Page 26 of State of Retribution

“Nothing new that I’ve heard yet.”

“Let me know if you do.”

“I will if I can.”

As Sam pursued thewhyfor her victims and their families, she hoped they’d eventually find out why armed drones were sent toward the White House with the purpose of inflicting mass carnage.

Chapter Six

Nick’s morning security briefing was twice its normal length while his intelligence, national security and defense teams covered every detail of what had occurred the day before and updated him on what was now known, which wasn’t much.As tedious as it was to listen to them discuss the particulars, it was much better than listening to a report on a mass casualty incident, which was what they’d narrowly avoided.

The thought of all those happy kids, dressed in their Easter finery, mowed down by a terrorist attack sickened him.Not to mention his own family, friends, staff… Sam, Scotty, the twins, Eli… His father, stepmother, brothers… Sam’s sisters, nieces, nephews…

Life without any one of them was unthinkable.Knowing they’d been in danger because of him was unbearable.

“Mr.President?”

Nick snapped out of his grim thoughts to realize Teresa Howard, the national security advisor, was speaking to him.“I’m sorry.Would you repeat the question?”

“I asked if you’d like to table this for now until we have additional updates.”

“Yes, please.Let’s do that.Thank you, everyone.”

After the others had filed out of the Situation Room, Terry O’Connor moved to sit next to Nick at the head of the table.

“Are you okay?”

“We don’t know a single thing we didn’t already know yesterday.How’s that possible?”

“The case is being worked from every angle by the best people in the world.”

“This was done by someone who knows how not to be found.”

“It does seem that way, but the government’s resources are vast.We have to give them the time to do their jobs.”

“While hoping this group or individual doesn’t strike again in the meantime.”

“Derek is coming down to brief us on a mudslide and flooding in Juneau that’s expected to result in significant casualties, including students and staff at an elementary school.”

Nick’s deep sigh said it all.

Deputy Chief of Staff Derek Kavanaugh arrived with two of his colleagues, who put images of the devastated area onto the screen at the front of the room.

“Oh my God,” Nick said when he got his first look at the buried area.

“We’re in contact with the governor of Alaska,” Derek said.“He’s activated the National Guard to assist in the search and rescue.We have Coast Guard in the area as well as military members being sent to aid in the recovery.Secretary Jennings is working with all the branches to get as many people there as possible with support personnel to bring in food and temporary housing.”

“What about FEMA?”Terry asked.

“They’re mobilizing as we speak from their Seattle office.The governor said a combination of an extra-snowy winter followed by a milder-than-average spring melted the snowpack and sparked the mudslide and flooding.It happened so fast, there was no time to evacuate.We could be looking at hundreds dead or missing in the school alone.”

Derek’s team had called up a feed of the local news in the area.On the screen, frantic parents were screaming for their kids outside an elementary school buried in mud while firefighters and others frantically worked to dig them out.

“We need to get you into the briefing room,” Terry said to Nick.To Derek, he said, “Let’s have Trevor and his team work on a statement.”

“Already underway,” Derek said.“Give us fifteen minutes.”

He and his team left as quickly as they’d arrived.

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