“What exactly do you want me to do, Mr. President?” Ackerman asked.
“Exactly what I said,” Michaels fired back.
“Which is . . .”
“Do I have to spell everything out for you? I want you to set up an arms deal with Al Hasib.”
“Sir, with all due respect, are you sure that’s a wise idea?”
Michaels put his hand around the back of Oliver’s neck and chuckled. “I know it seems counterintuitive, but there is a method to all this madness.”
“You mind spelling that out for me because I’m lost here.”
“Turn it off,” Michaels said, turning and looking outside, where he noticed a flurry of activity among the agents. “I’m done with this.”
“You weren’t very careful, sir,” Preston said. “And now the whole world knows about your treasonous act.”
“This will never stand up in a court of law,” Michaels said.
Preston walked over to the door and opened it. He motioned for the Secret Service agents to enter the room.
“Handcuff him,” Preston ordered as he pointed at Michaels.
“What for?” Michaels said. “You have to give a reason for detaining me. It’s the law.”
Preston sighed as the agents handcuffed Michaels to the arm of his chair. “The last thing you need to be doing is lecturing me about the law. Now, would you like to call your attorney?”
Nostrils flaring, Michaels glared at Preston. “I need you to order these men to release me from custody right now.”
Preston shook his head. “Not happening, sir.”
“I’m the president, you asshole.”
Young smiled. “Not anymore you aren’t. Consider yourself relieved of duty.”
Michaels jerked at his restraints. “I swear to God, I’m going to kill you, Noah.”
Young and the two agents exited the room without another word, leaving Michaels alone with Preston.
Preston eased into the seat on the other side of the desk. He clasped his hands, resting his elbows on the arms of his chair.
“Let’s get to the point. I know how much you hate being embarrassed, Conrad. Your legacy? Poof. Gone. It’s a shame too because you actually made some progress that benefitted all Americans.”
“What do you want?”
“I don’t want anything, but I am offering you a way out, a way to avoid becoming a stain on the president’s office.”
“And what makes you think I’m going down for all this? I have really good lawyers, you know.”
“No one is going to want your case,” Preston said. “You can fight it, but you’ll go down. And you sure as hell won’t get re-elected next month. October surprise? That’d be a breeze compared to what’s about to happen to your poll numbers. Your campaign will become ground zero.”
“Suppose you’re right about all this. What can you possibly do to ensure that my legacy remains intact?”
Preston picked up his briefcase and opened it. He removed a rope and a knife and placed them on the desk in front of Michaels.
“This is your decision now,” Preston said. “You can control how you go. And I promise to make sure that this other information never sees the light of day after the public is told that you died tragically from a sudden embolism in your heart.”
“Is this some kind of joke?” Michaels asked.
“Let’s just see what the pundits are saying.”
Preston grabbed the remote from the edge of the desk and turned on the television. For the next ten minutes, Michaels watched in silence as every political talking head eviscerated him for the leaked video. No one was willing to defend him, much less call for everyone to wait until all the facts came out. The writing was on the wall—his career was over. And Preston offered him what amounted to a virtual pardon, albeit one that ended in death.
“Okay,” Michaels said. “I’ll accept your offer as long as you promise to keep your word. Defend me on this and make up a plausible cover story. Don’t let them tarnish what I’ve done over a single mistake.”
“You have my word,” Preston said. “Now, what’ll it be?”
Michaels nodded toward the knife.
“It’ll be quick and painless as far as suicides go—and easier to cover up.”
Preston gathered all his items, including his laptop and the rope, and placed them into his briefcase. He slipped the thumb drive into his coat pocket and strode toward the door.
Stopping at the door, he turned back to Michaels and threw him the keys to the handcuffs.
“You’ve got half an hour,” Preston said.
Michaels watched the door shut before he started to unlock himself. He rubbed his wrists and then stared down at the knife. Picking it up, he fingered the blade before he pricked his thumb. He watched a drop of blood bead up before dripping onto the desk.
He closed his eyes and put the knife against his wrist.
Here goes nothing.
CHAPTER 27
HAWK KEPT HIS FOOT on the gas as he wound along the two-lane roads leading to Camp David. For too long, President Michaels had played games with Hawk, placing him on terrorist watch and most-wanted lists. Hawk had grown tired of living with his head on a swivel. But even more importantly, he’d grown tired of serving under a president who was a bigger threat to the country than the tough-talking terrorists oceans away from U.S. soil.
Hawk called Big Earv, his longtime friend and Secret Service agent, to find out if there was anything he should know about Michaels’ visit to the presidential retreat.
“Big Earv, where are you?” Hawk asked once his friend answered.
“I’m at Camp David with the president.”
“Think you can get me a private meeting with him, one that’s totally off the books?”
Big Earv sighed. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Hawk. I just went off duty, but there’s some crazy stuff going on up here right now.”
“Such as?”
“The VP and the attorney general both just arrived a few hours ago. They met with Michaels in the library and talked for a while. I was posted outside on duty and told not to let anyone inside. After
