Free The Beginning of the End (Book 2): Toward the Brink II by Craig A. McDonough Page B

You see, it was he who gave the order for Hadlee’s execution!”
    Yuri was far more excited by the news that the missile launch had been abandoned and the madman in charge had been disposed of. As for the leader of the free world collaborating with the Chamber, he couldn’t have cared less.
    “Good news, Mr. President!” Yuri stormed back to tell the Russian president everything he knew … without revealing his connection to the Chamber.

Twenty-Two
    “First light, Mr. President, we’ll begin at first light,” General Stodge informed everyone in the Situation Room.
    Stodge, the new and humble version, was joined by members of the joint chiefs from the other branches. The secretaries of defense, state, and treasury were also present, as were the directors of the NSA, CIA, and FBI. The secretary for homeland security was again conspicuous by his absence.
    This late-night meeting had been called to finalize Stodge’s plan of action. The plan was code named “Turn and Burn,” and the name alone gave the president a lift. “Why do these boneheads have to give everything a code name?” he’d said to Tom Transky when he’d heard of it.
    After an aide to General Stodge explained the finer details, the general informed the president of when it would commence.
    “And, err, sir, one of our few remaining satellites has picked up an image of a fire that’s broken out in Missoula. Quite a large one too, sir.” Stodge passed the folder up the table to the president. Without Hadlee to pull his chain, he sounded far less like a street-corner bully. The president didn’t need any more bullies in the White House.
    “Gentlemen, there is a matter I’d like to address.” Tom stood up. “By some of the whispered comments I’ve heard, many of you seem preoccupied with the whereabouts of the secretary of homeland security. Most of us, if not all, were alarmed by his proposal to use nuclear weapons on our own soil. To coin an old phrase, ‘only a madman would do such a thing,’ and that’s what appears to have been the problem.”
    Tom leaned forward for a pitcher of water and filled his glass. Not considered a fine orator by any stretch, he nonetheless had the timing of a B.B. King solo, and like the master of blues guitar, he knew when and where to pause for the best effect.
    “It’s come to our attention that Mr. Hadlee, in fact, suffered from a brain tumor that affected his mental capacity.”
    The president sat back and listened. He was impressed—so much so that he almost believed the story.
    “And his current whereabouts, Tom?” asked Nigel Pikney, director of the FBI.
    “Unknown. He was last seen leaving his house with a suitcase.”
    “As distressing as this news is, it’s not even on the same page as the crisis in Idaho, which, gentlemen, now appears to have spread to Montana.” The president held up a satellite image for all to see. “Tell me, general , what significance does this fire present?”
    “Sir, with the forests outside Missoula, Spokane to the north, Seattle and Portland to the west, and Reno and Salt Lake City to the south, we have a natural barrier. If we strike now, we may contain it within this geographical framework.”
    “What caused this fire, General, do we know?”
    Stodge looked uncomfortable with the question from the secretary of state. He knew the reaction the answer would elicit from the president and Transky.
    “Sir, it would appear there are some small groups of resistance fighters out there …”
    “Resistance fighters?! How long has this information been available to us?”
    The president had been under the impression no action would be taken until the area had been cleared of civilians. That was the plan, after all.
    The reaction was as the general feared. “Mr. President, it’s only an assumption. It could well be a natural fire that we need to augment with our napalm missiles, and, sir … if there are any survivors, their number would be fewer than a