Page 84 of State of Alert

“Sure.”

Lindsey stepped into the office reluctantly, or so it seemed to Sam.

“Do you mind closing the door?”

She shut the door.

“What do I have to do to make this right with you?”

“You can’t. You gave me a fake ID, Sam. How the fuck do I ever trust you again?”

Her sharp words were like knives to Sam’s heart. “I told you why I did that.”

“I don’t care why. If you’d asked me to bet my life if you’dever do something like that, I’d be laid out in my own morgue right now.”

“I’m very sorry, and I swear to you it’ll never happen again.”

Lindsey leaned back against the closed door, folded her arms and looked down at the floor.

“Linds.” Sam waited until her friend finally looked at her. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have promised to keep secrets from my closest friends and colleagues, even under the guise of national security. I’ll never do that again. You have my word.”

Sam hoped her word still meant something to Lindsey.

“I want you to know… I understand the position you were in, and I empathize with that. I mean, this whole thing is unbelievable. But…”

Sam got up and went around the desk, stopping a foot from one of her closest friends. “It’ll never happen again.”

“I accept your apology.”

“Thank you.”

A knock sounded at the door. “Sam! Come quick.”

What now?

Filled with apprehension, she walked into the pit with Lindsey.

“They’ve arrested the former CNO,” Gonzo said as he led the way to the conference room, where the rest of her team were gathered around the television.

Agent Truver stood at a podium as she announced the arrest of Nathan Goldstein, the former chief of Naval Operations, on attempted murder and treason charges. Acting Attorney General Conrad stood behind Truver, along with several high-ranking naval officers and other officials.

Gonzo let out a low whistle. “A freaking admiral.”

“Since the plot to overthrow the Cappuano administration came to light, we’ve been working diligently with the Justice Department and numerous other agencies and law enforcement personnel to piece together what took place. Through interviews with other former members of the JointChiefs, we’ve learned that former Admiral Goldstein was the mastermind behind the plan to enact, for all intents and purposes, a military coup to wrest control of the United States government away from President Cappuano and his administration.

“Goldstein believed the president lacked, and I’m quoting others who spoke on the record, ‘the experience, gravitas and skill to command the United States Armed Forces and to protect the country from hostile actors who would see those failings as an opportunity to attack, invade or otherwise threaten the sovereignty of the United States.’ Goldstein believed the potential for terrorism or other violence could not and should not be ignored.”

Sam ached at the thought of Nick hearing these things said about him and his presidency.

“The plan, as outlined by Goldstein and detailed by people in the know, was for the military advisers to notify the president that they were taking command of the government, the United States Armed Forces and all associated properties and holdings. The former Joint Chiefs had intended to give the president the opportunity to resign and peacefully vacate the White House.”

“Holy shit,” Cameron whispered.

“What if he hadn’t done what they wanted?” Freddie asked.

“If necessary,” Truver continued, “the former Joint Chiefs were prepared to declare martial law to remove the president from office.”

Since she no longer trusted her knees not to buckle, Sam took the first available seat at the table.

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