The Oval Office
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Day 18 of the Red Storm
“Mr. President,” said Church, “I must admit to being both alarmed and disappointed in your handling of this matter. I know that you inherited this war from your predecessor, and I know that there is a learning curve when it comes to living the role of chief executive and commander in chief. I know there’s more to it than sitting behind that desk.”
“You’re not particularly subtle,” said the president. “I was warned about that.”
“I can imagine you received quite a lot of cautions about me,” said Church.
“I did. A lot of people on both sides of the aisle think you’re a megalomaniacal manipulator who thinks he’s above the law. Some others say that people are afraid of you because they think you have files on everyone, like J. Edgar Hoover.”
Church brushed a fleck of lint from his tie but offered no comment.
“I’ve read the charter for your organization. The Department of Military Sciences. Your group has an absurd, possibly illegal, amount of operational freedom. A great many of the congressmen and politicos I know think that charter should be amended or canceled altogether.”
“That has been attempted several times over the last few decades, Mr. President,” said Church.
“Is there a threat in that comment?”
“Not unless you choose to put politics before common sense,” said Church. “Not unless you marginalize the safety of the American people in favor of political interests.”
“Christ, you don’t give a good goddamn who you’re talking to, do you?”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve been in this chair facing someone on the other side of that desk who was facing a crisis of this magnitude.”
Swann sat in his wheelchair and watched the two men. He did not interrupt, but he felt breathless. The president was the most powerful man in the world, but Church was the most powerful man in this room. That was obvious even if it seemed like a contradiction. The big man was calm, focused, and in complete control.
“Don’t push me, Church,” growled the president. “I could make a lot of people happy by revoking your charter and putting your ass in front of a senate committee.”
Church sighed. “But you won’t do that, Mr. President. What you will do is listen to me. What you will do is listen to Dr. Swann. What you will do is shift your political and military policies so that your sole focus is opposition to the Red Empire. You will write and sign a series of executive orders that will put an end to persecution of nonviolent vampire citizens. You will close all of the internment camps and release every vampire incarcerated therein. You will schedule an address to the nation in which you will say that you are spearheading a movement toward peace between all human species. You will encourage your fellow heads of state to join you in this, and you will find that many will follow your lead. You will also reinstate Dr. Swann as official advisor on vampire affairs, and you will expand his position and powers and make him a member of your cabinet. That, sir, is what you will do.”
Swann watched the president’s eyes widen until they were almost bugged out and saw his mouth open until it gaped. After a long shocked moment, the president tried to laugh, but it came out crooked. Then his face began to burn a furious red.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” said the president in a low, dangerous tone. “What in hell makes you think you can come in here and say these things to me? To the president of the United goddamn States? You must be out of your mind.” He reached for his phone. “I’m going to have you put under close arrest and—”
Mr. Church said, “No.”
The president stopped with the phone halfway to his mouth. “What did you say?”
“I said no, Mr. President. You are not going to make that or any call. Not yet. Not until we have reached an understanding.”
“I’m going to throw you into a goddamn hole and throw away the hole.”
“I know,” said Church.
He leaned ever so slightly on the word. The president froze. Absolutely froze, and Swann saw sudden, intense fear in the man’s eyes. He actually felt sorry for the man. And although he had never met Church before, Swann had received several visits from Ledger, Violin, and others working with Church’s organization. Swann knew what Church knew.
“Yes,” said Church, “I know. And I also know that other people are aware of the truth and have been using it against you. To control you. You are a prisoner of their knowledge.”
The president was as still as a statue. The fear in his eyes turned to terror.
“I am here to offer you a way out, Mr. President,” Church said quietly. “Please… put the phone down and listen to me.”
The president lowered the phone. “You can’t know.”
“And yet I do.”
“How?”
Swann said, “Because I told him.”
The president’s head snapped around toward Swann. “What the hell do you know?”
“About politics? Nothing, sir,” said Swann, “but I know a vampire when I meet one.”