The satellite station at the Florida coast was attacked. I thought the grand commander was overreacting when he sent men to guard the coasts. I was proved wrong. It seems my hopes for foreign diplomacy were in vain. Countries don’t want to offer us aid, they want to take us over.
—The journal of Isaac Ryland
“This is an international nightmare,” Ian said.
“Walk me through what happened again,” Grant said.
“The prime minister of France is dead,” Ian said. “Her whole group died in a fire at one of the youth homes. For the first time in years we open our borders and this is what happens. I should have listened to you.”
“Was it really a fire?”
“Too early to tell,” Ian said. “The bodies were burned beyond recognition.”
“How do you know she was there then?”
“Some of her jewelry was flame resistant,” Ian said.
He looked down at the pin of the American flag on his coat, as if that piece of information made him admire the pendant all the more.
“How many bodies were there?”
“Still digging through the wreckage,” Ian said. “There were eighteen people in the building.”
“Any word on what caused it?” Grant asked.
“How will any of these questions help you with the press conference?” Ian asked. “I don’t want any cause for foreign concern.”
“Do they know she is dead?”
“No,” Ian said. “We forbade contact with the home countries while the leaders were under our care.”
Grant let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair. He hated being on this side of Ian’s desk. Grant belonged in the grand commander’s seat. This was the break Grant had been waiting for. Now, if he was given permission, he could chase Mia without the grand commander’s suspicion following him.
“If it were me, sir,” Grant said, “I would start by talking to our highest-ranking officers stationed in France. Find out which politicians overseas are supportive of America and then finance those campaigns. Normally the candidate who spends the most money will win. Who is set to take over in the interim?”
“I’ve already taken those steps,” Ian said. “Our best bet is the second-in-command anyway. Another female, but likely to follow in her predecessor’s footsteps.”
The wrinkles in his forehead increased as he glared at Grant. Then he relaxed.
“I suppose that’s another reason I know you’re a good fit as my successor. We think alike.”
Grant smiled and nodded. “Since we think so much alike, I volunteer to visit the site of the explosion. Maybe then I can tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to.”
“I take it you have reason to believe this was not a tragic accident?” Ian asked.
“National security is of utmost importance to you,” Grant said. “When we first met you cautioned me against surrounding myself with yes-men. Do you really believe you’re getting all the facts?”
“I have other confidants besides yourself,” Ian said. “I am sending General Camp out this afternoon. As soon as he debriefs me on the situation we will inform the French government and give our press conference, where I want you at my side. Nobody inside the country is to know about this.”
Grant frowned.
“Do you have another suggestion?” Ian asked.
“Pre-wedding jitters, I suppose,” Grant said. “I was just looking forward to a distraction is all.”
It was not difficult for Grant to press his lips with fake worry. He even forced his hand to twitch.
“Does this have anything to do with greeting the president of Taiwan yesterday?” Ian asked.
“I already told you I am baffled by his suggestions,” Grant said. “I suppose foreign customs are a mystery to me.”
“Well, his escorts do say he has been quite difficult,” Ian said. “You can go in General Camp’s place. It’s a six-hour flight and you leave in an hour.”
“If you allow me the courtesy of using my personal plane, it will only be a four-hour trip,” Grant said.
“You are much too humble for a man of your means,” Ian said. “I always forget. Whatever you are more comfortable with. Use my pilot though.”
Grant tugged the wrinkles out of his khaki pants as he stood up. His pale yellow and white striped shirt did the job of sending the message he wanted. Grant knew he looked unassuming, but humble was not something he shot for. Either way he was pleased with Ian’s decision. He knew there was something amiss about this so-called tragedy and planned on spending the entire plane ride studying his files on the French and their passengers.