Free Presidential Shift by C. G. Cooper

today. As you can see,” the hostess pointed to her leg with a wince, “I’m on the mend, but I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” Another excited roar. “In case you don’t recognize my friends here, let me introduce you to…”
    +++
    10:04am
    Special Agent Stricklin finagled a last minute entrance to the event by flashing his FBI badge and threatening a lowly security guard with an investigation. He’d somehow made it to the far side of the venue, wanting to get a clear view of the place.
    Stokes wasn’t making any attempt to stay hidden. He was clearly visible from Stricklin’s position. “What is he up to?” Stricklin asked.
    “What’s that?” a scantily clad coed yelled back to him, batting her eyes.
    Scowling, Stricklin pulled out his badge and shoved it in the poor girl’s face. She paled and turned to get closer to the stage.
    +++
    10:07am
    The first act, a popular soul singer, was just winding up on stage. Soothing melodies wafted over the crowd, hushing their cheers and enducing a hypnotic swaying.
    Cal ignored the singer. His eyes continued to scan the crowd, looking for anything unusual.
    “See anything?”
    “No.” The sniper’s eyes swept the throng with practiced precision. If anyone could find an attacker, it was Daniel.
    “Keep looking.”
    +++
    10:10am
    Mikey did his best to move with the crowd. They’d been inching closer and closer to stage. Most people let them pass, but scowled disapprovingly when they saw who was moving through.
    The nausea returned and Mikey grabbed his friend’s arm to steady himself.
    “You okay?”
    “Yeah. Just got bumped is all.”
    “I still can’t believe you wanted to come to this thing. You in love with the president’s wife or something?”
    Mikey flashed a weak grin. “Naw. Just wanted to see if you were turning into a liberal Nancy.”
    His friend laughed and turned back to the stage. Mikey grimaced and and fell forward.
    +++
    10:12am
    Burly security guards hopped over the short barricade and moved to the man lying on the ground. “Are you okay, sir?” one of the guards yelled over the music.
    Mikey was writhing on the ground, his friend kneeling down to see what he could do.
    “Go get my medicine,” Mikey said so only his companion could hear.
    “Right now? Where is it?”
    “Back in our room,” he motioned for his buddy to come closer. “Stay there until after.” Mikey’s eyes burned with intensity. His friend nodded and backed away, turning to the guards, who were having a hard time holding the curious crowd back. “I, uh, have to run and get his medicine.”
    The head guard reached down to start moving the sick man. “We’ll take him to the first aid station. You can pick him up there.”
    Mikey’s friend moved off to find the nearest exit. His friend looked bad. He hoped the medicine would help.
    +++
    10:15am
    Cal had watched the scene from afar. It looked like someone had had too much to drink. The troop of security guards had finally loaded the prostrate man onto a yellow stretcher and were easing their way through the crowd. He’d seen the friend leave moments earlier and had ordered a reluctant Daniel to follow him.
    Now alone, Cal watched as the guards moved, keeping his eyes glued to the passage.
    +++
    10:16am
    “Shit.” The man observing the medical extraction from half a mile away put down his telescopic lens and pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. The redneck had passed out early. A number flashed onto the screen. He pressed DIAL.
    Three seconds later, a BOOM sounded from the arena. The man calmly palmed the phone, threw it into the waterway below, made his way to the ground floor of the rented home and slid into the waiting car.

Episode 3

Chapter 13
    Orange Beach, Alabama
    10:18am, December 18 th
    The semi-retiree looked up from his newspaper. The man with a neatly trimmed grey hair and goatee sat nursing a coffee and mild hangover looking forward to a day of cruising the deserted coast on his black 2002