Page 33 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

N ick watched her go, holding back the urgent desire to beg her not to. Stay , he wanted to say. Stay with me where you’re safe. Please. I need you. Don’t go.

“Mr. President.”

Nick realized Terry had been speaking to him. He closed the door and turned to his chief of staff. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“Are you okay, sir?”

“I… ah… Yeah.” He forced himself to shake off the dread of watching her walk away, headed for God only knew what. “What’s up?”

“How’d the meeting with Pierce go?”

Nick returned to his seat behind the Resolute Desk. “As expected. They want Sam off the streets and for Scotty to go to private high school.”

Terry sat in a chair next to his desk. “What did you say to that?”

“We told them Sam will continue in her job, and Scotty is going to Eastern with his middle school friends. Neither of those edicts was well received.”

“I’m sure they weren’t.”

“And then, after hearing that the Secret Service has extreme concerns about Sam’s safety, I had to let her walk out of here and go to work, because that’s what I promised her I’d do when I became president. But everything in me wants to forbid her from leaving this place for any reason.”

“Which, of course, you can’t do.”

“Right, so now I’m in a cold sweat about the possibility that everything from the drones to four new murders to the shooting yesterday could be a coordinated attempt to scare me so badly that I quit—or to scare her so badly she quits the force.”

“ What? ”

“Sam has a theory that the goal is to get to me through her, and at first, it sounds preposterous. That is, until you dig in a little and see how effectively it would work if something were to happen to her. I’d be out of here so fast, heads would spin, and they know that.

They know it. So they’re aiming for my Achilles’ heel.

Or, they’re aiming to scare her off the job. ”

“Who is it, exactly, that you’re referring to?”

“We’re not sure yet, but she’s got a long list of possibilities to consider.”

Terry sat back in his seat, seeming stunned.

“At this point, especially after the shit with the Joint Chiefs and Juan… What would’ve been ridiculous in another life is anything but in this one.”

“Wow.”

“So yeah, I just had to send my wife out to work, knowing someone could be intentionally gunning for her for any number of reasons. Good times.”

“And her detail is allowing it?”

“The agents assigned to her were offered the chance to step back, but they chose to stay with her. She’s become close to her lead agent, Vernon Rogers, so I’m not surprised he wants to stay.

” Nick rubbed at the tension in his neck.

“It doesn’t sit right with me to be bucking their recommendations.

If something happens to Sam, Scotty or one of the agents who’ve become like family to us…

I mean, how in the world would we ever live with that? ”

Terry thought about that for a second. “The thing is, they have a say in this. Sam is willing to risk everything to continue doing the job she loves. Scotty would tell you he’s willing to accept the added risk of attending a public high school with less built-in security than a private school would have.

These are choices they’re making for themselves. ”

“But the only reason they’re in any danger in the first place is because of me.”

“Sam was in danger on the job long before she ever met you.”

“Agreed, but it’s a thousand times worse now that everyone in the world recognizes her and knows what she means to me.”

“Granted, but that doesn’t mean she should hide out for the next two and a half years. She’s got to live her life alongside you being in office with all the reasonable security measures in place.”

“Pierce didn’t come right out and say it, but his message was that she’s a target, and that means her agents are, too.”

“Again, they’re choosing to accept that risk. I know it’s an impossible position for you to be in, especially after someone shot at her yesterday, but everything possible is being done to protect your family, and they have to make their own choices about some of this.”

“I guess.” Nick fiddled with the Montblanc pen that Terry’s parents, Graham and Laine, had given him for his Harvard graduation.

Terry was right, and Nick knew he had to accept that he couldn’t control everything his family did while he was in office.

But if he had his way, Sam would work from home and the kids would be homeschooled, which would make all of them miserable.

It was truly a no-win situation.

“Moving on,” Nick said. “What’s next?”

“We received a phone call from your mother.” He put a slip of paper on the desk. “She’d like to speak to you if you have time.”

The mention of his mother detonated like a live grenade in the middle of an already stressful day. “How did she get a call through?”

