The White House

President Tulrude neared the end of her phone call with Secretary of Defense Roland Allenworth. As usual, it was not a pleasant conversation.

“Madam President, all I’m asking is that we release a statement of intent to send our Sixth Fleet to a staging area in the Mediterranean for naval exercises.”

“Ro, that’s a statement I won’t authorize. You might as well issue a public statement saying that the U.S. is itching to join this war. Why else would we send our navy so close to the Russian flotilla?”

“Not true. Our presence could be a deterrent. It could defuse this whole invasion — ”

“Or suck us into another war in the Middle East. Are you crazy? This conversation is over.”

When Tulrude hit the End button on her console, Hank Strand, her chief of staff, was standing in the center of the Oval Office, trying to keep his chin up. “You wanted to see me?”

“I’m sure you’ve heard the scuttlebutt.”

“I’d prefer to hear it from you.”

“You’re being reassigned. New title — deputy to the press secretary.”

“From chief of staff? That’s a huge demotion.”

“Don’t look at it that way, Hank. I need someone I can count on to keep an eye on our press secretary. He made some comments last week in that press conference I didn’t like.”

“So now I’m your full-time spy, ratting on your staff? That’s a step down. Way down.”

“Call it anything you want.”

“You know, even back when I was Corland’s man, I was always really your man.”

“Many thanks. But loyalty only goes so far.”

“I just want you to know I’m unhappy about this.”

Tulrude snapped back. “If you want to be a chef, get used to the heat.”

Hank Strand turned to leave, assuming the conversation was over, but there was a smirk on his face — as if it wasn’t the end of the matter as far as he was concerned.

Again Tulrude’s console blinked red.

Her executive secretary announced over the intercom, “Madam President, it’s Attorney General Hamburg.”

“Can’t take it now.”

“He says it’s urgent.”

“What about?”

“The Jordan prosecution case.”

“Okay.” Quickly Tulrude turned to Hank Strand, who was still lingering at the door. “That’s all, Hank.”

Strand exited, nodded to the secret service agents outside, and closed the door behind him.

President Tulrude clicked on the attorney general.

“Madam President, it’s about the criminal case against the Jordans and their Roundtable … This has been your priority — ”

“And it better be yours too. What’s the problem?”

“Abigail Jordan. This could be a tough fight.”

“You’re kidding. She’ll be a pushover.”

“I’ve been in Washington legal circles for a long time. Abigail Jordan may purr like a house cat, but she bites like a tiger.”

“You have the full power of the United States government behind you and — ”

“This isn’t about power — ”

“It’s always about power — it starts there and ends there.”

“But what about justice? We can’t forget that these people were trying to save America from a nuclear attack.”

“They picked the wrong way to do it. Just because a bank robber plans to feed the poor, does that give him a pass?”

“And I can’t think of a single jury in America that would buy into that as a closing argument.”

“Then come up with better one. You’re the attorney general.”

“And it’s my responsibility to execute the laws of this nation faithfully. I’m just warning you that if we push this case, some very sensitive information might end up coming out.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No, it’s a fact. Abigail Jordan and her lawyer are smart. They’ll demand release of information about why you ordered us not to pursue Joshua Jordan’s warnings to President Corland about a nuclear threat.”

“Ever hear of executive privilege?”

“The Supreme Court, even one that favors you, doesn’t like executive privilege being used to cover up personal wrongdoing. Look what they did to Nixon in the Watergate case.”

“Wrongdoing? Wrongdoing? Don’t ever use that word in my presence. Besides, Corland’s going to take the rap for that.”

“But you pulled the strings. We all know Corland gave the order that Jordan’s nuclear concerns be investigated — but you did an end run. You made sure the investigations went nowhere. Sure, you had a plausible defense — maybe — that Jordan’s credibility on national-security issues might be questionable, but you made the call.”

“You’re way out of bounds, mister!”

After a pause, Attorney General Hamburg delivered this warning: “I just felt I had to put you on notice, Madam President. If this case continues, it may end up to be a political nightmare.”

“Sweet dreams, General Hamburg.”