As the train pulled away from the platform, Senator Charles Baker pushed himself back into his seat and relaxed for the first time since they had left the Hart building. For Secret Service Agent Amy Clark, the last thing on her mind was relaxation. She was now in a public location with her protectee who was not only the target of an assassination plot but was also one of the most recognizable faces in US politics. You couldn’t be considered one of two front runners for the top job and not be. Every other day, the Senator’s face was emblazoned across newsstands and every hour, at least one of the news channels would be doing something that would extol the virtues or pronounce their contempt for him, depending on their loyalties. Clark had insisted they take the last rear facing double seat in the carriageway, the Senator by the window while Clark took the aisle seat, offering a clear view back down the carriage. Clark’s eyes continually scanned for threats in a carriage full of passengers.
Clark looked at the Senator as the train began to pick up speed. If he hadn’t been a politician, she was in no doubt he would have been a movie star. He reminded her of Gregory Peck in his later movies. Whatever the case, he was instantly recognizable. From his immaculately styled hair and impeccable dress sense, he turned heads wherever he went. She reached across and much to her surprise, met little resistance when she began to remove his tie and undid his top button. A little more resistance was met when she ran her hand through his hair and slightly ruffled his coiffure.
“I’m sorry, Sir, but let’s not try to give them the exact image you portray day in day out and at least try to look a little less presidential candidate,” she offered as an excuse for her actions.
“Sorry, of course,” he agreed, embarrassed for not thinking it himself and ruffled his hair significantly more than Clark had dared. “Is that better?” he asked proudly, showing Clark the results of his efforts.
“Uncanny, Sir, a complete transformation,” she lied. His coiffure was not for moving. Years of perfection were not going to be overcome with a quick rub. However, it was amazing how just removing the tie and undoing the top button had helped.
“Thank you, said the Senator as he relaxed back into his seat. With twenty years under his belt in politics, Senator Baker had no illusions that Clark was simply humoring him in an attempt to ensure he remained calm. “So, come on, we’ve got two and a half hours to kill until Newark. Tell me about yourself, why the Secret Service?”
Clark watched the other passengers as she answered. “Nothing really to tell. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a Secret Service Agent,” she said, attempting to kill the discussion.
“That’s it? No family connections, you know, my dad was in the service, my uncle…”
“Nope. What about yourself, why President?”
Baker laughed as Clark asked the question half heartedly. Her mind was almost entirely focused on the rest of the carriage and ensuring her protectee stayed alive.
“Agent Clark, please relax, nobody knows we’re on this train. Look around us, none of the other passengers even know we’re here.” Baker lifted his hand as Clark attempted to interrupt. “In just over two hours, we will need to be alert but for now, please relax. We’re in no danger just now but if I know my brother, there is going to be plenty around soon enough to keep you amply amused.”
Baker noticed a slight, almost negligible flinch as Clark appeared to relax. “So, come on, why the Service?” he tried again.
“Seriously, it’s all I ever wanted to do, no great story. I remember the assassination attempt on President Reagan and watching the agents protecting him. That was it. From then on, nothing else would suffice.”
Baker looked more closely at Agent Clark. “You must have been a baby when that happened.”
“Eight,” replied Clark.
Ever the mathematical genius, Baker quickly calculated Clark’s age to be at least five years over his outside guess. She was a stunning specimen of a woman. In her late thirties, her face showed no signs of her advancing years. She had flawless skin, wrinkle free and only wore light make-up. Her blond hair was tied tightly back and flowed down her perfectly cut Armani suit which did nothing but emphasize the lithe and firm body underneath.
“Married?” he asked
“Are you flirting with me Senator?” asked Clark as she appraised Baker’s lingering stare.
“Sorry, no not at all,” he blushed. “Admiring, yes, flirting, no. I’m not ashamed to act my age nor behave my age. I’m old enough to be your father, well just,” he added quickly.
“So what about you, Senator, why politics and why President?” asked Clark, changing the subject to avoid any further embarrassment.
Senator Baker paused as he considered the question, a question she had heard him answer numerous times before on countless news interviews.
“Politics because I felt I could make a difference. The Presidency because I have no choice, I have to make a difference,” he answered from the heart.
“I’ve not heard you say it like that before?”
“That’s because you’ve only ever heard me in public before. The Vice President was almost guaranteed the Presidency at the next election and I just can’t allow them to continue with what they’ve been doing to our country for the last eight years. They’re systematically tearing our democracy apart. Another eight years under Russell would effectively kill the United States as a democratic nation.”
“You make him sound like some sort of dictator. I’ve met him once, he was charming.”
“You, my dear, are a very attractive and unthreatening young woman, I am not in the least surprised you found him to be anything but charming. But let me assure you, once the doors are closed and the private Andrew Russell comes out, there’s no colder soul than that ruthless little shit.”
Silence fell between them as they digested the possibility of the ruthless Russell being the man who had targeted Baker and his brother. Surely not, Baker told himself, but the more the thought played on his mind, the more sense it began to make.
“You don’t think?” Agent Clark broke the silence and paused, the thought too horrific to verbalize.
“I’m thinking the same bloody thing,” replied Baker. “Russell!”