The End Game (A Brit in the FBI 3)

“These coordinated strikes are in direct retaliation for Iran’s attempted assassination of President Jefferson Bradley and myself at Camp David.

“I am proud to say our Middle Eastern partners in this action come from all sectors of the region. As you know, President Bradley was in talks in Geneva this past week with representatives of all the countries in the Middle East, trying to find a way to address Iran’s nuclear efforts and to bring peace to this long war-torn region. It was his greatest wish to find a path to the future for those living in the past.”

She looked at the cameras in the back of the room, and away from the reporters, who sat in various states of shock.

And now she spoke directly to those who’d paid Zahir Damari to kill both her and the president, assuming, she thought, any of them had survived the attacks.

“All of you out there who wish us ill, who wish to kill us, make no mistake. We will no longer sit idly by while you plot against us. The strikes this morning are simply a first step toward eradicating the hatred and destruction you spawn throughout the region.

“There will be no more negotiations, no more concessions, no more compromises that are always from our side. We have sent you our first message. If need be, there will be more. You cannot hide. You cannot run. We are coming for you. We are doing all we can to minimize collateral damage in these attacks, unlike you, our enemies.”

She took a sip of water, looked from face to face. You could hear a pin drop in the room.

“Iran’s movement against us was an open declaration of war. To that end, I say, yes, this is a war. It will be swift, and it will be just, and at its conclusion, perhaps, then, we can make peace.

“As you have already heard, President Bradley was gravely injured in the assassination attempt. He continues to be treated in an undisclosed location, for his safety. He is in a medically induced coma while the doctors endeavor to save his life. I am happy to report he is showing signs of improvement this morning, and I have no reason to feel he will not make a full recovery.

“For the moment, though, he is unable to discharge the duties of his office. I am following the steps set forth in our Constitution under the twenty-fifth amendment to lead this country in its time of need. When the president is capable of returning to active duty, I will return to my role as vice president.

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nbsp; “In the meantime, I will execute the duties of the office, and continue to punish those who dared attack us on our own soil.

“May God watch over our coalition forces in this endeavor. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.”

The room exploded with shouted questions as Callan stepped away from the lectern. Quinn gave her a smile and a thumbs-up, and the press secretary took the stand to handle the questions.

Nicholas and Mike were waiting outside the pressroom, watching Callan on the monitors in the small hallway. They heard a reporter yell after Callan, “Madam Vice President, what happened to the person who tried to kill you?”

They watched her turn, raise her hand, and instantly there was silence. She said in a loud, clear voice, “He was shot and killed.” And then she came out of the room and was walking quickly toward them. “Walk with me,” she said, not pausing, and they followed her to the Cabinet Room. The long table was full. Discreet brass placards with the names of the president’s cabinet identified those Mike didn’t recognize.

The room erupted into applause as they entered. Every cabinet member got to their feet.

Callan brought Mike and Nicholas to the head of the table, a hand on each back.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce you to the people who saved the life of President Bradley—not once, but twice—and saved me, as well. Special Agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine are shining examples of the heroes this country is honored to employ in our law enforcement services. We owe them both a debt of gratitude, and when the president is back on his feet, I will be recommending them for the Medal of Honor for their intelligence and their incredible bravery.”

More applause, shouts, and whistles, decorum completely lost after Callan’s words.

Callan raised her hand. “Let me add that Agent Caine was the one who shot the assassin, Zahir Damari, while he was trying to escape.”

More applause.

Callan again raised a hand. “I want to assure all of you that I wasn’t spinning a tale for the media. The president is doing better. The poison Damari used in the champagne was midazolam—you might know it as Versed, a drug they give you before surgery. It was a fatal dose. Without Agent Drummond moving so fast, without the medic really knowing his stuff well enough, the president would be dead. Now he will live.”

Mike felt goose bumps rise on her arms. She was trying to memorize every word the vice president said, everyone’s reaction—and there was the secretary of state, clapping wildly, for her and Nicholas—so much, too much, and she couldn’t wait to tell her parents. She knew she would hold this close to her for as long as she lived. There was no doubt in her mind that patriotism was still very much alive and well in the halls of the White House.

She felt Nicholas’s hand close around hers. Strong, steady, that was Nicholas, honorable to his core, not to mention a wild man. A moment in time, she thought, she’d just lived through a moment in history that would last her forever.

Nicholas tightened his hold on Mike’s hand. When Callan turned and winked at him, he very nearly laughed. He was very grateful they weren’t expected to say anything. His mind was perfectly blank.

Callan said, “I would like to tell you that I received word from Mossad that they’d captured both Colonel Vahid Rahbar and his Hezbollah cohort, Hasan Hadawi, known, I’m told, as the Hammer, along with the scientist who’d reproduced Spenser’s coin bomb. They were headed for Israel’s border.

“Evidently, both the colonel and the Hammer wanted to witness what the bombs could do with their own eyes.

“As to any bombs found with them, I formally requested that the Israeli government return them to us, which they will do. I fully expect the count to be on the short side.” And she thought of Ari’s jubilant shouts, and smiled.

There were huge sighs of relief around the room, more applause.