3 Thank God it's Monday by Robert Michael Page A

Honesty. Something that
currency could not buy anymore.
    “I appreciate that, Harold. I am aware I am putting you in a
difficult position. I only ask that you protect my family. Especially Jake.”
    “He is one of us. Of course we will.”
    Gabriel shook his head.
    “He is no longer one of you. My guess is he is heading to New
York now to confront Kyle Evers and turn in their resignation.”
    Harold looked confused.
    “Resign? But why? We are protecting them.”
    Gabriel shrugged and pulled the folder back under the desk
to his lap.
    “He does not trust anyone. Most of all, anyone who would
like to help him. He will go it alone. I have seen him do this before.”
    “When you divorced Margaret?”
    Gabriel gazed back through the portico to the Kennedy
Gardens.
    “Yes. And when she died. I knew he would never forgive me
for that. He entered the service and I knew I had lost him. I even dreamed that
as President we could finally develop at least a calculated relationship.” He
turned back to Harold. “This must sound pathetic. Commander-in-Chief to family
crisis.”
    “On the contrary, Mr. President. It sounds human. It makes
me proud to know that I am serving someone who can have real human feelings.”
    Gabriel scoffed.
    “Well, don’t tell Catherine. She will think that I am
getting soft. I will never hear the end of it.”
    Harold smiled.
    “I will guard it as the highest National Security, Mr. President.”
    Gabriel stood, his hand extended.
    “Excellent. Well, Harold. I appreciate you meeting me this
evening. Now, get back to Susan before she makes you quit this thankless job of
yours.”
    Harold stood and shook his hand. His eyes were misty.
    “Yes sir.” He turned without afterthought and exited the
room.
    Gabriel stood, the rough grit of Harold’s hand still a
sensation on his palm. He sighed and put the folder on the desk. His phone rang.
It went direct. His staff was off. He had been waiting on this. He pushed the
button for the speaker. He had always hated listening to self-important bozos
talk in an empty room on a speaker phone. Now, he found it completely
indispensable.
    “Are we secure?” President Vine asked.  He always took a
brusque approach with his covert operatives.
    “Yes, sir.” Gabriel noted that he did not use the term
“President.” Clever.
    “What do we know?”
    “They picked him up at Kennedy airport. Shuttling him now to
Colorado.”
    The man’s tone was exasperated. He sounded as though he
desperately wanted to do something but was being held back. It reminded Gary of
when Jake was younger and wanted to join the military. He had refused to allow
him to throw away his life like that.  He regretted it now. Look where Jake
ended up.
    “Denver or Colorado Springs?” He asked.
    “The bunkers, we guess. Denver is too dangerous after...well,
you heard about the incident, right?” The man explained.
    “I know about Lars. You know what to do next?” Gabriel
replied tersely.
    “Follow him there?”
    “Yes. And Hallie?” He asked.
    “Safe. For now. I think she will come to see me.”
    “Avoid her if you can. She cannot be connected to this,” the
President commanded.
    “I understand. When I find him? What do you want me to do?”
    “You know who the bad guys are. Take care of it.” He wanted
to sound commanding. He was perhaps too tired to pull it off. It almost came
off as a plea.
    “Yes sir. I will need a team.”
    “You will have what you need. Meet them in Denver and call
me when you have a plan and more information about their location. Let’s hope
they are not in those bunkers. I cannot access the Air Force for this, you
understand.”
    “Yes sir. Sometimes the force used needs to be in relation
to the threat, though.”
    “I said you will have what you need. Now call me as soon as
you are prepared to do something. You have my new secure cell?”
    “Yes sir.”
    “I will be waiting. I hate waiting.”
    “Yes sir.”
    He hung up with the touch of a