Min tells Mike to leave, saying they have the same goal. She's here to help the president. Mike doesn't believe her. Min suggests that the president's top advisors have been infiltrated by the Ironwood Society. Then Radin walks in on Min and Mike talking!
Mike accuses Radin of kidnapping the President. Radin says the President came willingly. He suggests the President will never admit to being held hostage because he went for purposes of having an affair with Min. The Professor died of natural causes---a heart condition. That's... Inconvenient.
Radin admits they killed Schwartz but claims they had nothing to do with bombing the president's car. Mike jumps at Radin. Radin fires the gun in his hand. The bullet seems to have hit Mike.
Mike wakes up with Christy and the President standing over him. The President reveals that Min died saving Mike's life. The President seems unbothered for someone who just lost his girlfriend. The President gives a monologue condemning the Ironwood Society as fascists. We still don't know "S."
The trio light a fire to get the attention of their captors. When Nelson comes into the room, Mike attacks and steals his gun. Radin and Mike exchange some fire. Then S arrives and kills Radin. S flees the house. Ending at Chapter 19. Page 160/180. Will finish tonight.
I would've paid you handsomely if you'd reported that after the villain fled in his car, Mike said "Look at that 'S' car go."
Let's finish the story. Mike, Christy, and the President have climbed into Radin's car. The President says that whatever Mike says goes. Christy shouts that the house is on fire; Nelson is still alive inside. The president tells Mike they can save Nelson. Mike says, "No! I'm sorry sir."
A car is coming toward them. Mike doesn't have time to brake and hits it. Fred Wagner (a secret service agent I didn't bother to introduce you to) was driving. Fred warns them that they shot someone leaving the house and it isn't pretty. Mike says it's "S" and he needs to know who it is.
Our Scooby-Doo reveal: Who is "S"? It's SENATOR BERGLUND---the man who claimed it was probably union leaders who had captured the President. (I am certain there is no political commentary here about the demonization of unions. @charlottegarden.bsky.social)
What about the bombing of the car? The book dismisses it with a reference to a radio reporting saying it was two right winged terrorists.
There is a big cover up. Schwartz died in a fall. Brady died in an accidental fire. Senator Berglund died from suicide. THE PUBLIC WONT BE SUSPICIOUS THAT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT ALL DIED IN ONE DAY.
Mike claims that it was a perfect plan because the Ironwood folks couldn't be charged with anything. According to Mike, the fact that the president came on his own accord makes them immune. THEY HELD THE PRESIDENT HOSTAGE AND MURDERED AT LEAST ONE SECRET SERVICE AGENT. THOSE ARE CRIMES.
