Breach of Power Read Free Page A

reelection.
    During his three years as Chief of Staff, Makley had endured a very messy and public divorce. The media sharks had a feeding frenzy over the divorce proceedings that left him virtually homeless, with minimal visitation rights with his two daughters, and on the brink of financial disaster. His rise to the top hadn't come without a price.
    Four feet behind Makley walked the Commander In Chief, Rebecca Rudd, the first woman President of the United States. Tonight, the world’s most powerful woman wasn't wearing her usual attire for public appearances. She was dressed in jeans, a long sleeve white collared shirt covered by a charcoal vest, and black flats. Even behind her casual appearance she presented herself as competent and polished, a woman of unwavering integrity and passion. Short in stature but admired and respected by most of the world's leaders. The press nicknamed her No-Bull Becky , which the public adored. So much so that she had held an impressive 85% approval rating for over two years.
    She often quoted Abraham Lincoln to the press, her favorite quote was: Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. And Rudd walked the talk.
    She pushed past Makley toward Wiley and embraced him with a hug followed by a kiss on the cheek. "Good to see you again, Elmore."
    Jake was surprised by the informal and intimate appearance of their relationship and wondered how long they'd known each other.
    In her flat shoes she was shorter than she looked on TV; must have been the heels Jake concluded. She had graying blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. She looked fit and toned and her voice, warm and friendly.
    “Madam President,” Wiley pointed across the table. “As you requested, my two most trusted emissaries. Jake Pendleton,” he swept his arm to the left, “and Francesca Catanzaro.”
    “Mr. Wiley has spoken highly of both of you. Please excuse the lateness of the hour but it was unavoidable." Rudd leaned down and pressed a button on her console. Two flat-screen TV monitors rose from a cherry hardwood table at the end of the conference room. "I trust you understand this is strictly off-the-record and classified.”
    Jake and Francesca nodded.
    “What you are about to see and hear carries with it issues so sensitive that not even my National Security Council is privy to it.” Rudd placed her finger on another button. “Any questions before we get started?”

2
    I ron Staircase “Leiter ”
    Höllental Valley, Germany

    A shley Regan sat on a rock at the base of the Leiter, an iron peg staircase on a steep rock wall; the first real obstacle of her annual hike to the summit of Zugspitze. She pulled her climbing harness and helmet from her backpack and placed them down beside her. Her partner, Sam Connors, was still a hundred feet from the base.
    “Come on, Connors.” Regan shouted. “Get your ass in gear. We don’t have all day.”
    “Yes we do.” Connors yelled back. “And by my calculations, we’re ahead of schedule.”
    Regan knew Connors was right; they were ahead of schedule by at least an hour over last year’s hike to the summit.
    She and Connors met two years ago at this very spot. Connors had been resting when Regan approached and started a conversation. The two hiked together that day to the summit and by nightfall, Regan knew their newfound friendship was destined to turn into a romantic involvement. Just like last year, they were celebrating the anniversary of their first meeting by scaling the same mountain on the same date.
    When the two returned to the States after their first meeting, Connors, a work-from-home day-trader, moved from Atlanta to Charleston, South Carolina where Regan was a CPA with a prominent accounting firm. The physical attraction was strong between Regan and Connors. The 31-year old Regan had two inches and ten pounds on the younger 27-year old Connors. By most standards, Ashley Regan was considered tall for a woman, 5’9”, tanned with shoulder