Detective Danny Cavanaugh 01 - The Brink

asked.
    Danny maintained his grip on Jack’s eyes as he explained himself. “I heard them talking. One of them asked, ‘Should we take him or retreat?’ They knew only one man that was there. You and I were the only two who knew I was going there alone, Mr. President. And I didn’t rat on myself.”
    “I’m sorry, Danny,” Jack said, his words nearly whispers. Danny finally blinked as he unfurled himself from a tensed ready position. It was obvious he thought the president of the United States was about to confess. Jack continued. “But I did tell one other person about your mission.”

Chapter 88
    Simon Shilling was in the middle of a phone call when the door to his office cracked open. Jack only saw the look on his face for a moment before Peter Devon’s shoulders eclipsed the doorway.
    Seconds later, Devon was standing over Simon. Jack had specifically requested that he not draw his weapon, for there was no need. Devon could probably kill any one of them in a matter of moments with his bare hands. Jack didn’t want to make this moment more of a spectacle than it was already.
    “I’ll have to get back to you,” Simon uttered into the phone. He slowly hung it up, his eyes never wavering from Jack’s. “Is there something you need, Mr. President?”
    Jack felt his pulse throb in the back of his head. He could barely get the words out. “Simon, I think you know why we’re here.”
    Simon gazed at the other two men in the room. Peter Devon remained motionless next to him. Danny stood in the back corner, his eyes at his feet. “No, Mr. President. I don’t have a clue.”
    “Simon, you were the only one I told about Sergeant Cavanaugh going to investigate L’Enfant Plaza.” He paused and shook his head. “You were the only one.”
    Simon mashed his teeth together. “I don’t like the sound of what you’re getting at, Mr. President.”
    “Sergeant Cavanaugh was ambushed at the station, Simon. How could that happen?”
    Simon squinted at the man who was both his boss and his friend. “I don’t know, sir.”
    “A hole was punched through a utility corridor down there that breeched the Capitol tunnels. Whether or not someone delivered a bomb down there doesn’t matter now, Simon. The entire NEST team is headed there as we speak to check it out.”
    “Better safe then sorry, Mr. President.”
    Jack lunged at his chief of staff. “Goddamn it, Simon! What did you do? Tell me what you’ve done!”
    The president had a death grip on Simon’s suit jacket and was only inches from his face. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Peter Devon move his wrist to his mouth and whisper. Devon was concentrating on whatever information he was receiving through the transmitter that snaked up from his collar into his ear.
    Peter Devon eyed the president. “Sir, we have a security breech inside the White House. I need you to come with me.”
    Devon was already steaming at Jack like a linebacker before he started his objection. “I’m not leaving this room until I get some answers, Pete.”
    Jack’s words had no effect on the Secret Service agent. “Sir, I can’t do that. We need to follow procedure. I will see to it that Mr. Shilling is placed under house arrest, but I must get you to a secure location now.”
    Jack turned to the other law enforcement officer in the room. He hoped Danny could read his burning glare.
    Do something!
    Peter Devon clamped his hands on the president. He was practically carrying Jack across Simon’s office when he suddenly stopped. Jack felt Peter’s solid grip release from his right tricep. The locomotion that burned into the small of his back vanished. Jack turned around and saw Sergeant Cavanaugh standing there with Peter Devon’s gun in his hands.
    “You heard the president, Agent Devon. We’re not leaving this room until we get some answers. Now tell us what you heard in your earpiece.”
    Devon remained silent.
    “Goddamn it, Pete,” Jack snapped. “Answer him! This is no time for SOP bullshit!”
    Devon was staring at Danny with hollow eyes. Jack could tell that he was burning with rage that Cavanaugh got the better of him. He gritted his teeth as he leveled his voice. “Sydney Dumas is missing.”

Chapter 89
    It was obvious Benjamin Speakes had performed this procedure many times. He stepped ahead of the Secret Service agent and set his eye at the end of a scope that jutted out from the wall. Like he did on the steel door they passed through just before the