Oath of Loyalty (Mitch Rapp #21)(101)
“Go ahead.”
He heard a familiar clattering as someone taped the phone she’d called to another one in order to create an air gap similar to the one Coleman had helped with two weeks before.
“Mitch?” she said. “Are you there?”
“I’m here.”
“My sources say that the president is about to hold an emergency press conference. He goes on in five minutes.”
“Any word on what it’s about?”
“No. But the networks are all scrambling to run it live. Do you have a way to watch where you are?”
“Yeah.”
“Then good luck. To all of us.”
She cut the call off. Even with all the security, shorter was better.
Claudia looked at him and let out a nervous laugh. “It’s a little like opening a box at Christmas that could be the greatest gift you ever got—”
“Or a half kilo of plastique wired to the flap,” Rapp said, finishing her thought.
“Exactly.”
He used a remote to turn on the TV and surf through the satellite channels. Finally, he found a news service with a feed of the empty lectern in the White House briefing room. A commentator was speculating endlessly about what the conference could be about, but Rapp suspected that she wasn’t even close. There could be only two reasons for the president to be speaking on that particular morning. The first was to announce that Mitch Rapp had threatened to assassinate him and a worldwide manhunt was in the offing. The second was to resign. Which it would be was a coin toss at this point.
The clattering of dishes started in the kitchen again, but they ignored it, remaining glued to the unmoving image on-screen. A few minutes later, President Anthony Cook strode out. No notes, meticulously groomed, and an expression that gave nothing away.
“Thank you all for coming,” he said, making eye contact with the reporters lined up in front of him. “I’ll make this brief and I’m not taking questions. I’ve recently been diagnosed with a serious illness. After discussing it at length with my doctor, the first lady, and the vice president, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can no longer carry out the duties of the presidency at the level that the American people deserve. Because of this, I will be resigning as soon as we can develop a plan to ensure a smooth transition. While my time in the Oval Office has been short, it’s been the greatest honor of my life. I thank you all for your confidence and God bless America.”
None of the reporters made so much as a sound as he nodded in their direction and walked out. Whether that was out of respect or a stunned silence was hard to say. Once Cook was gone, though, the announcer seemed to remember she had a microphone and began babbling into it.
Rapp used the remote to turn off the television and let his head fall back on the arm of the sofa. He felt Claudia squeeze his leg, but neither of them spoke. Kennedy’s bat-shit crazy plan had worked. He had walked unarmed into the White House, threatened a sitting president, and walked out not only alive but the victor. It was over. They had their lives back. His guys had their lives back.
Everyone was going home.
More from this Series
American Assassin
Book 1
Kill Shot
Book 2
Transfer of Power
Book 3
The Third Option
Book 4
Separation of Power
Book 5
Executive Power
Book 6
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
#1 New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn (1966–2013) created one of contemporary fiction’s most popular heroes: CIA counterterrorist agent Mitch Rapp, featured in thirteen of Flynn’s acclaimed political thrillers. All of his novels are New York Times bestsellers, including his stand-alone debut novel, Term Limits.
Kyle Mills is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one political thrillers, including Enemy at the Gates, Total Power, and Lethal Agent for Vince Flynn and The Patriot Attack for Robert Ludlum. He initially found inspiration from his father, an FBI agent and former Interpol director, and still draws on his contacts in the intelligence community to give his books such realism. Avid outdoor athletes and world travelers, he and his wife split their time between Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Granada, Spain. Visit his website at KyleMills.com or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @KyleMillsAuthor.
SimonandSchuster.com
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Novels by Vince Flynn
The Last Man Kill Shot
American Assassin Pursuit of Honor Extreme Measures Protect and Defend Act of Treason Consent to Kill Memorial Day Executive Power Separation of Power The Third Option Transfer of Power Term Limits And by Kyle Mills Enemy at the Gates Total Power Lethal Agent Red War
Enemy of the State Order to Kill The Survivor
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