“I want them to lock her up and throw away the key.”

  “I understand that, and you have good reason to feel that way, but… I’m saying this as a friend and not an FBI agent… It may be better for all involved for this to go away sooner rather than later. Having the president’s mother on trial or in prison isn’t a good look for him, even if he has no relationship with her.”

  “I hate to say you’re right, but you’re right.”

  “I’ll keep you posted about what I hear.”

  “I’d appreciate that. How’s Shelby?”

  “A little better every day. I’ve found a house that might work for us with excellent security features. I’m taking her to see it on Sunday.”

  “That’s great news. You know you’re welcome to stay with us as long as you need to.”

  “I do, and we appreciate that. But it’s better for all of us to get me out of the White House as soon as possible.”

  “Why?”

  “The Justice Department and its many branches work hard to maintain separation from the White House. It’s not great for me professionally to be cozied up to the president.”

  “Even if you were one of his closest friends long before he was president?”

  “Even if.”

  “Ugh, sometimes I hate this town.”

  “Only sometimes?” he asked with a laugh.

  “Ha! Most of the time, but it’s home sweet home regardless of its many deficiencies.”

  “Yes, it is. I won’t keep you any longer. Just wanted to pass along what I was hearing.”

  “I appreciate you, Avery. And thank you for taking such good care of our girl.”

  “That’s my pleasure. She amazes me with her strength and fortitude.”

  “She’s a steel magnolia.”

  “Yes, she is. I just wish I could be more like her. I still can’t even think about what happened—and what could’ve happened—without getting the shakes.”

  “I totally understand that. The people you love best were threatened because of you and your work.”

  “Yeah, that. Exactly. And the people involved are the scummiest of scumbags. That they were anywhere near Shelby and Noah makes me crazy. I feel like I could kill them if I got the chance.”

  “Don’t do that. They’re where they belong, and they’re not getting out any time soon.”

  “But how many others just like them are out there blaming us for their troubles?”

  “Too many to count, I’m sure, but they can’t stop us from doing the job and living our lives.”

  “Can’t they?”

  “What’re you saying, Avery?”

  “This incident took me over an edge of some sort. I’m not sure yet what that means, but it could be that I’m done with the job.”

  “Come on. No way! What will you do with yourself?”

  “Be a husband and father. Protect my family.”

  “Even if you aren’t working anymore, Avery, you can’t be with them all the time. Shelby will still be coming to work at the White House. Noah will be starting school before you know it. The new baby will, too. Don’t make a rash decision that you might regret later.”

  “I’m trying not to, but I’m having a very hard time coping with this.”

  “Maybe you should consult with a therapist?”

  “Yeah, I’ve thought of that.”

  “You need to find a way through this that doesn’t involve giving up your very successful career.”

  “I hate that career right now. You ever feel that way?”

  Sam snorted. “Is that a rhetorical question? Of course I do, especially lately with all this crap with Stahl.”

  “We had a briefing about the latest because we were involved in several of the missing-person cases back when they first happened. It’s unbelievable.”

  “Did you hear they found human remains in his backyard?”

  “God. No. I hadn’t heard that.”

  “Keep it on the DL until it comes through official channels.”

  “I will. But you guys must be reeling.”

  “We are.”

  “It’s unreal. Truly.”

  “And it’s embarrassing. That he was doing this shit while pretending to be an upstanding police officer is so revolting to the rest of us.”

  “I know. We’ve seen some of it in the Bureau, too. It always hurts more than you think it will.”

  “Yeah, it does.”

  “Speaking of scumbags, what’s going on with your friend Ramsey?”

  “I haven’t heard much from that front lately. He’s out on bail awaiting trial on multiple felonies after he rammed his car into my Secret Service SUV. Did you know that attempted murder of a federal agent is a big deal?”

  Avery chuckled. “I’ve heard that rumor. Not to mention trying to off the first lady.”

  “Not to mention. As if getting rid of me would solve all his problems.”

  “No kidding. He’d still be an asshole.”

  “I do worry about him suing the department over the shooting of his son. The last thing we need is more negative publicity surrounding a criminal within our own ranks.”

  “Yeah, for sure. I worry about Joe being able to hang on through all of this.”

  “Me, too. I can’t imagine work without him in charge. Once in a while, he and Malone talk about retiring, and it gives me hives.”

  “It’ll happen at some point.”

  “Shut your filthy mouth. It will not.”

  “Oh damn. I’ve got the TV on. They’re saying three are dead at Fort Liberty. More than twenty injured, many seriously.”

  “Oh God.”

  “Fucking guns. It’s insanity.”

  “Yes, it sure is. At work the other day, I heard that we’re having trouble recruiting new officers for the first time in decades. It has to be because everyone is armed and angry, and because of officers like Stahl and Ramsey, who make the entire profession look bad.”

  “Nick’s gun task force is just what we need, but change won’t happen in time to stop what happened at Fort Liberty tonight or the next mass shooting.”

  “I feel sick.”

  “Me, too. On that happy note, I’ll let you go. I’ll keep you posted on what I hear about your mother-in-law.”

