The Bear

Day Twenty-two The White House

President Edwin Kiger stood looking out over the lawn of the White House from the Oval Office. He watched as crowds passed by on the streets outside the fenced grounds. One small group had a sign about the actions in the Ukraine. How fitting he thought. The door to the official office of the President of the United States opened and his chief of staff walked in accompanied by the Director of the CIA.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen.”

“Good afternoon, Mr. President,” they said in unison.

“Please, have a seat,” the president said as he extended his arm toward the chairs before the famous desk. “I think you can guess as to why I’ve asked you both here.”

“I can hazard a guess,” Stephen replied.

“Do we have any word on what is happening with our team in Russia?”

“So far, we have heard nothing, sir. I can only think that is a positive sign.”

“I don’t know that I would totally agree with that, Stephen.” President Kiger pulled out his chair and sat down behind his desk. “I don’t always believe that no news is good news. Surely there has to be something, something someone has picked up.”

“Not at this time, sir.” The director looked toward the president’s chief of staff before turning his attention back to the president. “I think if anything had been uncovered in a negative way, we would have heard something back-channel by now.”

“And if it went off without a hitch?” Martin asked.

“Then likely hearing nothing is a positive sign. That would mean the mission was a success and everyone is on their way back without discovery.”

POTUS sat back in his chair and crossed his arms as he sighed. He was hoping for better news, hoping for some news, any news. There just wasn’t going to be any today.

“And we have recovery assets in place?”

“As close as we are able. Ground support is impossible.”

“I understand. Thank you. Keep me posted. I want to hear the minute you get any, and I mean any intel on this.”

“Yes Mr. President,” they replied in unison once again.