Page 55 of Enemy Within

Before that, then. He rewound, and then stopped. Held his breath as he watched. He played the clip over and then rewound it again.

Spiershad gone down to Horsepower that day.

Welby watched him on the video knocking on Horsepower’s door, wearing a sweatshirt that was too big for him, REICHENBACH stenciled across the back in blue. Ethan’s Secret Service sweatshirt.

Welby watched Scott poke his head out and scowl at the president. Watched Spiers plead with Scott to talk to him. Christ, Scott had takenthattone with the president. Granted, Ethan was his best friend, but still.

He fished out a pair of headphones from the desk and plugged them in. Leaning forward, he zoomed in on Scott and the president, peering at them on the screen.

Welby pressed play again.

“Where’s Ethan?”

Scott looked away.

“Please, Scott. Where is he? I’ve been trying to call him, but he’s not answering.”

Scott glared at the wall. “Why do you want to call him? Just to tell him it’s over? Give yourself closure? Trust me, he knows. He doesn’t need you to twist the knife any deeper.”

“God, no!” The president ran his fingers through his hair and gripped the back of his skull. “That’s not it at all! Scott—”

“Why are you wearing his sweatshirt?”

“Because it’s the closest I can get to him right now. I’m falling apart, and I need him?”

“You can’t just use him like that—”

“Damn it, Scott!” Spiers shouted, his hands fisted in his hair again. He spun, gasping, and glared at Scott. “Damn it, I’m not trying to use him! I’m trying to bring him home! I just told Leslie that I couldn’t be with her because I love Ethan. And because he’s it. He’s the one for me. I want to grow old with him. Spend forever with him. I want everything with Ethan.”

Scott stared, his jaw hanging open. After a moment, his eyes squeezed closed. “Goddamn it, Mr. President.”

“Please,” the president pleaded. “Where is he?”

“I don’t know.” Slumping, Scott leaned back against the White House basement wall and pinched the bridge of his nose. “He was staying at my place. I came home and he was gone.”

“Gone?”

“Gone. Left his cell and his wallet.” Scott’s eyes narrowed as he chewed on his lip. “Irwin wanted to know where he was that day. I think he went to see him.”

“Irwin. Lawrence. Okay. So… he’s probably on a mission, then. Black bag. Compartmentalized.” He squinted at Scott. “Right?”

“I guessed the same.”

“Okay.” Spiers closed his eyes, slowly pacing in front of Scott. “I’ll talk to Irwin. See what’s going on. I don’t want to interrupt if… if it’s something dangerous.”

“Here.” Scott dug in his suit pants. “I’ve been holding on to it. In case he calls or something. I don’t know.” He held out Ethan’s cell phone.

The president took the phone and turned on the screen. “At least he’s not deliberately ignoring me.”

Scott stared, frowning. “Are you certain?” he growled. “Ethan loves you more than you know, and this is tearing him apart. If you’re not absolutely certain, dead sure, about this, it will break him.” Scott’s jaw clenched. “He’s like a brother to me. I don’t want to see him like this again.”

“I’m one hundred percent certain. It’s him. Forever.”

“When he gets back,” Scott growled, “don’t fuck this up, Mr. President.”

Welby replayed the tape, back to the beginning, when Spiers first knocked on Horsepower’s door. He watched the president pace, watched his frustration build, his face fall. Watched him declare his love for Ethan to Scott, his passion-filled cry that Ethan and Ethanalonewas the one for him, the one in his heart. Christ, they loved each other so deeply. Ethan had been absolutelygonefor the man. Seeing Spiers come undone for Ethan soothed that niggling part of Welby’s brain that had always wondered if Ethan had given up too much. If he was too invested, and the president wasn’t all in, all the way.

He seemed all in on the video, though. Desperate to find Ethan. He was wearing his sweatshirt around the White House, even.