State of bliss, p.20
State of Bliss, page 20
part #1 of First Family Series, Book 6 Series
What an awesome responsibility—and it took special people to bear the weight of that obligation.
Chapter Eighteen
At the house next door, Nick was making the worst kind of phone calls. The first two had broken him, listening to sobbing parents trying to make sense of the unimaginable.
“Are you ready for the next one?” Terry asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Terry punched in the numbers for the family of Specialist Jessica Olinger. “Mrs. Olinger? This is Terry O’Connor, chief of staff to President Cappuano. He wondered if he might express his condolences on the loss of Jessica.”
“I don’t want to talk to him or anyone from the government.”
The line went dead.
Nick exhaled a deep breath.
Terry dialed another number.
As Nick spoke to the family members of the dead and wounded, some were happier to hear from him than others. Four chose not to take his call.
“I’d like to not have to do that again,” he said when they were done, three hours after they started.
“Right there with you,” Terry said. “That was brutal.”
“When are we going to Fort Liberty?”
“We’re looking at Monday. I’ll let you know for sure when I finalize the plan. Will Sam be able to come?”
“I’m sure she’ll try, but she’s due back to work that day.”
“I don’t have to tell you that she’ll be criticized—and so will you—if she’s not there.”
“No, you don’t have to tell me that. I’ll do what I can, and so will she. Are we done here?”
“For now.”
“Are you going back to DC?”
“Later this afternoon.”
“Can you come back this weekend with Lindsey?”
“I’ll let you know. She’s been feeling lousy all week. She might want to stay home.”
“Hope it’s nothing serious.”
“I don’t think it is. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Sounds good. Give her our regards.”
“I will.”
“Thanks for coming out last night.”
“No problem.” Terry had gotten to the door when he turned back. “I know you’re taking the loss of the service members—and why it happened—hard, and with good reason. But you’re an amazing president, and you’re just getting started. Over time, you’ll show them how lucky they are to have you, and this illegitimacy nonsense will die down. Just keep doing what you’re doing. Okay?”
Nick had never heard his chief of staff sound so emotional. “Thank you, Terry. I needed to hear that.”
Terry nodded. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, hopefully not before.”
Laughing, Nick said, “Yeah, hopefully not before.”
“Go enjoy the evening with your wife. You’ve done what you can for the families and the country.”
“Will do.”
For a few minutes after Terry left, Nick stayed seated behind the desk, where he’d given several network interviews earlier in the day. He turned his chair to face the view of the beach. Almost four months after taking the oath of office, he was still amazed by how much happened in one day in America and how much of it was his concern.
The wildfires raging out West, the flooding in Kentucky, the shootings at Fort Liberty… Each crisis required a vigorous response from the federal government and his administration. Just when they had one thing handled, another required his urgent attention. The rapid-fire pace made his head spin as he adjusted to the relentlessness of it all.
What amused him, at times, was that the same people who disdained the government, him, how he became president, etc., were the same ones on camera after a crisis wondering why it was taking so long for the government to arrive and fix everything. The irony wasn’t lost on him. Some people hated the government, but they still called 911 in an emergency and were damned glad someone showed up to help.
He needed to get out of the White House and spend more time with regular people, to listen to their concerns and assure them that an actual adult was in charge. The thought of being away from Sam and the kids for even a night had been keeping him from doing what needed to be done.
Before he lost the thought, he called Terry.
“Didn’t I just see you?”
“You did, but I was thinking after you left. I have to get out with the people if I expect them to change their opinion of me. I need to be more than just a talking head. I have to engage with them directly. We never got to campaign for office, and I’m not suggesting anything like that, but I want to set up some events at various places around the country where people can spend actual time with me, ask me their questions and get to know me as a person and not a face on a TV screen.”
“Is this in addition to an Oprah-level interview?”
“It is. And I want Gretchen out there doing the same thing.”
“We’ll start working on it.”
“I’d rather not be gone for more than a night or two at a time.”
“Understood.”
“Thanks, Terry.”
“Go back to your vacation, Mr. President.”
“Yes, sir.”
They laughed as they ended the call.
He got up to return to his vacation next door, already in progress.
Brant was waiting for him outside the makeshift office. “If I could have a moment, sir.”
“Of course.” Nick stepped back into the office.
Brant followed him and closed the door. “I want to apologize for the incident last night. It was completely unacceptable, and it won’t happen again.” The younger man wore his blond hair in a close buzz cut. His blue eyes were always intense. Today, his chiseled jaw pulsed with tension, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
“Thank you for the apology, Brant, but we don’t blame you or the other agents. We know you do everything humanly possible to keep us safe.”
