THE PRESIDENT'S MEN
The same day
9.28 A.M.
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Washington D.C.
“Mr. Vice President, you have to come with us!” Bob Rosskovich, head of the Vice President’s detail stormed into the ceremonial office of the Vice President. He was followed by six other agents.
“What happened?” Sam asked after he was rushed out of the room.
“We have a situation, sir,” Bob Rosskovich told him.
“Where is the President?” Sam asked him, stopping in front of the elevator door.
“He was in Chevy Chase, on a shopping tour for the First Lady. Lou and Zack were with him, Mr. Vice President,” Bob told him. “When they went back into the garage, they were ambushed.”
“Where are they?” Sam asked, his voice full of trepidation.
“Still on the site. The FBI and Secret Service are on the scene,” Bob continued.
“Still on the site? Oh, thank God, they are okay!” Sam said with a relieved sigh.
“No, sir, they are not. The President is dead, sir,” Bob was finally able to tell him the worst news.
Sam glared back at him, his eyes blank. His brain started to process the information, but he was still not fully able to comprehend what he was just told. He looked at Bob again, and the agent nodded.
“We have to bring you to the Situation Room, sir,” Bob told him, gently grabbing his arm.
“Sir, we’ve just heard…” Will, followed by Donna, approached him.
“Donna, I need State and Defense stat, they better come to the Situation Room, that’s where I’m heading. You are coming with us, Will.” Sam suddenly came to life. There was something to do. “Donna, after you phoned State and Defense, come to the White House and meet with Jessie.”
“Yes, Mr. Vice President,” Donna said with a nod and then hurried away.
“And I have to tell the First Lady,” Sam whispered when they entered the elevator.
The same day
10.14 A.M.
The White House Pressroom
Washington, D.C.
Deputy Press Secretary Jessie Parish entered the Pressroom, blinking back the tears in her eyes. The room was bustling with reporters as usual.
“Ladies and gentleman,” she tried to capture the audience and she did as always. “At 9.20, head of the presidential detail, Secret Service Agent Leslie Brown dispatched an AOP which means ‘attack on the principal’. At 9.28, Secret Service agents alongside with forces deployed by the FBI arrived at the scene. They found 23 people, no survivors. The President of the United States is dead.”
The room was quite for almost a minute, Jessie never saw this happen. The only sound she heard was the camera’s rolling. And then, everyone started shouting again.
“Jessie!”
“Jessie!”
“Jessie!”
Jessie shook her head, still fighting the tears. She didn’t know much more and she herself was still in shock. However, the reporters didn’t give her a break; she was now the voice of the White House. The only voice at the moment. She physically felt the burden on her shoulders and didn’t think she was ready for the upcoming storm of questions. Zack was so much better at this than her.
“Who did it?”
“What do you know?”
“Is the Secret Service…?”
“Who was with him?”
“Where is the Vice President?”
Jessie decided to answer the questions she new the answer to.
“The President was accompanied by White House Chief of Staff Lou Thornton and Communications Director Zack Robbins. His personal aide, Billy Thompson is also among the victims,” Jessie said and her announcement was met with a deafening silence. She decided to continue, trying to show the people in the room that there is someone in charge, that there is someone they can all lean on. “Vice President Sam Seaborn was in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. He was brought to the White House immediately after Secret Service and the FBI learned about the facts. He is currently in the Situation Room, monitoring the ongoing investigation and the situation around the globe. Later today he will address the nation.”
“Where are the First Lady and the children?” a calm, serene voice asked her.
“They are in the Residence. Vice President Seaborn told them soon after he arrived at the White House,” Jessie said and wanted to leave the room.
“Our prayers are with them,” the same voice told her, and Jessie decided that she can stay a little bit longer.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Two more questions,” she said then. “Julia?”
“Do you know anything about the investigation?” the journalist asked.
“No. Secret Service and the FBI will hold a press conference as soon as they have something,” Jessie answered. “Zane?”
“Why was he there?” the reporter asked.
“He was shopping Christmas gifts for the family,” Jessie whispered, and suddenly they all realized that in four days time there will be Christmas. “Thank you, ladies and gentleman,” Jessie told them. “We’ll be back in an hour and a half.”
GO TO PART THREE