Presidential Shift (14 page)

Camp Spartan, Arrington, TN

10:29am, December 22
^nd

Cal invited Don Maynor to visit SSI, promising to show him around Nashville as thanks for helping with the recent operation. Maynor didn’t need much coercion. He readily agreed and had flown to Nashville with the rest of the team.

They all sat in the lodge’s spacious lounge, enjoying a much-needed drink, swapping stories, waiting for the news conference. Cal hadn’t planned on watching, having already put their latest excursion behind him. It had been incredible, but to the battle-hardened warrior, it was just another operation.

The only reason he’d decided to have the president’s address on was because the president had called early that morning, requesting Cal to tune in.

“I can’t do much in the way of a public thanks, but I’ll do what I can,” the president had said.

So Cal had gathered up the crew who’d been in D.C., along with Travis, MSgt Trent, Marge Haines, Todd Dunn and Dr. Higgins. Cal chuckled at the endless back-and-forth between the near seven foot Trent and the five-foot-nothing Gaucho. Half the room was in stitches at their ribbing.

“Here he is,” someone announced, as the president appeared on the large television screen, stepping up to the podium. To Cal’s trained eye, the man looked older. How could you blame him? He’d lost his wife twice in one day. Behind him, Vice President Zimmer stood stoically.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming at such short notice. Before I start, I would like to say that I will not be taking questions today.” There were murmurs from the gallery. The media honeymoon had come and gone since the president’s first term, replaced by prearranged questions and less access for reporters. “I have prepared a few words that I hope will shed light on recent events. First, I would like to thank the members of local law enforcement and our federal agents who assisted in the investigations into the attacks here in the capitol and in Alabama. Also, I send my thoughts and prayers, along with the rest of America, to those who lost loved ones. We are with you and will not rest until each and every criminal is brought to justice for these heinous acts. There are also some unsung heroes, who I wish I could mention by name, but who played a pivotal role in bringing closure to the investigation. I know you’re watching, and I say, from the bottom of my heart, you are heroes, and will always hold a special place in my heart.”

The president paused, looking down from the camera. His shoulders seemed to sag a bit as he continued. “A few of you know by now that last night, my wife, the first lady, suffered a severe stroke. I am being told by the best doctors that she will not regain normal function. She is, essentially, alive, but in a vegetative state.”

This was news to the assemblage, as evidenced by questions being shouted at the podium. The only information previously released from the White House had been that the first lady was taken in for some kind of minor seizure, reportedly something she’d had since childhood. This was a revelation. It was shocking. More than one intrepid reporter found tears in their eyes.

The president raised a weary hand for silence.

“As you can imagine, the loss of a loved one is debilitating. It hurts you to your core. I…I don’t know what I’ll do without my beautiful wife…my girls…my…”

The hushed silence was punctuated by the repeated clicks from photographers, the whir of the small fans lining the stuffy room.

With a handkerchief pulled from his pocket, the president wiped his eyes. “I’m sorry. As you can imagine, it’s been a rough night.” No one said a word. Everyone waited for more. Would there be more? The president coughed into his hand, squared his shoulders, and looked directly into the camera. “Due to my wife’s condition, its effect on my daughters, and myself…effective immediately, I resign my position as President of the United States.” Gasps from the crowd. “Also effective immediately, the next President of the United States, a man I trust and admire, is Brandon Zimmer.”

Every camera in the room zoomed in on the shocked face of now-President Brandon Zimmer, who mutely shook his predecessor’s hand until the former president walked behind the curtain.

Cal stared up at the television. “Holy crap.”

+++++

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