“I’m sick over it, sir. When I think about what could’ve happened…”
“I don’t want you to be sick over it. I’m sure you’re reviewing every aspect of the incident and figuring out ways to prevent it in the future.”
“We are. That’s our sole focus in addition to the usual security mission. The person who threw the tomatoes has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies. We plan to make an example of her to deter others.”
“I have full confidence in you, the other agents and the agency as a whole. What happened last night doesn’t change that for me or Sam.”
“That’s very forgiving of you, sir. Is she all right?”
“She’s fine. Just a small bruise.”
“I’m sorry, sir.” He seemed like he was on the verge of tears.
Nick went to him and put his hands on the younger man’s shoulders. “When was the last time you took a break, Brant?”
He shook his head. “This is no time for that.”
“Maybe it’s the perfect time. You’re an outstanding, dedicated professional, but everyone needs a break to recharge once in a while. I want you to take some time off.”
Brant’s jaw shifted as he looked down at the floor. “I’m afraid they’ll replace me as your lead agent.”
“I won’t let that happen. You’re the only one I want by my side for this wild ride, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep you where you belong.”
“Thank you, sir. You’re too kind.”
Nick removed his hands from Brant’s shoulders. “This is a marathon we’re running together. You have to take care of yourself so you can take care of me. Okay?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll speak to my supervisor when we get back to Washington.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
Brant stood up straighter and seemed to recover some of his usual fortitude. “I appreciate your time and your loyalty, sir.”
“And I appreciate your hard work. I’m ready to go next door.”
“Yes, sir. Give me one minute to make that happen.”
Even to go to the house next door, the Secret Service needed a minute. Sometimes Nick wanted to let himself out a random door and make a run for it, just to see what would happen. Only because he could end up dead did he reject that impulse. But the urge showed up quite frequently as he adapted to life inside the gilded cage.
One might think there was little difference in the cage of the vice presidency versus the presidency itself. One would be wrong. The presidency was far more confining, and the loss of his ability to move freely, to come and go as he pleased—for the rest of his life—was something he was still adapting to.
A knock on the door preceded Brant’s return. “We’re ready for you, Mr. President.”
He followed Brant and two other agents as two others took the rear, which was twice as many agents than had accompanied him the day before on the same route.
The tomato incident would result in the cage closing even tighter around him, which was the very last thing he wanted.
* * *
Malone met Gonzo on the way into the pit the next morning. “PG County detectives found your pizza box in a dumpster about three blocks from the dorm. There was one clean box mixed in with three greasy ones.”
“So we’re not exactly looking for a rocket scientist here.”
“Right. They brought all four boxes to our lab for analysis. I’ve also got the warrant for Tori Stevens’s checking account and have requested canceled checks for the last four months.”
“Did you sleep last night, Cap?”
“Not much. This situation with Stahl is keeping me awake at night.”
“What’s happening there?”
“I haven’t heard anything new this morning. The forensic teams are working the scene under Haggerty’s supervision.”
“When is the department going to issue the statement?” Gonzo asked.
“This morning. We were trying to wait for more info, but we’re getting a lot of questions about what’s happening at the house. It’ll be a few weeks before the remains are identified and next steps determined. The chief is reviewing the final draft of the statement now.”
“I can’t even think about what kind of nightmare this will be when people find out.”
“We’re preparing for worst-case scenario.”
“Which is what?”
“The mayor or city council demanding the chief’s immediate resignation.”
“Do you think they will?”
“Would you? If you were them?”
Gonzo sighed. “I really hope they don’t go straight to nuclear when we’re doing everything we can to get answers for those families.”
“Exactly, but we’re still preparing for the worst.”
“Will he resign?”
“He hasn’t said yet what he’ll do. He’s playing it all by ear while trying to keep his focus on the investigation.”
“The faster we get answers for the families, the faster the heat will die down. People already know what Stahl is capable of, so they won’t be surprised to learn there’s more.”
“There is that.”
“Hang in there, Cap. We’ve gotten through a lot as a team, and we’ll get through this, too.”
Malone gave Gonzo’s shoulder a squeeze. “Thanks, Sarge. I’ll let you know when the checking account info comes through.”
“I’ll call Tori Stevens’s parents to check on the status of her attorney.”
“No need,” another voice said. “I’m here.”
Gonzo turned to find a man with his hair combed back from a face that most people would find handsome, wearing what had to be a five-thousand-dollar suit. Not that Gonzo knew much about custom suits, but even his untrained eye could spot high quality.
“Miles Kerr.” He extended a hand to each of them. “Where can I find Sergeant Gonzales?”
“That’d be me.”
“Excellent. How soon can I meet with my client?”
“We’ll bring her upstairs shortly.”
“Wonderful. Now if you could tell me why she’s here, I’d appreciate that. Her mother was understandably distraught, so it was hard to get the full gist of what’s taken place.”