  “Thank you, Avery.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Sam closed the phone and reached for the remote to turn on the TV. The faces of the Capitol News Network anchors were grim as they reported the latest from Fort Liberty. “My God,” she whispered.

  Nick texted via the secure BlackBerry. Briefing in thirty min. Can you come next door?

  Yes, I’ll be there. I’m so sorry, love. It’s terrible.

  You have no idea.

  Her stomach dropped as she read those words. What now?

  * * *

  The news got worse by the minute. More than seventy-five had been wounded, and four were now confirmed dead, including the shooter, who’d been taken out by military police. But not before he’d changed the lives of hundreds of his fellow service members, who’d been gathered for a comedy show at the post auditorium.

  The weapon had been an M-16, a weapon of war, designed to kill many people as quickly as possible.

  “Mr. President,” Terry said.

  Nick tore his gaze from the TV, where he’d been monitoring the news reports.

  “We have an update for you, sir.” His chief of staff had been brought back to Delaware by helicopter after the Fort Liberty news broke.

  Nick followed Terry into their mobile Situation Room, which had been soundproofed and outfitted with all the necessary communications technology ahead of his arrival at the beach. He felt guilty at what had to be done, and the taxpayer money spent, so he could take a vacation away from the White House. But he had to get out of there once in a while, or he’d go mad.

  He took a seat at the head of the conference table.

  Terry pressed a couple of buttons that brought Vice President Gretchen Henderson, Secretary of Defense Tobias Jennings, Secretary of Homeland Security Madeleine Brill, acting Army Chief of Staff General Roger Kaull and General Hilary Stern, the commanding officer of Fort Liberty, onto screens on the wall.

  “Thank you for joining us,” Terry said, introducing Nick to Kaull and Stern.

  “Mr. President, I’m so sorry to hear this terrible news,” Gretchen said.

  “As am I. What do we know, Tobias?”

  “Corporal Tyson Briggs, a five-year Army veteran, has been identified as the shooter.”

  “General Stern, what can you tell us about him?”

  “Mr. President, he was involved in an altercation in his workplace earlier today after the email came out from Secretary Jennings offering service members a dishonorable discharge if they’re unable to faithfully serve under the commander in chief. From what I’m told by Briggs’s superior officers, he was outraged that the discharge would be dishonorable simply because he couldn’t stomach being sent to war by an unelected president.”

  Oh God, Nick thought. Oh my God.

  “Apparently, others in the squadron fought back against his claims, calling him a traitor and other names that outraged Briggs. His commanding officer asked Briggs to step outside to get himself together. He stormed out of the building, and no one heard from him again until the shooting in the auditorium. The commanding officer had never seen any sign of anger or hostility in Briggs before today. He’d expressed some opinions about the current state of our politics, but nothing that would lead to what happened tonight. We have chaplains available to provide counseling to Briggs’s coworkers and chain of command as well as others who were in the auditorium, sir.”

  “Thank you for the update, General Stern,” Terry said. “What’s the latest on casualties?”

  “Four dead, seventy-five injured, two of them with life-threatening injuries.”

  “We appreciate the update and ask you all to stand by in case you’re needed again tonight,” Terry said.

  “Thank you everyone,” Nick added. It was all he could do to speak over the massive lump in his throat. Four people were dead and many others seriously injured all because a service member didn’t want to work for him.

  “Thank you, Mr. President,” the others said as they signed off for now.

  After the screens went dark, Nick stared at the far wall.

  “I can feel you blaming yourself for this when it is not your fault,” Terry said. “Corporal Briggs decided to express his views in the most violent way possible. That’s in no way tied to you.”

  Of course it is, Nick thought. But he didn’t share that comment with Terry, who was trying to make him feel better about the unimaginable. “We need to make a statement.”

  “Trevor has already sent over something for you to review.” Terry pushed the page across the table.

  Nick read the statement, feeling dead inside. “This doesn’t mention the connection to the email sent by Secretary Jennings.”

  “We don’t need to make that public yet.”

  “Yes, we do. Enough people know about Briggs’s motivation. I’d rather control how that’s made public than react to it later.”

  “Good point. I’ll have Trevor add it to the statement. Is there anything else you’d like to change before we have it put on the teleprompter?”

  “No. The rest is fine.”

  “I’ll take care of it. Will Sam appear with you?”

  “Yes, she’s coming over.”

  “Very good.”

  None of this is good, Nick wanted to say. He was bereft over the loss of service members who’d voluntarily signed up to defend their country only to be struck down by a colleague who didn’t approve of how his commander in chief had attained the presidency.

  He would have to call the families of those killed or injured, and they’d know he was the reason their loved one was dead.

  Sam came into the room, raising his spirits ever so slightly with her presence. She walked over to him and slid onto his lap, wrapping her arms around him.

  He breathed in her vanilla-and-lavender scent, taking comfort from her.

  “I’m so, so sorry, Nick. What can I do?”

  Tightening his hold on her, he said, “Just this for now.”

  “Have you heard any details?”

  “Yeah, and it’s bad.”

  “How so?”

