Page 81 of Nixon’s Promise

“Thanks.” I picked up my phone and saw Mandy had called.

I hit the missed call and waited for her to answer.

“Hey, where are you?” she immediately asked.

“At Nixon’s office. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, we just got home and you weren’t here. Do you have Duke?”

Shit. I forgot to leave a note. I’d gone home at lunch to let him out and felt so bad he was moping around, not used to being left at home all day by himself, I brought him with me to the office.

“Yeah. Shoulda told one of you, sorry. How was school?”

“Good. What’s for dinner? Are you bringing something home or would you like me to cook?”

Would I like her to cook?

What the hell?

“I can bring something home,” I told her.

“Okay. I’ll let you go.”

“Hey, thanks again for this morning. I really appreciate your help.”

“See ya when you get home,” she said, ignoring my words of appreciation, and disconnected.

“I finished the message,” I didn’t delay telling the guys.

“Holy shit, what’s it say?” Jameson asked, still standing next to me.

I handed him the paper and he read it, “All areas are set. Carpenter Hall rigged. The rest of the explosives set to detonate. Betsy Ross House, Franklin Court, and Quaker Meeting House need attention. Park rangers turn over every six hours. Alternate location found and secure. Our man is ready to be moved.”

“Our man is ready to be moved,” Nixon repeated.

“What are you thinking?” Weston asked.

“Are you sure it says, to be moved? And not ready to move?” Nixon asked me.

I glanced down at the coded message I’d methodically double-checked and answered. “Positive. It says, ready to be moved.”

Weston’s phone chimed and he pulled it out before he announced, “Alec’s downstairs.” Then he trotted off toward the door.

I was looking at Nixon and he was looking at me but his eyes weren’t focused on me, they were busy trying to puzzle out the meaning of the message. “I think we were right. They’re planning a diversion.”

“Me, too,” Jameson agreed.

Weston and Alec entered the office, Duke popped his head up and looked in their direction but made no move to stand. Some guard dog he was.

“Wes said you broke the code?” Alec asked, not looking at me but instead staring at Nixon.

“She did,” Jameson answered and handed him the paper.

Alec took a moment and scanned the short message before he asked the same question Nixon had. “To be moved, or to move?”

“To be moved. Yes, I’m positive.”

“Why’d you really call us in on this?” Nixon asked.