“She’s being held pending counsel for arraignment on assaulting a police officer because she kicked one of our officers.”
“Hmm, okay. What else?”
“We’re looking at her for involvement in the death of Rachel Fortier, who’d been dating Gordon Reilly.”
“What does that have to do with my client?”
Gonzo wanted to roll his eyes over how unprepared the guy was, but he resisted the urge. “Tori dated Gordon for years at home in Wisconsin, until they went to college in different states and agreed to see other people while they were apart. At least Gordon agreed to that. Tori says she didn’t, even though he believed they had an understanding.”
Kerr gave him a skeptical look. “So you think my client, a college student in Georgia, had something to do with the death of a college student here?”
Gonzo never blinked when he looked the guy in the eye. “I do.”
“Huh, well… That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”
“I don’t think so.”
“What evidence do you have to tie her to this crime?”
“Are you aware that Tori was harassing Rachel for months via text? So much so that Rachel got a new phone number that Tori eventually got ahold of and started the whole thing up again?”
“I hadn’t heard about that.”
“I didn’t think so. We’re working on putting the pieces together and will have more info later today.”
“You’ve already held my client longer than you’re allowed to.”
“We’ve been waiting for you, Counselor.”
Kerr didn’t like that answer, but Gonzo never blinked as he stared him down. Eventually, the lawyer looked away.
“I’d like to see my client.”
“Right this way.”
He led him to one of the interrogation rooms, turned the light on and told him to wait there. Normally, he’d ask someone else to fetch Tori from the basement jail, but he looked forward to seeing if a few nights in jail had humbled the young woman.
When he appeared outside the cell where she was being held with six other women, she met him with a wild-eyed look.
“You have to get me out of here.”
“The attorney your parents sent is upstairs.”
He nodded to the sergeant who ran the jail to unlock the door.
“Please extend your arms,” Gonzo said.
“Why?”
“So I can cuff you.”
“Why are you treating me like I’m some sort of criminal? I don’t belong in this place with…” She glanced over her shoulder. “Those people.”
Nope, Gonzo thought. The time in jail hasn’t done a thing to humble her. He wondered how years in the can would look on her, because he was certain she’d had something to do with Rachel’s death. He just had to prove it.
“Your arms.”
She stuck them out.
He cuffed her and led her to the stairs.
“When can I leave? I have homework to do.”
“You’re our guest for now.”
“What? Don’t I have rights?”
“You sure do. That’s why I’m taking you to see your attorney. Because you have the right to legal representation.”
“I have the right to my freedom, too.”
“Which shall be granted to you if and when a judge deems it should be. In the meantime, you’re our guest.” He opened the door to the interrogation room. “Meet your attorney, Miles Kerr. Mr. Kerr, your client, Tori Stevens. I’ll leave you to get acquainted. Let me know when you’re ready to continue our earlier discussion.”
“You have to get me out of here right now,” Tori said to the lawyer.
“Have a seat.”
“I don’t want to sit!”
Gonzo closed the door.
She was Kerr’s problem for the time being.
Chapter Nineteen
While she waited for Nick to return, Sam took a call from his dad, Leo. “Hi there.”
“Hi, Sam. Sorry to disturb your peace and quiet.”
“When does the peace and quiet start?” she asked with a laugh.
“I’m sorry that it’s been less than restful. The headlines are disturbing.”
“Yes, they are.”
“Because of that, I was calling to make sure you’re still up for having the boys this weekend. It’s no problem at all if you’re maxed out.”
Brayden and Brock Cappuano, Nick’s seven-year-old brothers, were due to arrive with Scotty and the kids Friday afternoon. Leo and his wife, Stacy, both had to work over the weekend and would be unable to join them.
“We’re looking forward to having them,” Sam said.
“Really? Because they’re a lot.”
Sam laughed. “They’ll keep our kids busy and occupied, and we’ve got the beach to entertain them all. We can’t wait.”
“You’re too kind. The boys are out of their minds with excitement about a weekend away from Mom and Dad.”
“That’s so cute. We’ll make sure they have a great time.”
“Thank you again for having them. We’ll meet the detail in New Carrollton as planned at four.”
“I’ll let the agents know you’re good to go. We’ll send pics and make sure they call you both nights before bed.”
“Thanks again, Sam.”
“Our pleasure.”
When she ended that call, she found a text response from Lieutenant Haggerty. Can you talk?
Who hadn’t she talked to that day? She placed the call to Haggerty. “Hey,” she said. “How’s it going?”
“Ugh, Sam. This is unbelievable. Human remains in the backyard, concrete holding cells behind the walls we took down with DNA everywhere we look in the basement… A little shop of pure horror.”