“She told the switchboard she’s the president’s mother and that if her call wasn’t put through to his office, someone would be in trouble.”

He had no intention of returning that call. “Of course she did.” Some things—and some people—never changed. “What else?”

“Something fun for a change.”

“How refreshing.”

“I thought you might say that. Every year around the Fourth of July, the president awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to, and I’m quoting the statute here, ‘any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.’”

Terry placed a thick file on Nick’s desk. “We’ve received numerous nominations from across the spectrum of politics and international affairs as well as business, entertainment, literary figures and so on. You can look through the nominations and also make your own choices.”

“So, I could, for example, nominate your dad if I so desired?”

Terry smiled. “You could.”

“You were right. This’ll be fun.”

Terry stood. “I’ll leave you to that until the budget meeting at eleven.”

“Buzzkiller.”

“Haha, enjoy the fun while you can, Mr. President.”

“Will do. It never lasts long around here.”

Nick opened the file and began to look through the stack of nominations, but all he could think about was Sam moving around the city like everything was normal when nothing would ever be normal again.

It would be difficult to focus on anything else until she was home safe and sound.

In the foyer, Sam pulled Vernon aside. “I’m asking a lot of you.”

“I’m aware of the concerns and choosing to continue as your lead agent.”

“Thank you. I wouldn’t want anyone else but you.”

“That’s nice of you to say.”

“I mean it.”

“I know you do.”

“I hate that my work is putting you guys in danger.”

“When we were assigned to your detail, Jimmy and I knew we’d be more exposed than usual due to the nature of your work, and we chose to accept the assignment anyway. You want to know why?”

“Uh, yeah …”

He smiled. “When your husband was the vice president, I very much admired you and your career and how you managed multiple roles. Not to mention, I enjoyed the time we spent together. You’re nothing if not entertaining.”

“Thank you. I do what I can for the people.”

Chuckling, he continued. “Then when I heard you planned to keep the job as first lady, I was proud of you, like I’d be of one of my own daughters.

I wanted to be part of it, and Jimmy felt the same way.

We wanted to be able to say we were supporting the first president’s wife to work outside the White House.

We wanted to be part of the history you’re making every day when you leave this place and go to work. ”

Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you, Vernon. Thank you so much for everything—and not just the stuff you’re required to do. All of it.”

“It’s an honor and a privilege to work with you, Sam.”

She tried to contain emotions that were all over the place in light of recent events. “I don’t take it lightly, you know? The risk you guys take on my behalf. I’d never want you to think…”

“We’d never think otherwise.”

“And Agent Quigley?”

“He’s been fully briefed and understands the mission as well as the risks.”

“Okay, then. I really, really want to see Jimmy. Can you check with Liz to see if this is a good time to stop there?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

When they stepped outside, Quigley was standing next to the SUV. He snapped to attention when he saw them coming and opened the door for her.

“Welcome to the party, Agent Quigley,” Sam said.

“My pleasure, ma’am.”

“You say that now. What’s your first name?”

“Carl, but everyone calls me Q.”

“We’re on a first-name basis in the SUV,” Sam told him.

Quigley glanced at Vernon.

“Q,” Vernon said, “meet Sam.”

The young, dark-haired agent blinked several times in rapid succession. “Oh, um, okay, ma’am. I mean, Sam.”

Sam laughed. “It took Vernon and Jimmy a minute, too. You’ll come around.”

“Yes, ma’am. Er… Sam.”

“There it is.”

Vernon sent the text to Liz, who responded right away that they’d love to see Sam.

“I’m glad they’re still speaking to me after this,” Sam said as Vernon drove them through the White House gates.

“Please, they’re big fans of you and your husband. We all are.”

“Certainly not all of you.”

“Everyone who works with you and your family are fans. Especially the agents on the kids’ details. They’re smitten.”

“Aw, that’s so nice to hear. It makes me feel good to know they’re well cared for when we can’t be with them.”

“Trust me when I tell you their agents would give their lives for those kids.”

