Page 175 of State of Alert

“I’m glad you think so.”

“Our colleagues envy us this assignment,” Jimmy said.

“They do? Really?”

“Oh hell yeah,” Vernon said. “Protecting the first working first lady while she hunts down murderers and sometimes captures them single-handedly? Although we did get a talking-to from HQ about that.”

“You did? Really?”

“Well, yes, Sam,” Vernon said with exasperation. “When you run out of the back of our SUV and tackle a guy on the sidewalk, there’s gonna be some questions about where your detail was when that was happening.”

“Oh shit.” She bit her lip so she wouldn’t laugh. “Sorry.”

He gave her a stern look in the mirror that played such a big part in their relationship. “I canhearyou trying not to laugh.”

“I’m not laughing!”

“But you want to.”

“You can’t prove that.”

Cameron Green called as they pulled through the White House gates. “What’s up?”

“Frank Myerson wants to talk.”

“About what?”

“About Sunday and what happened to his wife.”

In a past life, she would’ve turned right around—or asked Vernon to turn right around, except he hadn’t been there in her past life—and gone back to work. In this life, where she had three children waiting to have dinner with her while their dadwas away, she said, “Tell him we’ll be happy to talk to him in the morning.”

“I get the feeling he wants it to be tonight.”

“He’s going to have to wait. I’ll be there at eight, and we’ll take it from there.”

“I’ll let him know.”

“By the way, it’s not that I think you guys couldn’t handle it, but I’d like to be there to hear what he has to say, and I’ve got plans tonight. Besides, we don’t jump to the beat of his drummer. He had all day to talk to us, and I don’t believe for a second he’s looking to help us.”

“I agree. I’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks. See you in the morning.”

“Have a good night.”

“You, too.”

The BlackBerry vibrated with a text.Landed at LAX.

Are you seeing Hollywood people?

Maybe?

No way! WHO?

I don’t remember.

I can’t believe this. I need to quit my job and travel with you.

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