“True enough, sir. But on this occasion, so soon after the previous attack, and with the nation feeling vulnerable-it’s out of the question.”
The president frowned. “I don’t like it.” Pause. “But I suppose I can live with it.”
He could immediately see the relief on the Secret Service faces. He knew they wouldn’t allow it, but he wanted them to sweat a little, just the same. Wouldn’t do for the Secret Service to get the idea they could tell the president what to do. Even though they pretty much could.
“Let me just say again,” Salter interjected, “that I find this whole plan unduly risky. Doesn’t matter what these people do. There’s always a chance that a determined killer might slip through the cracks.”
“Now you’re just being paranoid,” Lehman said, shaking his head. “Get a testosterone injection already.”
“This isn’t about showing who can be the cockiest badass in the federal government,” Salter said. “It’s about protecting the President of the United States. Sir, I ask you again. Please. Don’t do this.”
“For once, I actually agree with Agent Salter,” Muldoon said. “Perhaps this would be best postponed to a calmer time.”
“Not an option,” the president replied. “My advisors don’t share your confidence regarding the passage of this amendment in the Senate. I have to get out there and stump. Stir up enough public support that those congressional toadies can’t say no to me. Understand? So work together, people, and make it safe. We’re going to do this. Let’s make sure we do it right.”
He hoped he had been firm enough. He knew they thought this was a crazy, dangerous scheme. Didn’t matter. He had to do it. He saw everything so much more clearly now. This would be his legacy, what he would be remembered for. The Emily Amendment, that’s what future generations would call it. It would become his greatest achievement and his wife’s living memorial.
Emily would like that. Wouldn’t she?
Maybe he had failed her on April 19, maybe he had failed her even before that as a husband, but now, finally, he could give her what she deserved. And if that meant taking a few risks So be it. Emily had never been afraid to take risks, even some that broke his heart. But she was fearless. He would follow her example. He would get this amendment passed. And God help anyone who tried to stand in his way.
52
“Mike!”
Ben rushed into the hospital room, still dragging his carry-on luggage. Kate Baxter was seated beyond the bed, close at hand. Mike was awake-awake and sitting upright, looking healthier than he had since the shooting incident, and sturdier-and seriously pissed.
“My God! It’s good to see you. I was so afraid-” Ben rushed forward, arms extended for a hug.
Mike held up his hands. “Please. No chick-flick moments.”
Ben pulled back, grinning. “I’m glad to see the concussion had no effect on your prickly personality.”
“You might be surprised. Look who’s here, Kate,” he added. “It’s our distinguished senator.”
“I guess he needs your vote,” Baxter said wryly.
“Well, he ain’t gonna get it.”
Ben took a tentative step closer. “I came as soon as I heard you were awake. How do you feel?”
“Terrible. But not bad for a guy who got thrown twelve feet by a car bomb. This IV is pumping something yummy into my bloodstream, and that helps. How are you doing?”
Ben’s head tilted to one side. “I-feel fine.”
“No, I was inquiring more as to the state of your mental health.”
“I…don’t think I quite follow you.”
Mike looked at him levelly. “What I’m trying to ask in the nicest possible way is: Have you totally lost your goddamn mind?”
Ben felt as if a shock wave had slammed him up against the wall. “Mike…I know you’re probably a little loopy from the pain medication-”
“I’m not remotely loopy, thank you very much, but you’re acting like a crazy person, and you’re not even on any medication, as far as I know. Or am I wrong?”
Ben walked to the side of the hospital bed, trying not to show his disappointment. He had been waiting and praying for so long for the moment when he might speak to Mike again. This was a far cry from what he had expected.
“Kate,” Mike said abruptly, “would you mind stepping outside for a moment?”
She tucked in her chin. “Oh, I was good enough company when you were unconscious, but now that you’re awake and there’s another guy around you’re throwing me over?”
“I’m not throwing you over. I am, however, preparing to use language unfit for a lady’s ears.”
“What, you’re going to recite poetry?”
Mike almost smiled. “Yeah, lots of it. Possibly even some Shakespeare. You should flee.”
“No need to say more. I’m a-fleeing.” She stepped past Ben and excused herself.
“Now, then,” Mike said, fixing his gaze on Ben with piercing eyes, “perhaps you’d like to explain yourself.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t play games with me, Ben. I’ve talked to Christina. She tells me you’re supporting this cockamamy constitutional amendment. In fact, she tells me you’re leading the crusade.”
“Well…yes.”
“In fact, she tells me that you caved on an education bill and a bill that might feed starving children in exchange for the passage of this amendment.”
“I’m considering it.”
“You’re considering ignorance and starvation in order to get this fascist wet dream written into the Constitution?”
Ben felt floored. “I-I thought you’d support it, too.”
“Excuse me? You thought I’d support it?” He stared at Ben incredulously. “Like maybe while I was sleeping I entered an alternate universe and joined the Nazi party?”
“No, but you are a member of the law enforcement community-”
“Which is exactly what equips me to know just how much trouble this law could be. I see every day what can happen when law enforcement has too much power. When the proper checks and balances are not in place. Good God, Ben-you’ve seen the same thing in the courtroom. What were you thinking?”
Ben pressed his fingers against his forehead. He was confused and disoriented and finding it difficult to speak coherently. “I thought you would approve-”
“After all we’ve been through together? Ben-have you forgotten what happened in the Kindergarten Killer case once the Feds came to town? Have you forgotten how a tiny cadre of corrupt cops managed to get you tossed into the slammer and accused of murder? And that was under the current legal system. Imagine what might happen if this law were passed. The Feds declare an emergency state and suddenly anyone in the FBI or Homeland Security can do anything they want to any American without any possibility of legal review. It’s outrageous. It goes against everything the Constitution stands for.”
“Well, we have to do something. The terrorists killed the first lady. And three senators. They tried to kill me.”
“Or someone did, anyway.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’ve spent most of my time since I woke up reading about this case, and I am unconvinced that
