ALL IN: Race for the White House (40 page)

“Well, you kept your word to me and I won’t forget it.”

“Good, then it’s done.”

“Jack, you know there’s one thing that bothers me...”

“What’s that?”

“There’s like maybe a handful of guys who could take that shot, and Tommy wasn’t one of them.”

“Bob, there’s one more thing you really have to promise me.”

“Anything, what is it?”

“You’ve got to give up on the assassination and give this job 100% of your focus. I can’t afford to have you distracted when you take the reins. Besides, I’m putting my best man on it. You’ll hear all about it when we get into the Oval.”

“Normally I would stand outside the office unless you need something.”

“Not today.”

The impressive character of the oval struck me. I walked into a room bathed in light with large windows framed in handsome white colonial woodwork and raised panel moldings to the height of the seat backs. Chairs placed in pairs along the walls.
 

The floor was a work of art, laid in striking alternating light and dark woods covered by a gorgeous rug adorned with the Presidential Seal.
 

It had not quite sunk in yet. The Government Issue furniture consisted of two exquisite tan couches facing each other each with seating for three. The couches provided the main seating along with two chairs that sit prominently at the fireplace end of the room opposite to the president’s desk.
 

A portrait of George Washington hangs over the mantle standing watch over the proceedings. Behind the couches is a second portrait, of Lincoln. The only presidents represented on these hallowed walls. There is no contemporary president remembered here. Why? I imagine failure is forgettable, their absence a testament to empty promises and broken dreams.

Our time will be different. We are going to mark this place. Washington will never be the same.
 

An antique grandfather clock keeps time on the opposite wall.

Adorned with fabric coverings, the rounded walls match the seating, and the ceiling carries the Seal of the United States of America framed in raised white stars.
 

I can only imagine the historic conversations that have taken place in this room. Stories that could keep us all entertained for the duration of our stay. Now was no time for stories; this was our time to make history.
 

Everyone was seated when Sandy entered.

“He’s arrived, Mr. President,” then under her breath to me, “I don’t believe I’ll ever grow bored of stating that.”

All eyes were on her as she walked up to me to whisper the message.
 

“This meeting is simple, gentlemen. We live in increasingly dangerous times. There is a serious threat to our National Security. I’m sure you’re all keenly aware that our enemies are finding it easy to gather and exploit information garnered on a global network.
 

I had called together the newly appointed heads of all the policing and security agencies for my first morning meeting. I wanted to take control of these guys and introduce them to their new boss.
 

On the couches facing each other were the heads of the FBI, CIA, NSA and Secret Service. Bud, my Chief of Staff and Bill, my newly appointed Chief Advisor were seated in the two chairs opposite me. The new vice president sat across from Bud. Bob stood quietly through all the introductions, standing just inside the door.
 

I turned another chair towards the group, emphasizing that it was empty. Only Bud and Bill knew what I was about to say.
 

“I didn’t call you all here today to make sense of your recent combined failure to protect the President of the United States. This meeting is a positive step in the defense of not only the ideals of this nation but every person’s physical safety as well. Your core mission is to provide National Security and to defend this nation from threat, both foreign and domestic. The way I see it, we must improve on our efforts by integrating the agencies here today into one unit that shares information freely, unhindered by internal politics. In order to accomplish that goal, I am creating the position of National Security Director who will be the defacto head of all your agencies. You will report directly to him and he reports only to me. This is a Cabinet-level position. Consider any order from the National Security Director as a direct order from the President of the United States.
 

I pressed the intercom to Sandy, “Please send him in.”

“I am honored to introduce your new Director, Mr. Robert “Tip” Thornton. You are now a team, gentlemen, and you have a leader.”
 

“Mr. President, I am honored by the confidence you have placed in me, and I will work to achieve the goals you have set forth.”

Turning to the couches Tip began shaking hands, letting his staff know that he would be gathering them all this afternoon in his new office in the West Wing.
Tip would always be close by.

As the meeting was winding down and the group was leaving, I said, “Tip, hang with me a minute.
 

“Sure, Jack.”

“Pretty heady stuff, huh?”

“Yeah, I thought Bob was going to crawl right out of his skin with all the brass in there.”

“I know it, funny right?”

Tip nodded, then shook his head, “Bob.”

“Tip, there is something serious I wanted to tell you about. The Chief Justice has signaled displeasure at the temporary halting of energy speculation and the food release. One of the conservative media quoted him as saying this may end up in the Court.”
 

“I was so pissed when Barker appointed that conservative old fuck! So he’d rather have people cold and hungry?” Tip fired back.
 

“How do you think I feel? I want to sign those orders this afternoon and keep my promise to the people.”
 

“That court is way too conservative for my taste.”

“Tip, is there anything we can do? It’s 5-4 up there and I don’t want him, blocking us from the bench.”

“Jack, we’ve come too far to let them get in the way now.”
 

“Could we send them a message, remember when that justice was mugged in Mexico?”

Tip said, “Don’t look at me, I didn’t do it.”

“Funny.”
 

“No, seriously. We could set up a trip wire of human hair; in evening light, it’s almost impossible to see. Depending on the number of steps, we could put the old man out of commission for six months or more.”

“Has that ever worked before?”

“It’s an old agency trick. We weave the hair strong enough to cause a trip and fall. The evidence is so hard to explain.”

Tip dropped in places that would have killed a normal man from the fright. He was up for any challenge and once again was proving to be a valuable asset.
 

