Home Free - Fern Michaels [48]
If there was one thing Maggie Spritzer hated, it was feeling stupid, and at that moment she was feeling stupid. Really, really stupid. She was so irritated with herself, she blurted out a question she’d had no intention of asking. “How much money do foreign countries keep in those mysterious funds that don’t exist?”
“Other countries?”
Maggie nodded.
“Billions sometimes.”
“And just one person per country handles these special funds?”
The president nodded.
Maggie’s mind raced. “Which one of the money people at Camp David handles the U.S. funds?” she asked.
The president shook her head.
Maggie sucked in her breath. Either the president didn’t know, which was mind-boggling, or she couldn’t tell her for reasons of national security. Her gut instincts told her it was the former and not the latter. All the proof she needed that the president didn’t know was to see the awful look on her face. How, she wondered, is that possible?
She was the president, the leader of the free world, and here she was, admitting she didn’t know. Ah, maybe something happened to that person. Maybe that person absconded with all those funds no one was supposed to know about. Maggie felt her heart start to flutter in her chest.
Maggie licked at her dry lips and nodded weakly. “Madam President, is it true that Gus Sullivan is leaving this evening? If so, can I switch up and return with him?”
The president sighed so loudly that Maggie was stunned. “Of course, Maggie. I’m sorry. I should have asked you earlier. Departure time is five forty-five. I hope you enjoyed your brief visit. I have to leave now. I really enjoyed our lunch. I hope you did, too.”
“I . . . I loved it.”
The president laughed, but it was a jittery-sounding laugh. “That’s what Lizzie always said, but what it really meant was, ‘Get me out of here as quick as possible.’ I’ll be in touch, Maggie.”
I’ll be in touch. Did the president really say that? Maggie looked toward the door, where the marine who had driven her there to Aspen Lodge was waiting to drive her back to her cabin. She stood on the side while the president explained to the marine that Maggie would be leaving on the helicopter at five forty-five. He nodded and held the door for Maggie. She turned in time to see the president waving to her; then she did something that blew Maggie’s mind. President Martine Connor blew her, Maggie Spritzer, a kiss.
The marine smiled. “The president only does that to people she really likes.”
Maggie felt flattered and flustered as she settled herself in the golf cart. How many people could say the president of the United States blew them a kiss? Not many, that’s how many, Maggie thought smugly. “No kidding,” was all she could think of to say.
Chapter 13
The boys and the Sisters parted company when they reached the District. The women splintered off to head toward Yoko’s nursery and what Kathryn called “the evergreen” weekend, where they would trim the fragrant trees that would line the perimeter of Yoko’s nursery, and fashion Christmas wreaths, grave blankets, and table centerpieces. Ted and Espinosa waved as they got out of Bert’s SUV and grabbed a cab that would take them to the Post. Jack, Bert, and Harry headed toward the dojo.
“Amazing how the snow here is all but gone,” Jack said as he climbed out of the truck. He turned to Harry and asked what was on his agenda.
Harry just shook his head like it was the stupidest question he’d ever heard. At first, Jack thought Harry wasn’t going to answer, but he surprised them by saying, “I’m going to do what I’ve been doing for the past months, train. I lost two whole days and half of this day already by going out to the farm. That’s two and a half days I can’t get back.”
Jack blew his top right there at the back door. “When are you going to get it through your thick head, Harry, that you cannot train twenty-four /seven with no