began working on the wounded.
“Do you always have to be a hero?” Dave asked. She was bleeding at her temple and he wiped the blood away and held her head to his chest.
“Seemed like the thing to do and besides I was trying to turn you on,” she said and smiled.
“President Deniken is seriously wounded and Agent Rodriguez,” Ellen barked out and they were the first to be taken away on a stretcher. Warren woke up and lay on a gurney as Ariel walked beside him to the ambulance. A medical worker bandaged Ellen’s arm and she walked over to Little Wolf.
“Thanks for saving my life,” she said to Little Wolf who nodded.
“My pleasure, Madam President.”
“I’m sorry that all of this happened to you folks.”
“We’re just sorry that your friend was killed,” Jozette said.
“Yes, she was a dear friend and I’ll miss her to the day I die,” Ellen said with wet eyes.
“Ma’am, I’ll be in surgery but agent Wheaton will watch over you,” Trent said as he was taken out on a gurney.
“Hey, Yankee, how are you feeling?” Vladimir asked as his gurney was brought alongside of Trent’s.
“Been better, what about you?”
“I’ve had worse nights with a bottle of vodka.”
“I have no doubt.”
“Take care of yourself, Yankee.”
“You too, Russkie.” They were taken away and that left those that could walk.
“Madam President, wouldn’t you like to be carried down on a gurney?” Val asked.
“No, I’ll walk.” She rode in the ambulance with Bonnie to the hospital. Then they all waited in the lobby while their friends were attended. It was two hours and nothing. Pacing, reading, and worrying occupied them. Ellen was safely ensconced in a private room after her surgery. She wanted to be with the others but Val convinced her that she could easily be a target of a crazy if there were any around in the hospital and there very well could be on this day.
“Madam President I need to call the Whitehouse and tell them you’re okay,” Val said and she nodded. He talked to a security agent and was directed to a phone where he called and gave the news to Cheryl Wallach who went immediately to the situation room where the cabinet was meeting.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Falcon is up,” Cheryl said and there were sighs and smiles all around the table.
“Thank God,” Marty said.
“Where is she?” Valerie asked.
“In a hospital. She was shot in the arm but will be okay. There were other injuries and Clarice Wallace was killed.”
“They were very close,” Susan Rojas said.
“And Kulagin?” Perry asked.
“Dead along with several of his henchmen and the rest are in custody.”
“Hallelujah for that,” Valerie added.
“When will the President get back here?” Marty asked.
“She’s at the hospital and won’t leave until everyone is okay,” Cheryl answered.
“Thank you, agent Wallach,” Marty said and Cheryl left the room.
* * *
“Sir, I have good news,” Cheryl said as she stood outside the door of the residence speaking to Don who let out a sigh.
“Is Mom okay?” Shelly asked as she ran to the door followed by Brian.
“She was shot in the arm but she’ll be fine and she should be home in a few days.”
“Thank God for that,” Don said as his kids hugged him.
“I’ll inform you when she has left the country on Air Force One.”
“Thank you, Cheryl.”
“I’m so relieved, dad,” Shelly said.
“Me too,” Brian added. I was so afraid something would happen to her before I could say how sorry I was.” Don smiled.
“She’ll be glad to see you too, Brian. Hey how about a movie and pizza?” It was met with approval and they relaxed that evening and enjoyed the movie as they waited for Ellen to get back home.
* * *
“Mr. Swanzy,” A doctor said as he came into the surgical waiting room.
“Yes.”
“Your wife is doing fine and she’ll be out of recovery and in her room in an hour or so.”
“Thank you.” There was a parade of doctors and nurses after that. Warren didn’t need surgery and was in a trauma room with Ariel. Johnny Rodriguez pulled through. Bonnie was touch and go but she came through the surgery and was in her room. Against Val’s advice Ellen went to see Bonnie and sat at her bedside for two hours. Three days later everyone left the hospital and cars took them to the airport in Kerch. Airforce One was ready and staffed with secret service agents that flew in the night before. Everyone was seat belted and the plane took off. Once in flight they all breathed a sigh of relief.
“How’s your leg, Brave?”
“Okay, the pain killers help.”
“My hero,” Julieta said as she put her head on his shoulder.
“My wife the warrior.”
“I’m just a dentist from Indiana.”
“Keep talking but I know better.”
“Warren, does your head hurt?”
“Only when I’m awake.”
“Why did you tell Kulagin that you wired the door?”
“I didn’t want an innocent person to get killed because of me.”
“You could’ve been killed just to save some other person.”
“No, not just someone. That innocent person was you, Ariel. You were the only person that I was scared for.” She looked in his face and smiled
“How is that secret service agent?” Belinda asked.
“He came through surgery and he’ll be fine,” Jozette said.
“What about the Russian President?” Belinda continued.
