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No one on the President’s team wanted this separation to happen, including Susanna Colbert. Susanna knew that Bernstein relied on her for emotional support and she knew that they probably were in love with each other, but she was practical. She loved her job, more than she had thought she would, and she wanted another four years. She was smart enough to know that if Betsy left her husband, everything would change, most of all her relationship with the President. And the fact was, she had no real desire to share the President’s bed.

Susanna liked the arrangement she had with her husband and did not want to leave him. She rather enjoyed the sneaking around, having moments with the President of the United States that no one else was having. It was enough for her. But unfortunately, she did not get to choose.

And there was still the Nate Cass problem. John Van Dyke had chosen to do nothing. Susanna was on the receiving end of what were becoming more frequent and more threatening calls. Finally, Nate Cass came to Washington and insisted on one last meeting. This time he asked to come to the White House.

Susanna agreed to see him, and when he walked into her office he was blunt and quick. “I am not used to being ignored. Especially after doing a favor as big as this. I don’t know what is going on, but the investigation is continuing. I will make it as difficult as possible for the President to have another term if something is not done immediately. That’s all I can say.”

“Nate, I’m doing what I can. I have to go through channels; this is not something I can bring directly to the Oval Office, and you know that. I’m doing what I can.”

Nate Cass had no more sympathy and no more tolerance for excuses. “I want the favor returned and I want it returned now. That’s it. You won’t hear from me again. But I will be there when it’s time to get this man reelected, and believe me, Susanna, you will want me on your side.” Then he left her office.

Susanna thought for a long time. Could he really use his money to keep the President from being reelected? After all, he wasn’t a big Democratic supporter to begin with, so what would the loss really amount to? Then again, she never wanted that kind of man as an adversary. So the problem was clear. Get his brother off the hook or endure his wrath. Either one seemed unpleasant, but if the Treasury Department was ever caught stifling an ongoing investigation, wouldn’t that be worse than having Nate Cass as an enemy? That was a question that had to be answered immediately.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

They were in the middle of dinner when Jack Willman looked at his wrist. He spoke to someone but Paul Prescott couldn’t tell who it was. The way Jack was whispering, Paul jokingly accused him of having an affair. “Can I see?” Paul asked. “Share with the whole class.”

Jack motioned for him to be quiet. Whatever this was, it was serious. As Jack looked at the person on his watch and spoke softly, Paul could make out only a few words. Words like “When?” and “How?” and “How reliable is this?” When Jack disconnected he was white as a sheet. He said he had to go back to Justice, even though it was nine o’clock in the evening.

“What is it?”

“You know I tell you everything, but I can’t talk about this until we’re sure.”

“It’s me. Don’t do that. Sure of what?”

“There could be an attack in the next twenty-four hours. Somewhere in Miami.”

“Old people?”

“What else?”

“Jesus. I was just there!”

“The people we’re tracking came to the AARP event.”

“Come on! And you didn’t tell me?”

“We didn’t know it beforehand. They were seen leaving and going to a motel. If I’d known they were going to be there, I would have told you.”

“Well, they didn’t cause any trouble at the event. How do you know they’re planning something?”

“Listen, this might be nothing, but they don’t ask me to come back at this hour for the fun of it. If there’s something planned that I can warn you about I will, but they’re trying to catch these guys. If too many people know it too early it can ruin