Dinners and a Movie
POV of Senator Ted Rockhimer:
DATE: 3/18/2016
It was Friday. It was the day I was taking Vice President Karol McShane out for dinner. God, was I nervous. I mean, I'd known her for years. I'd had dinner with her for years. But *never* alone. Not without the others. Tonight was the night I twas taking her out. Alone.
Okay, okay, not alone. She had a security detail and we had a private part of the resturant cleared for us. Plus the media that always hovered around when the President or Vice President did anything remotely intresting or personal. But, other than that, it was alone.
I picked her up right when I said I would, eight o'clock sharp.
My car was gone over with a fine tooth comb. The seats were removed, the trunk searched... they even checked behind my mirrors. Like I was stupid enough to be a suicide bomber or something.
Karol was escorted out of her apartment building by a Secret Service agent and the passenger side door was opened. I smiled as she sat down beside me.
A car set off infront of us and I pulled out after it. Behind us trailed too more cars.
"This is fun, huh?" Karol said sarcastically. "I might not run for VP next year. Just because of these goons."
I grinned. "They're not t hat bad," I defended them. "They're just doing their job."
She gave me a look. "It's not a good idea to argue with your date," she warned.
"Right," I said. "Sure thing, Madam Vice President."
"Call me that again and there isn't going to be a second date."
I just grinned. Here i was with the woman I'd been in love with since we'd first met going out to a fancy resturant. This was going to be one of the best nights of my life.
We arrived at 8:45 PM and entered the resturant arm in arm.
***
POV of Press Secretary Jenna Clark:
"This is really romantic Bobby," I said sarcastically.
He'd said we were going to go out to eat together and where did we end up? Burger King. I don't even like Burger King. Yet some sacrifices have to be made. He was following the McShane-Rockhimer relationship and though I couldn't be seen, I decided to tag along.
He grinned at me. "Well, I can't take a woman dressed up in a floppy hat and heavy coat into a fine resturant," he jested.
It was true. To hide who I was, I was in a very heavy jacket and floppy denim hat that covered most of my face. I also wore large dark sunglasses to cover up my eyes.
We finished out burgers and fries and walked to the resturant. Outside, Secret Service men were clearing the way for the Vice President and Senator Rockhimer. We weren't able to get very close and the other photographers and reporters weren't making it easy.
Bobby sighed. "I need to get some pictures..."
"Well, you're never going to get them from this far off," I remarked.
"Thanks for stating the obvious," he retored.
"That's my job."
"Well, *mine* is to get the story," Bobby said. "And I can't from this distance.
I sighed. This guy is so fixated on work sometimes. "Come on," I said and we slowly began to inch to the back of the place. I glanced around nervously many times, hoping no one recognized me.
Looking back now, I can imagine how suspicious I looked. I was all dressed in heavy clothes, covering my face and glancing around. Plus, we were sneaking around to the back of the resturant.
"What are we doing?" Bobby asked me.
I told him to can it and we walked in the back of the resturant. No one hindered our movements and we easily set up for the perfect photo. Bobby quickly snapped off a picture from the doors leading to the kitchen.
"Put the camera down."
I looked behind me and saw a pair of Secret Service agents behind us, guns pointed at the backs of our heads. I remember thinking, 'Oh my God. The President is going to be so ticked.'
Bobby put the camera down and the Secret Service men ordered us to stand up. We did so and it was at that time that McShane noticed us.
She walked over to see what was going on and I, with permission from the agents, took off my hat and glasses. "Madam Vice President," I said in a weak voice. "I'm *so* sorry about ruining your dinner."
Senator Rockhimer began to laugh.
I gave Bobby a confused look.
"Karol was just saying it would take an assassination attempt to get this night going," he explained.
"N-no!" Bobby responded. "We're not trying assassinate anyone. Really!"
Both of them grinned. I died inside. I mean, the Vice President of the United States was practically laughing at me. Bobby was horrified thinking he was going to get in trouble and fired.
"Come on," Rockhimer said to us. "Why don't you come and join us?"
Bobby gave a surprised choaking sound.
"Yeah, come on," the VP told us. "Ted here isn't half as intresting as he thinks he is."