  “It’s because of me.”

  She raised her head from his shoulder so she could see his face. “What? How?”

  He filled her in on what’d happened with Briggs earlier in the day. “Terry says it’s not my fault, but I feel responsible just the same.”

  “Terry is right. Tell me you know that.”

  “Intellectually, I agree. I didn’t pull the trigger and kill and injure those people. But he did it because he objects to me and the offer of a dishonorable discharge to anyone who doesn’t want to report to me as their commander in chief.”

  “If you’re looking for someone to blame, look no further than the ex-Joint Chiefs who sparked the need for that email in the first place with their talk of overthrowing your government.”

  He forced a smile for her benefit. “I love when my first lady gets fired up on my behalf.”

  “Then you must love me often because that’s how much I’ve been fired up since you got this job. People suck. That isn’t your fault. It’s theirs. You’re working so hard to do the right thing for the American people, to keep them safe and healthy and prosperous. I honestly believe, in the final analysis, the people who appreciate you will far outnumber those who don’t.”

  “That would be nice.”

  “It’ll happen. Just keep doing what you’re doing. Lead with your heart. Show people who you really are and that you care about the same things they do. And whatever you do, don’t take responsibility for the actions of others. You have no control over what other people do. You only control how you react to it. You have to go out there and project strength and resolve and fortitude. That’s what people need from you right now.”

  “Thank you for the reminder and the pep talk.”

  She kissed him. “Any time you need it.”

  A knock on the door preceded Terry’s return to the room. “Sorry to interrupt. We have a final statement drafted for you, Mr. President.”

  Sam got up from Nick’s lap and stood behind him to read the statement over his shoulder.

  He glanced up at her. “Do you approve?”

  “I do.”

  “Thanks, Terry. That’s good to go.”

  “We’ll have it ready for you in ten minutes, sir. Trevor and his team have set up a room for you down the hall.”

  After he left, Sam turned to Nick. “Do you need to change your clothes?”

  “Going to do that now.”

  “Do you have a suit with you?”

  “I think Hank packed a couple,” he said of his personal valet. He still couldn’t believe he had a personal valet, but Hank was great in making sure he had what he needed no matter where he was. “He said we needed to be ready for anything, even when we’re away.”

  “I suppose this evening is proof of that,” she said as he changed.

  “And I was hoping it would be so relaxing.”

  “I suppose we ought to forgo any thoughts of relaxation for the next three or so years. Possibly seven…”

  “Three.”

  “Don’t rule anything out.”

  “Three.”

  Sam laughed. “We’ll see.”

  Terry returned to the room. “Mr. President, Mrs. Cappuano, we’re ready for you.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sam found it jarring when Terry, one of their closest friends, was so formal with them, even if she knew he was simply doing his job.

  She took the hand that Nick extended and followed him down the hall to a bedroom that had been cleared of all furniture other than a podium with the presidential seal affixed to it and American flags positioned on either side of it. A TV camera had been set in front of the podium, and electrical wires snaked through the room. They stepped carefully over the wires on their way to the podium.

  Nick was outfitted with a microphone that was clipped to his lapel by a young technician dressed all in black. From the way he approached Nick with the microphone and helped him get it situated, it was obvious they’d done this dance before.

  “This is amazing,” Sam whispered to Nick after the tech had stepped away. “It’s like we’re at the White House.”

  “I suppose that’s the idea.”

  Sam couldn’t imagine what went into making sure these things were available if needed while Nick was on vacation. She was glad it wasn’t her responsibility to manage those logistics.

  Nick stepped behind the podium and read over the statement one more time before giving Terry a subtle nod to say he was ready.

  “We need the first lady to step closer to the president,” the cameraman said.

  Since there was nowhere she’d rather be than close to the president, she moved in next to him and placed her hand on his back, hoping he would take comfort from her nearness.

  “That’s great. Thank you, ma’am.”

  She did what she could for the people, a thought that kept her entertained ahead of the grim reality of what Nick had to say—once again—to the American public.

  A light came on over the camera, and Nick was given the sign to begin.

  “My fellow Americans, at eight thirty p.m. eastern time, a gunman opened fire at a gathering of soldiers at Fort Liberty in North Carolina, killing three and injuring more than seventy-five, two with life-threatening injuries. The perpetrator of this tragic event was Corporal Tyson Briggs, a five-year Army veteran who’d argued with other members of his squadron earlier in the day before being asked by his supervisor to leave and cool off. The next time anyone saw him was in an auditorium full of soldiers gathered for a comedy show. He used his Army-issued M-16 to inflict maximum carnage on his fellow service members before being shot and killed by military police.

  “My administration stands ready to aid the Fort Liberty community during this difficult time in any way needed. I’ve directed Secretary of Defense Tobias Jennings and acting Army Chief of Staff General Roger Kaull to work with Fort Liberty’s commanding officer, General Hilary Stern, to make the full resources of the federal government available for the affected service members and their families. In addition, General Stern has ordered the post chaplains to assist anyone who requires counseling. We will stand by our men and women in uniform always, but especially after such a tragedy.