I Do Solemnly Swear (17 page)

General Wolfe looked at her with penetrating eyes. “And if he doesn’t?”

Kate met his stare. “Then I’ll consider aggressive measures.”

They talked for several minutes more. When the meeting ended, Kate waited for the room to clear and asked Walter Owens to remain.

“Contact Dean Whitney and send my apologies. Tell him I have to postpone my lecture—indefinitely.”

“That’s not going to endear you to him,” Owens said. “I had to turn the thumbscrews to give you this chance.”

“We’re in the middle of a major international crisis. I can’t even think about a lecture right now.”

“It’s not as if you’re going to be out of touch, Madam President. Georgetown is just a stone’s throw away.”

She considered it for a moment. “OK, Walter. But tell the dean that I may have to cancel at the last minute if an emergency arises.”

“Very well, Madam President.”

Kate remained in the room for several minutes and reflected on the meeting. As Owens walked out the door, he glanced over his shoulder, and she noticed a peculiar sparkle in his eyes.

Kate was sitting in the Oval Office conferring with McDermott and Olivia Carter. They’d just finished discussing the details of her meeting with the Joint Chiefs.

“You were right, Olivia. The events in the Middle East have captured front-page headlines. No one seems to care about my separation from Peter.”

Olivia had been gloating somewhat, and McDermott’s annoyance was obvious. The COS didn’t like being outmaneuvered by his understudy.

“Oh, they care, Madam President,” McDermott said. “It’s far from being over.”

“I wouldn’t be concerned,” Olivia said. “It’s old news.”

McDermott’s lips tightened to a thin line.

The intercom rang.

“Madam President,” Emily Hutchins said, “a Wendy
Marshall
has called the White House several times. She said she’s a personal friend and it’s urgent she speak with you.”

Wendy’s name brought back fond memories of a life less complicated. “Did she leave her number?”

Emily recited it slowly.

Kate scribbled the number on her yellow pad.

“That’s strange,” Kate said to McDermott and Olivia. “An old friend from my college days is trying to reach me. I haven’t seen her in over twenty years.”

When she finished with McDermott and Olivia, Kate hurried into her private office and asked Emily not to disturb her. She glared at the telephone for several minutes and remembered the fun times she had shared with Wendy. When they graduated, Kate and Wendy vowed to stay in touch, but like many people, the details of their busy lives got in the way.

Kate glanced at the yellow piece of paper and pressed the numbers with her fingertip. She recognized Wendy’s soft voice immediately.

“Wendy...This is Kate Miles.”

“
President
Miles? I was afraid my message wouldn’t get to you. Congratulations, by the way. I knew someday you’d make center stage.”

“How’s everything with you?”

“Living in Long Beach, south of LA. I publish a local newspaper—the
Long Beach News
. Heard of it?”

She hadn’t, but thought she’d be polite. “As a matter of fact, I have.”

“I’m flattered. Never gonna get rich, you know, but I live near the ocean and keep the wolves away. Been married for almost twenty years.”

“Kids?”

“Two. Josh is eighteen, and Liz will be thirteen next month. Not looking forward to having a teenage daughter. Remember all the trouble I used to get into?”

Kate sure did. “So what can I do for you?”

“Don’t want to sound melodramatic, but your telephone isn’t tapped or anything, is it?”

“This is a secure line, Wendy.”

Wendy’s voice hushed to a whisper. “A really creepy character from the CIA contacted me several days ago. He about scared the daylights out of me. At first, I thought it had something to do with my newspaper. One of our columnists loves to slam politicians. No disrespect intended. Anyway, he asked me a whole bunch of questions—about
you
. Wanted to know
everything
I could remember. Said it was standard procedure. A matter of national security. Said that thoroughly investigating a president’s background prepared them for potential scandals.”

Kate’s heart fluttered in her upper chest. “What was the agent’s name?”

“Miller. Jack Miller. He told me it was my patriotic duty to keep our conversation confidential. I hope I did the right thing by calling you.”

“You did. And I thank you.” Kate had to find out more about Jack Miller. But not from Wendy. “If anyone
ever
contacts you again, call me immediately.”

“Sure, Madam President.”

“And, Wendy, please don’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”

“You have my word on that.”

Kate could only hope that Wendy would keep her promise

“If you ever get to the West Coast, look me up. I’d love to see you again.”

“I’m glad you called.”

Kate slammed the receiver into its cradle harder than she’d intended. Her first impulse was to barge into Victor Ellenwood’s office, grab his skinny little chicken neck, and wring it until his eyes bulged. But what would she accomplish? Ellenwood would
claim that he was doing his job, trying to protect her. Kate had to approach Ellenwood less directly. Jack Miller, she recalled, was the agent who’d discussed her supposed resignation with Ellenwood. What else had the little snake been up to? Or was it
snakes
? Kate wasn’t quite sure how to handle the situation yet, but whatever the plan, her attack had to be strategic and stealthy.

Be patient, Kate. Patience is a virtue
.

A virtue she hoped she possessed.

Carl Kramer sat across from President Miles and coughed into his clenched fist. “Select members of the special commission and I have interrogated each staff member who had access to President Rodgers’s private suite, and we haven’t uncovered even a remote lead, Madam President.”

“That’s not what I want to hear, Mr. Kramer.” She drummed her fingers on the desk. “I selected you to head the investigation because I expected timely results.”

“I’ve been working day and night.”

