Extinction Machine

Chapter Sixteen

The White House

Sunday, October 20, 6:13 a.m.

As Lyle Ames ran interference for him, Linden Brierly slipped into a quiet corner where he could make a discreet call to Mr. Church. His cell phone had a built-in code scrambler based on a design originally used by Hugo Vox and the Seven Kings, but which Church had reconfigured for the DMS. And friends.

“Linden,” said Church, “has there been any change of status?”

“Nothing good.”

“Better tell me anyway.”

“First, there’s nothing new on the president, and per your suggestion I’ve put a lid on that crop circle we found. It’s a needless complication. I put two agents on it, but I’ve also isolated the agents who found it and the helicopter crew that took aerial photos of it. They’re not talking to anyone right now.”

“Good.”

“But I just heard from a friend in the AG’s office—a former agent now with the DoJ. The acting president has requested that the attorney general meet him right away.”

“Why?”

“Don’t know for sure, but my friend said that he heard the president use two names. Yours and Joe Ledger’s. My guess is that Collins is going to try and get a warrant to allow him access to MindReader.”

“The cyber-attacks thing,” said Church.

“What else can it be?”

“Thank you for the heads-up, Linden.”

“Deacon … if the president doesn’t come back … If he’s hurt or dead … then Collins will well and truly be our president.”

“I know,” said Church. “And won’t that be interesting?”

He disconnected.