"I am too!" Rockhimer defended.
If I wasn't worried about getting arrested, fired or both, I would have laughed at them. They were just like Bobby and me.
We couldn't decline their offer. Hello! They were the Vice President of the United States and a high placing US Senator who thought we were trying to assassinate them. Believe me, when you're asked to eat with someone that thinks you're trying to kill them, it's better to accept than be taken to jail.
I did learn later that only Ted thought we were assassins. Karol had known who we were the entire time and wasn't worried.
I was on edge the rest of the night. I talked very little but Bobby got right in there and talked away to them. They even gave him some quotes and a couple more pictures. He had the best night of his career. I was just worried about mine ending.
After dinner, Karol had an agent escort us out the back. Once we get into the alley, the agent left and we stood standing there for a few moments. Then, "If Seaborn finds out, I'm going to kill you!" I yelled at Bobby.
He started laughing.
***
POV of Simon Seaborn:
When you're the son of the President of the United States, there aren't a lot of things you are allowed to do. And if you can convince your parents and the Secret Service to allow you to do something, there is going to be a whole lot of caos. I know. My father was the President and I've learned about all this from first hand experiences.
My twin brother never had problems with our dad being President. Our agents were our best friends. We both wanted to be Secret Service agents, being named after one ourselves. Simon Donovan. Great man. The Service even made our code names commemorated him: Hero for me and Friend for Donovan. Even though few of the agents ever knew Agent Donovan.
Anyways, here we were, two twelve year olds who also happened to be the sons of the President. It wasn't easy for us to have normal lives.
But Mom made sure we did. Once, early in our first year in the White House, we were invited by some friends to go to a movie. Blackwell was against it, but with help from Mom, John and Tiso, he relented.
It is very hard to secure a movie theater. Yet, they accomplished it. Donovan and I were so embarrased. We got seats right in the middle and the row in front of us and the one behind us were empty except for a pair of agents sitting right behind us.
Our friends (Sargent Dawson, Elyza Wood and Zeena Robins) didn't mind, there were glad to have such good seats.
Now, I can't remember the film any more. But I do vividly remember that night.
The movie was over and the group of us were walking to the front door, escorted by Tiso and my temporary agent, Cutter.
There were several gunshots. I didn't see much, Tiso grabbed me and rushed into another theater, pulling me and Donovan behind him. Cutter pulled the others in behind us and told us to stay low in the front row. He stood with us, gaurding the right entrance and the exit. Tiso went outside a dove back in, due to gun fire.
"Theater... 7," he said into his walkie talkie. "Bring the car around. Hero and Friend not secure. Repeat. Theater 7. Hero and Friend NOT secure."
Just as he shouted that, the right entrance burst open and there were several shots.
The five of us ran out of the row and ran to the exit. Tiso exited first to find Agent Zimmer with the car. Cutter was still in the theater, covering us. Tiso opened the back, looked into to confirm that it really was Zimmer and then pushed us all in, getting in right behind us.
***
POV of Donovan Seaborn:
We never saw Cutter again. As we were leaving, three people rushed in. He was able to hold them off but he wasn't able to get all three of them. Harlan Cutter died that day in the front row of Theater 7. Not many people know that. But, if you look closely, you'll see the words 'Harlan Cutter: Secret Service Agent and Friend' right where me and Simon carved it on the side of the first chair.
That night, Zimmer blazed straight to the gates of the White House with no escort or anything. One minute we were behind the movie theater, the next we were at the White House.
Several agents ushered me and Simon into the building. I looked behind us to see Tiso leading Sarge, Eliza and Zeena into the Roosevelt Room.
We were led straight to the Oval Office.
Jeff held the door open as we entered, and inside we saw Mom and Dad.
"Mom!" Simon shouted and ran to hug her.
"Dad!" I shouted and ran to him.
The four of us held each other in a big hug for a moment before Dad pushed me back by my shoulders and looked me over. "You okay, son?" he asked
I nodded and Simon did too.
"Are the others okay?" I asked him but the question was forgotten when we heard a groan behind us.
John was being held up by Jeff and another agent. I ran over to him.
"John?"
