Olivia walked up to her dad and straightened his tie. “I’m not letting you go out there looking like that.”
“Thanks, sweetie,” he said.
“By the way, you left your phone on the kitchen table,” she said. “I thought you might want it.”
“Oh, thank you. You’re always thinking about me.”
She leaned close to him and continued in a hushed tone. “Why didn’t you tell me that Madeline was still alive?”
Young drew back. “What in the world? Why would you think such a thing?”
“I saw her text. It was up on the screen when I picked up your phone.”
“You must be confused.”
Olivia shook her head. “Nope. I know what I saw. She warned you about some attack that’s supposed to happen tonight. Said she didn’t want anything to happen to me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Stop lying to me, Dad. Read the text.”
Young huffed as he pulled out the phone and scanned the note. Olivia was right. Madeline had sent him a text earlier, warning him one final time about the consequences of moving forward with the event.
“Oh, this,” Young said as he waved his hand dismissively. “It’s Madeline from the Secret Service. She’s concerned about staffing issues for tonight. Always the worry wort.”
“There’s a Madeline in the Secret Service that’s worried about me? I don’t know any Madeline.”
“It’s okay, sweetie. There are so many people that help me run this office. I can hardly keep track of all of them myself.”
Olivia sighed. “Okay, fine. Maybe I don’t remember her. But be careful out there tonight, okay?”
“Always,” Young said before he leaned forward and kissed Olivia on her forehead.
He waited until she walked away before he exhaled.
Lying to your own daughter? What kind of man are you?
He turned around to watch her leave and waved when she glanced back over her shoulder.
“Sir,” one of the event organizers said as she touched Young on the arm, “they’re ready for you.”
As the president strode out from the building and onto the stage, he couldn't help but think about the text from Madeline. Despite all his confidence that Evana Bahar's terrorist organization would be unable to strike, he wasn't so sure. He forced a smile as he soaked in the adulation of the swaying crowd singing a full-throated version of "God Bless America."
Young eased behind the lectern and held his hands up in a gesture to get the people to quiet down. After the song ended, they broke into a chant of "U-S-A, U-S-A." The moment gave him chills and made him forget about the threat.
He pumped his fist, energizing the crowd even further.
When the shout finally died off, he began his speech.
“Fellow Americans, today is a fantastic time in the history of this country. We’re experiencing unprecedented wealth as a nation. Our advancements and breakthroughs in technology and the medical fields are making our lives easier as well as last longer. That’s more time with family, more time with friends, more time with fellow citizens to enjoy this incredible country that we have the privilege of living in.”
The crowd roared with approval and chanted again before tapering off.
“As we gather here today to celebrate the birthday of America, let us never forget the sacrifices of all the great men and women who have come before us to pave the way for this time in history. Without them, none of this would be possible. And without each and every one of you doing your best to cultivate an environment of togetherness and love, we wouldn’t be half the nation that we are.
“So, as we take this time to celebrate time, let’s not forget who we are or what we’re about as a nation. Let us always remember that the most precious thing any of us will ever have is our freedom.”
Young looked up as a trio of F-16s roared overhead, delighting the crowd. Fireworks exploded, lighting up the late evening sky. Young smiled again, this time unforced. He could feel the energy from the people gathered on the National Mall.
I wish the election was tomorrow.
He waved for a few more seconds before getting escorted off the stage by the Secret Service. When he reached the doors of the Capitol Building, he couldn’t stop grinning.
The President’s aide, Kyle Felkel, stood just inside, scowling at Young.
“What’s wrong, Kyle?” Young said as he slapped his aide on his arm. “I absolutely nailed it out there. Listen to them. They’re still chanting.”
“Sir, we need to talk,” Kyle said.
“Oh, Kyle, can’t it wait? I want to bask in this moment just a little longer.”
“I’m afraid there’s no time for that, sir.”
“What is it?” Young’s face fell as the details of Madeline’s text rushed back to him.
“There’s a situation you need to be briefed about,” Kyle said. “And it isn’t good.”
CHAPTER 35
7:30 p.m.
ALEX STARED AT THE satellite image of three drones loaded with weapons and heading straight for Washington. Mouths agape, the cybersecurity experts that had been assigned to the Phoenix Foundation office sat stunned at the unfolding scene. Mia, meanwhile, pounded away on her keyboard, scrolling through computer code.
“Is this part of the Fourth of July celebration?” Alex asked.
“Absolutely not,” Blunt said as he lumbered into the room. “I just got a call from the Pentagon that told me three drones had been hijacked by hackers.”
“You were right, Mia,” Alex said. “You didn’t think they were going to set off a bomb or attack the financial markets.”
“Evana Bahar has been trying to distract us and divert our attention when all along this was her plan,” Mia said.
Alex nodded. “She wanted us to think the threat had been stopped so we’d relax.”
“And here we are,” Blunt said as he hit his fist on a desk.
“But we’re not going to stay here,” Alex said before clapping her hands. “Let’s take those planes back.”
Blunt shook his head. “The Pentagon is trying to regain control of the planes.”
“And they won’t be able to,” Mia said, looking up from her terminal.
“Why not?” Blunt asked. “They’ve got some
