Page 48 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

Five minutes into the flight, as they rocked and rolled through the clouds, Nick was very glad Sam wasn’t with them. He withdrew the secure BlackBerry he used to communicate with her to send a text. Evacuated from paradise due to blizzard warning. On Marine One with the kids. See you at home.

Terry came into the main cabin and took a seat next to Nick. “The FBI has a lead on the bomb. They’ve tracked it to one of your most outspoken critics who firmly believes no one should be living in the people’s house unless they were elected by the people. He has a long track record of violent protest.”

“So that’s going to be the theme of our administration, then—the unelected president.”

“It’s going to be a storyline, not a theme. As you’ve said, it’s also an opportunity to think outside the box and carve your own path, especially if you’re determined not to run for reelection.”

“I’m determined not to run, but if I were to get reelected, I would serve.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m not going to campaign for it. If the party nominates me, and they want to support my candidacy, great. But I’m not going to spend a year and a half chasing it. I’m going to spend that time doing the job I wasn’t elected to do.”

“You’re a rare bird, Mr. President,” Terry said with a grunt of laughter.

“I know. Your father tells me that all the time. I drive him crazy.” Nick turned in his seat to face his chief of staff and close friend. “Here’s the thing—when the time comes, people are either going to want me, or they’re not. I can spend hundreds of millions of dollars and time I’d rather spend at home campaigning, but in the end, it’s going to come down to how I handle the next three years. I’ll let my record speak for me.”

“You’re aware that’s not how this works, right?”

“Of course I am, but, Terry, I’m already the president. If they dump me, so what? People will call me Mr. President for the rest of my life. I’ll be out of office in my early forties and can make millions writing books and speaking. What do I care if they don’t reelect me?”

“I like the way you think.”

“I’d rather do the job and be with my family than chase a second term that’s going to be decided solely by how the next three years unfold. If they want to keep me around, they’ll reelect me. If they don’t, they’ll show me the door.”

“And you really don’t care either way?”

“I care about doing the best possible job I can while I’m here. We both know that’s not going to matter to a lot of people, but if there’re enough who approve, maybe we get a second term. If we don’t, Sam and I ride off into the sunset with the kids and go live the rest of our lives. Either way, we get an amazing opportunity to do some things. Such as… In the State of the Union, I want to talk about what my life was really like growing up.”

“That’s risky, Nick. They might use that info against you.”

“Did you hear what I just said about not caring about risks or reelection or anything other than trying to do the best job I can for all Americans?”

“What I want to know is whether I’m going to have ulcers by the time we leave office.”

Nick’s low chuckle made Terry laugh. “Nah, don’t sweat it. If we’re approaching it from a we-don’t-care-if-we’re-reelected point of view, what can go wrong?”

“Pass the Tums.”

Sam raised the collar on her coat as she walked toward the yellow crime scene tape in Rock Creek Park. Freddie had the car he’d borrowed from his mother and would join her when he arrived. It was too damned cold to stand around and wait for him.

Patrol Officer Keeney lifted the tape for her. “Nice to see you again, Lieutenant.”

“You, too.” Sam was trying to remember when she’d last encountered the young patrolman. During the sniper shootings, she thought.

“Right this way, ma’am.”

Sam followed him down a wooded path, watching for patches of ice as she went.

“I saw you and your family going to Camp David on Marine One. That must’ve been so cool.”

“Yes, it was.” She didn’t want to talk about Marine One or Camp David when there was a murder victim in need of justice. “Where’s the person who found her?”

“With the paramedics. She was pretty shaken. Her dog ran off and led her to the victim.”

Great. Our crime scene has been compromised by a dog. She pulled on latex gloves. “Have you called the ME and CSU?”

“Yes, ma’am. They’re on the way.”

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