Mounting Fears Read Free Page A

missiles before they attacked.”
    “I think you’re probably right.”
    “God, I hope we have time to get a grip on it before they move further,” Will said.
    Kiel stood up and offered his hand. “A car is waiting to take me to Walter Reed,” he said. “All I can do now, Will, is to wish you luck.”
    “Thank you, George. Good luck with the surgery and thank you for your exceptional service during our first term. Please give Doris my best, and know that you will be in our prayers.”
    The two men shook hands, and Kiel left.
    Will picked up the phone and asked for Tim Coleman, his chief of staff.
    “Yessir?”
    “Tim, George Kiel is undergoing surgery for prostate cancer today and is out of the campaign. Ask Kitty to coordinate with his press secretary about an announcement.”
    “Sir, you might consider announcing it at the convention.”
    “Maybe. You get together with Kitty, Tom Black, and our leadership in the Congress and come up with some names. We all know who they’re going to be, but it’s important to consult.”
    “Do you have a top candidate in mind?” Tim asked.
    “I’d appoint Sam Meriwether in a heartbeat, but we can’t have both members of the ticket from one county.” Sam Meriwether had been Will’s own congressman before he had won Will’s Senate seat in a special election. He had acted as Will’s campaign manager when he first ran and was this time, as well.
    “Yeah, well …” Tim said. “We’ll get on this right away.”
    “I’m going to need some names before I get on that helicopter,” Will said.
    “I wish George had given us more notice.”
    “He didn’t know himself, and, after all, he did tell me he would be around for only the first term.” Will looked down and saw a light flashing on his phone. “I’ve gotta go.” He pressed the button.
    “Mr. President,” the operator said, “I have President Khan of Pakistan for you.”
    “Good. Find everybody who was meeting in the Situation Room and get them back here, please.” He pressed the relevant button. “President Khan?”
    “Yes, Mr. President. I can give you some information now.”
    “Please, go ahead.” He looked up to see Kate and Lance Cabot enter the room. “If you agree, I will put you on speaker, so that my people may hear you.”
    “Yes, please do.”
    The military people were entering the room as Will pressed the speaker button. “Please go ahead, Mr. President,” he said.
    “We estimate a detachment of forty to fifty in the initial assault,” Khan said, “and they appear to be bringing in more people and fortifying the site now. There have been fatalities outside the building, but we have no knowledge of what happened inside. We suspect that the Taliban may have kidnapped two technicians earlier, so they may have launch capabilities.”
    “Excuse me, Mr. President,” Will said, “but doesn’t launching require codes?”
    “Yes. In theory, only I can give the order, but the officer carrying the codes disappeared this morning, and we cannot locate him. We suspect that he may either have been taken by the Taliban or Al Qaeda or be in collusion with them.”
    “Please go on, Mr. President.”
    “I have given the order for an attack,” Khan said, “and assault troops from a nearby base are moving into position as we speak.”
    “Mr. President, do you have shelter available that will withstand a nuclear attack?”
    “I am leaving momentarily for my bunker,” Khan replied.
    “Good. Can you tell us which of the silos contain the nuclear warheads?”
    “I will instruct my military staff to communicate with yours on that subject,” Khan replied. “Now if you will excuse me, I must go.”
    “Good-bye, Mr. President, and good luck,” Will said, but Khan had already hung up. He replaced the receiver and looked around the table. “Who has an update?”
    General Boone spoke. “I have been in touch with the Pakistani military headquarters but was unable to speak with the commanding