“I know a hooker named Brandy that we can get the hair from. She’ll be famous for a while telling the story of some kinky old guy that wanted to buy her hair. When she denies ever meeting the Chief Justice, no one will believe her.”

“I’ll spread some of her hair around his place when I show up personally to review the scene.”
 

“That’s ingenious, Tip.”

“It gets better. I’ll assign the case to some hotshot looking to make a name for himself. Officially, due to the salacious nature of the event he’ll report directly to me. I’ll steer him in the right direction. The Chief be laid up and his reputation ruined. Just like that, his career as a bench legislator will be over. The conservatives won’t be able to block your plans for America.”

“Jack, now may as good a time as any—when you have time, I’ve made a list that I wanted to go over with you.”
 

“What list?”

“People that need to be surgically removed to defend this nation.”

“Foreign or domestic?”
 

“The targets are mostly foreign, but there are a few here in the states.”
 

“What about Tommy’s people?”

“I don’t think Tommy’s guys are a threat. I told him if anyone knew he was with me, the deal was off and that you couldn’t use him. That it had to stay between the three of us. His vanity got the best of him, I guess.”

“Can we wait on the list a few weeks, Tip?”

“Sure.”
 

“Good, you’ll have the next eight years to clean house around the world. Right now, I want you to concentrate on the Chief Justice. Alright?”

“Dead or Alive?”
 

“What do you mean?”

“
Dead
you get to pick his replacement, somebody a lot more sympathetic to the people.”
 

“Alive… put him out of commission, we’ve got enough blood on our hands.”

“Okay, but don’t forget, Jack.” Tip said as he was heading out of the Oval.
 

“What?”

“You owe me a rifle.”

“That’s right, how much was the one you used.”
 

“Not that one, you already bought that, I’m talking about the one that shot Hobbs. That one was mine.”

“You buried it, not me.”
 

“I couldn’t very well display it over my mantle.”
 

“Too bad. Those guns would be collectors’ items, like those torture racks Gene had.”

“Wouldn’t that have looked nice on his wall with an onyx plaque? That sick bastard.”
 

I was sitting across from Tip on the couches with my head leaning back. We were like two guys talking about a game.

“Tip, you know it’s still going to be four-to-four. I’d really love to reconstruct the court.”
 

“
Dead,
then. I’ll string the hair from the top of the stairs.”
 

“No, can’t you hurt him enough to retire, I mean the hooker story?”

“Sure, who would you get to replace him?”

“You know who I’m thinking… Hillary.”

“She’s gotta be in her seventies, Jack.”

“No, she’s not. Anyway, that doesn’t matter. She’s iconic, probably the finest democrat of her age, and philosophically—at least she’ll provide help from the bench.”
 

“Chief Justice, do you think she’d get confirmed never having been a judge?”

“Of course, she’s so smart, Tip. The way Lisa was. She was leading on healthcare when you were still in the jungle. I’m not married to the idea, but I think with her high profile and the nostalgia of the good times, we could get her confirmed. We’re in the majority.”

“I guess I’m not really into smart women.”

“Figures your impeccable record with women runs from Bangkok to Tijuana. I’m not asking you to date her.”

“Jack, a lot of agents have failed relationships with women.”

“You loved Lisa?”

“Of course. She was like my kid sister.”

“Well, think of Hillary as your sister then.”

“Whatever, I leave the politics to you. What time frame on the Chief Justice?”

“Yesterday… I want to distribute that food to the kids. Sarah wants to spend time in Appalachia and bring some help.”

Tip opened the door. Turning back, he said, “Don’t worry, Jack. I will take care of everything.

I remembered so many years ago, my mom saying,
‘Jackie, come on now, Honey. We gotta go.’ I stood there frozen in time watching Rico—worried, my friend may never eat again. The bus started–I got a whiff of the exhaust. I heard the rattling of the diesel, as I stood too heartbroken to move. Dad scooped me up and carried me onto the bus. Mom hugged my back. Looking out the dirty window--dust kicking up the rear, salty tears in my mouth—Rico disappeared.
 

I heard a knock and Sandy opened the door.

“Do you need anything, Jack?”

“Oh yeah, Sandy. Will you call Bill and tell him I’m ordering a couple of Tens brought up to Andrews. A little play time for us boys.”

“You mean the jet fighters? Really, Jack, can you do that?”

“I’m the Commander in Chief. I could have them dumped in the White House pool if I wanted.”
 

“I’d try to keep that to yourself.”

“You’re right, it sounds arrogant.”

“Somebody’s gotta keep you grounded; I guess it’s going to be me.”

“I’m counting on you, don’t get starry eyed and forget.”

“I will do my best, your majesty! Mr. President.”

“Bill’s going to love flying jets again.”

Other Books by Greg Sandora

Love, Lust, and Loyalty

http://amzn.com/B0117TRQJ0

Gabby, Angel of God

http://amzn.com/B00IJA6XQS

Gabby, The Protector

http://amzn.com/B013PEQBDC

About the Author

I’m originally from the Portland, Maine area and lived and worked there for years before moving to Southwest Florida. My first book, Jack Canon’s American Destiny: He’s All In, is a Presidential Thriller, or some might say White House Mystery Thriller, packed with action, adventure, and romance. The sequel to Jack Canon’s American Destiny is titled Women of the White House: Love, Lust, and Loyalty. It has all of the components of the first but leans even more toward a Presidential Romance or White House Romance Thriller. The sequel is just as action packed, but with a bit more spice than the first, some say it’s very sensual. Anyway, both are available on Amazon now.