He gave me a weak sm ile. "I'm okay, kid," he said. But I knew he wasn't. People that were okay didn't walk around with blood on their shirts.
The agent led the wounded John out and I saw father nod to Jeff before he followed them out. "He'll be fine," Dad reassured me.
"Are the others okay?" Simon asked my forgotten question.
"They're fine," Blackwell responded, walking in. "They're in the Roosevelt Room waiting for their parents to come get them."
By now Dad had gotten over the shock of his kids nearly being killed and demanded to know who was behind the attacks. Blackwell admitted that they had no idea. The bodies had all been removed by the attackers. None of their dead were left behind to help the Secret Service identify any of the attackers.
"Did we lose anyone?"
"Yes, Mr. President," Blackwell told. "Agents Harlan Cutter and Pearl Goldblum."
I almost cried thinking of Harlan all alone there in that theater.
Dad sighed. "Mallory, why don't you take the boys to their room."
Mom nodded and we walked out of the Oval Office with three agents. Before, we'd never really thought about our dad's position and how much danger we could be in. We found out that night.
***
POV of Karol McShane:
We were in the car heading back to my apartment when one of the walkie talkies I'd gotten from one of the agents came on and told me what had happened to Sam's boys. Ted drove me home and stayed as we called Sam.
I was connected just as the agents admitted Senator Mary Ortz who lives right above me into my apartment. I put it on speaker phone so we could all hear.
"Sam? Are they okay?" I asked.
"Hey, Karol... how was dinner? Is Ted still there?"
I rolled my eyes. "Sam."
"They're fine, Karol," he answered. "We lost two agents and Donovan's is in pretty bad condition so he's upset. But them and their friends are all fine."
There was a collective sigh of relief from Mary, Ted and me.
"Any idea who did it, sir?" Ted asked.
"Hello, Ted," Sam said. "You, too, Mary."
"Yes, Mr. President."
Sam sighed and I could tell that it was eating him up that he didn't know before he even admitted to not knowing. "No, we don't know, Ted. Blackwell is on it."
"We'll find out who it was," I told him.
"You're right," the President responded. "We will."
***
POV of Senator Ted Rockhimer:
DATE: 3/18/2016
It was Friday. It was the day I was taking Vice President Karol McShane out for dinner. God, was I nervous. I mean, I'd known her for years. I'd had dinner with her for years. But *never* alone. Not without the others. Tonight was the night I twas taking her out. Alone.
Okay, okay, not alone. She had a security detail and we had a private part of the resturant cleared for us. Plus the media that always hovered around when the President or Vice President did anything remotely intresting or personal. But, other than that, it was alone.
I picked her up right when I said I would, eight o'clock sharp.
My car was gone over with a fine tooth comb. The seats were removed, the trunk searched... they even checked behind my mirrors. Like I was stupid enough to be a suicide bomber or something.
Karol was escorted out of her apartment building by a Secret Service agent and the passenger side door was opened. I smiled as she sat down beside me.
A car set off infront of us and I pulled out after it. Behind us trailed too more cars.
"This is fun, huh?" Karol said sarcastically. "I might not run for VP next year. Just because of these goons."
I grinned. "They're not t hat bad," I defended them. "They're just doing their job."
She gave me a look. "It's not a good idea to argue with your date," she warned.
"Right," I said. "Sure thing, Madam Vice President."
"Call me that again and there isn't going to be a second date."
I just grinned. Here i was with the woman I'd been in love with since we'd first met going out to a fancy resturant. This was going to be one of the best nights of my life.
We arrived at 8:45 PM and entered the resturant arm in arm.
***
POV of Press Secretary Jenna Clark:
"This is really romantic Bobby," I said sarcastically.
He'd said we were going to go out to eat together and where did we end up? Burger King. I don't even like Burger King. Yet some sacrifices have to be made. He was following the McShane-Rockhimer relationship and though I couldn't be seen, I decided to tag along.
He grinned at me. "Well, I can't take a woman dressed up in a floppy hat and heavy coat into a fine resturant," he jested.
It was true. To hide who I was, I was in a very heavy jacket and floppy denim hat that covered most of my face. I also wore large dark sunglasses to cover up my eyes.
