“We won’t, will we?” he asked, smiling at her.
“You’re not alone in this anymore.”
He turned his hand up to take hold of hers. “You have no idea how much relief there is in knowing that.”
“Two U.S. Marshals are always better than one.”
“Isn’t that the truth.” He brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss on the back of it. “Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. This quest is mine now, too.”
Jesse, who’d spent most of his life pushing people away so he’d never again have to experience losing someone he loved, couldn’t believe how Memphis had taken him over, body and soul. And he wouldn’t have had it any other way.
In a few hours, he’d know whether he’d found his sister, and if this was a false alarm, he’d be okay because Memphis would be there to make it so.
* * *
Nick’s communications director, Trevor Donnelly, came into the Oval Office. Ever since Trevor had cut off his mop of curly hair in favor of a much shorter style, Nick couldn’t get over how different he looked.
“The media has caught wind of Henderson being transported by the FBI to their headquarters building,” Trevor told him and Terry. “The questions, as you can imagine, are intense and accusatory. The ‘what did President Cappuano know and when did he know it?’ variety.”
“Fantastic.”
“I think we need to put you in the room to get out in front of it.”
“That’s not happening,” Terry said. “We’ll let the investigation answer all the questions.”
“All due respect, Terry,” Trevor said, “by the time that happens, we may no longer have a presidency to defend. The former vice president was hanging out with a Russian at her official residence and kept it a secret. The people want answers, and frankly, they deserve them.”
“He’s right,” Nick said. “Get Sally Monroe and Acting AG Conrad in here to brief me on the investigation. After that, I’ll appear before the press.”
“They’re going to beat the shit out of you, sir,” Trevor said.
“Maybe they should. This was going on right under my nose, and I had no clue. This is on me as much as it’s on her.”
“Please, for the love of God and all that is holy, do not say that,” Terry said.
“Relax,” Nick said, smiling at Terry’s horrified expression. “I won’t take the blame. I’ll simply present the facts as we know them and say we’re moving on while Gretchen deals with the consequences of her choices. I had a productive call with President Petrov today, and he understands that Gretchen Henderson was the one meeting with Ivanov, not me or any other member of my administration.”
“What will you say when you’re asked if you supported Ivanov’s mission?”
“I’ll say I’m a firm proponent of human rights and agreed with the democratic reforms he called for, but I did not and would not participate in calls for regime change in my official capacity.”
“That’s pretty good,” Trevor said.
“Gee, thanks,” Nick said. “Glad it meets with your approval.”
“Mr. President,” Trevor said haltingly, “please tell me you understand that even though you knew nothing about what Gretchen Henderson was doing or who she was doing it with, it’ll still reflect on you.”
Feeling worn out, Nick sat behind the Resolute Desk. “I get it. I’ll also ask Teresa to brief them on how it was possible Gretchen’s contact with Ivanov wasn’t detected sooner.”
“All right, then,” Trevor said. “But you need to be ready for other pointed questions about your youth, inexperience, judgment, etc.”
“In other words, all the usual stuff.”
“Yes, but more so because of what the former VP did,” Trevor said. “There’s no getting around the fact that she’s hurt us badly. Stenhouse is calling for impeachment since Gretchen and Ivanov led right back to terrorism that resulted in four dead Americans.” Nick wasn’t surprised to hear the minority leader was calling for his impeachment. “The sooner we can announce a new VP, the better.”
“I’ve made an offer.”
