'There's a guard downstairs,' Megan said.
'He's going to have to call ahead. I don't have access to the Situation Room.'
'I know,' Hood replied.
'Hopefully, someone other than Fenwick or Gable will answer the phone.'
'What if I can only get my husband alone? Just the two of us,' Megan asked.
'I get his attention. Then what?'
'Tell him what you've noticed over the past few weeks,' Hood said.
'Talk to him honestly about what we're afraid of, that Fenwick has been manipulating him. Buy me time, even if it's only two or three hours.
I need that to get the evidence to stop a war.' The elevator stopped. The door opened. Outside was a brightly lit corridor. The walls were white and lined with paintings of American military officers and famous battles from the Revolution to the present. The Situation Room was located at the end of the corridor behind two black double doors.
A young, blond, fresh-faced marine guard was seated at a desk to the right of the elevator. There was a telephone, a computer, and a lamp on the desk. On a metal stand to his left were several security monitors. The guard rose and looked from Hood to Megan.
'Good morning, Mrs. Lawrence,' he said.
'Up kind of early for a swim,' he added with a smile.
'Up kind of late. Corporal Cain,' she smiled back.
'This is my guest, Mr. Hood. And I'm not going for a swim.'
'I didn't think so, ma'am,' he replied. The guard's eyes shifted to Hood.
'Good morning, sir.'
'Good morning,' Hood said.
'Corporal, would you please phone the president?' Megan said.
'Tell him I need to speak with him. Privately, in person.'
'Certainly,' the guard said. Cain sat and picked up the phone. He punched in the extension of the Situation Room. Hood did not often pray, but he found himself praying that someone other than one of Fenwick's people was there to answer the phone.
A moment later, the guard said, 'The First Lady is here to see the president.' The guard fell silent then. Hood and Megan stood still in the quiet corridor. The only sound was a high faint whine that came from the security monitors. After a moment, the guard looked up.
'No, sir,' he said.
'She's with a gentleman. A Mr. Hood.' The guard fell silent again. That wasn't a good sign. Only one of Fenwick's people would have thought to ask that question. After several seconds the guard said, 'Yes, sir,' and hung up. He rose and looked at the First Lady.
'I'm sorry, ma'am. I've been told that the meeting can't be interrupted.'
'Told by whom?' she asked.
'Mr. Gable, ma'am.'
'Mr. Gable is trying to keep Mr. Hood from delivering an important message to the president,' Megan said.
'A message that may prevent a war. I need to see my husband.'
'Corporal,' Hood said.
'You're a military man. You don't have to take orders from a civilian.
I'm going to ask you to place the call again. Ask to speak to an officer, and repeat the First Lady's message.'
'If Mr. Gable gives you trouble, I will take responsibility,' Megan said. Corporal Cain hesitated, but only for a moment. He picked up the phone and remained standing as he punched in the extension.
'Mr. Gable?' he said.
'I would like to speak with General Burg.' General Otis Burg was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
'No, sir,' Cain said after a moment.
'This is a military matter, sir. A security issue.' There was another pause. Hood tasted something tart in the back of his throat. He realized, after a moment, that it was blood. He was biting his tongue. He relaxed.
A few seconds later, Corporal Cain's voice and demeanor changed. His posture was stiffer, his tone formal. He was speaking with General Burg. Cain repeated the request. Several seconds after that, the young Corporal hung up. He looked at the First Lady.
'Your husband will see you both,' he said proudly. Megan smiled and thanked him. Hood and Megan turned and hurried down the corridor to the Situation Room.
Baku, Azerbaijan Tuesday, 11:22 a.m.
Unsteadily, David Battat made his way down the stairwell. Because of the late morning hour, not many people were exiting the hotel. Several of the people who did pass Battat asked if he needed help. The American told them
