Chapter 3
Ron held a meeting with his agents. Ten more had been flown in from Washington immediately after the attack to strengthen the security around the President. But the rumors still persisted that the rebels were planning to strike again.
"Okay folks. We now have 3 teams of ten agents each, one team for each eight hour shift. We are on Red Alert until Air Force One leaves tomorrow. The First Lady's detail has been merged into the overall detail while she's sharing a room with the President and Zoey's detail, now that she's here, will add to our strength. But these rebels can be just as strong. Stay on your guard and report anything suspicious. And I mean anything."
Looking about the room, Ron knew he had the best agents possible. He had checked their credentials himself and found all of them to have the highest ratings of any agent in the Service. Ron made sure that only the best got assigned to the Presidential detail. And on this trip only the best of the best was assigned. He had total faith and confidence that even the strongest rebel attack could not get through this line of defense.
"Ron?"
"Yes Marks, what is it?"
The head of the First Lady's detail replied. "Is there any intelligence on how the rebels might attack? I mean we have the hospital sealed and the plane under constant surveillance. So isn't it more likely that if an attack comes it will happen between here and the airport?"
"That would be the most logical. But things here have not always followed the logical path so we really need to be ready for anything."
"Are we?"
Ron looked around the room, as every agent present looked back at him. "We've done all we can do. Now, everyone back to your posts or back to the hotel. Remember, report anything suspicious. Dismissed."
Ron watched as the agents left the room, thinking about the three he had already lost on this trip. He hoped that all of these agents, his colleagues as well as his friends, would make it home.
Twenty-four hours until wheels up. He hoped it would be short enough.