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You have no idea.
Her stomach dropped as she read those words. What now?
The news got worseby the minute. More than seventy-five had been wounded, and four were now confirmed dead, including the shooter, who’d been taken out by military police. But not before he’d changed the lives of hundreds of his fellow service members, who’d been gathered for a comedy show at the post auditorium.
The weapon had been an M-16, a weapon of war, designed to kill many people as quickly as possible.
“Mr. President,” Terry said.
Nick tore his gaze from the TV, where he’d been monitoring the news reports.
“We have an update for you, sir.” His chief of staff had been brought back to Delaware by helicopter after the Fort Liberty news broke.
Nick followed Terry into their mobile Situation Room, which had been soundproofed and outfitted with all the necessary communications technology ahead of his arrival at the beach. He felt guilty at what had to be done, and the taxpayer money spent, so he could take a vacation away from the White House. But he had to get out of there once in a while, or he’d go mad.
He took a seat at the head of the conference table.
Terry pressed a couple of buttons that brought Vice President Gretchen Henderson, Secretary of Defense Tobias Jennings, Secretary of Homeland Security Madeleine Brill, acting Army Chief of Staff General Roger Kaull and General Hilary Stern, the commanding officer of Fort Liberty, onto screens on the wall.
“Thank you for joining us,” Terry said, introducing Nick to Kaull and Stern.
“Mr. President, I’m so sorry to hear this terrible news,” Gretchen said.
“As am I. What do we know, Tobias?”
“Corporal Tyson Briggs, a five-year Army veteran, has been identified as the shooter.”
“General Stern, what can you tell us about him?”
“Mr. President, he was involved in an altercation in his workplace earlier today after the email came out from Secretary Jennings offering service members a dishonorable discharge if they’re unable to faithfully serve under the commander in chief. From what I’m told by Briggs’s superior officers, he was outraged that the discharge would be dishonorable simply because he couldn’t stomach being sent to war by an unelected president.”
Oh God,Nick thought.Oh my God.
“Apparently, others in the squadron fought back against his claims, calling him a traitor and other names that outraged Briggs. His commanding officer asked Briggs to step outside to get himself together. He stormed out of the building, and no one heard from him again until the shooting in the auditorium. The commanding officer had never seen any sign of anger or hostility in Briggs before today. He’d expressed some opinions about the current state of our politics, but nothing that would lead to what happened tonight. We have chaplains available to provide counseling to Briggs’s coworkers and chain of command as well as others who were in the auditorium, sir.”
“Thank you for the update, General Stern,” Terry said. “What’s the latest on casualties?”
“Four dead, seventy-five injured, two of them with life-threatening injuries.”
“We appreciate the update and ask you all to stand by in case you’re needed again tonight,” Terry said.
“Thank you everyone,” Nick added. It was all he could do to speak over the massive lump in his throat. Four people were dead and many others seriously injured all because a service member didn’t want to work for him.
“Thank you, Mr. President,” the others said as they signed off for now.
After the screens went dark, Nick stared at the far wall.
“I can feel you blaming yourself for this when it is not your fault,” Terry said. “Corporal Briggs decided to express his views in the most violent way possible. That’s in no way tied to you.”
Of course it is, Nick thought. But he didn’t share that comment with Terry, who was trying to make him feel better about the unimaginable. “We need to make a statement.”
“Trevor has already sent over something for you to review.” Terry pushed the page across the table.
Nick read the statement, feeling dead inside. “This doesn’t mention the connection to the email sent by Secretary Jennings.”
“We don’t need to make that public yet.”
“Yes, we do. Enough people know about Briggs’s motivation. I’d rather control how that’s made public than react to it later.”