“He’ll be laid up for a month or so but the Prime Minister Berelenov is standing in and the treaty will be finalized and signed by President Lexington and President Deniken in three months in Bern, Switzerland,” Justin said.
“Why there?” Belinda asked.
“Switzerland is neutral,” Justin said and Belinda gave a look of bewilderment.
“Little Wolf,” Jozette said and he turned to Belinda. He had heard everything and knew it’d fall upon him to explain it to Belinda.
“Switzerland has always been neutral, Miss Belinda.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means they don’t take sides.”
“What sides?”
“Well, the United States and all of the NATO countries are one side and Russia and her friends are on the other side.”
“And, Switzerland doesn’t like anybody?” Justin, Andy and Jozette chuckled and Belinda had a sad look. “I guess I said something stupid again.”
“I’m not so sure. Neutral means you don’t take anyone’s side but it could also mean they don’t like anyone.” Belinda made a face at Jozette and stuck out her tongue.
“Way to be mature, Lind,” Jozette said.
“You started it.”
“Alright, girls,” Tatiana said and they both calmed down.
“So, since the Swiss don’t take anybody’s side the treaty will be signed there,” Little Wolf said.
“Seems fair enough, thank you Little Wolf for explainin
g things to me without making me feel stupid.”
“You’re welcome, Miss Belinda.” Belinda smiled a big smile Little Wolf’s way then looked at Jozette and crossed her eyes. Jozette sighed and rolled her eyes shaking her head.
“Hello everyone,” Ellen said and they were surprised at seeing the president as they started to get up.
“Sit down, please,” she said as she spoke to them from over the back of a seat.
“How’s your arm?” Andy asked.
“I’m fine and I hope all of you have recovered.”
“We have, Ma’am.”
“I had planned on having a meal with you when we got back to the Whitehouse but our little interruption has derailed that. I’ll have to meet with my cabinet right away and for days probably. And the disaster in Virginia, of course, will occupy me for months. Thanks to all of you for what you did when we were held prisoners. You saved many lives. I have to say you’re quite a remarkable group of friends.”
“We’re sorry this has all fallen upon you, Madam President,” Justin said.
“Goes with the job, though I didn’t expect this the day Amos Clark called and asked me to be his running mate. I thought I’d spend four years cutting ribbons and meeting with the azalea queen. But things change and we can’t stop them.”
“I suppose I’ll have to go with what material you gave me for the interview,” Justin posed.
“That’s one of the reasons that I’m here. I’ll be planning campaign stops in the next few months when things get back to normal. I’ll be starting in Maine naturally, but I’m coming to Bloomington, Indiana and I want to come to your house, Mr. Weaver. And, I want all of you there. I thought we could have an old-fashioned cookout. That should play in backyard America. Then you and I, Mr. Weaver, can sneak off and finish the interview. I hate all the phoniness of a campaign but it has to be I’m afraid. I know Jozette might ask why I cave in to that nonsense. It’s the way the game is played. If re-elected and that is a big if, I can do much for people who need help. Abused women, single women, divorced women battling custody and alimony. To that end, Jozette, my people will be in touch with you so you can fly out to the Washington and spend a weekend with me as I pick your brain for ideas.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Jozette said.
“If I’m elected.”
“You will be, we’ll see to that,” Andy said. Everyone turned and looked at him. “Well, I can be optimistic, can’t I?”
“Counselor,” Ellen said as she turned to Little Wolf.
“Yes, Madam President.”
“Thank you again for my life but more importantly, I’ve been researching your accomplishments and they are considerable.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and if I’m elected, I’d like you to come work for me in the Whitehouse as my chief council.”
“Wow, I don’t know what to say.”
“How would you feel about that, Julieta?” Ellen asked.
“I’m proud of my husband and it would be the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“What do you think, Little Wolf?” Ellen asked.
“I don’t know. I like seeing Julieta every night.”
“I can understand that but there are long furloughs at Christmas, in the summer and the fall. You’d have an office in the Whitehouse. We’d talk every day. Your residence would be paid for and all of your trips back and forth to Indiana would be paid for. Right now, Pete Johnson who lives in Texas, leaves every Thursday after lunch and returns home. Something to think about. I’ll call you if I win.”
“Thank you, Madam President for the offer,” Little Wolf said and Ellen nodded.
“We’ll be landing in a few minutes. Thank you for coming and I want you to know I really enjoyed meeting all of you.” She gave a wave and disappeared down the aisle to her room.
“This will be the first time I’ve ever been active politically,” Justin said. There was general agreement among everyone on that point.
“She reminds me of Teddy,” Warren said.
“Really?” Ariel asked.
“Yes, except her voice is lower than his.” That brought laughter from everyone and two hours later the plane landed. They were back home and it felt good.
