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The main road from the town had several turnoffs before and after the one leading to the church. They led to the bay or back into the hills above the church that were popular with fishermen, hikers and hunters. That was how Lexi and I had found St. Michael’s. We’d taken a hike here a couple of months ago and fallen in love with the area. Even though we’d been offered the use of the National Cathedral and other more prominent churches in the DC area, the intimacy and quiet location of this one had appealed to us both. I hoped we hadn’t made a mistake with our choice, especially since the quiet aspect was completely lost.

“Can I get everyone over here?” the photographer said, interrupting my reverie, as she stepped up on the small stool she’d been carrying around. “From here, I can shoot down slightly and get the church, the waterfall, and the drop to the Chesapeake Bay in the picture as a background.”

Lexi and I agreed it looked pretty, but I only half listened to her explanation. Yes, the bay and wooded hills served as a serene backdrop to the valley, quite lovely even, but that didn’t quiet my internal alarm. The mix of evergreen trees and budding oaks could certainly mask a small force of assailants, but certainly not a force large enough to threaten the security that would be deployed here for the wedding. I was certain that one or more Secret Service agents had stood in this same spot and run the same mental calculations. If they felt comfortable that they could protect everyone, I would have to trust their judgment.

But was there someone out there right now? The police already had a roadblock at the turnoff from the main road to the church. However, it wouldn’t be hard for someone to take one of the alternate roads to the far side of those hills to the northwest and hike down.

But what would they gain?

The alarm in my head persistently continued, so I clenched my fists, wondering what I was missing. Breathing deeply, I made one more careful visual sweep around the area.

That’s when I spotted the drone.

THIRTY-SEVEN

Slash

At first I thought it was a bird, but as I watched carefully, the object didn’t move like one. Instead, it hovered and moved vertically, as if to get a better view. It was a drone.

Damn.

So as not to provoke an immediate attack, I calmly interrupted the photographer and Lexi’s mom as they discussed which group would be best suited to have their photos in this exact spot.

“I apologize for putting a stop to this discussion, but we have an unplanned visitor that requires our immediate attention,” I said. “If you value your safety and the safety of those around you, you will resist the temptation to look around. I’m keeping an eye on the visitor for all of us and will alert you if the situation changes. For now, I’d like everyone to casually stroll toward the left side of the church, so it appears we remain unaware of their presence.”

“Oh, no. Not again!” Amanda nearly dropped her clipboard. “What is it this time?”

“Don’t worry about that now,” Lexi said, pointing at the church as if she’d spotted something. “Just follow me and act casual. Do not look around or seem scared, okay? That’s really important.” She slid me a sideways glance. “Drone?”

I nodded briefly and continued giving instructions to the group. “Once you’re at the church, walk along the side of the building and then quickly go around to the front. Once you get into the church, stay away from the windows and hide behind something heavy.”

To their credit, no one panicked, and everyone began to walk slowly toward the church, even the photographer who calmly folded her stool and walked next to the wedding planner as if she didn’t have a care in the world. She must have been well briefed about the perils of working with us.

Tito sidled up to me as we slowly strolled in that direction. “Was gibt?”he said in German. “What’s going on?”

“Drone, just off the right edge of the church roof, to the right of the big tree that looks like a Y,” I replied. “I only saw it because I was doing a visual sweep of the area. I’m sure the operator doesn’t know I’ve spotted it.”

“Friend or foe?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it?” I responded. “I think we would have been told if it were friendly and this one seems to be lurking rather than surveying. It could be paparazzi, but that doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Okay, what’s the plan?”

“I’m not sure what, or who, they’re after, but it has to be pretty clear the first lady isn’t here. So, that means this is a reconnaissance mission and the drone won’t do anything, or the first lady isn’t their target, and it’s one of us they intend to attack. I can’t explain why, but my instincts are telling me it’s the latter.”

“Another attack?” Tito’s eyebrow raised. “That’s bold.”

“And puzzling. But we need to get everyone to safety just in case. We can’t risk playing it any other way.”

“Agreed.”

“Stay inside with everyone, and if there are agents inside, bring them up to speed. I’ll talk to the ones outside.”

We reached the side of the church, and the drone fell out of my sight around the other side of the building. I directed everyone to move around to the front door and go inside.

“We have another drone watching us, and the church provides us the best protection,” I said. “Act calm and normal, but get inside, now.”

As we came around the side to the front of the church, I could see the drone was still lurking in the same position in the trees. I kept an eye on it as I ushered everyone into the church. Once everybody was inside, I closed the door behind them and strolled over to the nearest agent outside.