The Memorial Day Murders

Chapter 24 : The alarming call

The White House

Standing at the porch of the North Lawn entrance of the White House President Reagan stuffed his freezing hands into the pockets of his overcoat jacket as he waited. He knew that he'll be expecting someone in order to help track down the vice president which he deliberately kept from Bruce. It's raining cats and dogs outside the building, making the road slick with water. A group of Secret Service agents waited along side him outside, with Andrew Barrowman as the leading agent of the protection detail. Bruce is left in the Oval Office with Special Agent Daniel Watson, who, is in charge of protecting him for the foreseeable future. Soon a black SUV pulled up to the porch and a Secret Service agent popped out from the driver's seat, wearing a black windbreaker. 

He opened an umbrella and opened the passenger door. An African-American man stepped out and underneath the umbrella. "I'm glad to see you again sir." the president greeted. Stepping into the Entrance Hall as the agent keeps the umbrella and left it in the umbrella stand to dry both presidents, current and former, proceeded to the West Wing. 

"Any word about the vice president?" he asked.

"So far, no." President Reagan replied. "I'm worried sick." Before entering the Oval Office the former president dropped off his phone in the special basket located in the room of the President's Secretary. "She completely went off the grid. The only thing we get to know, is that she is currently hiding in England."

"Why would she go there?" 

"I have no idea." the president said, opening the door to the Oval Office. Upon entering the office both men seated inside stood up and gave a single nod. "I believed that you have met her husband before?"

"No, not in person." the former president frowned. Still he shook hands with Bruce in silence and he sat at the chair opposite President Reagan as he sat at the Resolute Desk. "What went wrong that day?" he muttered. 

"I hate to say this sir but you're one of the commanders overseeing the operation." the president said. "I know little about it."

"Is General George Duncan here?" he asked. 

"Is he important in our search sir?"

"General George Duncan is Burqa's main liaison officer to the Pentagon. He is also the Major's former commanding officer, also acting as Elite Alpha's liaison officer to the Pentagon." A look of uneasiness shrouded the president's expression. 

"Is this why he knows about Elite Alpha's activities?"

"I have met the team and assigned the mission that sent the team on the run in the first place." the former president replied. "You weren't on the front lines. It's during the war in Afghanistan, if you're briefed on the team earlier by George you are aware of it's nature."

"Take on high profile targets." the president said. "That's what black ops do right?"

"Not just any targets, Taliban targets." hearing this President Reagan raised an eyebrow at his predecessor. 

"I watched your speech, on live television. The death of Sayyid Bin Masir."

"Known as Aldhiyb, The Wolf in Arabic, as the Major pointed out during the briefing." before he could speak further the President's Secretary walked in, frantically while carrying the president's phone. 

"I didn't call for you." he said, clearly annoyed. 

"I am really sorry sir." he apologized. "But it's urgent, for the former president." 

"Decline it." he said. 

"I don't think so sir." the secretary then said. The three men departed from the Oval Office and moved to a more private meeting room. Then the former president pressed 'Answer' on the phone.

"Who is this please?" he asked.

"Mr. President?" a female voice asked on the other side. "It's me, Major Isabella."

"Major?" he asked, the two men jumping to their feet. Instead of panicking he motioned both men to keep quiet and switched to speakerphone mode. "You have been missing for days now."

"I know sir." she replied, seemingly unaware of his current location. "I need to talk to you. About the mission."

"Elite Alpha killed Sayyid Bin Masir did not?" then a sigh was heard.

"No sir, it wasn't even the real target." she then said. "We... we killed his twin brother instead of him."

"A twin?" the former president asked. "Impossible."

"James and I found it hard to believe." she replied. "But we're doing what we can now. It's hard to believe that the military intelligence we received was a wrong one."

"James is with you?" he asked. "Where is he now?"

"He's British, you know where he is sir." she replied. "All I can say is... we're going to lay low for some time until we can figure this out."

"This is seriously wrong." the former president said. "How did The Pentagon-"

"I'm still figuring out sir." she replied. "The Brits are aware of the threat, Harold Manchester is under protection which we're grateful for. One of them have already been murdered by a contract killer."

"How did you know Aldhiyb is alive?"

"We nabbed the said killer sir. That's how we know the story." she said. "As far as I can tell you as a former military intelligence analyst, nowhere will be safe if Sayyid Bin Masir is still out there."

"Do you need to call Dan?" he asked. 

"No need sir." she said. "I have to go." she hesitated. 

"Stay safe. And good luck." the former president said. Ending the call the two presidents looked way more tense. "How can the information be wrong?" he muttered.

"Did she just mentioned military intelligence?" the president asked, seemingly surprised by the conversation.

"She used to work as a military intelligence officer." 

"I guess that James, the guy, is a colleague."

"With parents as ambassadors, their friendship goes way back. The James you're looking for is James Collins, one of the SAS fighters who also took part in the operation to take out Aldhiyb."

"One of the MI6 case officers who worked closely with the chief of MI6." the president said. "No wonder his name sounded familiar."