Chapter 53

Before I had a chance to react, Steve stepped between me and the Speaker. When they locked eyes, I saw the Speaker reach into his coat and pull something free. Steve's hand lashed out, even as his subordinates sprang into action. The Speaker found his arm held tightly by the Director of the Secret Service, as other agents placed themselves in position to defend me.

The Speaker removed his hand from his coat and was relieved of a snub-nosed revolver. He stared at me with utter hatred in his eyes. I stared back, unwilling to be intimidated.

Then I saw something else leap into his eyes.

It was a look of satisfaction.

That scared me, because everyone was concentrating on him, which meant my back was vulnerable.

The Speaker's eyes gloated in victory.

I spun, and dropped, trying to move out of the line of fire. Even as I dropped I flinched, awaiting the impact of the bullet surely headed my way.

Time stopped at that point.

For a momentary all eternity existed in an instant. We were all frozen in a perplexing tableau. The Speaker held in the arms of my protectors, me falling away, attempting to drop clear of the bullet. The surrounding eyewitnesses each reacted to the obscene scene, as the most powerful person in congress, tried to kill the President.

When time started again, my chest was suddenly on fire, and my back exploded in agony. Only after registering the pain, did I hear the gunshot. Though I heard more shots, I felt no new impacts. The air around me was alive with screaming, stamping feet, and a stampede as those who pressed in to be close to me ran for their lives.

Steve hovered over me, holding me in his arms and keeping others away, a menacing looking weapon held in his arms. Agents cleared the hall, as wave after wave of agonizing suffering hit me. Looking down I realized that the gunshot went straight through me, as I felt the wound in back and could see the exit in front.

I could hear the conversation going on around me. "Steve was repeating from someone he heard through his ear piece, that they had the shooter in custody, as well as what they thought was an accomplice. Later the news would report that the Speaker was in handcuffs and singing like a canary.

Steve laid me carefully on my side, away from the wound, as doctors began to work on my injuries. He still held his gun pointed out at those being herded from the chamber. Shane and Rick joined Steve, helping hold me off the floor as I bled out in their arms.

Shane leaned in in response to movement from my lips. He put his ear close to my mouth, and I asked the question I feared the most. "Did you get Hawk safely away?"

"Yes, Mr. President. The Vice President is safe in the bunker under the Pentagon. He is watching live and knows what happened."

"Tell him that I said he will make an excellent President, and I am proud to hand over the presidency to him."

I could feel the effects of blood loss, and knew time was very short. I looked at Rick and motioned him close. "Please tell my family that my last words were these; I love them with all my heart...