We finished out burgers and fries and walked to the resturant. Outside, Secret Service men were clearing the way for the Vice President and Senator Rockhimer. We weren't able to get very close and the other photographers and reporters weren't making it easy.
Bobby sighed. "I need to get some pictures..."
"Well, you're never going to get them from this far off," I remarked.
"Thanks for stating the obvious," he retored.
"That's my job."
"Well, *mine* is to get the story," Bobby said. "And I can't from this distance.
I sighed. This guy is so fixated on work sometimes. "Come on," I said and we slowly began to inch to the back of the place. I glanced around nervously many times, hoping no one recognized me.
Looking back now, I can imagine how suspicious I looked. I was all dressed in heavy clothes, covering my face and glancing around. Plus, we were sneaking around to the back of the resturant.
"What are we doing?" Bobby asked me.
I told him to can it and we walked in the back of the resturant. No one hindered our movements and we easily set up for the perfect photo. Bobby quickly snapped off a picture from the doors leading to the kitchen.
"Put the camera down."
I looked behind me and saw a pair of Secret Service agents behind us, guns pointed at the backs of our heads. I remember thinking, 'Oh my God. The President is going to be so ticked.'
Bobby put the camera down and the Secret Service men ordered us to stand up. We did so and it was at that time that McShane noticed us.
She walked over to see what was going on and I, with permission from the agents, took off my hat and glasses. "Madam Vice President," I said in a weak voice. "I'm *so* sorry about ruining your dinner."
Senator Rockhimer began to laugh.
I gave Bobby a confused look.
"Karol was just saying it would take an assassination attempt to get this night going," he explained.
"N-no!" Bobby responded. "We're not trying assassinate anyone. Really!"
Both of them grinned. I died inside. I mean, the Vice President of the United States was practically laughing at me. Bobby was horrified thinking he was going to get in trouble and fired.
"Come on," Rockhimer said to us. "Why don't you come and join us?"
Bobby gave a surprised choaking sound.
"Yeah, come on," the VP told us. "Ted here isn't half as intresting as he thinks he is."
"I am too!" Rockhimer defended.
If I wasn't worried about getting arrested, fired or both, I would have laughed at them. They were just like Bobby and me.
We couldn't decline their offer. Hello! They were the Vice President of the United States and a high placing US Senator who thought we were trying to assassinate them. Believe me, when you're asked to eat with someone that thinks you're trying to kill them, it's better to accept than be taken to jail.
I did learn later that only Ted thought we were assassins. Karol had known who we were the entire time and wasn't worried.
I was on edge the rest of the night. I talked very little but Bobby got right in there and talked away to them. They even gave him some quotes and a couple more pictures. He had the best night of his career. I was just worried about mine ending.
After dinner, Karol had an agent escort us out the back. Once we get into the alley, the agent left and we stood standing there for a few moments. Then, "If Seaborn finds out, I'm going to kill you!" I yelled at Bobby.
He started laughing.
***
POV of Simon Seaborn:
When you're the son of the President of the United States, there aren't a lot of things you are allowed to do. And if you can convince your parents and the Secret Service to allow you to do something, there is going to be a whole lot of caos. I know. My father was the President and I've learned about all this from first hand experiences.
My twin brother never had problems with our dad being President. Our agents were our best friends. We both wanted to be Secret Service agents, being named after one ourselves. Simon Donovan. Great man. The Service even made our code names commemorated him: Hero for me and Friend for Donovan. Even though few of the agents ever knew Agent Donovan.
Anyways, here we were, two twelve year olds who also happened to be the sons of the President. It wasn't easy for us to have normal lives.
But Mom made sure we did. Once, early in our first year in the White House, we were invited by some friends to go to a movie. Blackwell was against it, but with help from Mom, John and Tiso, he relented.
It is very hard to secure a movie theater. Yet, they accomplished it. Donovan and I were so embarrased. We got seats right in the middle and the row in front of us and the one behind us were empty except for a pair of agents sitting right behind us.
Our friends (Sargent Dawson, Elyza Wood and Zeena Robins) didn't mind, there were glad to have such good seats.
Now, I can't remember the film any more. But I do vividly remember that night.
