Page 66 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

“Mr. President.”

“Secretary Ruskin, what’s the meaning of these photos we’re seeing?”

“Staged.”

Nick had no idea what to believe. “Are you free to leave the country?”

“I believe I am now, but I wasn’t previously.”

“Get on the plane and get out of there right now.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’d like to speak to the president again.”

“Hold on, sir.”

Nick listened as the phone was transferred from one man to the other.

“Mr. President.”

“I have no idea what kind of game you’re playing, but hear this. I’m not playing. Unless you want to face new sanctions and potential military action, you’ll immediately allow the secretary of State and the others to leave Iran and you’ll stop your nuclear testing. Do I make myself clear?”

“Abundantly. However, you should know that the secretary was always free to leave. It was his choice to stay.”

Nick would deal with that possibility when Ruskin and the others were safely on their way home. “I’ll be waiting to hear that their plane is in the air.” He pressed the button to end the call. “What the fuck is this?”

“I have no idea, sir,” the Defense secretary said.

“We’re working intelligence channels to get more of a handle on what took place,” Teresa said. “I’ve also reached out to the Secret Service director about debriefing the secretary’s security detail upon their return.”

“I want to know exactly what happened,” Nick said. If this was some sort of lapse on Ruskin’s part, Nick would see to it that he was prosecuted.

“Yes, sir,” the others said.

They’d come to the brink of war while the secretary of State was cavorting with topless women? He wasn’t sure he believed the man when he’d said the photos were staged. Ruskin wouldn’t have been Nick’s first, or even his hundredth, choice to be secretary of State. Ruskin had a swagger to him that was off-putting to Nick. His ego was as big as the ten-gallon hat he wore every chance he got. In Nick’s opinion, Ruskin lacked the gravitas to properly represent the United States as its top diplomat.

They waited another tense hour before they received word that the secretary’s plane was in the air.

“I prepared a statement for you to make to the media,” Trevor said, handing it to Nick, who quickly skimmed it.

“Let’s do it.”

Trevor made a call and asked someone to put the statement on the teleprompter.

Nick walked with his team to the press briefing room, where the White House press corps awaited an update, even though it was after two on a Sunday morning during a holiday weekend. The tensions in Iran, the sudden death of a president and adjusting to a new administration had all hands on deck.

That was another reason why the idea of running for president and holding the office hadn’t appealed to him. He wanted to be home with his family, not about to brief the media at the White House on the Sunday morning after Thanksgiving.

When he walked in, everyone stood, and the room went quiet.

“I have a statement I’d like to share, and then I’ll take a few questions. At just after one thirty a.m. Eastern Time, we received word that the plane carrying Secretary of State Ruskin and his entourage departed Tehran, and the plane has now cleared Iranian air space. I’ve been in touch with Iranian President Rajavi, who has characterized the incident as a ‘misunderstanding.’ Needless to say, we’re eager to debrief the secretary, as well as the others who were with him, about exactly what transpired. Until we’re able to do that, we’re not going to speculate on what occurred or make any statements about what, if any, consequences will be considered. At this moment, I’m relieved that our fellow Americans are safely on their way home, and I appreciate the cooperation of President Rajavi in bringing this incident to a safe, successful conclusion. I’ll take a few questions.”

The room erupted into calls of “Mr. President.” He chose the longtime White House reporter from NBC News. “Peter.”

“Mr. President, did President Rajavi give you any indication that the Iranians were attempting to provoke some sort of military or diplomatic response?”

“Our main focus at this time is getting the secretary and the others safely home. As soon as we know more about what happened, we’ll brief you further.”