Under Age and Undercover: A Hannah Clark Novel (under edit)

12. Aftermath (edited)

Shane and I left the hospital soon after Michael called, going straight to the hotel to interrogate the president. Shane refused to let me drive, insisting that if he were driving in the first place I wouldn’t have gotten shot. Whatever. I mean maybe I wouldn’t have, but he still would have gotten injured in my place. When we got to our suite and greeted Monique in the living room she looked very distraught. At first I was worried, thinking maybe something had happened, but then remembered that Monique was new to the whole ‘capture and question’ procedure and it was only expected for her to feel slightly uneasy about holding our nation’s president captive.  I personally had grown immune to the moral guilt after so many hears in the field.  Her attitude seemed to brighten as we walked in the room and noticing how her shoulders relaxed I made my way over to the kitchen.

“Who’s up for creamy pesto with penne?” I asked, receiving three very confused stares from my roommates. “Or I could just make some popcorn…” I quickly back-pedaled, realizing how awkward this situation must have been for someone less experienced with the circumstances as I was.

“I could go for some pasta.”  Shane finally answered. Monique nodded her head in agreement. As I boiled the water for the pasta, I walked over to sit across from the president in the living room. Did I mention that the kitchenette was fully equipped with pots and pans, silverware, food, and towels? A perfect set up for a group of four who’d had nothing but hospital food to eat all day.

 “Hello John,” I greeted, acknowledging his presence for the first time since arriving at the hotel. “Or can I only call you Mr. President? How about President Matterson? Or

back-stabbing, double-timing, big-fat liar?” I stopped after noticing Shane’s warning glare. Maybe I went too far with the whole big-fat liar thing.

“Hannah, it’s not as bad as it may seem to you now.” John started, his voice and eyes begging me to listen.

“No?” I asked him sarcastically. “ It isn’t, really? So you didn’t plan on killing me because I may have learned too much about how you planned on ruining the American government while I was working with you?” I insisted, still fuming as I finished my rant. He gave a deep sigh sounding tired, almost reproachful.

“No, Hannah, that wasn’t it at all. If you let me explain I can tell you the whole story. There’s no point in keeping the truth from you now, seeing as our plan failed miserably and no one but Landon even knows I’m here. You kidnapped me without anyone but Landon knowing. It’s not like she can tell anyone, much less would they believe her, being kept in a padded cage and all.” I nodded my head; as if saying do tell, and he went on to explain everything just as he promised. Operation sacrifice was apparently designed to protect the U.S from China if anything were to happen to the president. From what he said, I gathered that there was growing tension between the two countries, and terrorist threats were being made. Two weeks ago there was an anonymous letter sent to President Matterson with a bomb threat inside. The Chinese Army demanded that the peace treaty in Korea be aborted and nuclear weaponry reinstated to help them in the upcoming war. He obviously refused and made precautions to keep these affairs completely confidential. Landon went to the extreme in having me assassinated in fear that I knew too much about the secret service.

According to him the whole idea was Landon’s and he was totally innocent. I didn’t believe one bit of it. It made no sense. Why would he have come to kill me? Where does Agent XxXx come in to all of this?

When he finished, I had quite a few questions.

“Who is Agent X? You didn’t mention him at all.” I say, trying to keep my frustration out

of my voice.

 “Agent X,” he replied, “is a Chinese spy sent to assassinate me.” This time I failed miserably in keeping my anger in check. “I knew that! If you didn’t already know, I read the mission description!

“WHO IS AGENT X?” I yelled, instantly regretting my mistake. He looked scared though, which isn’t bad.

“I don’t know, Hannah. If I knew do you think I would be worried?” I shook my head in disgrace. This man was supposed to be running our country?

“If I knew I sure as hell would be worried. Because in case you weren’t aware, China is home to many of the most ruthless and bloodthirsty assassins in the world. They’re computer masterminds John! And being the president of the United States of America, I wager you come at a high price. But it’s just a guess.” I sneer at him.