“Our boots on the ground confirmed it against his dental records.”
“Dental records?” Alex asked.
“Yeah, it was the only way to identify him. But I just wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude in helping capture him before we begin.” Young pointed at the chairs. “Have a seat—both of you.”
Hawk and Alex did as commanded.
“Can you tell us what this is all about now?” Alex asked as she exhaled. “This feels like we’re in the principal’s office.”
“You wouldn’t want to be in his office right now,” Young said as he sat down across from them. “But I’ll cut to the chase. I want to know what really happened. I’m hearing lot of conflicting reports, a lot of spin. And I need to cut through all of it in order to determine what direction we need to go.”
“There’s not really much more to say,” Alex stated. “If you heard what was on that tape, you heard it all.”
“That recording wasn’t manipulated?”
Hawk shook his head. “No, it was authentic. Ironically enough, we got it from the CIA.”
Young’s eyebrows shot upward. “Legally?”
“At this juncture, does it really matter?”
“You have a point, at least when it comes to convicting him in the court of public opinion.”
“The court of public opinion will be more than sufficient for us,” Hawk said. “That’s all that will be necessary to remove Michaels from office.”
Young twisted his wedding band. “I really wish I wasn’t part of this administration now, but at least I’ll have a chance to make things right.”
“You hope,” Alex said. “The way Michaels is acting right now, I’m hoping for your sake—and for ours—that no one knows about this meeting.”
“These guys are the most loyal ones to me that I know,” Young explained, gesturing toward the pair of secret service men who’d just entered the room. “And everyone else in that box wouldn’t know who you were if you walked up and slapped them in the face. They’re too concerned with jamming more pork into the next round of bills coming up on the legislature floor. Look, I want to work with you two, I really do,” Young said. “But first I need to do something to keep us all safe.”
Hawk furrowed his brow. “What are you talking about?”
Young didn’t answer, instead watching the agents jam syringes into the necks of Hawk and Alex. In a matter of seconds, they both fell limp and were unconscious.
CHAPTER 36
KATARINA PETROV PULLED HER DRESS taut before striding through security with the other Air Force One flight attendants. In less than fifteen minutes, Petrov determined that the group of women working on the president’s plane were tight-knit—and suspicious of their new co-worker. Petrov wasn’t too concerned. Her mission was simple: deliver a message and stay off the radar. She’d be gone before anyone realized she was here.
She maintained a low profile for most of the flight from Washington to Boston, where Michaels was joining his secretary of education for a photo op and publicity event. Michaels wanted to highlight his administration’s inner city school initiative that resulted in twenty percent higher test scores. Petrov viewed such political posturing as a waste of time, though she couldn’t blame Michaels. He’d become desperate.
However, Michaels’s desperation was the reason she was on the flight. She needed to calm him down, keep him focused. If he veered off course, The Chamber’s entire plan could get exposed—and that was what Petrov feared more than anything else. She’d spent far too long devising, plotting, and directing a strategy for achieving her organization’s primary objectives. Yet it was held together so tenuously that an unhinged and politically vulnerable U.S. President could undo everything. She’d never considered how dangerous his instability really was.
Petrov had come to terms with that fact and needed to meet with Michaels face to face, even if it was only to deliver a message. She wanted him to see The Chamber’s reach as well as assuage his fears about the future. Accomplishing two things at once was just proof of her ruthless efficiency.
Forty minutes before the plane was scheduled to land, she noticed Michaels’s aides had all abandoned him for the moment. She seized her opportunity. Loading a drink onto her trap, she nodded at the secret service agent standing at the entrance. He waved her through.
“I thought you might want a drink, Mr. President,” Petrov said.
Michael, who’d been studying a thick packet of documents, looked up with a scowl. “I didn’t order anything.”
“It’s on the house . . . from The Chamber.”
“The Chamber?” Michaels said as he bolted upright in his seat.
The secret service agent took a couple of steps toward Michaels. “Is everything all right, Mr. President?”
“Everything’s fine,” Michaels said before waving off the agent.
Once the guard returned to his post, Michaels glared at Petrov. “What are you doing on this plane?”
“I came to deliver a message.”
“I could have you dragged away and put in handcuffs right now if I wanted to.”
“But you won’t,” she said. “Your career would be over. Plus, you’d likely go to jail. So, I suggest you listen very closely to what I’m about to tell you.”
Michaels slunk back down in his seat. He grabbed the glass and started drinking. After he set the tumbler down, he winced.
“I always make mine with a double shot,” she quipped. “Now, here’s what you need to do. Stay cool and calm. No rash decisions or knee-jerk reactions. Got it?”
Michaels nodded.
“We don’t need any more drama as we get close to the launch next year.”
“Easy for you to say,” Michaels said. “I may not even be around for it.”
“You certainly won’t be around for it if you keep trying to act like a dictator when you’re little more than an elected official.”
“This elected official is leader of the free world,” he said with a growl.
“Easy come, easy go—isn’t that what you Americans are so fond of saying?” Petrov asked. “My advice to you is to step aside temporarily so the Department of Justice can conduct their investigation
