Page 85 of Now or Never

“After a fashion. We are testing to ascertain precisely what substance was used. Not that it matters, as I believe you have the suspect in custody?”

“After a fashion.” Kenna peered out the windshield without lifting up too much. Looked like Ramon was fighting someone hand to hand, getting his workout in for the evening. The other guy was bigger than him, so her friend might even break a sweat.

The phone was warm against her ear.

“Have you spoken to him?” Kenna asked. “I asked him to pass on a request.”

“I’m told he won’t wake until tomorrow. We’ll discuss it then. I’m about to enter a meeting.”

Kenna looked at the dash clock. The president was working at this hour? She wondered what the meeting was about, but figured it was probably not her business.

“As I said, I just wanted to thank you for your actions. You likely saved his life, and this treaty.”

Kenna just loved helpingDominatusadvance their agenda to control the world. Not. “If you really want to say thanks, there is something you can do.”

“I’ll make no promises.”

“It’s fine if you just listen, because someone needs to know.”

“Go ahead.” It sounded like Tetherton had stopped moving.

Kenna tried to move on the seat, but it only made her more uncomfortable. “Have the taskforce investigating the bombing re-examine everything and address the possibility that Hann, Anthony & Associates were set up. That they were hired for that think tank purely as a trap so there would be enough evidence of their guilt that it’s considered open-and-shut.”

“You want the FBI to publicly apologize as well?”

Because she thought Kenna was asking for the impossible? “I know you want the threat eliminated. Congratulations, because several of them are dead. They realized they were being set upand defended themselves, which got them killed. I’ll convince the rest of them to leave you alone. To just go live their lives and forget trying to take you down.”

“This is what you talked to Petyr about?”

“No,” Kenna said, “that was a different favor.”

“You ask for much, Kenna Banbury.” The president sighed. “But I live in a world where favors are currency.”

“You’ll have them look at the case again?” She’d figured asking the president to just release the lawyers was too much. The FBI would have to explain their actions. An escape would launch a manhunt. Justice was always the best end to injustice.

The president said, “I’ll send that request to the taskforce director.”

“That’s all I ask.”

“Until tomorrow.” That wasn’t a salutation, just a reminder there’d be another request as soon as Peytr woke up.

“We’ll take down the threat targeting you and your friends.” Kenna paused. “But it’s something we need your help with.”

“I thought you were more than capable.”

“You’re the ones who made a point to tell me how highly you regard the unborn. You want my daughter to be in danger?”

President Tetherton scoffed. “Of course not.”

“Then I’ll need your help to pull this off without someone getting killed.” Kenna took a breath. “Someone inyourmilitary that you’re the commander in chief of is recruiting soldiers, declaring them dead, and sending them out to kill people. You hold the highest office in this country, which means you have the authority to stop this.”

“You understand our ways.”

“I know you’re a pawn like the rest of us. Guys like Petyr and Schnell are the ones with the power. Unless we stand up to them.” Kenna didn’t want to make this about women’s lib, but in theDominatushierarchy, women had less worth than themen. Why not encourage the president to use the reality of the position they’d put her in to do some good for once?

“So nice talking with you, Ms. Banbury.”

“Think about what I said. You can change?—”