National Burden by C. G. Cooper Read Free Book Online

tracking his account would think it was just another message from a fan, but it wasn’t. Utilizing the coded script he’d devised, McKnight smiled. He’d soon have enough proof to incriminate the President and give the Democrats a whopping black eye. Then, in the middle of the mayhem, a new leader could rise; a man seeking to give tired Americans, who were overwhelmingly skeptical of the jobs politicians were doing in Washington, something different.
    It wouldn’t happen instantaneously, but McKnight was a patient man. Politics was a marathon, not a sprint. McKnight had his running shoes on and was ready to make his way to the front of the pack.
     
Chapter 11
Reagan National Airport
8:25 a.m., March 4 th
     
    The Secret Service escort waved them down as soon as they walked out of the jetway. Travis led the way.
    “Good flight, Mr. Haden?” asked the smaller of the two agents.
    “Please, call me Travis. We’re in the same line of work, remember?”
    The agent smiled. “Of course.” He turned to Cal and Daniel. “Gentlemen, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”
    Cal offered his hand. “How they hangin’, Brett?”
    Brett Stayer, a fifteen year veteran, and now head of the president’s security detail, grinned. “Can’t complain.” He turned and shook Daniel’s hand, offering only a nod. “We’ve got a Suburban waiting out front. Let’s grab your bags and head out.”
    The three man team from SSI had at first declined the Secret Service escort. That was until Stayer had insisted, wanting to repay the debt his agency owed the two Marines from their role in uncovering (and keeping quiet about) the involvement of one of the former president’s agents who’d plotted to kill the first lady.
    After collecting their bags, the group stepped out into the cold.
     
    President Zimmer looked up from The Washington Times and stood when the three men entered the presidential residence.
    “It’s great to see you guys.” He shook everyone’s hand.
    “Will that be all, sir?” asked Stayer.
    “Thanks for picking them up at the airport, Brett. Did we get identification for these guys?”
    “Yes, sir. I’ll have them waiting in the Oval Office.”
    “Great. See you in a few minutes.”
    Stayer left. The others took a seat around the dining room table. A butler appeared as if out of thin air. “Gentlemen, can I get you anything for breakfast?”
    Zimmer spoke up first. “I’ll have three eggs, over easy, with a sliced avocado on the side.”
    “Yes, Mr. President. And you gentlemen?”
    Travis, Cal and Daniel put in their orders. The butler nodded without writing down a thing, an abrupt about face taking him back to the kitchen.
    “He turned like a Marine,” Cal observed.
    Zimmer chuckled. “Good eye. Lester’s fairly new around here. I’m his third boss. Before that, he retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant.”
    They made small talk, Travis explaining the transition going on at SSI.
    “I won’t say that I’m not disappointed about Miss Haines not helping me here, but I can see why you chose her to take over as CEO. Smart gal.”
    The butler returned pushing a cart laden with dome-covered plates. He served the president first, then Cal. “Thanks, Top.”
    Lester’s eyebrow rose. “Marine?”
    “Staff Sergeant Calvin Stokes, Master Sergeant. Sitting next to me is Sergeant Daniel Briggs. We won’t talk about my cousin over there. He was just a SEAL.”
    The butler shook Cal’s hand. “Master Sergeant Lester Miles, Mr. Stokes.” He looked at the President. “I thought I told you to be careful about hanging out with Marines, Mr. President.”
    Zimmer laughed.
    While serving the remaining guests, former MSgt Lester Miles explained that he’d been a machine gunner after graduating from Parris Island, only to be lat-moved to culinary services after someone found out that he’d grown up in a restaurant business, earning the title of head chef at the age of eighteen.
    “You ever run into