Still holding Noah in her arms, Sam sat by Shelby’s bed while her friend slept. The doctors had given her something to calm her, as there was some concern about raised blood pressure. Or at least Sam thought that’s what they’d said. So far, the news about the baby was good, which was a huge relief. Shelby was forty-two, so her pregnancy was considered high risk even without the recent threat to their safety.
Sam fought through exhaustion so she could stand watch over the woman who’d become one of her closest friends. When the nurses had brought a gown for Shelby to put on, Sam had asked if they had a pink one, which Shelby was now wearing.
She hoped her friend, who loved pink almost as much as she loved her husband and son, would appreciate that attention to detail. Was it only a few hours ago that Sam had met with Trulo and Malone and agreed to take a leave of absence from work?
That felt like weeks ago after the events of this evening.
Noah stirred and let out a squeak of protest at being held so tightly. He raised his head, saw Sam and gave her a gummy grin, displaying six adorable baby teeth.
“Shh, Mommy is sleeping,” Sam whispered.
“Is he awake?” Shelby asked.
They were the first words she’d spoken since they arrived at the hospital.
“He is,” Sam said. “Do you want him with you?”
“Yes, please.”
Sam transferred the little guy to his mother’s arms.
As Shelby held him close, tears rolled down her cheeks.
Sam stood and put her hand on Shelby’s shoulder. “You’re safe. Everything is all right.”
“Keep reminding me.”
“I will.”
“Avery…”
“He’s on his way. Should be here any time now.”
“Do you know who they were?”
“Not yet, but don’t worry. Everyone is on it. Just rest. That’s what you need now.”
“I was so scared, Sam. Not for me so much as Noah. I was afraid they’d hurt him to make a point or something.”
“You kept him safe. That’s all that matters.”
Shelby took a deep breath and let it out slowly, the sound of sobs still echoing in her breathing. “Thanks for staying with me.”
“Of course I stayed with you.”
A rush of activity outside the curtain preceded Avery’s arrival.
Sam had never seen him so disheveled or wild in the eyes as he rushed into the room and all but fell on top of Shelby and Noah.
Avery and Shelby sobbed as they clung to each other.
“Dada,” Noah said.
“Yes, buddy, it’s me. I’m here. I’m here.”
Sam stepped out of the cubicle to give them a minute alone and found Freddie waiting in the hallway.
“How is she?” he asked.
“Seriously rattled, which is to be expected. She’ll be better now that Avery is here.”
“What the hell, Sam? How did this even happen?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure the FBI is all over it. You can go home. I’m leaving soon, too.”
“Call if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks for being there tonight.”
“Of course. She’s… Well, you know.”
“Family. She’s family.”
“Yes.” He glanced at her tentatively. “So, you’re really taking a leave of absence?”
“A short one.”
“I think it’s a good idea. You should’ve taken more time when Spence died.”
“That’s been pointed out to me by others, so for once, I’m doing what I’m told. Something is off inside me. Not sure if it’s that, but it’s definitely something.”
“Then you’re doing the right thing. But are you sure I should be the lead on the Blanchet case?”
“I’m positive, or I wouldn’t have assigned it to you.”
“Shouldn’t Gonzo do it?”
“He could, but we agree that you’re ready for this. We want to give you the opportunity. Unless you don’t want to.”
“I do. I want to. I just… I hope you’re right that I’m ready.”
“You are, and you have been for a while now. If you weren’t my partner, you probably would’ve had more responsibility before now. In that way, I’ve been holding you back.”
“Don’t say that. It’s not true. The only reason I’m any good at this job is because of you.”
“Nice suck-up. It’ll be remembered at annual review time.”
“I mean it.”
“I know you do.”
“Am I allowed to consult with you as the case unfolds?”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”
“I’m afraid I’ll mess it up somehow.”
“You won’t. Gonzo will be watching.”
“Okay, then…”
“Do what we always do. Follow the leads wherever they take you. Do the legwork. Pull the threads. Talk to the people. Draw your conclusions. You know the drill.”
“I’ll do my best to make you proud.”
“You make me proud every day.” She squeezed his arm. “How’s Elin?” His wife had recently suffered a miscarriage.
“Better. I think. It’s hard to tell. We’ll go a whole day without tears, and then the next day is a disaster.”
“That sounds about right. It’s apt to be that way for a while.”
“Good to know it’s normal.”
“It is, and I’m sorry you’re finding that out the hard way. The good news is you’ll both feel better with some time. When you’re ready, you can try again.”
“I guess. We’ll see.”
“Don’t let the grief distract you from the goal, Freddie. You and Elin are meant to be parents. I’m sure of that.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“When have you known me not to be?”
He rolled his eyes. “On that note, don’t disappear on me, you hear?”
“Like you wouldn’t know where to find me if I did. Start with the other partner in the medical practice tomorrow. Rory. Ask him about the screaming fight. You know what to do.”
He nodded. “Just for the record, though, it won’t be as much fun without you.”
“Of course it won’t.”
Predictably, he groaned. “That was a softball.”
