He smiled and then gazed at the agent in the front.
“Window up, Frank,” said Cole.
The partition glass separating the two sections of the Beast slid up.
Cole waited for it to finish its glide and then focused on Michelle. “I’m going to speak frankly, Ms. Maxwell.”
“Yes, sir.”
“My administration is in a world of trouble.”
“I sort of got that impression.”
“The thing is we were trying to do something positive, something that would help another country become free.”
“The best of intentions, the worst of outcomes.”
“My opponents are always screaming at me to send in troops, use America’s massive military. But when we actually do something, the effect of which would be the same at far less cost to us, they threaten impeachment.”
“I think it’s called politics, sir.”
“Only this time I think I went too far out on a limb. And it’s about to snap.” He eyed her with desperation. “Have you and your partner been able to find out anything?”
“We have, sir.” She took him through all that they had learned, including the kidnapping of Tyler Wingo and his friend Kathy.
“My God, I knew nothing about that. And you think Sam Wingo was set up and that this Alan Grant is behind it all? For a political scandal that led to his parents’ deaths over two decades ago?”
“That’s what we believe.”
“And he’s the source of the leaks to that blogger?”
“We believe that too.”
“And your proof?”
“We’re collecting it. In fact, if you let me make a call to my partner he may have an update.”
“Please.”
Michelle dialed Sean. He answered on the second ring.
“I got your text,” he said. “The Beast, huh? With the president?”
“Yes I am,” she said happily.
“Well, we have great news too. We got Tyler and Kathy. They’re both okay. They’re at Fairfax Hospital. Kathy was wounded in the arm, but she’ll be okay. They’ve got heavy FBI security. Her parents were notified and are at the hospital with her.”
“Sean, that is fantastic news.”
“And we got two of Grant’s thugs. Littlefield and McKinney are going to put the screws to them. If they talk, we may have a direct line back to Grant.”
“Better and better.” She turned to Cole. “Sir, they got the kids back. They’re safe. And they got the kidnappers. The FBI has them in custody. It may lead us directly to Grant.”
“Thank God,” said Cole. “That’s a miracle.”
Michelle glanced out the window. They were just heading over Memorial Bridge into Virginia. There were no cars on the road other than the motorcade, because the Beast did not share the road with mere mortal cars and drivers. It was a beautiful evening now that the rains had passed and the descending sun shimmered off the frosty surface of the Potomac.
“So why are you meeting with the president?” asked Sean.