51
The top figures in the entire domestic security force were sitting together under one roof in the Oval Office, a gathering that would normally violate emergency procedure protocols. In this instance, however, President Blake felt it was necessary. As a compromise to the concerns about a “catastrophic event,” he allowed the FBI director to send Joel Salter in his stead. On the two facing sofas were Homeland Security Director Carl Lehman and his assistant Nichole Muldoon, and two selected members of his Secret Service detail, Max Zimmer and Tom Gatwick.
They did not sit on the same sofa.
President Blake leaned against the front of his desk, which had the effect of locating him at the apex of the pyramid, its vertical walls formed by the two sofas and the four men and one woman located upon them.
“I have to do it,” the president said. “It’s nonnegotiable.”
“It’s suicide, is what it is,” Salter said. He was as nervous and twitchy as ever, the president noted, and being seated next to Nichole Muldoon seemed to be causing him some considerable trauma. “The FBI votes no.”
“This is not subject to a vote,” the president said firmly. “I’m going to do it. I’ve called you here so you can figure out how you’re going to keep me safe.”
“I don’t understand why this appearance is so essential.”
“You don’t have to understand. It’s not your job.”
“All my sources tell me the amendment will get through Congress and then be readily approved by the states. This is unnecessary. It’s like you’re daring the original killers-who I might remind you are still at large-to try again.”
“I said, this is nonnegotiable.”
“I mean, if your strategy is to get this amendment passed by martyring yourself, I could understand that. But I think it’s a poor strategy.”
The president almost smiled. Maybe Salter had more spunk than he realized. “Carl. Your thoughts?”
“Well, we’re not nearly as skittish as the FBI, but what else is new?”
Salter was seething now. Good. Let him redirect his anger at someone else.
“Which is not to say we think it’s a good idea,” Lehman continued. “But if you’re determined to do it, we’ll keep you safe.”
“But we’d still prefer you didn’t do it,” Muldoon interjected hastily. Did she always dress like that? the president wondered. He could see why she had come so far so fast. “Better safe than sorry.”
“Pardon my subordinate,” Lehman said, stimulating the irked ire of Muldoon. “We wouldn’t presume to tell the president what he should or should not do.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” President Blake said. He was enjoying this exchange. It had been a good idea, despite what his advisors thought, to gather all these people together at once. Sped things up considerably. And he also gained substantial insight into the players by watching them interact with one another. “Have you prepared any plans?”
“My boys have,” Lehman replied. “Tom?”
“Wait,” the president interjected. “These two? Zimmer and Gatwick?”
“They’re the senior members of your security detail, Mr. President.”
Gatwick sat on the sofa, silently reminding the president how he had resisted the suggestion that he resign. What the hell. I’ll be working double-time to prove myself now. “Are you two going to be able to work together?”
After a moment’s hesitation, they both simultaneously said, “Yes, sir.”
“Seriously. I know what’s been going down between you two. And I know you were both on duty on April nineteenth. Are you going to be able to do this job?”
“Absolutely,” Gatwick said, evidencing not the slightest trace of doubt, much less disdain for his colleague. “We’ve taken the liberty of drawing up a full-scale security plan. Would you like to hear about it?”
“Of course.”
“We call this Domino Charlie. It’s a variation on Domino Bravo-but we think we’ve improved the old protocol in many respects. Our security team will arrive in Baltimore long before you get there to plan and make sure you’re secure. We’ve chosen a site with no rooftop access that could be used by snipers. We’re going to put you in a thirty-one-car motorcade. That will include local police escorts, a car for your personal physician, a communications van, a disguised ambulance, and a SWAT truck bearing a full-scale counterassault team. Just let them try to start shooting like they did in Oklahoma City. First second these guys hear a gunshot, the shooter will be a dead man.”
“How can you be sure of that?” Salter asked, obviously skeptical. “The communications array will be scanning the area constantly. Its sensors are trained to immediately track any gunshot to its source. We’ll radio the information to the SWAT team, who will be equipped with long-range laser-tracking rifles. Plus the men are all crack shots. Like I said, even assuming a killer could somehow penetrate our defense perimeter, which is impossible, a shooter could get off one shot at best. Then he’s dead. Period.”
“Well, I like the sound of that,” the president said dryly.
“We will have three Cadillacs just like yours. The decoys will carry additional Secret Service agents to the site. Yours will also be full of agents, so the three will be indistinguishable to potential snipers. All roads from the airport to the speaking site will be cleared and sealed off, well in advance of your arrival.”
“How many men are involved in this operation?” Muldoon asked, an eyebrow raised.
“Enough,” Gatwick said curtly. Apparently Muldoon didn’t scare him, the president noted, and he knew he didn’t have to take any grief from a deputy director. “Max, why don’t you tell the president what happens when he arrives?”
“Sure.” Zimmer scooted forward on the sofa. He was doing his best to make it appear that there were no conflicts between him and his fellow agent. But they both knew better, didn’t they? “Once The Beast arrives at the speaking site, it will park at a predetermined location that has completely unblocked exit points. In fact, we have secured three such points, and the decision as to which one you will actually park at will not be made until minutes before your arrival, so even if-” He broke off. “Just in case.”
Nice one. But the president knew well what he meant to say. So even if there is a security leak, and even if it turns out to be from within the Secret Service, no one can reveal the debarkation point much in advance-because it simply will not have been chosen yet.
“You will enter stage left and leave the same way. More than a dozen agents will be discreetly deployed but nonetheless able to reach you in under two seconds. Your physician will also be close by. The podium you speak from-the Blue Goose-is both bulletproof and bomb resistant. Countersnipers will be concealed in the nearby treetops. The kill zone-pardon the expression, sir-will be scrupulously covered at all times. The crowd will be searched and forced to pass through metal detectors. Psych experts will scan the crowd using closed-circuit monitors, watching for any indicators of possible trouble. Aberrant or suspicious behavior. Faces will be scanned and run through the FBI database.” He took a deep breath. “Let me assure you, Mr. President, that we are taking every possible precaution and then some. There will not be a repeat of April nineteenth. It simply will not be possible.”
The president nodded. “How will you secure the receiving line?”
Zimmer and Gatwick exchanged a glance. “No receiving line, sir.”
“What? I’ve got to shake some hands. It’s what I do.”
“Not this time, sir.”
“If I left it to you people, I’d never shake anyone’s hand.”
