Inside Threat by Quirk Matthew

Author:Quirk, Matthew
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-06-13T00:00:00+00:00

54

Hardwick’s face was apologetic as he said he couldn’t give up his weapon.

“It’s fine,” Kline said. “It’ll be right there.”

“Not with what we’re facing. I . . . can’t. It’s hard to convey the connection between a soldier and his weapon under the circumstances.”

Kline had been under guard for a long time now. He’d grown completely accustomed to having Secret Service agents by his side or outside his room night and day. Now he only noticed when they weren’t there. He was trying to articulate to himself what was off about Hardwick’s manner, and then he realized it. Hardwick had been facing him, keeping him in view the entire time. Kline was used to having the agents surrounding him, between him and the threat, always looking at their backs. But Hardwick had eyes on him as if Kline was the threat.

“I understand that, Agent Hardwick, but go ahead and put it over there.”

“No. I’m sorry, sir.”

Kline felt a warm rush pass along his skin, the hairs rising.

“I get it,” he said, lifting one hand in a reassuring gesture. He could feel the heft of the knife in his right pocket and turned that side slightly away from Hardwick, concealing the motions of his hand as he inched closer.

“Stop there,” Hardwick said.

“What?”

“Don’t come any closer. It’s for your safety.”

So much for the dance, Kline thought. Hardwick knew he knew.

“Why did you do it, Michael?”

Hardwick played confused, even as his hands tightened on the gun.

A leaden sickness grew in the president’s belly as he watched the MP5 rise, not aiming at him yet, but close.

“Why would you betray your oath? Turn on your own government?”

Hardwick stood as straight as a Marine guard, took a breath in, then spoke in an authoritative tone.

“Sir, we can do this calmly and peacefully. I am relieving you of command until such time as the Congress may by law provide—”

“Peacefully?” Kline said, the anger twisting his face. “You’ve killed two people down here. You left Navarro to die. How could you do this? Are they threatening Ellie? We can help.”

“I swore an oath to the Constitution, not to you. If that means I have to sacrifice my career, or my life, to stop you from violating the supreme law of this nation, so be it. But I’m asking you, for the good of this country, not to resist and to ask the other agents to stand down. And I will need the codes you carry.”

Kline raised both palms and took three steps away from Hardwick, moving closer to the main door though it was still twenty feet off. No way he could escape in time.

“Where are you getting all of this, Michael, this poison?”

“Don’t lie to me, sir. Give me that much respect. You know what you did.”

“You’re a good man, an exemplary agent. I can’t understand it. Who got to you? What did they tell you?”

“You ordered the death of Julian Rivas, because he was too close to the truth.”

Rivas and Hardwick were like brothers, Kline knew.

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