Page 160 of State of Alert

“Don’t worry about me. Do what you think is right.”

He kissed her softly. “I’ll always worry about you.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Peter Wagner had been chosen to conduct the interview. Sam had met him once before, during the whirlwind days that followed Nelson’s sudden death and Nick’s ascension to the presidency. He’d handled their inaugural interview as the first couple with kindness and compassion, and she was relieved to see his familiar, friendly face. Wagner was a TV personality known for big interviews with the most important people in the news. Apparently, they met that criterion, which would nevernotbe preposterous to her.

Like the last time, Wagner was done up in pancake makeup that looked ridiculous to the naked eye but gave him the look he wanted on camera. He shook their hands, thanked them for doing the interview and invited them to be seated across from him.

The Map Room was a maze of lights, cables and cords that Sam stepped over to take her seat.

A young woman dressed all in black clipped a microphone to her lapel and tucked the other end of it into Sam’s pocket. This was all done with the kind of efficiency Sam appreciated in others. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, ma’am.”

Ginger and Davida suddenly appeared to refresh her hair and makeup. “Thank you, ladies.”

“No problem.”

Sam noticed Lilia standing off to the side and gave her a thumbs-up to thank her for making sure Ginger and Davida were there to ensure Sam looked her best on TV.

Nick reached for her hand. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

Peter launched into his introduction. “I’m delighted to sit down today for my second visit with President Nick Cappuano and First Lady Samantha Holland Cappuano for a wide-ranging interview as they approach their six-month anniversary in the White House. Can you believe it’s already been almost six months?”

“Not at all,” Nick said. “It’s gone by fast.”

“And hasn’t been without its difficulties. You’ve faced enormous backlash as the youngest president in U.S. history, as well as for the fact that you were never elected to this office. What do you say to the detractors who won’t let either of those things go?”

“I understand the concern with having the youngest president, and I can see why people worry that I wasn’t elected. But the thing is, President Nelson was resoundingly elected—twice. He chose me to take the place of Vice President Gooding. The Senate confirmed me. All the proper steps were followed, and our Constitution worked as the founders intended when the former vice president fell ill while in office and then again when President Nelson died suddenly. I’m not sure what else I can say about how I became president other than all the traditional steps were followed.”

“How much do you feel these issues have dogged your first six months in office?”

“They haven’t stopped me from doing the job I was asked to do when President Nelson died. Every day, I’m doing what’s necessary to keep our country safe, prosperous and movingtoward a sustainable future with a focus on economic growth, national security, strengthening partnerships with our allies around the world, undertaking measures to address our changing climate and an all-new focus on sensible gun control. These are the issues that everyday Americans have told me matter most to them, so that’s where my focus shall remain.”

Sam was so proud of him that the buttons on her blouse would’ve popped right off if she’d been wearing one. The silly thought nearly made her laugh at the worst possible moment.

“Mrs. Cappuano, you’ve had your own challenges during the transition while you make history as the first first lady to work outside the White House. Can you tell us how that’s been going for you?”

“It’s been an interesting and exciting time for our family.” She glanced at Nick and took comfort from the warmth in his eyes as he looked at her. “I think we’ve made a smooth transition. Our children are doing remarkably well and have adjusted to their new home and circumstances with tremendous resilience. As for me, the job unfortunately continues at the same pace it did before.”

“You recently closed the investigation into the murder of U.S. Attorney Tom Forrester with a takedown of the suspect on a city street. That video has been viewed more than fifteen million times. What do you say to that?”

“It boggles my mind that so many people are interested in me or my work. I’m thankful that we arrested the man who murdered an outstanding public servant, a husband and father and a friend to so many.”

“Including you?”

“Yes. I considered Tom a friend.”

“He once did a rather spectacular favor for you, did he not?”

Blindsided, Sam glanced at Nick and noticed a tick in his cheek that hadn’t been there before. “If you’re referring to what I think you’re referring to, it wasn’t a favor at all. Whether to filecharges against me after an unfortunate accident in which a colleague was injured was decided by an impartial grand jury. Tom did his job by presenting the case to the grand jury. There were no favors.”

“Fair enough. What do you have to say to Lieutenant Commander Isaac Erickson, who’s accusing you of lying to him as part of the investigation into the alleged death of his closest friend and roommate, Lieutenant Commander Rodriguez?”

“Lieutenant Commander Erickson is not aware of all the facts of that case, and once he is, I’m sure he’ll have a better understanding of what transpired.”

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