Presidential Shift - Episode 1 Read Online Free

vibrating phone. “I’ve gotta
run. Thanks for your help.”
    The big agent quickly made his way out of the
vehicle, already on his phone.
    “You guys need to see anything else?” asked
the tech.
    “No thanks,” Cal said. “We’ll get out of your
hair.”
    They thanked the man and made their way out
and onto the crowded street. Cal walked back toward the Air and
Space Museum.
    “I don’t like the smell of this,” Cal
muttered.
    “Me neither. This airspace is supposed to be
sealed. I’d love to know how someone broke through.”
    Cal shrugged. “Not really our problem right
now. I’m sure the Secret Service will figure it out. Let’s head
back to the White House and get our car.”
    They walked to a side street and hailed a
cab.

    +++

    The man in the Redskins ball cap stood in the
middle of the crowd, watching. He’d nonchalantly taped the events
with his small video camera. No one gave him a second glance. He
looked just like the rest of the tourists pushing to get a better
shot of the wreckage.
    With a bored look on his face, he moved away
from the crowd and walked north. He palmed a small device he’d
detached from the side of his camcorder. Blowing his nose loudly
into a Kleenex, he discreetly wrapped the gadget in the used tissue
and threw it into one of the many trashcans lining the mall.
    There was a small hybrid car waiting at the
corner to pick him up. He looked back one last time as he got in,
and then left the scene.

    +++

    Cal and Daniel got back to the White House
after a tough slog through the packed streets. It looked like every
agency in the U.S. government was sending teams to the Air and
Space Museum. They’d even seen four Marine light armored vehicles
(LAVs) rolling the way they’d come.
    When they got to their car, it was completely
blocked in.
    “Dammit,” Cal grumbled.
    “Let’s go find out how we can get it out of
there,” Daniel suggested.
    The White House entrance was a complete zoo.
Staffers were running around yelling to colleagues, cell phones
plastered to their ears. Security had quadrupled. Luckily, they
still had the passes the Secret Service agent had given them. After
triple checking their identification and receiving an extra
thorough pat down, they were allowed back into the White House.
    They made their way toward the Oval Office.
Walking their way was Senator Zimmer. He was speaking to an aide as
he hurried.
    “Senator,” said Cal.
    Sen. Zimmer looked up.
    “Give me a minute, Ted,” he said to his
assistant. “What going on, guys? Find anything at Air and
Space?”
    “Not really,” answered Cal. “Is there
somewhere we can talk?”
    Zimmer nodded and led them to a tiny office
that looked more like a closet.
    “Somebody works in here?” asked Cal.
    Zimmer smirked. “The perks of working in a
building designed hundreds of years ago. So what did you find?”
    Cal briefed the senator on little they
knew.
    “Do you really think someone snuck a missile
into D.C. airspace?”
    Daniel answered. “Probably not a missile.
That would’ve flashed on radar. Besides, I’ve heard they have
hidden surface to air batteries all over the city. We think it was
probably some kind of smart bomb.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “About eighty percent, sir,” said Daniel.
    “That’s not good. Not good at all,” said
Zimmer.
    “How’s the first lady doing?” Cal asked.
    “I just got word from the president. They
haven’t released this to the media yet, so keep it quiet. She had a
good bit of shrapnel in her legs, and lost a lot of blood. Luckily,
they got her to the hospital pretty fast and were able to get her
stable. She’s sedated, but the doctor seems to think she’ll make a
full recovery.”
    “Well that’s good. How about the
president?”
    “Between you and me, he’s kind of in shock, I
think. It’s one thing to lose a bunch of Americans. Add to that the
death of your vice president and the injuries to his wife…”
    Cal and Daniel nodded.
    “So what’s