North Korea? Not as long as South Korea is itching for a fight.”
“I hope you’re right. But I can see us getting kicked around a bit if we’re not careful.”
Mazie changed the subject. “Here comes your future daughter-in-law.”
Pontowski followed her gaze and saw the president’smother and daughter walking toward them. He grinned. “I wonder how Zack feels about that?”
“I don’t think he’s going to have a choice in the matter,” Mazie replied.
Pontowski stood and gave the seventy-one-year-old Maura a hug. “Me next,” Sarah demanded. Pontowski gave her a hug, surprised at how she was filling out. “Tell Zack to answer my e-mail,” she said.
“Well,” Maura said to Pontowski, “Maddy will be delighted to see you here.”
“Don’t you think it’s time you started sleeping together?” Sarah asked.
“Sarah!” Maura scolded.
Pontowski rubbed his chin. “Not tonight. I haven’t shaved and need a shower.”
“I’m being serious,” Sarah said.
By the time Marine One landed on the helipad with the president aboard late Sunday afternoon, all the signs of a building crisis were in place. Chief of Staff Parrish was huddled with Mazie and a Navy vice admiral in the Camp David communications center while two brigadier generals—one from the Army, the other from the Air Force—waited in the hall. Pontowski was sure of it when a second helicopter arrived and perched on the helipad, its crew also standing by for a quick launch. To his way of thinking, what else would cause her to return unannounced to the capital during the height of a campaign? And her arrival at Camp David would set off no alarms.
Later that same evening they found some time to be alone. Maddy cuddled against his shoulder as she gazed wistfully into the fire crackling in the stone fireplace. “I do love this place,” she murmured.
“It is beautiful,” Pontowski allowed. He waited, sensing she wanted to have a serious talk.
“Mazie talked to you,” she said. It wasn’t a question. Pontowski gave a little nod. “Do you know a General Bernie Butler?”
“I’ve heard of him. The Boys in the Basement. He’s got a good track record, lots of credibility.”
“He’s saying the UIF is going to attack Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The CIA gives it a lower probability. Mazie’s on the fence.” A discreet knock at the door caught their attention, and Maddy moved away. “Come,” she said.
The Air Force brigadier entered the room. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Madam President. The UIF military command in Baghdad has implemented a communications blackout in conjunction with their joint exercise.”
“Effective when?” Pontowski asked.
“As of twenty minutes ago,” the brigadier said.
Pontowski shook his head. “A communications blackout before the start of a major exercise is not business as usual.” He checked his watch and ran the numbers. “It’s four o’clock Monday morning over there. Sunrise is when?”
“In an hour and forty minutes,” the brigadier replied.
“Madam President,” Pontowski said, “I believe you need to return to the White House.”
Maddy stood and walked to the fireplace. A log flared, and sparks rose up the chimney. “I didn’t want this,” she said.
“No sane person does,” Pontowski told her.
Maddy gave a little nod, her lips compressed tightly. She picked up the phone. “Please tell Mr. Parrish that I’m returning to the White House.” She turned to Pontowski. “Would you mind staying here with Maura and Sarah?”
“Not at all,” he answered, wondering why.
The White House
Monday, September 6
Secretary of State Serick joined the Executive Committee gathered in the Situation Room. He took his seat and did a head count: Mazie, Sam Kennett, the DCI, General Wilding, and Bernie Butler were all there. The door opened, and Secretary of Defense Robert Merritt entered. “Well?” Merritt demanded.
Serick shot him a contemptuous look. The secretary of defense
“I hope you’re right. But I can see us getting kicked around a bit if we’re not careful.”
Mazie changed the subject. “Here comes your future daughter-in-law.”
Pontowski followed her gaze and saw the president’smother and daughter walking toward them. He grinned. “I wonder how Zack feels about that?”
“I don’t think he’s going to have a choice in the matter,” Mazie replied.
Pontowski stood and gave the seventy-one-year-old Maura a hug. “Me next,” Sarah demanded. Pontowski gave her a hug, surprised at how she was filling out. “Tell Zack to answer my e-mail,” she said.
“Well,” Maura said to Pontowski, “Maddy will be delighted to see you here.”
“Don’t you think it’s time you started sleeping together?” Sarah asked.
“Sarah!” Maura scolded.
Pontowski rubbed his chin. “Not tonight. I haven’t shaved and need a shower.”
“I’m being serious,” Sarah said.
By the time Marine One landed on the helipad with the president aboard late Sunday afternoon, all the signs of a building crisis were in place. Chief of Staff Parrish was huddled with Mazie and a Navy vice admiral in the Camp David communications center while two brigadier generals—one from the Army, the other from the Air Force—waited in the hall. Pontowski was sure of it when a second helicopter arrived and perched on the helipad, its crew also standing by for a quick launch. To his way of thinking, what else would cause her to return unannounced to the capital during the height of a campaign? And her arrival at Camp David would set off no alarms.
Later that same evening they found some time to be alone. Maddy cuddled against his shoulder as she gazed wistfully into the fire crackling in the stone fireplace. “I do love this place,” she murmured.
“It is beautiful,” Pontowski allowed. He waited, sensing she wanted to have a serious talk.
“Mazie talked to you,” she said. It wasn’t a question. Pontowski gave a little nod. “Do you know a General Bernie Butler?”
“I’ve heard of him. The Boys in the Basement. He’s got a good track record, lots of credibility.”
“He’s saying the UIF is going to attack Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The CIA gives it a lower probability. Mazie’s on the fence.” A discreet knock at the door caught their attention, and Maddy moved away. “Come,” she said.
The Air Force brigadier entered the room. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Madam President. The UIF military command in Baghdad has implemented a communications blackout in conjunction with their joint exercise.”
“Effective when?” Pontowski asked.
“As of twenty minutes ago,” the brigadier said.
Pontowski shook his head. “A communications blackout before the start of a major exercise is not business as usual.” He checked his watch and ran the numbers. “It’s four o’clock Monday morning over there. Sunrise is when?”
“In an hour and forty minutes,” the brigadier replied.
“Madam President,” Pontowski said, “I believe you need to return to the White House.”
Maddy stood and walked to the fireplace. A log flared, and sparks rose up the chimney. “I didn’t want this,” she said.
“No sane person does,” Pontowski told her.
Maddy gave a little nod, her lips compressed tightly. She picked up the phone. “Please tell Mr. Parrish that I’m returning to the White House.” She turned to Pontowski. “Would you mind staying here with Maura and Sarah?”
“Not at all,” he answered, wondering why.
The White House
Monday, September 6
Secretary of State Serick joined the Executive Committee gathered in the Situation Room. He took his seat and did a head count: Mazie, Sam Kennett, the DCI, General Wilding, and Bernie Butler were all there. The door opened, and Secretary of Defense Robert Merritt entered. “Well?” Merritt demanded.
Serick shot him a contemptuous look. The secretary of defense
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