Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn Page A

voice that he was in a hurry, but he could take a number with all of the other people who daily streamed into her office in an attempt to get some face time with America's highest elected official.
    "He's in with someone right now. It'll probably be twenty minutes to a half an hour."
    Warch shook his head. "It can't wait that long. I have to see him right away."
    Burke had had many dealings with Warch over the last five months, but she had never seen him look quite so concerned.
    "I don't know what you want me to do' Jack He's meeting with a foreign dignitary. We can hardly go bursting in."
    "He's meeting with what?" asked an angered Warch.
    "I didn't see anything on his schedule."
    Burke sat up a little straighter, somewhat surprised by the agent's tone.
    "It was a last-minute change."
    "Who is he meeting with?"
    "russ Piper and ah—" Burke looked down at her desk.
    "Prince Kalib."
    Warch's forehead creased.
    "I don't remember seeing a Prince Kalib on the WHAVS list." WHAVS, pronounced "waves," stood for White House Access Visitor System. The uniformed division used the system to screen guests for any criminal and/or mental history that could be threatening to the president.
    Burke looked up sheepishly. "I don't know what to say. The DNC added him to the list late last night."
    "Goddamnit," cursed Warch through clenched teeth.
    "How many times do I have to tell you people that no one gets in to see him unless we've done a complete check?" Warch backed away from the desk and thought about his options. If he barged in on a meeting with a foreign dignitary and everything turned out to be a false alarm, Hayes would have his ass.
    Warch looked back to the president's secretary.
    "Where is Prince Kalib from?"
    "Oman, I think." Burke nervously checked her planner.
    Warch was acting very out of character.
    "Yes, he's from Oman."
    Warch's suspicion doubled at the mention of the tiny Persian Gulf state.
    In a quick clipped voice, warch asked, "Has he ever been to the White House before?"
    "No." Burke shook her head.
    "Not that I know of."
    Warch had to decide, and he had to decide fast. His mind quickly scrolled through a list of possibilities, and all the while his conversation with Irene Kennedy loomed larger and larger. Warch paced back and forth in front of Burkes desk, and then finally his instincts kicked in. He turned for the door that Special Agent Ellen Morton was standing next to, and his left hand snapped up to his mouth. He was about to make the best or the worst decision of his career. Into the hand mike, the special agent in charge of the president's detail barked out the command, "Warch to detail. Harden up on the Oval Office!"

PRESIDENT HAYES FINISHED writing a note to himself and said, "It was good talking to you. Harry. I appreciate your help on this. Thanks."
    Hayes hung up the phone and stood.
    From the back of his chair, he grabbed his suit coat and put it on. The president tugged at each sleeve once and then buttoned the top button of the dark coat. Smiling, he stepped out from behind his desk, and with Valerie Jones at his side, he said, "Prince Kalib, it is an honor to finally meet you."
    Rafique Aziz rose from the couch and smiled his first honest smile all morning. Subtly, he crossed his hands in front of his waist, letting his right hand fall on the wrist of his left. Aziz felt for the button, not wanting to take his eyes off the president.
    He had practiced it so many times and dreamt about it thousands of times more. This was how he had always thought it would be. The so-American gesture of shaking hands. It was the perfect opportunity to strike. He had been right to wait for the president to come to him. Aziz's smile broadened even further as his index finger circled the face of the watch once, searching for the proper button. He found it and pressed it twice.
    Then his hand moved casually to his belt, a feeling of ecstasy washing over him as his hostage approached.
    The Treasury Building IN THE CAB of