“How’s my number-two son doing?” Evelyn asked Tank.
“Been busy. How’ve you been, Evelyn?”
Greystone made the introductions. “Sydney Austin, Evelyn Baker.”
“A pleasure, Mrs. Baker,” Sydney said.
“Call me Evelyn.” She shook Sydney’s hand, then said to Caroline, “Your sister, right?”
“Yes,” Caroline replied.
“And you’re the Olympic sharpshooter?” Evelyn asked her.
“Yes, ma’am,” Sydney replied.
“I’ve read your dossier,” Evelyn said. “Your body of work is impressive.”
“Thank you.”
“I heard you loved the goodie bag,” Evelyn said to Tank, “so I have one for each of you. We’ll collect them on your way out. The President is finishing up an overseas call. Can I get anyone something to drink?”
“I would love a water,” Sydney replied.
Evelyn ushered Sydney over to a small table in her office. There were bottles of chilled water, both stilled and sparkling. Sydney wanted to drain the bottle, but she was in the White House, so she opened the bottle, poured it into a glass, and drank it down. One refill and she felt better.
The crew was by her side, guzzling down their own waters.
“You look like you could use something to eat,” Evelyn said. “I’ll order breakfast and you can have it after your meeting.”
With a grin, Tank put his arm around Evelyn. “That’s some love right there.”
The group cracked up.
“You and Sydney stop a terror group from kidnapping five hundred women, you spot the terrorist that Sydney takes out, and you bounce right back like it’s nothing.” Greystone threw an arm around Tank’s shoulder. “You, my brother, are a beast.”
“I’d call Theodore Santini a true American hero,” said a voice from the other side of the room.
Everyone turned to see President Garrison standing in Evelyn’s doorway, a friendly smile on his face.
Sydney heaved in a breath as the President stepped into the office.
“Commander Santini, always a pleasure,” said the President. “How’s the flying?”
“Good to see you, sir. Thanks to my brother, here, I’ve actually been able to get in the plane on a few occasions.”
“Ms. Austin, good to see you. How’s the case going?”
“It’s keeping us busy, Mr. President,” Caroline replied.
“Mr. Santini, I hear you’ve made Evelyn very happy,” the President said as he shook Tank’s hand. “She’s been telling the staff she hastwosons now.”
Tank grinned. “I’ve been trying to get our family normalized for a while now. It’s great to be part of the Baker family.”
The President raised an eyebrow. “I love your word choice. If you find a normal family, let me know.”
The group laughed as the President extended his hand to Sydney. “Ms. Austin, I followed your career as an Olympian. Congratulations on your golds.”
“Hello, Mr. President, it’s an honor, sir. Call me Sydney, please. And congratulations on the election, Mr. President Garrison. Will we be meeting in your office, Mr. Garrison, the President?” Sydney had blurted that garbled, run-on sentence before she could check herself.
