Chapter 1
Jed felt Air Force One made a sharp bank to the right. But which way is right when one is flying 30,000 feet above the earth?
He immediately pressed the intercom button. "Charlie, what's happening?"
In a few short minutes, Charlie knocked the door with a uniformed Air Force Major right behind him.
Looking up from the briefing paper he was reading, he saw the fear on his aide's face. The emotion was mirrored on the Major's face.
"What's wrong?" Jed's pulse sped up at the thought of what news they were bringing him.
"Sir, there's a problem." The major continued. "Washington is under attack and we're taking you to a secure location."
"Under attack? What's going on?" His emotion now mirrored the other two.
"We don't know exactly, sir, but there are reports of errant planes heading for DC and we have orders to keep you safe. This is a Code Red alert."
"What type of planes?" Jed hoped that it was a false alarm. He had been in the bunker four times last month with just such threats, which all turned out to be false alarms.
"We don't know yet, but we can't take any chances. You must be kept safe."
"Yes. Yes. I understand that. But I need more information. Charlie, get Leo on the phone now."
Leo should have already called him. If he could.
The Major quickly negated that order. "We can't do that, sir. The White House is thought to be a main target and is being evacuated."
"Well, hell, get me someone then. Anyone. I need more information! Lots of good it does to be the most powerful man in the world and at a time of national crisis, nobody can tell me anything." Frustration and worry was apparent in his voice.
"Yes, sir."
As the two men left, Jed turned to the porthole window. He saw jet fighters off Air Force One's wings that were expected to cover the President if he was in the air during a Code Red. But then he had never been in the air before during a Code Red.
His thoughts, however, were elsewhere.
Abbey? Zoey? Leo? Where were they? Were they going to be safe?
He had left Abbey in the White House. If anything happened to her or to Zoey, he could never forgive himself.
