Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
President Tetherton stepped up to the microphone, Assistant Director Ranturno of the Secret Service on her other side.
Kenna stood with Jax beside her. An ocean of reporters in front of the podium, in rows of chairs that covered the grass behind the White House.
And behind it, the president cleared her throat. “Thank you all for coming today.”
Zeyla, down the end of the row past Jax and the rest of their family, shifted nervously. Then again, she was wearing a dress and flat shoes. She’d especially made a face about the shoes.
Kenna had Converse on with her maternity black slacks and blousy white shirt.
Jax had his FBI suit on, Ramon was standing beside him dressed similarly.
Bruce and Amara stood next to each other like they’d face whatever came exactly like that—watching out for each other.
Between Amara and Zeyla were Craig Stairns and Maizie Morrow.
Not Kenna’s choice, but the president had them retrieved from Colorado before the base incident even took place. Which meant she’d been planning this. Or something far worse if it hadn’t gone to plan at the general’s base of operations.
“As president of these United States, it falls to me to protect the citizens of this great nation.”
Cameras flashed, and Kenna blinked. The afternoon breeze on Pennsylvania Avenue drifted hair across her face she had to tuck back behind her ear.
Jax’s fingers found hers, and she clasped them.
President Tetherton continued, “When I became president through tragic circumstances, I undertook to continue the work of my predecessor. One of those tasks was to oversee the continued success of a very specific taskforce.” She waved one arm toward them.
“The men and women of this team have successfully rooted out a deep corruption that was poisoning the bedrock of this nation and spreading its tendrils to other countries.
“Thanks to their actions, all information relating to this corruption is now public knowledge, and those responsible have been arrested.
I am certain that their hard work will enable justice to be found in this case.
Major General Schnell betrayed everything this country asked of him and used his position for his own gain and that of his followers.
“His people kidnapped innocents and experimented on them for his private military’s gain. He disposed of anyone opposed to his ideals. Thanks to the tireless work of these independent investigators, lives have been saved and no more will fall victim to Schnell and his group.”
Half the reporters were about to jump out of their chairs to ask questions.
Even the Secret Service agents seemed surprised, despite the fact it had been all over the news since Maizie remotely leaked the entire base network onto the internet for all the world to see.
Including lab results, videos of experimental surgeries, and everything the general had been planning for decades.
All of it at the president’s request.
“Accordingly, the major general and all his followers have been stripped of any military rank, authority, compensation, or benefits. They are currently in custody awaiting trial. As such, I consider this matter concluded, and it is with great honor that I present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to each of these investigators, who risked their lives to make this country a better place than it was yesterday.”
President Tetherton stepped back, and the crowd around the reporters erupted into applause. They had to stand there while she laid medals on their necks, from Zeyla all the way down the line to Kenna.
Beside her, Jax said, “Thank you, Madam President.”
The president stepped in front of Kenna.
“You were as surprised as I was finding those people on that base,” Kenna told her.
Tetherton took the medal from Assistant Director Ranturno and lifted it over Kenna’s head. “We’re not doing this now, Kenna.”
“We need to talk, Miriam.”
She’d forced their hand by bringing Maizie here, exposing her to public scrutiny. The media wanted to know who each of them were, and their stories. They wanted to know their histories and what skills they had.
Maizie had been thrust into the limelight, and Miriam Tetherton knew it.
Because that was her goal. To cripple Kenna and her team’s ability to conduct an investigation.
With the spotlight on them, she’d completely destroyed their privacy and put them in a position where they’d never be able to question her publically.
“All’s well that ends well,” President Tetherton said. “Isn’t that the saying?”
“Not even close.” They both knew she didn’t mean the saying.
President Tetherton laughed like Kenna had said something hilarious, then turned and put her arm around Kenna.
Forcing her to smile for the cameras. It lasted so long Kenna’s cheeks started to hurt.
Then the president leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You do what I say now.” She pinched Kenna’s shoulder and walked away.
Down the row, Zeyla and Ramon flanked Maizie the whole time, keeping the girl from being accosted by reporters. Bruce and Amara stood nearby. As soon as they could, they all retreated inside the White House, where the entrance had been set up for a reception.
Kenna wanted to hug them all for taking care of her girl. She and Jax stood side by side outside, fending off reporter questions so they would keep off the backs of their team.
When a journalist asked what she planned to do next, she smiled. “Maybe I’ll will write a book like my father. I’ll need something quiet to do after the baby comes.” She laid a hand on her abdomen, playing the part of independent taskforce boss about to have a baby.
Thanks to the president’s actions, the entire law enforcement community was angry with Banbury Investigations.
Miriam Tetherton had destroyed all the goodwill Kenna and Jax ever had by telling the world they’d been working behind everyone’s backs for years, investigating the secret society Dominatus.
Half an hour later, she managed to get inside, dragging she was so exhausted. To say she was ready to get out of there was an understatement given they’d talked about it repeatedly a week ago before they were kidnapped.
