“Do I need to be worried?”
“We’re working on it right now. She used some kid as a decoy to get in. I’m not sure how much of the story I believe anymore.”
“Are you talking about the girl from Afghanistan who needed surgery on her amputated leg?” Young asked.
“Thatwas in the briefing too?”
“Actually, I just heard about it from Mitchum. We’re thinking about inviting that girl on stage at some point during the speech to show that America can be both a fierce defender of freedom around the world as well as a compassionate nation. Is there anything wrong with a move like that?”
“The girl is twelve years old,” Blunt said. “I’m not sure what she could do to you. But there’s always the danger you run of inciting violence from the radicalized Muslims who will never forgive you for using the girl to promote some sort of compassionate democracy. If I were you, I’d find another way to communicate that same message.”
“I’ll think about it,” Young said. “Though you have to admit, it’d be a killer move when it comes to changing the hearts and minds of those around the world who perceive us as some evil nation.”
“Look, Noah, I’m not a political strategist, and I’m not going to try and dissuade you from doing something that could be considered as benign as that. But if Evana’s plan here includes using the girl in some way, maybe as a propaganda tool, the short term political gain might not be worth it.”
“Well, it’s your job to make sure nothing comes of it,” Young said. “I want the girl on the stage—and I want Evana Bahar’s head on a platter as the cherry on top.”
“You can’t always have it all,” Blunt said. “But we’ll do the best we can.”
“That’s all I can ask,” Young said before he hung up.
But that was a lie. Young wanted to ask for more. Ultimately, all he really wanted was to become popular again, something he never imagined he’d ever pursue after winning the presidency. But here he was, doing whatever it took to become popular just so he could remain in office like his predecessor.
Blunt’s wrong. I can have it all. And I better get it tomorrow.
CHAPTER 11
TITUS BLACK WAS ON HIS way to the NSA to meet with an analyst to go over some communiqués they found of General Fortner when Blunt called. Black stared at the screen for a moment, unsure that he wanted to answer it. He wanted to figure out who was holding his sister and where so he could go exact justice on the traitorous Fortner.
What now?
“What are you doing today?” Blunt asked.
“I’m going to the NSA which flagged some recent activity related to Fortner. I want to see if I can pick up the trail again on him.”
“That’ll have to wait. There’s been a change of plans.”
“Come on,” Black said. “You know the longer we let this go, the more our chances diminish of finding Fortner again.”
“You know I wouldn’t do this unless I absolutely need you to.”
Black sighed. “Of course. What happens to be so pressing now?”
“It’s Evana Bahar. She’s in Washington.”
“How the hell did she get into the country?”
“The short answer is she and her body double pulled one over on us.”
“Then what about the girl? Isn’t she here now too?”
“Yes,” Blunt said. “And the president wants to put her on stage with him during tomorrow night’s State of the Union address.”
“Is he out of his mind?”
“He’s desperate, trying to cobble together every scrap of political capital he can find.”
“And he thinks having some girl from Afghanistan that we’ve helped will do that for him?”
“I think this is all Mitchum’s doing,” Blunt said. “That guy thinks more about social media views than he does about the effect the policy is having on the country. And make no mistake about it, the president will get a nice bump in his favorability ratings after showcasing America’s goodwill in front of the entire world. But it also opens him up to some other sort of danger.”
“Evana Bahar is using that girl somehow.”
“That’s what I think,” Blunt said. “I just don’t know how yet.”
“And that’s what you want me to figure out?” Black asked.
“Actually, I want you to start surveillance on Capitol Hill. Scout out any locations in the chamber where Evana Bahar could’ve already been or how she might hide.”
“Isn’t security already tightened up the week before the speech?”
“This woman is capable of sneaking past even the most stringent protocols, so I’m not sure some extra security is going to keep her out. She somehow changed her DNA files in the Homeland Security database, so I won’t feel comfortable until that speech is over, especially with that girl standing next to Young.”
Black got off at the next exit and headed back toward downtown. “I understand. I’ll see what I can do.”
“I want you to scope out the place as if you were going to assassinate the president. I mean, it’s not like you haven’t done this before.”
“That was a long time ago,” Black said.
“But I’m sure what you learned then will give you a good starting place now.”
“Okay, I’m on it. I’ll give you a full assessment later today.”
“Excellent,” Blunt said. “I know we’d rather not be wasting our time protecting the president from his own stupidity, but hopefully it won’t cost us a shot at finding Fortner.”
“Roger that.”
Black mulled over how he would assassinate the president during a high-profile speech on national television—and get away with it. If it was a suicide mission, the chances of succeeding were much higher. But Black knew Evana Bahar was narcissistic enough that she wanted to revel in her victory and use the moment to propel Al Fatihin’s agenda. However, he wasn’t sure that was her reason for being in Washington. There were plenty of other targets for her to go after that would provide ample benefit to her cause.
No, Evana Bahar wants immortal fame. She’s going
