17

Vice President Herbert Lamar jolted from the sound of his chief of staff's panicked voice. "What?" Lamar asked. "What is it, Irving?"

Irving Vickers handed the vice president a cup of coffee with cream. "Take a couple of sips, sir, and wake up."

Vice President Lamar took the coffee, took a sip, and then said, "What the hell is it?"

Vickers sat down opposite the vice president. "Sir, I just got word that President Williams has been assassinated. His helicopter was blown up over Baltimore. All three helicopters were taken out."

"What?"

"President Williams has been killed. It happened about four minutes ago. You are now the acting president until you can be sworn in, which will be as soon as we land. We're forty-five minutes out." Right then, eight F-16s converged around the vice president's aircraft.

"It looks like they're worried about us."

"How?"

"Sir, I don't know the details yet. Sounds like some kind of rocket fired from the ground. All I know is that all three of the helicopters were hit. No chance of survivors. Everybody is scrambling. We've gone to DEFCON 3. Everybody will be at the White House by the time we arrive. You will be briefed then. After that, it will be your call, Mr. President."

"My God. Sweet Lord, what the hell is going on?" He downed the coffee even though it burned his tongue and throat. "Get me more coffee. I need to think."

"Yes, sir."

Minutes later, Irving Vickers returned to Vice President Herbert Lamar.

"Sir, we've been strongly advised to divert to an alternative destination to be safe."

"Where?"

"It's still being decided, sir, but probably Norfolk. We should know in the next fifteen minutes. We'll also pick up a military helicopter gunship escort when we get low and slow. Every available missile defense system has been deployed."

"Keep me apprised, Irving."

"Yes, sir."

* * *

Styles's cell phone rang. It was Starr. Styles heard tersely, "Have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"The president's dead, killed about twenty-five minutes ago. His helicopter and the two decoys were all taken out by shoulder-fired rockets. Looks like they came from a boat that was docked by the museum where the governor's celebration was taking place. I don't know many details, but I deciphered that. Vice President Lamar is to be sworn in as soon as he lands, since he's on his way back from Japan. I'm not sure where he's landing; that's being withheld for security."

Marvin Styles was not a man who found himself absolutely shocked by news. Yet there he was. He was eerily silent. Then, "What's your thought?"

"He would want us to continue what we're doing," Starr answered, his voice heavy.

"I agree. We'll finish here and meet back in your room at the Holiday Inn. Does J. C. know?"

"I don't know. It's starting to hit the media. If he'd heard, he'd have called."

"Sounds right. You call him. We'll be back ASAP." No good-byes were warranted. He turned to look at some jackets and said to Phillips, "Did you catch that?"

"Yes," she said, her voice choking.

"Finish what you need to," Styles directed.

* * *

Phillips had been busy downloading pertinent information onto a flash drive. She had been able to match not only a photograph, but a driver's license to the credit card receipt. As soon as that downloaded, she was out of the office like a shot. She practically ran over the chunky little store manager without so much as a look in his direction, her black eyes radiating pure wrath.

She climbed into the rental car, a silver Ford Crown Victoria, and burned half the rear tires off leaving the parking space. She glanced at oncoming traffic as she approached the area's exit and gunned it. She slid up to Styles, who was inside the car in a flash, which was good, as she was moving before the door was halfway closed. They didn't speak.

Phillips's body was exuding absolute rage. "I can't believe it," she finally said.

"I can. It's been the ultimate goal of the jihad for over ten years."

"Is there any way it might have been prevented?" she asked, fighting back tears.

"No. When you've dealt with these religious zealots like I have, nothing surprises you. They would literally fight to the last man to achieve their warped objectives. It's like a cancer. The only thing to do is cut it out, eradicate it — and that, Darlene, is exactly what we are going to do."

"How?"

"By doing what we do best, one step at a time, and not losing focus. I don't mean to sound cold here. Just try to understand this is how I've lived for twenty years."

Phillips only nodded.

Twenty-five minutes later, all four convened in Starr's room at the Holiday Inn. They sat at the dining table in the suite, silent.

Finally, Starr spoke. "J. C., you know the basics, right?"

"Yeah."

"Marv and I already talked about this, but I want your and Phillips's feedback. I firmly believe that the president would want us to continue on finding and stopping this new toxic threat. I have no doubt about that."

They both nodded in agreement.

"J. C., how long would it take for us to get back to the Ranch and then back here? There's a specific reason why I ask."

"Around seven hours, maybe a bit more, round trip for the plane. Then the chopper flight back to and from the Ranch, call that ninety minutes. Total flight time would be about eight and a half hours. Plus the time we spend at the Ranch. Why?"

"There's something there. That's all I want to say right now."

Styles glanced at Starr with a quizzical look. He said nothing.

Starr looked at Phillips. "You can do your research from the air, right?"

Phillips was quite shaken as she answered, "Yes, you know that, but would it be prudent for maybe one or two to stay here, continue with the investigation?"

"Normally, I'd say yes, but not this time. I want to get there and back as fast as possible. I believe it is that important."

Styles stood. "Normally, I'd grill you hard about this because it's not making logical sense. I also know you've got your reason, and that's good enough for me. Let's get the hell back."

Christman said, "Everybody meet at the plane."

Without even a glance, everybody went about their business.

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