Blayne unlocked his phone and slid it back. Cleo read the text. “Dr. Hennigan?” she asked.
“Could have been Denzili or Richardson?”
“Still,” Cleo started, “your reaction time there was impeccable. If you had hesitated even a second, we’d have lost our President.”
“And you?” Ethan asked.
“Maybe.” Cleo shrugged. “I would like to think my reaction time after seeing the President go down would have been faster than that of a sniper’s, but I can’t say.”
“The explosion?” Ethan asked. “What happened?”
“A van crashed through the Northwest Appointment Gate and was headed to the Rose Garden. Our security took it out before it got too close, but the van had explosives on board.”
“What about the people in the garden?” Blayne asked.
“I don’t know yet. I think there may be some casualties. But honestly, I really do thank you. You saved my husband’s and my life today. I won’t forget it,” she said. “I can see why Phillipa likes you. I’m just sorry you got tangled up in our world.”
The doors flung open. Cleo’s demeanor changed instantly. Ethan wondered how she turned it on and off like a light switch. It seemed exhausting.
“You’re okay,” Stephanie cried as she entered the room and practically threw herself at Ethan. “When they carried you off, I thought you’d been hit. What happened?”
“Your boys were heroes again,” Cleo said. “Oops, I did it again. Yourmenwere heroes.” She turned to Blayne and Ethan and said, “We’ll be in touch.”
* * * *
Blayne
The drive back to the Waldorf Astoria was more subdued than the trip to the White House a few short hours before. The entire city seemed transformed. Everything was quiet. People weren’t out walking around. The news crews were all gathered outside, broadcasting from the fence of the White House. The smoke from the exploded van could still be seen in the sky when their group was ushered back out of the East Wing of the White House into their caravan of SUVs.
When they arrived at the Waldorf Astoria, ZERO’s security, the added drivers and the hotel security team formed a circle around them. Blayne stood just tall enough above everyone else to catch guests’ looks as the group entered. He could only imagine what their ragtag group looked like, having survived another attack.
“Where are you staying?” he asked Kira.
“We’re one floor up. I have a two-floor suite. The king-sized bed is on the first floor, and this spiral staircase leads up to a small library and desk. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hotel room with its own wraparound loft,” Kira said.
“What about you, Stephanie? Where did they put you in this place?”
“I have a suite overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue. Trust me. As a schoolteacher, I could never afford these prices. It’s almost five grand a night,” she explained. “And it’s three times larger than my first apartment was in New Orleans.”
“Welcome to how the other half live,” Blayne said.
“And by the other half, he means me,” Ethan joked, throwing his arm around Blayne. “I’m determined to get this man used to the finer things in life.”
“It’s not all bad,” Blayne admitted. “Some of it is just overkill. But, Stephanie, as a graduate student, I couldn’t afford any of this, either. I have a two-bedroom apartment and barely squeeze by, so I’m with you.” Ethan shot him a worried look. “Don’t worry about me. Graduate students are notoriously overworked and under-funded. Yet thousands of us graduate across the country every year with piles of school loans and credit card debt. It’s the American way.”
“What are you two doing for the rest of the evening?” Stephanie asked.
“Getting cleaned up,” Blayne said. “Probably take a nap. Then, who knows?”
“Let’s plan on eating in the hotel at seven-ish?” Kira said.
“Sounds like a plan,” Ethan agreed. “Just the four of us.”
Kira and Stephanie exited their floor, and Blayne and Ethan went up to their floor. Somehow, Ms. Z. had beaten them to the floor and was already standing outside their door.
Before Ethan could say anything, Ms. Z. informed them, “Until further notice, you will have around-the-clock security. It will either be us, the Metro Police, the FBI or Secret Service. We’ve agreed to rotate. This is not an option, and it came down from Hightower, Rawlins and the President of the United States, so you’re stuck with us for the time being.”
“Have you seen the news?” Ethan asked.
