Hidden Empire (Empire 2)

"This is all too complicated to believe," said Cecily.

"No, it's not. Conspiracy theories, they're too complicated. This is really quite simple. Torrent is able to respond quickly to the terrible things happening because in many cases he already knows that they might happen, because he set them in motion himself, years ago. He knew Aldo Verus was a loose cannon because he set him loose. He knew that somebody might use Reuben to make up their plan to kill the previous President, because he had mentioned Reuben to them as a guy to watch. He knows all the players, he knows their motives, he knows their capabilities, he doesn't have to know their plans, he simply recognizes what they're doing. The way I just recognized what Verus was doing."

"Then if he's so smart, why did he tip his hand?"

"Because he's a hand-tipper!" said Cole. "And Torrent is not. Torrent never tips his hand, but Verus has so much fun being Mr. Bigshot that he can't help tipping his hand, and that's why I might just get there in time to save the President's life. But only if you buy me time, because the jeesh will be working fast. They know I might catch on, so they're not wasting a second. So will you please call the President and get him to not be wherever it is they expect him to be?"

She must finally have believed him, at least enough to make the call, because she dragged up her purse and pulled out a disposable cellphone she didn't usually use and entered the whole number manually. "Ever since Aunt Margaret got through to the President using my phone, I buy disposable phones and throw them away after each call," she said.

"Expensive," said Cole.

"Secure," said Cecily. And then the President answered. "Cole has reason to believe that a six-man team of assassins with the ability to leap the White House fence and blast through any and all your defenses is on its way. He suggests that wherever you are in the White House, you should be somewhere else, and you should alert your security forces."

Cole reached over and took the phone. "Do not leave the White House, sir, whatever you do. If you're in a vehicle they can take it apart or blow it up. Only by hiding somewhere in the building are you safe. And call in serious military help, sir. The Secret Service is well equipped but they haven't trained to meet these guys."

Torrent was skeptical, of course. "Cole, these men are your friends."

"Sir, they gave me reason to suspect them months ago, and today all six of them are missing from where they said they would be. They have been listening to Aldo Verus's conspiracy theories about you, sir. They blame you for everything in the world, including the death of Reuben Malich and Reuben's son Mark. Now get somewhere deep in the White House where they won't expect you to be, and do it now, sir. I'll be there as soon as I can. You might tell the Secret Service to let me through, however."

"Will you also be jumping the fence? Because it'll be hard to tell you apart from them, Cole."

"I'll come in through

a defended position, and I'll show ID."

"I'm going to look very stupid if this turns out not to be real."

"It's conceivable, sir, that this is a hoax designed to turn me into the boy who cried wolf. If that happens, well, then I fell for it. But I couldn't not give warning, sir, or that would make me part of what they're doing, wouldn't it? Please go now, sir."

"I'm already going—do you think I was just standing there in the Rose Garden? The Secret Service is already rushing the Chinese ambassador out of the building, along with all the tour groups that happened to be here at the moment. And I'm heading—is this line bugged?"

"I doubt it sir, but I can't be certain—they all have access to Cecily's phone, if they want it."

"Then I will not tell you where I'm going to go. How will you find me?"

"I don't have to find you, sir. I have to find them. And they'll be making noise, if they're there at all. This will not be a stealth attack. It'll be brute force."

Cecily reached for the phone and Cole handed it to her. "Sir," she said, "is there any chance your security forces have any of those handheld EMP devices that were captured in Calabar?"

The answer must have been negative. "No reason, sir," she said. "It would have been convenient if they were there, that's all. But of course you had no reason to suspect you'd need them. See you in a few minutes. We're crossing the Key Bridge right now." She pressed the end button.

"I wish you hadn't said that," said Cole.

"Why?"

"Because if they're listening—and if they're tied in with Verus, someone almost certainly is—they know how much time they have. Because traffic's a bitch on M Street this time of day and my car doesn't have a siren."

"We could take K Street, the Whitehurst Freeway."

"It's so complicated to get on it from here, it wouldn't save us any time."

Traffic was backed up waiting for the Thirty-third Street light to change, and Cole pushed the trunk button and got out of the car.

"Get into the driver's seat, Cecily, and get to the White House as soon as you can. But please wait until I close the trunk."

"What are you doing?"

"Riding my Bones to the White House, of course."