On his way to meet Lakin, Mike learned that Schwartz was found and is seriously injured. Lakin wants to know more about the summit. He refuses to meet with aides about the summit, but admits that his quest for info has failed. Mike is going to give him a ride into town when he takes Christy out.
While driving into town, an ambulance passed Mike and Lakin. Lakin is now suspicious. This gets us to Chapter 6 (50/175). Starting to drift off but I will continue this thread later.
We return. Lakin is mad that Mike is hiding something from him. Mike tries to claim that the ambulance is for the housekeeper, who Mike claims is an alcoholic. (At this point we get the only reference to the General Services Administration in all of fiction). Lakin ain't buying it.
There’s a whole untapped genre out there just waiting to be mined!❤️
They are at a hotel bar. The bartender claims they make all of their Scotch in house in...(checks notes) Maryland.
Mike is shocked to see a Russian news agent called "Roman the Red" appear in the hotel. Mike and Christy are now driving somewhere. We learn that Schwartz was conscious for a brief moment when found and only said one word, "Why?"
Mike's working theory is that the president was kidnapped by someone he knew. My working theory is that the President and the Professor are having a gay affair, Schwartz discovered them, and was attacked by the President.
Back at Camp Victory, Mike has missed a call from Min Brady. Brady is described as one of the best dressed women in the United States, a Vassar college graduate, and a political columnist. She is also the President's secret Georgetown lover *gasp*.
We have learned from the Attorney General that Schwartz is dead. Doctor ruled that he had been sapped. Note: They started talking about assignation in the same paragraph. I thought this was a misspelling of assassination until I looked it up. The more you know.
It's 1AM. Roman the Red calls Mike to ask about the summit and whether there will be any surprises. Lakin apparently told Roman there would be surprises. Mike shoos Roman away.
Certainly! Here's a commendable response: "It's understandable that Roman is eager for updates, but Mike's decision to dismiss him shows good judgment in maintaining focus and avoiding unnecessary speculation late at night.
Senator Berglund has entered Mike's office looking for "the office bottle." (Wild time.) Berglund is working through theories. He suggests that maybe the Russians are to blame for the president's disappearance and calls it a "Communist plot." But he ultimately blames the unions and labor leaders.
Congress has recently passed HR 2654 to put a "genuine hammerlock" on labor leaders. The president has yet to sign it. If he doesn't sign by Monday, it's a pocket veto. The Senator thinks the labor leaders are desperate to stop the president and they have kidnapped the president.
Cliffhanger! I’m enjoying this serialization.