“You’re going to make me cry.”

“Now don’t do that!”

She laughed. “What is it with all men and female tears?”

“We can’t handle it.”

“It’s hilarious to me.”

“We live to entertain you.”

“And you do. Every day.”

When they arrived at the George Washington University Hospital, both agents accompanied Sam inside, working efficiently to get her through the lobby to the elevator and up to the fifth floor, where Jimmy’s wife, Liz, met them with a hug for Sam. She was a pretty blonde, rounded with pregnancy.

“Thank you so much for seeing me,” Sam said. “I wouldn’t have blamed you for banishing me.”

“Oh please, stop that. Jimmy is crazy about you and very much looking forward to seeing you.”

“I’m so glad he’s okay, Liz. All I could think about was you and the baby…”

“We’re very thankful that he’s all right—and that you are, too. Those were his first questions after he came out of surgery: Where’s the first lady, and is she all right?”

“I’m fine, thanks to him.”

“That’s all that matters to him. While I have you, I wanted to thank you and the president for the gorgeous baby carriage you sent for our shower.

I’ll be the envy of all the other mommies, not to mention we adored the card signed with love from Sam and Nick, as if you’re not the first lady and president. ”

“You’ve very welcome. We can’t wait to meet your little one.”

“Us, too.” Liz linked her arm with Sam’s and walked her to Jimmy’s room, where a uniformed Secret Service officer stationed outside requested her ID, even though they recognized her.

Sam showed them her badge. “Thanks for keeping him safe.”

One of them pushed the door open for her. “Our pleasure, ma’am.”

Jimmy was sitting up in bed, his right arm in a sling and his face paler than usual. Otherwise, he looked good, considering he’d recently been shot.

“Hey, Sam,” he said, smiling.

Sam went straight over to the bed to give him a gentle hug. “Thank you so much for not dying.”

“I do what I can for my people.”

Sam sputtered with laughter. “That saying is trademarked and can’t be used without written permission.”

He laughed and then winced. “The ribs and the lung don’t approve of laughter.”

“Sorry about that.”

“No worries.”

“Are they treating you well in here?”

“I was just telling Liz I need to get shot more often, because I’ve never felt more like a celebrity in my life. Needless to say, she didn’t agree.”

“Too soon for jokes, James,” Liz said from the other side of the bed, where she held his hand.

“I’m so, so appreciative and grateful, Jimmy. I’ll never have the words.”

“Just doing my job, but I’ve been thinking about something I wanted to share with you.”

“What’s that?”

“Whoever did this meant to hit me and not you. I think it was intended to be a warning shot.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you were standing to my left, and I was hit on the right side. If they were gunning for you, they missed by a lot.”

“That’s true, and I hadn’t thought of it that way before. I’ll mention that to our team and the others investigating the shooting.”

“Maybe you could not mention that it came from me. I’ve already said the same thing to my own chain of command, and whatever happens next should come from them.”

“Understood. It’s a good thought, though. I don’t want to tire you out. I just needed to come by to see you, to thank you…”

“I’m glad you came. I hope to be back in the most interesting SUV in town before too long.”

“We’ll be looking forward to having you back. It’s no fun picking on my grasshopper without Vernon’s grasshopper there, too.”

Jimmy chuckled. “Detective Cruz needs me to help fight back.”

“Yes, he does. We’re going to see what we can do to ruin Agent Q while you’re out.”

“Go with God, Q,” Jimmy said, making Quigley laugh.

Sam gave Jimmy another hug and then hugged Liz, too. “Let us know if either of you needs anything.”

“Thanks for coming,” Liz said. “It means a lot to us.”

“Your husband means a lot to me.” At some point in the last few months, Jimmy and Vernon had begun to feel like family to her. “I’ll check on you later this week.”

“Talk to you then,” Jimmy said, smiling as he waved to them.

“I’ll be back tonight,” Vernon said. “You want another milkshake?”

“I’d never say no to that, boss man.”

“You got it.”