Chapter 118

‘‘What kind of emergency?’’ I asked.

‘‘The President was found in the study unconscious and unresponsive, they are trying to revive him. It doesn’t look good,” the agent said.

He was interrupted by another agent, ‘‘Washington wants to know if there is a judge close by if we need one?’’ the second agent asked.

‘‘Yes, former Maryland Supreme Court Judge Tony Slaughter. He is retired but still on the docket rotation for special cases,’’ I said.

I gave them the judges unlisted phone number, ‘‘Just keep redialing, he will answer,’’ I said.

By now all the girls were up.

‘‘Jenny, call your Mom and Dad. Tell them it is an emergency and to get here quick! Vicky, call my Mom and Dad and tell them the same thing. Marcy call Jeanna with the same message. I will call Jake; I am not sure anything is going to happen but I think it is likely,’’ I said.

‘‘I’m going to activate the video camera system in the living room so we can record what happens,’’ Ching Lee said.

As a second thought I called Hanna. When she picked up the phone, ‘‘This is BJ - get over as fast as you and the camera can, even in your PJ’s if you have to,’’ I said.

Troy called, ‘‘It’s not good, they are trying to revive the President, but no luck so far. The senior agent indicated they had a judge on the way; that’s good, it looks like he is needed. Other assets left immediately for your place, so be expecting them,’’ he said.

It had been fifteen minutes since the first call. If they didn’t get him back by now, they weren’t going to was my thought.

Jason, Lisa, Mom, Dad, and Jeanna had arrived. Hanna was at the gate; the guard called before letting her and Jed in. The judge arrived a few minutes later.

Judge Slaughter, the senior agent and I had a conversation while we were waiting. They were waiting for the conversation to complete on the other end of the phone. We would need confirmation for us to proceed.

I talked with my family to fill them on what I knew. I hugged each of my mates, told them how much I loved them and that I knew how difficult this was going to be for them.

The senior agent interrupted, ‘‘President Alexander Thomas was declared deceased at 0210 this date. Madam Vice President, where would you like to take the oath?’’ he said.

‘‘In the living room so we can record it,’’ I said.

We assembled and crowded the room. Vicky adjusted the camera and set the controls to record. She also hit the broadcast button.

‘‘Here is what you need to have BJ say,’’ the senior agent said as he handed Judge Slaughter a slip of paper.

‘‘BJ, raise your right hand, place your left hand on the bible and repeat after me.” It was the family bible; Mom had given me her family bible and Jake got Dad’s family bible when we started having children. Dad was holding the bible.

“I Roberta Josephine Jones do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States so help me God,’’ I said.

There were cheers from the family. Even with the saddest of times, they had reason to be pleased.

‘‘May I be the first to congratulate you and call you President Jones,” Judge Slaughter said as he reached to shake my hand.

Hanna had broadcast live to her connected stations; it was carried nationwide. Vicky had hit broadcast when she set up to record. Every JBG security site worldwide had witnessed my swearing in. it would be repeated tomorrow and officiated by the Chief Justice.

When I looked around there was a Navy Admiral with a case handcuffed to his arm and an Air Force General with another handcuffed to his arm.

I knew what they were - one was the football as it was nicknamed; it contained the controls to launch nuclear weapons to destroy the world. The other contained the launch codes to use after the football was activated

‘‘Madam President, can we have a minute? We need to explain to you how this works,’’ the general said.

‘‘My God; what have I got myself into?’’ I thought.

It took an hour for them to go through the process and a practice demonstration. In reality if it came to be, it could be done in as little as three minutes.

A thousands things raced through my mind that I needed to do.

I needed to pack some clothes. No, my go bag would do for today, the girls could pack some things for me and bring them over. I wanted some to stay with me - they could rotate every couple days.

The Secret Service was antsy, wanting to get on the road to Washington. All of them were on the phone talking to control.

My mates and I went to my bedroom. I changed and put on the light body armor and much better clothes. When I finished they were crying; it was time for more hugs and talk.

‘‘I’m so proud - we all are - these are tears of joy,’’ they said as a group hug surrounded me

“You and the boys are coming to Washington with me for a couple days until we get a system worked out. Aren’t you?’’ I asked.

‘‘Yes we are all coming over today to be with you. We want to watch you do the oath again. You are going to need some familiar faces I think. We will be there around ten. Call if you need us before then,’’ Jenny said.

It took another fifteen minutes to get things organized; my JBG bodyguards were still my primary bodyguards. One more of the thousand things that needed to be ironed out today when the sun came up.

A round of good byes and I walked out to my Suburban. It looked like a thousand flashing lights were around the place. Summers Road was closed. The dual highway was closed off in both directions and the overpass entrances. Police cars lined both highways.

The convoy was at least thirty vehicles or more with flashing red lights. There were state police, county sheriffs and transit authority. I had never seen so many police cars in one place at one time on the shore.