Page 39 of The First Gentleman

Cole pulls out his iPhone, selects a photo, and enlarges one section. “I took this picture as we were leaving.”

Once, at a campaign stop in Iowa, a woman threw a cabbage at Cole. It was Doug Lambert who’d knocked it down in midair. Cole has had a special connection with him ever since. He knows he can trust him.

“See this young woman, the one right there in the middle? I think she could be a threat.”

“A threat? To you, sir? Or to the president?”

“Maybe both. We need to identify her.”

“Let me get my laptop, sir, and I’ll start the process—”

“No,” says Cole. “Nothing official. I don’t want to worry the president.”

“I can start with facial recognition and see if I get any hits.”

“Good,” says Cole. He pats Lambert on the back. “Start there. I’ll send the picture to your personal phone.” Then he starts pumping his legs on the path. “Now let’s get going!”

“Yes, sir.” Lambert speaks into his collar mic. “Sage on the way.”

Cole feels a sense of relief. At least he’s put things in motion. Better safe than sorry.

The woman in the photo could just be your everyday Capitol nut.

Or she could be the tip of a very dangerous iceberg.

Cole Wright is slipping into the zone, working up a healthy sweat; his muscles have warmed up and the endorphins are starting to kick in. This is his happy place. Always has been.

Agent Lambert sets a good pace. They’re approaching the Tidal Basin. No crowd today. Too early.

Suddenly, Cole hears a flurry of chatter from the agents behind him. He turns his head and sees them talking into their shirtsleeves.

One of the agents catches up with Cole and taps his arm. “Slow up a bit, please, sir.”

Cole reduces his pace. “What’s the problem?”

Then he looks back down the path and sees another cluster of runners heading their way. He hears his wife’s code name, Sierra.

He smiles.

Maddy is running in the middle of the pack, surrounded by her own detail. A few seconds later, she’s right beside him. “Hi, stranger. Do you own this park, or is anybody welcome?”

Cole grins at Maddy. “Don’t worry. I know the lady who runs the place.”

Now the two details blend to form a protective cocoon around them both. It reminds Cole of taking laps with the whole NFL team.

“I need a favor,” says Maddy.

“You spent all this hard-earned taxpayer money just to ask me for something?”

“You’re in a more receptive mood when you’re out in nature.”

“Wow,” says Cole. “This must be one ugly ask.”

“Senator Balquière, Louisiana,” she says, her voice slightly lower. “I think he’s ready to come over to our side.”

“Balquière? He’s a party leader for the opposition!”

“It’s taken some work,” says Maddy, “but he’s starting to thinklike an American, not a politician. Now he needs a sweetener, and that’s you.”

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