Extinction Machine

Chapter Nineteen

The White House

Sunday, October 20, 6:22 a.m.

Linden Brierly and a dozen agents moved in an armed wave to intercept the president from entering the White House. Before Brierly could say a word, William Collins pointed a finger at him.

“Don’t,” he barked.

“Mr. President,” said Brierly in a tight whisper, “this is extremely ill advised.”

The president stopped and looked around. His motorcade sat in the underground entrance, lights swirling, armed men and women everywhere. Security cameras were mounted on the walls, guards at the gated entrances.

He closed on Brierly, getting right up in the director’s face, and his whisper was every bit as fierce. “You told me you swept the building.”

“Yes, sir—”

“Top to bottom, every room, every possible hiding place.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“You ran scanners over every inch of wall space. There are no listening devices and no hidden compartments where the entire Al-Qaeda could be lurking.”

Brierly said nothing.

Collins had enough courtesy to lower his voice so that only Brierly could hear him. “Whatever happened this morning is over. Your own team has deemed the building safe.”

“Sir, I approved a memo saying that there were no detectable threats. That’s hardly the same—”

“I am the president, Linden. I know it pains you to accept that fact, but there it is. Now get the f*ck out of my way while you still have a job.”

Collins glowered until Brierly reluctantly stepped back and to one side.

With his entourage in tow and agents fore and aft, the president went into the White House to lay claim to the Oval Office. Linden Brierly, defeated, followed in his wake.