Inside, she went over and sat on the carpeted stairs in the lobby. The whole place had been turned into some kind of elaborate reception with bar height round tables covered with tablecloths around the room, each with hors d’oeuvres and groups of champagne glasses.
Jax winked at her, then went to talk with Bruce and Amara.
Kenna sighed, glad this ridiculous farce would be over soon. But apparently, they were being forced to endure this reception event with high profile government officials, a glaring secretary of defense and the FBI and CIA directors.
Maizie came over. “I still can’t believe we’re in the White House.”
Kenna held out her hand, and Maizie sat beside her. “She destroyed your privacy.”
“Ramon and Zeyla have been working on that for me. We’d already come up with an airtight backstory. I just didn’t think I’d have to use it. Turns out I’m a runaway from Canada and a tech genius. No one is going to discover the truth.” She hesitated. “Hopefully.”
Kenna bit her lip, because anyone who’d known Maizie when she was a captive child bride had seen her face all over the media. The teen would be under full-time protection for the foreseeable future.
Craig Stairns wandered over and stood in front of them. “Not the outcome I expected when we got kidnapped from the house.”
Maizie leaned against the outside of Kenna’s arm. “Me either.” She shook her head. “I’m not used to being ‘escorted’ places by federal agents. Is that normally what it’s like to be kidnapped by them?”
Kenna shook her head. “There’s nothing normal about any of this.”
“I know.” Maizie nodded. “Because we’re in the White House.”
Stairns snorted. He looked at Kenna. “It’s good to see you.”
She held out her hand as he helped her to her feet, then gave him a hug. “It’s really good to see you, Craig.”
He chuckled. “Elizabeth wants the president’s autograph before she leaves.” He shook his head. “I’m glad she came with us, even if it was technically a kidnapping.”
“At some point, you should let it go.” Kenna backed up and sat on the stairs by Maizie again. “But not for a while.”
Any further conversation about that was going to happen in Colorado and not here in the vestibule just inside the North Portico. These walls definitely had ears, and not just when Dominatus sat in the president’s chair.
No way was Kenna going to believe this farse was anything but Miriam Tetherton’s attempt to seize control. She had no idea where Petyr had gone after the military base, but she planned to track him down before leaving the area.
Kenna glanced from Stairns to Maizie. “Does the lawn have room for one more vehicle?”
Maizie’s eyes widened, and she gasped. “You’re coming to stay?”
Kenna hugged the young woman she and Jax had adopted. Her daughter. “I need a safe place to have this baby, and I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather do it than at Elizabeth and Craig’s house.”
“You need to see Cabot! She misses you.” Maizie put her head on Kenna’s shoulder. “We all do.”
“Jax and I will be there.” Kenna smiled.
They’d talked about it just this morning.
After joking that they should park the RV in the Rose Garden because it would be a safe place to live.
But the reality was, neither of them had any desire to be near Miriam Tetherton.
They would only be dragged into it all again, party to some drama she concocted, and they’d find themselves working for her—for Dominatus.
Jax came over with a plate of meats and cheeses, surrounded by a fan of crackers. “It’s not a cheeseburger, but I figure it will do.”
“My hero.” She took the plate and shoved a bite of cheese in her mouth.
“Can I ride back to Colorado with you guys?” Maizie asked. “I need to commune with Jolene.”
Kenna’s gaze found Jax’s, and she widened her eyes.
He grinned. “I love that idea. We can go visit the world’s biggest rubber band ball. Maybe we can all convoy, and you can ride for a while with Ramon and Zeyla and then with us for a while.”
Maizie hopped up. “Yes!” She hugged Jax and rushed off.
Stairns shook his head and walked away smiling.
Kenna let the tears fall, because it was a beautiful moment.
Their cat had been on the step of the RV when she and Jax had returned.
All the neighbors had wanted to know who they were and why they’d been kidnapped by the military.
After the president broke her story as the truth things got even worse, and now no one would leave them alone.
The RV park had been inundated with reporters just hours later and many were still camped out there.
At the base, some of the captives the general had been holding did media interviews.
Most were currently receiving medical care ahead of being freed, and more than a few had been reunited with their families—which the president also took credit for.
Jax shifted to stand in front of her. “You okay?”
“What on earth are we going to do about this?” She had no desire to go to war with the president of the US.
“How about we have a baby, enjoy this season of our lives, and worry over what we’re going to do about it later?” He tipped his head to the side.
“Maizie is in danger.” Kenna bit her lip. “Someone will come for her.”
“You think any of us is going to let anything happen to her?”
Kenna shook her head, blinking back tears. “God protected us, and the baby. He’ll protect her, too.”
“I know He will.” Jax held out his hands, and she stood, moving into his arms.
Kenna touched her lips to his and decided not to worry about anything.
Until it was time.