Free National Burden by C. G. Cooper Page B

what to expect from the former FBI agent, but was pleasantly surprised. Put together, good looking, and a former Marine, Steve Stricklin could be the perfect vehicle for what Southgate was planning. He would have to thank Congressman McKnight for the introduction.
    The stickier situation was that of the president. President Zimmer had stepped over the line. Calling in CIA assassins to kill a terrorist in a foreign country, while still repugnant to the senator, could be ignored. Associating with a company implicated in the murder of an American, and a congressman no less, was absolutely out of bounds. He wondered what other secrets the president was keeping. 
    No, he would not stand idle and let the upstart from Massachusetts ruin his party. Southgate already had his hands full from cleaning up the mess left by the last president. Democrats were scrambling to keep their constituents happy. What America needed now was a strong leader, someone with a mind and heart to bring the country further out of its most recent recession and into the new world order. Secretary of State Geoffrey Dryburgh, while not necessarily Southgate’s first choice, was certainly in a position to capitalize on his personality and international relations experience. Dryburgh had been on the presidential campaign trail before, but this time would be different, even though it would mean taking certain actions that would be more than a bit distasteful for Senator Southgate, such as his ultimatum he’d given Zimmer the night before.
    Southgate stood and squared his shoulders to the snowy vista. He would do everything in his power to see that the threat to the Democratic Party, and more importantly, to America, was dealt with swiftly and decisively.
     
Chapter 18
SSI Safehouse, Arlington, Virginia
2:15 p.m., March 5 th
     
    Cal hadn’t stopped pacing for the last hour. Without word from Neil, the ticking seconds felt more like a hammer on his chest. In contrast, Daniel sat quietly, seemingly nonplussed by the situation.
    “Why don’t you have a seat, Cal? There’s nothing we can do.”
    Cal looked at his friend, annoyance clearly etched in his scowl. “How can you just sit there?”
    Daniel shrugged. “It’s not that hard. You just bend your knees a bit and sit on your ass.”
    Cal stopped his pacing and regarded the sniper, a thin smile finally appearing. “Are you telling me that you’re not worried about going to jail and possibly taking the President with us?”
    “I’ve been on the edge of the law more times than I’d like to remember. All I can say is that as long as I’ve done the right…no, the honorable thing, everything has come out okay in the end.”
    Cal snorted. “I swear every day you become more and more like some monk sitting on a mountaintop giving wayward travelers sage advice.”
    In response, Daniel lifted his legs onto the couch, crossing them yoga-like, with his hands resting on his knees, palms facing up. “What wisdom would you like this day, young traveler?”
    Cal shook his head and laughed. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Daniel crack a joke. The Marine sniper preferred to stay in the background, mouth closed, eyes and ears open. “You really are a piece of work, you know that?”
    Daniel nodded solemnly. “Such wise words from so ornery a man.”
    The jab was answered by a middle finger. “Fuck you, Snake Eyes,” Cal said with a grin.
    The secure phone in the kitchen rang. Cal hurried to answer it. “Stokes.”
    “It’s Neil.”
    “Yeah?”
    “Southgate’s phone records are still a no-go. I think I may have something else, though. It’s not much--”
    “Spit it out. We don’t have time.”
    “Okay. I was able to get into Senator Southgate’s scheduling system. He’s had a couple meetings this morning. His secretary doesn’t put names to everything so I’m not sure who he met. Nothing jumps out as far as location. I thought you might be able to help.”
    “Read them off to