“It’s an honor to do the coin toss.” The President held up his hand. “Before you object, I’ll be spending the game in a bulletproof box. Security will be amped-up.”
“We’ll fly all four of you to the game on Saturday morning,” Evelyn said. “You’ll be guests of the President and you’ll be sitting in his box with him.”
“Does the public know you’re going?” Sydney asked.
“I go every year,” the President replied.
But every year they weren’t up against the Haqazzii terror cell and The Day of Destruction wasn’t looming large over their heads.
“Yes,” Evelyn answered, “it was confirmed the other day in a White House press conference.”
Teddy and Sydney shared a quick glance before Teddy regarded his brother.
“I see lots of eyeballs moving around,” the President said. “You don’t want me to attend, do you?”
Sydney got busy on her phone. “The game is sold out and the NFL stadium in Baltimore holds over seventy thousand.”
“And?” the President asked.
Sydney shook her head. “Security can only do so much, Mr. President.”
“I’ll be fine,” he replied. “Better than fine.” He thanked them for coming, showed them out.
With the meeting over, Evelyn whisked them into her office. Four hot breakfasts were delivered and they chowed down. After extending their thanks, she handed out four beautiful computer bags like it was Christmas, and escorted them to her assistant.
“Sean and I would love to have all of you for dinner,” Evelyn said. “I know the timing is terrible?—”
“We’ll make it happen,” Greystone said. “Text me some dates.”
After they were led out of the building, they made their way to their parked SUVs.
“I know the Presidentthoughthe was delivering good news,” Sydney said, “but the pit in my stomach grew ten times larger.”
“Same,” Caroline replied.
“What are the chances Haqazzii would plan something for the game?” Sydney asked.
“There’s always a chance,” Teddy replied. “I’m gonna upload the pics of the tanker explosion as soon as we’re back at the Site.”
“Watch your six,” Greystone said.
“We always do,” Teddy replied.
An hour later, he and Sydney were back at work. He hated that they were jumping from activity to activity without a moment to breathe. Though the Black Site was designed to keep them safe, it felt like a self-imposed prison.
Before uploading the photos of the gas tanker explosion, he asked Sydney for a caption.
“One by one, you will fall,” she said.
“Nice.” He added it, then uploaded the pics.
“I got the vibe the President thought we should be stealth every time we take out a terrorist.”
“Same,” he said. “I don’t agree and we aren’t switching it up now.”
“We should head to BaltimorebeforeSaturday’s game to scope the area. If he expects us to sit in that box and watch the game while lunatics hunt us down, he’s damn wrong.”
Teddy smiled. “You got grit.”