“Are members of the commission assisting you?”

He nodded. “Not only is the commission assisting me with the investigation, but I have the full support of the CIA and FBI.”

“Then why haven’t we made any progress?”

“The assassination was well planned, Madam President. Whoever is responsible covered their trail impeccably.”

Kate locked her eyes on the jittery DDCI. “You’ve got a week, Carl. If something doesn’t break by then...well...I’ll be forced to reevaluate.”

The color drained from his face. “I won’t let you down.”

She shook a breath mint out of its container and popped one in her mouth. “Why do you suppose Joseph Vitelli resigned so suddenly?”

“I’m not sure,” Kramer said. “It’s hard for a chef to find a more prestigious job than cooking for the president.”

“Seems like a curious coincidence that he resigned a few days after David Rodgers was assassinated. Have you checked him out thoroughly?”

“Never even gotten a parking ticket.”

“He told me he was moving to the Netherlands,” Kate said, “that he’d be working for a five-star restaurant in Amsterdam.”

“We’re already checking on that, Madam President.”

Kate knew that this was not the best timing, but after her conversation with Wendy Marshall, she couldn’t wait any longer. “How well do you know Jack Miller?”

Kramer shook his head. “I don’t know a Jack Miller.”

Kate leaned forward. “He works for
your
department, Mr. Kramer.”

“Maybe he’s a new hire and I haven’t met him yet.”

“You’re the deputy director and you don’t know all the agents?”

“With all due respect, Madam President, the CIA has hundreds of agents all over the world—”

“I’m well aware of that, but from what I gather, Jack Miller works out of the Washington office. So I assumed that you knew him.”

“Is there a problem with him?” Kramer asked.

“Mr. Miller’s too inquisitive for his own good.”

“What do you mean?”

She didn’t want to get specific. “He’s sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“Want me to find out who he is and slap him down?”

“I don’t want to spook him. I’d rather catch him off guard.”

“If he’s acting inappropriately, Madam President, why don’t we confront Victor Ellenwood?”

“Carl, let’s keep this confidential. Find out whatever you can about Miller—where he came from, what he’s been involved with since joining the CIA. Report that information directly to me.”

He scratched the back of his head and gave her a pitiful look of appeal. “Madam President, I’m ethically obligated to inform Victor of any issue involving the CIA.”

“Trust my judgment, Mr. Kramer. Victor doesn’t need to know.”

He turned his folded hands inside out and cracked his knuckles. “You’re placing me in an awkward situation, Madam President.”

“Welcome to the club.”

He stroked his mustache with his index finger. “I guess it wouldn’t be my first covert investigation.”

“And it won’t be your last.”

Kramer stood and shook Kate’s hand. “There is one other issue, Madam President. I’ve uncovered an interesting tidbit about Mr. McDermott’s extracurricular activities.”

***

Only moments after Kramer and Kate parted company, Charles McDermott and Toni Mitchell stormed into the Oval Office without knocking. The chief of staff was panting like a marathon runner. The secretary of state stood behind him, pale faced and unanimated. “We’ve just been informed that three Iranian long-range missiles have hit Tel Aviv,” McDermott said. “Thirty-seven Israelis are confirmed dead.”

Kate shook her head violently and slammed her palms on the desk. “I knew it! I
fucking
knew it!” She sprang up like a jack-in-the-box and planted her hands on her hips. “Where did you get this information?”

“Alderson,” McDermott said. “He couldn’t locate King Abdullah, so as per your instructions, he flew to Israel and met with Benjamin Netanyahu. Alderson was trying to assure the Israeli Prime Minister that the situation was under control. The missiles exploded several blocks from the Prime Minister’s home. Alderson said they could see burning buildings from Netanyahu’s living room.”

“That should boost Israel’s confidence in our peacekeeping abilities,” Kate said. She pointed her pen at Toni Mitchell. “Contact Prime Minister Netanyahu. Express our deepest sympathy. Charles, contact the Joint Chiefs. I want to meet with them in two hours.”

McDermott said, “Mr. Netanyahu asked Alderson to relay a message to you, Madam President.” Toni Mitchell clutched McDermott’s shoulder. “If the United States does not respond within twenty-four hours, the Israeli Air Force will begin air strikes against Jordan and Iran.”

“Toni, I’d better have a word with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Get him on the telephone.” The secretary of state hustled out of the office. “We can’t let this happen, Charles.”

“Netanyahu has always been militarily aggressive,” McDermott said. “He began his career in the infantry at the age of fourteen, led the 101 Special Commando unit in 1983, and eventually became an infantry brigade commander. He cut his teeth on the battlefields and isn’t afraid to get his knuckles bloody. If he deploys the air force, it’s going to be a bloodbath.”

“We need to alert the United Nations.”

“No time, Madam President. We have to act swiftly.”

Smiling through grim eyes, Kate said, “I guess Ambassador Habib has declined my invitation to Washington.”

***

With the exception of Admiral Michael McCormick, all members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with the National Security Council in the Situation Room.

General Wolfe chewed on the end of an unlit cigar and adjusted his tie. “Hate to be a know-it-all, Madam President, but I tried to warn you. Those two-legged sand lizards can’t be trusted.”

Kate wanted to smack him in the side of the head and wipe that cocky smirk off his face.

General Wallace said, “If we’d sent a dozen sorties into Jordan and blown them to kingdom come, we wouldn’t be facing this debacle.”