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By Root 847 0

a tree, could sleep six to eight people. She wondered which one she would be assigned to. She did her best to remember the names and was surprised when she was able to tick them off on her fingers: Red Oak Cabin, Walnut Cabin, Holly Cabin, Hawthorn Cabin, Sycamore Cabin, Hemlock Cabin, Linden Cabin, and Maple Cabin. The cabins that were totally off-limits, if she recalled correctly, were Camp David’s presidential lodge, known as Aspen Lodge, Witch Hazel Cabin, Birch Cabin, Rosebud Cabin, and Dogwood Cabin. She stifled a laugh when she recalled how upset Jason was when his camera had been confiscated, along with a list of other things that were no-no’s at Camp David. He had been less than pleased when he was told a commemorative photo would be taken. The words no such thing as coincidence kept running through her mind. She asked herself, and not for the first time, how she had managed to get herself into what she was now going through.

In just a few short days, she had taken a real dislike to her companion, when, prior to her lunch with Nikki and Alexis, she had been seriously considering going on to the next level. Now she didn’t even want to be in the same room with Jason Parker. Not even in the same city.

Would Jason Parker in his fine duds take the Raven Rock Mountain Complex Site R Tour included in the Camp David secret tunnel tour? Probably not. She complimented herself on bringing along her stout mountain boots, fleece-lined sweats, and the down jacket she was wearing. She knew, just knew, that Jason Parker had counted on making his own little travelogue for distribution to his clients. Such uncharitable thinking, she thought happily.

She continued to listen to the conversation as she stared out the car window at the lightly falling snow. The marine was saying that Camp David was alleged to be one of the most secure facilities in the world, as reported by a Department of Defense journal in 1998. The facility, he went on to explain, was guarded by one of the United States Marine Corps’ most elite units, MSC-CD (Marine Security Company, Camp David).

Each marine was handpicked from the infantry field and subjected to a battery of psychological and physical tests before the successful candidates underwent specialized security training at the Marine Corps Security Forces School in Chesapeake, Virginia. A tour of duty for the marines was twelve months, and each of them was awarded the Presidential Service Badge.

Maggie risked another glance at her companion, who was looking even more irritated at everything he was hearing. When the marine got to the part that Jason would have an escort twenty-four/seven and would never be permitted to go off on his own, Maggie thought he was going to explode. What Jason did say was, “So, in other words, we’re prisoners while we’re here?”

The marine slammed on his brakes so quickly, Maggie was thankful she was wearing her seat belt. “Would you like me to take you back to where I picked you up, sir?”

“That means shut the hell up, Jason. Don’t make me regret bringing you with me,” Maggie hissed.

Jason slumped back in his seat and pouted. He didn’t say another word until the marine brought the SUV to a stop in front of Holly Cabin. Maggie was pleased. Staying in Holly Cabin was just right for the beginning of the Christmas season.

God in heaven, what did I ever see in that man? Maggie wondered as she hopped out of the SUV and stood waiting to see if she was to carry in her own luggage or if it would be carried for her. She found out in short order, so she hefted her bag out as Jason Parker mumbled and muttered under his breath. It looked to Maggie like he had a ton of rocks in his “gen-u-ine” antelope-leather suitcase. “And to think some poor antelope had to give up its life so you could buy this case to bring here. You should have remembered to take the price tag off the side,” Maggie sniped as she shouldered her Nike canvas hockey bag over her shoulder. “Just for the record, you’re an embarrassment. Please do not hang around with me.”

Parker threw his hands in the air. “Why are you