* * *
“Bonnie, go to the cabinet room and tell them I’ll be there in a few minutes. I’m going to see my family first.”
“Yes Ma’am.” Ellen ran through the halls to the residence, paused to straighten her clothes, took a deep breath then opened the door and walked inside.
“Mom,” Shelly said and ran and hugged her mother. “Mom, we were so worried.”
“So was I.”
“Hello, Madam President,” Don said with a big smile. She was still holding Shelly as she smiled at her husband and nodded. Shelly let go and she and Don hugged for a moment then she looked around and there was Brian standing with tears in his eyes.
“Hello, Brian,” Ellen said and he lowered his head.
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
“So, am I.”
“For what…I was the problem.”
“Not entirely; I haven’t been here for any of you enough and I’d like to change that.” Brian walked up to Ellen.
“I love you, Mom,” Brian said then hugged his mother and she held on tight.
“What happened?” Ellen asked. Don pointed to Shelly and she grinned and hugged her dad.
“We heard about your exploits over there,” Don said.
“They were embellished a little.”
“I don’t think you can embellish what you did. You have more courage than I have.”
“It was mostly fear.”
“Well, that can work too, I guess.”
“Mom, I’m sorry about Clarise. She was nice…we used to talk when she wasn’t busy,” Shelly said.
“Yes, she gave her life for me. I’ll never get over that.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Don posed.
“Maybe not but I still feel responsible.”
“I understand but perhaps time can make you feel better.”
“Perhaps.” They talked for a few minutes as they sat on the couches and chairs.
“Ellen, we’re happier than we could ever express about you being back with us safely but shouldn’t you be in the cabinet room?” Don suggested.
“I should and I guess I’ll go now but we’re having supper together and that’s an executive order.” They smiled and she returned one before leaving.
* * *
“Madam President,” Marty Ingersoll said as Ellen walked in the situation room and there were sounds of delight and relief all around the table. Valerie let out a long sigh.
“May I kiss your ring your eminence?” Valerie said as she got up and shook Ellen’s hand.
“When we heard you’d landed the cabinet took an official vote and demoted me to lackey.”
“Hardly necessary, I think.”
“Oh, it was and I was never so relieved. The cabinet can fill you in about the situation in Virginia. It’s bad as you might guess but I think our emergency people have done a good job. And now I’ll depart,” Valerie said.
“But we need you here, Valerie,” Ellen said almost pleading.
“No, the last thing you need is for Judas to sit at the table. Remember what happened the last time.” Valerie waved and left.
“What’s wrong?” Ellen asked as she looked around the room.”
“She was uneasy at the outset, Madam President. She felt and we agreed that we needed someone to act as President but from the outside she was a usurper or at least she thought of herself that way,” Marty said.
“But she’ll return as speaker,” Ellen said.
“No, she resigned her seat as soon as we heard you’d arrived in Washington. She knew she’d never be elected to anything. Here’s a poll from her district. This is the district that returned her to the House with a seventy-one per cent majority,” the Attorney General Haakon Meisner said. Ellen read from the poll.
�
�Eighty-six per cent of those polled thinks she should resign her seat immediately.”
“You can see that ten per cent want her to leave the country,” Marty added.
“But she was doing what needed to be done.”
“The amendment is a political death sentence for anyone who exercises it and takes over,” Susan Rojas offered.
“It’s not fair.”
“Who said fair has anything to do with it, Madam President,” Perry said. “She and I talked about it in private before she came in here and asked the cabinet to place her in charge. She knew the risks and she knew her career was over. We all know how badly she wanted to be President but she threw all that away because she felt there needed to be someone in charge if the worst happened. Then when the country heard about your exploits she was finished and she knew it. I can tell you that Valerie is a vain woman but I think everyone in here would agree that she took it pretty well. She read the poll also. Am I right?”
“I think so,” Louise Chen said. Ellen was thinking and then a grin came over her face.
“Madam President?” Marty asked as her expression suggested that she was mulling over an idea.
“I have an idea but I’ll keep it to myself for now. Kent, find Valerie and tell her to meet me in the oval office in one hour.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Ellen discussed a few things with the cabinet then left for her office.
“Ma’am, Valerie Jensen is here to see you,” Bonnie said.
“Glad to see you’re back at work, Bonnie,” Valerie said.
“I’m glad to be back, Ma’am.”
“Hello, Valerie,” Ellen said. “Let’s talk over here on the couches.”
“I hope you’re not trying to get me to stay as Speaker.”
“No, sadly, that ship has sailed as they say.”
“My political career has sailed away also, as they say.”
“Maybe not entirely.”
“You mean Xavier Corners needs a dog catcher or someone to run for the library board?”
“They probably do but no, I have something else in mind.”
“What may I ask?”
“Have you ever thought about the diplomatic corps?”