“And I hit it out of the park. Go home. Get some sleep. Thanks for coming.”
“Are you going home?”
“As soon as I get a chance to talk to Avery.”
He couldn’t stop touching their faces, kissing them, stroking their hair, breathing in their familiar scents. Avery had feared he’d never see them again, and now that they were back in his arms, he might never let them out of his sight again.
Shelby hugged him so tightly, he could barely breathe, but who cared about breathing when the love of your life was back in your arms after fearing she might be killed? And Noah… The little guy was teary-eyed because his parents were. Fortunately, he’d never remember this horrifying evening.
He and Shelby would never forget it.
“It’s okay now, love,” he whispered to Shelby. “I’m here, and you’re both safe.”
Her body shook with sobs that enraged him. Someone tied to him had done this to her. To them. He would make them pay for that.
Avery stayed with them until they finally settled into a restless sleep. Only then did he disentangle himself so he could start to figure out how his family had nearly met with catastrophe.
Sam waited for him outside the cubicle. “How are they?”
“Distraught but sleeping.” He rubbed at the back of his neck, which was tight with more tension than he’d ever experienced. “What do you know?”
“Not much. There was a man and a woman. He had a gun. We couldn’t tell if she did, too. They’re in federal custody, so George will know more than I do.”
“Thanks for being here with her.”
“I wouldn’t have been anywhere else. Since you’re with them now, I’m going to head home.”
“Okay.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“I will.”
“I’ll check in tomorrow.”
He nodded and went back into the cubicle to be with his family. How would he ever leave them again for any reason? His phone rang, and he took the call from George. “Who are they?”
“Remember the Farmington case about seven years ago?”
“No way. Did they get parole?”
“Apparently, and their first stop was your house.”
“Holy Christ.” They were a couple of drugged out scumbags who’d been caught up in a federal investigation Avery had led into the trafficking of illegal guns. He felt sick knowing they’d been in his home and threatened his wife and son. A wave of nausea overwhelmed him. He bent at the waist, trying to breathe through it.
“We’re booking them on the new charges now and will get them before a judge in the morning. I expect their parole to be immediately revoked.”
Avery searched his memory bank for the people involved in the home invasion back then. He recalled wild hair and eyes, a deranged sense of entitlement, a desire to live in a country without a government, without laws or rules. That’s who’d held his wife and son at gunpoint.
He thanked George for the info and ended the call. Avery stood next to the bed where Shelby slept with Noah in her arms. He leaned over the bed rail to kiss her forehead and then her cheek. “I’m so sorry, darlin’. I’m so damned sorry.”
The door to the Situation Room opened to admit Attorney General Reginald Cox. At about sixty years of age, Cox had retained the muscular build of the football player he’d once been at Auburn University. He had wavy blond hair that had begun to go gray and sharp blue eyes.
He shook Nick’s outstretched hand. “Mr. President.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“Of course. What can I do for you, sir?”
“I’ve summoned several others, but before they arrive, I have an important question for you.”
“Sir?”
“Since you were President Nelson’s attorney general, I need to give you an out if you aren’t willing to defend my government against a possible military coup.”
Cox’s face went flat with shock. “A military coup.”
“That’s right.”
“By whom?”
“The Joint Chiefs.”
Cox blinked in disbelief.
“I’m giving you the chance to resign right now if you don’t feel equipped to handle this situation.”
“I, ah…” Cox pulled himself together and made eye contact with Nick. “I don’t wish to resign, sir.”
“And I can count on you to defend the Constitution of the United States in this matter?”
“Yes, sir.”
Nick breathed a sigh of relief that his top law enforcement officer would have his back. After having inherited Nelson’s cabinet, he was never certain of who among them he could trust. This incident had brought home the fact that he was going to have to have that same conversation with every one of Nelson’s holdovers. Any refusal to uphold their oath of office would result in them being fired.
When Derek and Terry arrived, he took them aside to fill them in on what Juan had told him, while keeping his source confidential.
“What?” Terry asked on a long exhale.
“Holy shit,” Derek added. “What’s the plan?”
“I’ll confront the Joint Chiefs with the information I’ve received and go from there. I expect I’ll be demanding their resignations and turning them over to Cox for prosecution and to Secretary Jennings, who will handle the military portion of the program.”
“The Joint Chiefs could be charged with treason,” Derek said in disbelief.
“Yes,” Nick said.
“Did your source say why?” Terry asked.
“I assume it’s because I’m unelected, and they might have hoped to force a special election.”
“Damn,” Terry said.
Even with some time to absorb the information Juan had given him, Nick still felt the same sense of disbelief that he saw in Terry’s stunned expression. “I’ve spoken to Cox. He’s assured me of his fealty to me and to the Constitution and is prepared to do what needs to be done.”
“This is going to be…” Derek gave him a wide-eyed look. “The biggest story in the world.”
And Nick had thought his mother’s arrest would be the biggest story of the day. That had nothing on this.
Secretary Tobias Jennings arrived next. Tall and silver-haired, with a serious expression that rarely ever became less so, Jennings had been running the Pentagon for five years.
