Predator One by Jonathan Maberry Read Free Book Online Page B

to give his opinion on alterations in a bill that would keepthe lights on in government facilities across America. Later today, the House would receive the bill and vote on it, hopefully in time to beat the midnight shutdown.
    “I think we have something we can all live with,” said the president. It was not the first time he’d said that. Not the tenth. They all repeated it like a mantra. In truth, the bill was a pale shadow of the one they’d tried to pass.The original bill, drafted by a close supporter of the administration, took several hard stances that were fiscally sound. They were also politically indefensible. They required the kind of bipartisan cooperation that only ever happened in heartwarming and naive political comedies. That bill assumed that the phrase “in the best interest of the American people” meant just that.
    “I wish we couldhave taken Donald’s suggestion,” muttered the president.
    Donald Crisp was a junior senator whose idealism was dying a quick death in Washington. His suggestion, intended only as sarcasm, was that all further discussion of the merits of the bill be conducted only after every person in the room had been hooked up to lie detectors. That was a riff on a Jimmy Fallon bit about how cool it would beif the participants in political debates were hooked up to polygraphs. A nice idea, but it would cause armed insurrection on Capitol Hill.
    Everyone in the room tonight had laughed. A lot.
    Even Donald Crisp.
    Now, in the car, the chuckles were less jovial. There was more evident regret that the world did not, and never would, spin in that direction.
    “Can’t wait to see what the press does withthe bill,” continued the president.
    “I don’t think it will be too bad,” said Brierly. “Nobody wants to see the government shut down. Again.”
    “Sure they do, Linden,” said Houston. “News is news is news. And it’s pretty quiet out there.” She gestured to indicate the world as a whole. With the war in Afghanistan more or less over and things in the Middle East simmering on a moderately low boil,the big story had become the impending shutdown. With a bill that was all compromise, the pundits would have to feed on something, which meant that they would milk the bill—and the participation of the key players—for as much sustenance as they could. “Once the ‘shutdown averted’ headlines have their fifteen minutes, then they’re going to go snipe hunting in D.C.”
    “That might be an imperfectmetaphor,” murmured the president.
    Houston opened her mouth to reply, but the car suddenly jerked to a halt with such abrupt force that they were pitched forward against their seat belts.
    Brierly punched the intercom. “James—what’s wrong? What’s happening?”
    “No threat, sir,” said James. “The brakes locked up.”
    The whole motorcade screeched to a stop. Doors opened and sergeants swarmed theBeast. Most of them had guns drawn.
    Brierly turned in his seat. “Mr. President, are you okay?”
    “Yes, yes, sure. No problem,” said the president, waving him off. He unbuckled his seat belt and reached a hand toward Houston. “Alice—?”
    Houston was flustered, but she nodded. “I’m fine, I’m fine.”
    “James,” growled Brierly, “talk to me.”
    “Must be a malfunction. Hold on, I think I—.”
    Then the carsuddenly lurched forward, snapping them back against the cushions. The president had been half turned toward Houston, and Brierly had been leaning in toward him, but the jolt bounced them together. Brierly’s forehead struck the president’s cheek with a meaty crack.
    The car stopped and oscillated on its springs. The siren blared on and off. The headlights cycled from running lights to drivinglights to high beams to off, and then through the same pattern. Door locks popped up, then down, then up.
    “Jesus Christ!” cried the president, reeling back, a hand clamped to his cheek.
    “What’s happening?” shrieked Houston,