The movie was over and the group of us were walking to the front door, escorted by Tiso and my temporary agent, Cutter.
There were several gunshots. I didn't see much, Tiso grabbed me and rushed into another theater, pulling me and Donovan behind him. Cutter pulled the others in behind us and told us to stay low in the front row. He stood with us, gaurding the right entrance and the exit. Tiso went outside a dove back in, due to gun fire.
"Theater... 7," he said into his walkie talkie. "Bring the car around. Hero and Friend not secure. Repeat. Theater 7. Hero and Friend NOT secure."
Just as he shouted that, the right entrance burst open and there were several shots.
The five of us ran out of the row and ran to the exit. Tiso exited first to find Agent Zimmer with the car. Cutter was still in the theater, covering us. Tiso opened the back, looked into to confirm that it really was Zimmer and then pushed us all in, getting in right behind us.
***
POV of Donovan Seaborn:
We never saw Cutter again. As we were leaving, three people rushed in. He was able to hold them off but he wasn't able to get all three of them. Harlan Cutter died that day in the front row of Theater 7. Not many people know that. But, if you look closely, you'll see the words 'Harlan Cutter: Secret Service Agent and Friend' right where me and Simon carved it on the side of the first chair.
That night, Zimmer blazed straight to the gates of the White House with no escort or anything. One minute we were behind the movie theater, the next we were at the White House.
Several agents ushered me and Simon into the building. I looked behind us to see Tiso leading Sarge, Eliza and Zeena into the Roosevelt Room.
We were led straight to the Oval Office.
Jeff held the door open as we entered, and inside we saw Mom and Dad.
"Mom!" Simon shouted and ran to hug her.
"Dad!" I shouted and ran to him.
The four of us held each other in a big hug for a moment before Dad pushed me back by my shoulders and looked me over. "You okay, son?" he asked
I nodded and Simon did too.
"Are the others okay?" I asked him but the question was forgotten when we heard a groan behind us.
John was being held up by Jeff and another agent. I ran over to him.
"John?"
He gave me a weak sm ile. "I'm okay, kid," he said. But I knew he wasn't. People that were okay didn't walk around with blood on their shirts.
The agent led the wounded John out and I saw father nod to Jeff before he followed them out. "He'll be fine," Dad reassured me.
"Are the others okay?" Simon asked my forgotten question.
"They're fine," Blackwell responded, walking in. "They're in the Roosevelt Room waiting for their parents to come get them."
By now Dad had gotten over the shock of his kids nearly being killed and demanded to know who was behind the attacks. Blackwell admitted that they had no idea. The bodies had all been removed by the attackers. None of their dead were left behind to help the Secret Service identify any of the attackers.
"Did we lose anyone?"
"Yes, Mr. President," Blackwell told. "Agents Harlan Cutter and Pearl Goldblum."
I almost cried thinking of Harlan all alone there in that theater.
Dad sighed. "Mallory, why don't you take the boys to their room."
Mom nodded and we walked out of the Oval Office with three agents. Before, we'd never really thought about our dad's position and how much danger we could be in. We found out that night.
***
POV of Karol McShane:
We were in the car heading back to my apartment when one of the walkie talkies I'd gotten from one of the agents came on and told me what had happened to Sam's boys. Ted drove me home and stayed as we called Sam.
I was connected just as the agents admitted Senator Mary Ortz who lives right above me into my apartment. I put it on speaker phone so we could all hear.
"Sam? Are they okay?" I asked.
"Hey, Karol... how was dinner? Is Ted still there?"
I rolled my eyes. "Sam."
"They're fine, Karol," he answered. "We lost two agents and Donovan's is in pretty bad condition so he's upset. But them and their friends are all fine."
There was a collective sigh of relief from Mary, Ted and me.
"Any idea who did it, sir?" Ted asked.
"Hello, Ted," Sam said. "You, too, Mary."
"Yes, Mr. President."
Sam sighed and I could tell that it was eating him up that he didn't know before he even admitted to not knowing. "No, we don't know, Ted. Blackwell is on it."
"We'll find out who it was," I told him.
"You're right," the President responded. "We will."
***