Nick shook his hand and asked him the same question he’d posed to Cox.
“Sir?” Jennings’s brows furrowed ever so slightly. “What are you asking?”
“It’s come to my attention that the Joint Chiefs may have been planning a coup to overthrow my government, and I’d like your assurances that you can do what needs to be done to defend the Constitution in this situation.”
For the first time in their acquaintance, Nick saw Jennings’s expression shift from serious to shocked. “That’s not possible.”
“I assure you it is. The Joint Chiefs will arrive at any moment. I need to know I can count on you to handle this appropriately.”
After a long pause, Jennings said, “Yes, sir. You can count on me.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you.”
“I’d like to say for the record that I had no knowledge of this,” Jennings said, “and if I had, I would’ve brought it to your attention, Mr. President.”
“That’s good to know.”
The others began to arrive, beginning with the vice president, Secretary of State Sanford, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Michael Wilson and the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Graham was the last to arrive and took a seat at the table.
Secretary of State Jessica Sanford apologized for the formal red gown she wore. “I was at a dinner with my senior staff,” she said as the scent of her Chanel No. 5 wafted across the table and added to the nightmare of this day for Nick. His mother’s scent hit him like the usual fist to the gut any time he encountered it.
With far more important things to attend to, he shook that off as best he could and stood at the head of the table, hoping he conveyed command and authority. He would need both to get through the next few minutes. “Thank you all for coming in. It’s been brought to my attention that the Joint Chiefs of Staff are plotting to try to remove me from office.” As he spoke, he watched Wilson and noted when his gaze darted to Admiral Goldstein, the Navy chief, who had the good sense to look down at the table. That single look between the general and admiral confirmed that Juan’s information was solid.
Secretary Jennings looked to Wilson for an explanation.
“Before you say anything, General, please be aware that you have rights.” Nick looked at Cox, who seemed exquisitely uncomfortable as he reminded the nation’s highest-ranking military officers of their rights in this matter.
Nick watched the scene play out with a feeling of detached disbelief even as he realized that future history books would cover this moment in detail. Never in the nation’s history had the Joint Chiefs conspired to overthrow a president’s administration.
“Do you understand these rights as they’ve been explained to you?” Cox asked the generals and admiral.
Each of them said, “I do.”
“General Wilson,” Nick said. “Were you and the other Joint Chiefs planning to overthrow my administration?”
Wilson hesitated, his gaze encompassing his colleagues. After a long, pregnant pause, Wilson said, “I’d like to speak to my attorney.”
Nick gestured to the others. “Is there anything any of you wish to say?”
The others, looking as shocked as Nick felt as their military careers and lives as they knew them came to an end, shook their heads.
“In that case, you’re relieved of your commands, effective immediately. General Cox, please take these men into custody.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. President.”
The FBI was brought in to conduct the arrests of the Joint Chiefs.
Watching that happen was surreal to Nick.
That none of them objected or declared their innocence told him that they were all in on it, which was unbelievable. How could none of them say to the others, Hey, this might not be the best idea we’ve ever had?
When each of them had been led from the room to be processed by the FBI, Nick sat back in his chair. “What do we do now?”
“You’ll need to make a statement.” Graham seemed as shell-shocked as Nick felt. “Right away. Tonight.”
To Terry, Nick said, “Let the media know I’ll be making a statement in the press room in thirty minutes.”
Terry left the room to see to Nick’s order.
The rest of the people gathered around the table seemed to be waiting for Nick to break the silence. “This is an unfortunate turn of events, but we’ll press on with the job the American people expect us to do on their behalf. New chiefs will be appointed, and our national defense will remain strong and devoted to the defense of the Constitution.”
“That’s what you need to say in your statement,” Graham said. “Exactly that.”
“I’ll take this opportunity to remind our service members stationed around the world that you’re our commander in chief,” Jennings said. “I’ll make it clear that anyone unwilling to follow your orders should notify their chain of command so they can be dishonorably discharged.”
Nick appreciated the secretary’s loyalty to the Constitution, even if he might not fully support Nick as his commander in chief. “Again, I’d like to remind you that if you feel uncertain about continuing to serve my administration, you may submit your resignation at any time, with my thanks for your service.”
“That won’t be necessary, sir,” Jennings said. “It’s my pleasure to continue serving you and my country as secretary of Defense.”
“Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I’m sure you have things to see to, if you’d like to go do that.”
“Thank you, Mr. President.” Jennings exited the room, leaving Gretchen, Jessica, Graham and Derek remaining.
“What the hell just happened?” Graham asked.
“I’m sorry about this, Mr. President,” Gretchen said. “It’s outrageous and unconscionable.”
“Yes, it’s both those things,” Nick said. “It’s been that kind of day around here.”
“What can we do for you, sir?” Derek asked.
It still rankled to hear one of his closest friends call him sir, but he appreciated the respect, especially considering recent events. “I could use some help crafting the statement.”
Derek reached for a pad and pen on the table, since outside electronic devices were prohibited inside the Situation Room. “Let’s do it.”