Executive orders - Tom Clancy [439]
Pat. Andrea took his hand. You did great.
THE HELICOPTER LANDED on the White House pad, just south of the ground-floor entrance. Again a ring of agents with weapons was in evidence, as Ryan ran to the aircraft while the rotor was still turning, and nobody tried to stop him. A Marine crewman in a green flight suit pulled the door open and stepped out, which allowed the agents on the helicopter to carry SANDBOX off and hand her off to her father.
Jack cradled her like the baby she no longer was but always would be in his mind, and walked up the slope to the house, where the rest of his family was waiting under cover. News cameras recorded the event, though no reporter got within fifty yards of POTUS. The Secret Service members of the Detail were in a mood to kill; for the first time in the memory of the White House press corps, they looked overly dangerous.
Mommy! Katie twisted in her father's arms, reaching for her mother, who took her away from Jack at once. Sally and Little Jack closed in on the pair, leaving their father standing alone. That didn't last for long.
How you doing? Arnie van Damm asked quietly.
Better now, I guess. His face was still ashen, his body limp but still able to stand. Do we know any more?
Look, first thing, how about we get all of you out of here? Up to Camp David. You can calm down there. Security is airtight. It's a good place to relax.
Ryan thought about that. The family hadn't been up there yet, and he'd only been there twice, most recently on a dreadful January day several years before. Arnie, we don't have clothes or-
We can take care of that, the chief of staff assured him.
The President nodded. Get it set up. Fast, he added. While Cathy took the kids upstairs, Jack headed back out and over to the West Wing. Two minutes later, he was back in the Situation Room. The mood was better there. The initial shock and fear were gone, replaced with a quiet determination.
Okay, Ryan said quietly. What do we know?
Is that you, Mr. President? It was Dan Murray on the table-mounted speakerphone.
Talk to me, Dan, SWORDSMAN commanded.
We had a guy inside, one of mine. You know him. Pat O'Day, one of my roving inspectors. His daughter-Megan, I think-goes there, too. He got the drop on the subjects and blew 'em both away. The Secret Service people killed the rest-the total count is nine, two by Pat and the rest by Andrea's people. There are five Service agents dead, plus Mrs. Daggett. No children were wounded, thank God. Price is interviewing Pat right now. I have about ten agents on the scene to assist with the investigation, with a lot of Service people on the way there, too.
Who runs the investigation? POTUS asked.
Two statutes on this one. An attack on you or any member of your family is under the purview of the Secret Service. Terrorism is our bailiwick. I'd give the Service lead on this one, and we'll provide all possible assistance, Murray promised. No pissin' contest on this one, my word on it. I've already called Justice. Martin will assign us a senior attorney to coordinate the criminal investigation. Jack? the FBI Director added.
What, Dan?
Get your family put back together. We know how to do this. I know you're the President, but for the next day or two, just be a guy, okay?
Good advice, Jack, Admiral Jackson observed.
Jeff? Ryan said to Agent Raman. All his friends were saying the same thing. They were probably right.
Yes, sir?
Let's get us the hell out of town.
Yes, Mr. President. Raman left the