Harold sat
in the old chair, an extra Gabriel had suggested to be moved from the red room.
It creaked under Harold’s weight. All muscle.
Harold looked uncomfortable. It was not the high back of the
chair—Harold had perfect posture anyway.
“Jake is missing, sir. My team lost him after he left
Senator Swane’s mansion.”
“I’m not concerned about that right now. He is going to hide
now. That is perhaps for the best. Surely he knows now.”
Harold nodded.
“We confirmed that Jake was fully informed of his actions.”
“Was it wise to abandon the programming?” Gabriel asked. He
had always had his doubts. It was best not to mess with Jake’s head, but the
clever blocks they developed at least suppressed any emotional triggers that
would have made it easier for Jake to pull the trigger. It would be simple to
convince an assassin to kill someone they hated.
Harold shrugged.
“He was bound to find out sooner or later, sir. Personally,
I was surprised that Hallie did not notice his confusion. Besides, the science
of blocking memories like that is inexact at best. Between what we were doing,
Galbraith, and whoever else was in Jake’s head, it was a wonder the man didn’t
just go crazy. Senator Swane was able to break the news to him in a way that
was almost merciful, given the circumstances. The senator has really stuck out
his neck for your son, sir.”
Gabriel felt a hot lump in his throat, emotion he thought he
would never feel.
“That will make two of us. I guess we will both pay the
price of that folly.”
Harold looked confused for a moment.
“You are possibly the best protected man on the planet, sir.
Do you still feel threatened?”
Gabriel smirked.
“I will not always be President, Harold. And there is no way
to protect me from the storm that is coming.”
“You are the most powerful man in the world. Why are you
afraid? Your son can be handled, Mr. President.”
“I am not afraid, Harold,” Gabriel said, an edge on his
voice.
“I am sorry sir. I am just confused. I don’t understand
what...”
Gabriel waved away his apology.
“Harold. Don’t waste your breath. I am not the most powerful
man in the world. Not even close. That is the first lie you have to stop
believing if you truly want to protect me. You have to see this, Harold. I
trust you. I cannot even allow the Chief of Staff or the Director see the
contents of this folder. But for you to know why I am resolved to my own
demise, you must read this folder first.”
He slid the manila folder across the edge of the desk toward
Harold. He looked at, his fingers touching it and then glanced up at the
President, a question on his face.
“I don’t really want to open this, do I?”
The President sighed.
“Probably not. It is like Pandora’s Box. I found it too
tempting and now I am wishing I had never made the deal with this particular
devil. Power corrupts, Harold. Remember that. But, like a man who occupied this
desk before me was fond of saying, the ‘Buck stops here. ’”
Harold smirked.
“Truman?”
He nodded.
“Read it, Harold. It is a risk. You will not be able to
pretend you do not know the truth afterward. There is no going back.”
“I will think on it, sir. As long as you are not making this
a requirement, I would rather just trust you at your word.”
“Of course. Take your time. I believe I have at least until
after the election.”
“They? What kind of conspiracy is this?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“I am sorry, Harold. I am just getting paranoid. Just read
the folder if you want. If not, just leave it here at my desk.”
Harold sat back. Gabriel had never seen him fearful or timid
before.
“I am sorry, sir. I will help protect you the best I know
how. I will give my life to defend yours. My whole agency will. But, this
smacks of corruption and I cannot be involved in that. You will just have to
trust in our abilities with the information we have.”
He appreciated Harold’s candor.
in the old chair, an extra Gabriel had suggested to be moved from the red room.
It creaked under Harold’s weight. All muscle.
Harold looked uncomfortable. It was not the high back of the
chair—Harold had perfect posture anyway.
“Jake is missing, sir. My team lost him after he left
Senator Swane’s mansion.”
“I’m not concerned about that right now. He is going to hide
now. That is perhaps for the best. Surely he knows now.”
Harold nodded.
“We confirmed that Jake was fully informed of his actions.”
“Was it wise to abandon the programming?” Gabriel asked. He
had always had his doubts. It was best not to mess with Jake’s head, but the
clever blocks they developed at least suppressed any emotional triggers that
would have made it easier for Jake to pull the trigger. It would be simple to
convince an assassin to kill someone they hated.
Harold shrugged.
“He was bound to find out sooner or later, sir. Personally,
I was surprised that Hallie did not notice his confusion. Besides, the science
of blocking memories like that is inexact at best. Between what we were doing,
Galbraith, and whoever else was in Jake’s head, it was a wonder the man didn’t
just go crazy. Senator Swane was able to break the news to him in a way that
was almost merciful, given the circumstances. The senator has really stuck out
his neck for your son, sir.”
Gabriel felt a hot lump in his throat, emotion he thought he
would never feel.
“That will make two of us. I guess we will both pay the
price of that folly.”
Harold looked confused for a moment.
“You are possibly the best protected man on the planet, sir.
Do you still feel threatened?”
Gabriel smirked.
“I will not always be President, Harold. And there is no way
to protect me from the storm that is coming.”
“You are the most powerful man in the world. Why are you
afraid? Your son can be handled, Mr. President.”
“I am not afraid, Harold,” Gabriel said, an edge on his
voice.
“I am sorry sir. I am just confused. I don’t understand
what...”
Gabriel waved away his apology.
“Harold. Don’t waste your breath. I am not the most powerful
man in the world. Not even close. That is the first lie you have to stop
believing if you truly want to protect me. You have to see this, Harold. I
trust you. I cannot even allow the Chief of Staff or the Director see the
contents of this folder. But for you to know why I am resolved to my own
demise, you must read this folder first.”
He slid the manila folder across the edge of the desk toward
Harold. He looked at, his fingers touching it and then glanced up at the
President, a question on his face.
“I don’t really want to open this, do I?”
The President sighed.
“Probably not. It is like Pandora’s Box. I found it too
tempting and now I am wishing I had never made the deal with this particular
devil. Power corrupts, Harold. Remember that. But, like a man who occupied this
desk before me was fond of saying, the ‘Buck stops here. ’”
Harold smirked.
“Truman?”
He nodded.
“Read it, Harold. It is a risk. You will not be able to
pretend you do not know the truth afterward. There is no going back.”
“I will think on it, sir. As long as you are not making this
a requirement, I would rather just trust you at your word.”
“Of course. Take your time. I believe I have at least until
after the election.”
“They? What kind of conspiracy is this?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“I am sorry, Harold. I am just getting paranoid. Just read
the folder if you want. If not, just leave it here at my desk.”
Harold sat back. Gabriel had never seen him fearful or timid
before.
“I am sorry, sir. I will help protect you the best I know
how. I will give my life to defend yours. My whole agency will. But, this
smacks of corruption and I cannot be involved in that. You will just have to
trust in our abilities with the information we have.”
He appreciated Harold’s candor.
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