8:55 A.M.
FLOOR 18
UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT BUILDING
OFFICE OF THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL
FIRST AVENUE AND FORTY-SECOND STREET
NEW YORK CITY
In the lobby, Dellenbaugh separated from the group and walked with Ambassador Brad Wasik to a waiting elevator. They climbed aboard, alone.
Dellenbaugh looked at Wasik.
“I hear you’re thinking about going back to Arizona and running for governor,” said Dellenbaugh.
“Yes,” said Wasik. “I apologize for not telling you first, sir.”
“Don’t apologize,” said the president. “But I have another job I want to talk to you about.”
The elevator doors opened on the eighteenth floor. As Ambassador Wasik and the president stepped off the elevator, Dellenbaugh was met by the head of the Secret Service, Gene Callanan. Callanan took Dellenbaugh’s forearm sternly. He pushed Dellenbaugh away from the gathered crowd. Callanan handed the president his cell phone.
“Mr. President, it’s Adrian King,” said Callanan.
“Thanks,” said Dellenbaugh, taking the phone. “What’s up?”
Dellenbaugh was suddenly surrounded by a crowd, including employees of the U.S. Mission to the UN, as well as VIPs from other countries and from the secretary general’s staff. He put the cell to his ear.
“We have a serious situation, sir,” said King on the phone.
Dellenbaugh smiled as he moved through the crowd, stopping and saying hello even as he spoke to his chief of staff. Many of the faces were familiar, individuals who’d worked to get him elected president, who now worked for the administration—and he stopped to say hello to each one, even as he knew he needed to hear what his chief of staff had to say.
“Excuse me,” said the president to one of the UN staff members, as he found Ambassador Wasik and gave him a look. Wasik saw the urgency of the call and situation. He led Dellenbaugh away from the throng.
The president stepped to the window and looked back at the gathered crowd, all there to meet him.
“A situation?” said the president.
“It looks like there could be an imminent terror attack about to take place on the United States,” said King.
“Where?” said Dellenbaugh.
“New York City. If I had to guess, you, sir,” said King.
“What the hell are you saying?” said Dellenbaugh, barely above a whisper.
“I think you should make an Irish exit,” said King. “Get back on the elevator and we can reschedule the speech.”
“No way,” said President Dellenbaugh. “I’m surrounded by people and I’m about to give a speech I’ve wanted to give for a year now.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so, sir,” said King.
“Who is it?” said Dellenbaugh.
“Hezbollah.”
“I’m not backing down from giving a speech in my own country, Adrian.”
“There isn’t going to be any speech, sir,” said King.