Big Earv nodded. “Less than five minutes after we arrived, Samuels demanded she relocate to another destination. He was concerned that someone knew her favorite spot and had tried to dupe him with a lookalike.”
Hawk cursed under his breath. “I thought Alex was a dead ringer for the first lady.”
“Yeah, well, Samuels asked her if her voice had gotten back to normal, and her response tipped him off that someone had tried to play him. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to recognize me or the other agent working both details.”
“So, were you able to hear what they were talking about?” Hawk asked.
“I bugged her purse so I could listen in,” Big Earv said.
“And?” Black said.
“Well, at first it wasn’t easy to figure out what they were talking about,” Big Earv said. “They just spoke in a very cryptic code. But the longer they chatted, the more they let their guard down and I figured out what they were talking about.”
“What was that?” Hawk asked.
“In short, Samuels is going to help the first lady do something,” Big Earv said.
“Do what? Are they . . .” Black said before pausing and staring blankly around the patio.
“I couldn’t hear everything as there was some strange interference during part of the conversation, and I’m not exactly one to go starting rumors,” Big Earv said. “But there was something about the way they looked, like they were more than just family.”
“Let me get this straight,” Black said. “You believe that the first lady and Samuels are somewhat of an item?”
Big Earv shrugged. “I don’t know what to think. But all I know is that I got a weird vibe while they were talking.”
“Was there anything specific you were able to glean from their conversation?” Hawk asked.
“Samuels warned her to be nowhere near the White House tomorrow. Apparently, he’s helping coordinate an attack on the presidential mansion.”
Black snapped his fingers. “That’s what Obsidian really cares about, isn’t it? I mean, the optics of gassing thousands of commuters worldwide at the same time in major metropolitan cities in Europe and the U.S. would be great. But a single strike against the White House would be a major blow against this country. It’d destabilize every market and give them a chance to move in under the guise of night, so to speak, and seize control where people are ready to cede it in exchange for the feeling of being safe.”
“Samuels didn’t give you any clues as to how they intended on accomplishing such an attack, did he?” Hawk asked.
“None whatsoever, just that it’s happening,” Big Earv said.
“And you heard the entire conversation?” Hawk asked.
“Not everything. Like I said, there was a point near the end where I got some interference. Not sure where it was coming from, but I heard everything but the last five minutes.”
Hawk finished off his seltzer water and set it down in front of him. “You should’ve arrested him right there.”
“For what?”
“For conspiring against the United States of America, that’s what,” Hawk said.
“But I didn’t record the conversation, only listened on it,” Big Earv said. “And if I tried to accuse her of such a thing, she’d fabricate something criminal against me, and my ass would be in jail before I could say Jack Frost.”
Black shook his head. “I would’ve shot the bastard on site.”
“That’s why I’m in the Secret Service and you’re an assassin,” Big Earv said. “There are some problems that are only exacerbated by killing a person.”
Black set his jaw. “Samuels wouldn’t be one of them.”
“I appreciate your patriotism, but if I made such an accusation against Samuels, you’d lose your man on the inside and you’d have no idea what was going on in the hallowed halls of the White House.”
Black drew a deep breath and was about to start talking before Hawk placed hand on his colleague’s arm and gave him a knowing look.
“I think what my partner is trying to say is that we appreciate what you were able to give us,” Hawk said. “We’re going to go after Samuels and do our best to make sure no attack on the White House happens tomorrow. You’ve been an amazing help, and I feel like I must buy you a drink.”
Big Earv smiled. “Since I’m off duty right now, I won’t refuse your generosity.”
Hawk signaled for the waiter and ordered Big Earv a beer. The three men chatted for a few more minutes before Hawk looked at Black and suggested that they needed to get moving.
“What are you going to do now?” Big Earv asked.
“I’m not sure,” Hawk said, reaching out to shake Big Earv’s hand. “But I’ll let you know as soon as we know something.”
Hawk forced a smile as Big Earv strode along the sidewalk.
Black turned toward Hawk. “You know exactly what you’re going to do, don’t you?”
Hawk grinned. “Of course I do. We’re going to tell the president.”
CHAPTER 24
BLUNT WAVED AT THE GUARD manning the security station just outside the White House gates. With a faint smile, Blunt held up his security badge for the man to study it. Scanning a list of names, he identified Blunt and returned his credentials.
“Mr. Blunt, you’ll need to leave that cigar right here,” the guard said. “There’s no smoking on the White House grounds.”
“Don’t worry, I only chew on these things,” Blunt said with a wink before he turned and ambled inside.
Blunt entered the west wing and descended to the private area below the main floor where the president conducted all his confidential conversations. While Blunt had visited the room many times in the past, he’d never been this nervous. It was one thing to deliver a grim report about the aftermath of a terrorist attack. But to inform the president that the one person he probably thought he could trust the most was sabotaging him and feeding intel to the enemy? There would be several stages of grief exhibited before he would believe it—and then
