The Target

Chapter 61

President Cassion’s handshake was strong and his face eager and filled with both happiness and gratitude.

Robie and Reel sat opposite him in the Oval Office. Across from them on a settee were Evan Tucker, Josh Potter, and Blue Man.

Cassion leaned back in his chair and surveyed them keenly.

“I have read the classified reports of your, um, adventure. I have to say it read like a thriller, only you two did it for real.”

Robie said, “We had a lot of help, sir. And if Agent Reel hadn’t called in air support for me, I would most certainly not be here today.”

Cassion nodded and said, “Du-Ho and Eun Sun are transitioning to their new lives. And Kim Sook is helping in that transition.”

“He’s a good man,” said Reel. “He did his job exceptionally well over there.”

“And my conscience is far clearer,” said Cassion. “Not that it makes up for what happened. But I have to think that General Pak would appreciate what we’ve done for his family.”

“I would think so,” said Tucker. “Without a doubt.”

Cassion shot him a stern glance and Tucker immediately looked away.

Blue Man cleared his throat and said, “We do have to be prepared for the blowback, Mr. President.”

“I understand that. It was part of my decision. I did not make it blindly.”

“Of course not, sir,” said Blue Man evenly. “But now we must address possible targets that the North Koreans will be after. As well as beefing up security and fine-tuning our surveillance networks.”

Tucker broke in before Blue Man could continue. “We have taken all of that into account. Rest assured I’m doing all that can be done to defeat any actions by the North Koreans.”

The president looked disdainfully at the CIA chief. “That makes me feel so much better,” he said.

The president walked with Robie and Reel out of the Oval Office.

As they looked ahead of them, Eleanor Cassion was heading toward them with their son, Tommy, in tow. His head was down and his clothes looked dirty and ruffled. His braided blazer had a tear in the sleeve. His shirttail was completely out of his pants and his school tie was askew. Behind him was a burly Secret Service agent looking very uncomfortable.

As his wife and son stopped in front of him Cassion said, “What happened?”

Eleanor said sternly, “Tommy got into a fight at school. That’s what happened.”

“A fight?” said a stunned Cassion.

Robie and Reel exchanged glances. It seemed obvious to them that the president was swiftly calculating in his head how the story would play out in the media.

Cassion bent down. “Tommy, what happened?”

Tommy shook his head stubbornly and did not speak.

Cassion straightened and looked at the agent. “What happened, Agent Palmer?”

Palmer said, “It was right at the end of class, sir. They were heading outside. A group of students. Then there was yelling and a bunch of them got into sort of a scrum. By the time I pushed my way through the students Tommy and another boy were on the ground fighting. I pulled them apart, made sure the other kid was okay, and then brought Tommy directly here, sir.”

Cassion put a hand through his hair. “What was the fight about, Tommy?”

When the boy didn’t respond Cassion put a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Tommy, I asked you a question, son. And I expect an answer.”

“He called you a stupid, spineless shit,” said Tommy, still looking down.

“Language, Thomas Michael Cassion,” said Eleanor in a warning tone.

“He asked what the fight was about,” retorted Tommy. “Well, that’s what the kid called Dad and that’s why I hit him.”

Cassion cupped his son’s chin and pointed it upward. Now they could all see that Tommy also had a black eye.

“Oh, Tommy,” said Eleanor. “Fighting solves nothing. Name-calling is meaningless.”

“You weren’t there, Mom,” Tommy retorted. Then he eyed Agent Palmer. “And if you hadn’t pulled me off, I would’ve kicked his butt.”

“He was doing his job, Tommy,” said Eleanor. “Which is keeping you safe.”

“I don’t need anybody to keep me safe. I can take care of myself.”

“Tommy, that is not the point,” said Eleanor. “You could have hurt the other boy.”

“I hope I did. I hate this place! I hate it! I want to go back home.”

“Look, son,” began the president, looking around nervously. “We’ll discuss this later, in private.”

“No we won’t. You’re the president. You don’t have time for your son.”

“Tommy!” Eleanor exclaimed in a shocked tone.

“You were covering your dad’s six,” said Reel.

They all looked at her.

Tommy said, “What?”

“You were just covering your dad’s six. Watching out for him. Sons do that for their dads. Daughters do that for their moms. Kids do that for their parents. You were protecting his honor. Covering his six. That’s what we call it in my line of work.”

Tommy rubbed his swollen eye. “I guess I did. Cover-his-six thing.”

Cassion turned to Robie and Reel, obviously relieved that his son had calmed. “Tommy, these are two of the finest Americans you will ever meet. They just performed an important mission on behalf of our country. They’re real heroes.”

Tommy looked suitably impressed by this. His entire demeanor changed.

“Wow,” he said.

Robie put out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Tommy. And for what it’s worth, I got in fights at school too. But I figured something out.”

“What? Better to turn the other cheek?” Tommy said in a sarcastic tone.

“No. I never really learned to do that. I figured out that if I talked to the other guy and tried to learn where his issues were coming from then maybe I could fix things that way instead of using my fists. Whether you win or lose, getting punched in the face still hurts.”

Tommy did not look convinced by this but said, “Okay.”

“You should get some ice on that eye,” advised Reel. “It really helps with the swelling. Just in case there’s a round two.”

Tommy flashed her a smile.

“Let’s go get cleaned up, young man,” said Eleanor quickly, pivoting him around. “And this is not over. I’m sure I’ll be hearing from the school, and you’re probably going to get a detention. I know you’re getting one from me.”

She glanced at her husband and said in a low voice, “Do you still think I’m overreacting? Nantucket here we come.”

As his mother pulled him away, Tommy looked back at Robie and Reel. Robie winked at him, and Reel gave him an encouraging thumbs-up. Tommy smiled again before turning away.

Cassion said hurriedly, “Sorry about that.”

“Kids are kids, Mr. President,” said Robie. “And he has to live in the world’s biggest fishbowl. Not easy.”

“No, you’re right. It’s not easy. I doubt I could have done it when I was ten.”

Cassion walked them to the outer door of the West Wing.

“I want to personally thank you both again. I know what I asked of you was truly unfair and really an impossible mission. And still you succeeded.”

Robie said, “No problem, sir. It’s what we do.”

Cassion suddenly looked worried. “Have you any inkling what the North Koreans might do in retaliation?”

Reel said, “Unfortunately, Mr. President, we present a lot of soft targets for them. That’s the downside to a free and open society.”

The president nodded, turned, and walked back inside.

As Robie and Reel walked back to their parked vehicle, they passed a landscaping crew doing some work on a flowerbed and an adjacent bank of bushes. All but one stayed focused on their work.

This man looked up as the pair passed. He took off his cap and rubbed his brow.

This was not done because of the sweat on his face.

A group of tourists walking along the street on the other side of the fence included three men dressed in polo shirts and khaki pants. At this signal from the man inside the fence, all three started snapping photos of Robie and Reel. As the pair pulled out of a side entrance to the White House a few minutes later, this same group of tourists took photos of their license plate.

Robie and Reel drove on.