Madam President ✓

93. Final Stages

Tanya

"I get it." I nod, because I do. "I assume you wanna hold onto it?"

"Yeah..." he says. "Alright- the Minsk and Moscow airports have all sorts of planes and helicopters going in and out constantly but.... how are we gonna get to Minsk in the first place? I can't just take a military helicopter- no matter how high ranking I am, without raising some questions."

I wish I could say I thought about that part. My own private jets would get recognized before they took off. I'm wracking through my brain now, trying to come up with something when Lynn beats me to it.

"My second cousin has a helicopter." She blurts out. "And access to land anywhere in the world they want - except for Russia, North Korea, and Afghanistan- with no questions asked. They wouldn't ask us any either."

"Can I ask.... what they do for a living where that's necessary?" Leo raises an eyebrow, analyzing every muscle twitch in her face. I know what he's doing. I've done it before myself: looked at how much someone actually believes what they're saying.

"No."

They're definitely an active duty CIA operative then.

I open my mouth to ask something- but forget when I see her already dialing a number. They pick up instantaneously.

"Lynn- hey. What's up?" The feminine voice asks.

"How's Kenya? I hear it's hell during the day and arendelle at night this time of year." For them, this must be some sort of code- because a door shuts on the other end a few seconds later.

"I'm in D.C right now. I heard about what happened. What do you need?"

"Your helicopter." She replies. The other end goes silent, but then they think about why she'd need it.

  "Done. It's parked in the private jet section of Reagan National right now. Whenever you get there tell the security guards on duty I sent you and there won't be any problems."

  "Trust me- there wouldn't have been either way." Lynn glances at me for a split second, reading my mind. It's hard to say no to a former president- especially a recent one.

  "What does that.... You know what, not important. Stay safe."

  "Nah." Lynn hangs up before they can protest. She shrugs; looks like that part's taken care of.

  "Minsk to Moscow-"Alex doesn't pause or give our minds a single second to slow down. "How're we gonna pull that one off?"

  "I've got it covered." I think about my Belarus trip a few months ago- and the look on the president's face when he got caught. "What about Vnukovo to the Kremlin?"

  "My grandfather was our ambassador to Russia for thirty years before Ivanov expelled the American embassy." Melissa says.

  "Okay but.....how does that help us now?" Carlos asks.

  "His best friend- a translator, got stuck over there when my grandfather was forced to leave. They kept in touch after. He's always been overprotective of me like a second grandfather- so he'd definitely have some questions but at the end of the day.... He'd do anything I ask him to... including driving us as close to the kremlin as he can."

  "That could work- what time is it in Russia right now?"

  "3 am. He has severe insomnia though." Melissa shrugs.

"So call him-" I say. "The longer we draw this out the more chances we have to get caught."

She nods and slowly reaches into her pocket. Cursing under her breath, she says something about her phone being at 2% and asks for a charger. We end up moving inside. Her grandfather's friend also picks up immediately.

"почему ты звонишь мне посреди гребаной ночи-" he says in a heavy Russian accent. "Sorry. Are you okay? Why call me so late?"

"It's only five here." Melissa shrugs. "And.... I have a favor to ask."

"Of course- anything."

"I and a few....." she slowly glances around my kitchen. "friends are gonna be at the private jet section of Vnukovo in about.... Eighteen hours. Can you pick us up?"

Eighteen hours.

She's given us just enough time to change, find different bags, repack them, drive to Reagan international, board the helicopter, get to Minsk, then from there to Vnukovo( which'll be my responsibility)- where he'll pick us up.

I've put way too much of life in others' hands these past twenty four hours. The next are riding on complete and total trust- I just hope I won't regret it.

Her grandfather's friend loudly sighs. "And take you where? I read about what happened. If you think I am going to let you die you are mistaken. He made me promise, you know."

  "What?"

  "Before he died- your grandfather called and asked me to be his substitute. I intend on honoring that wish as well as I can."

  "Okay but.... I won't die. I'm actually... quite a good shot. Please? We just need to be within.... a few blocks of the Kremlin."

  "I don't know....." his voice trails off. "You're prepared?"

  "As much as we can be."

  "Gee, that's comforting."

  "I've got a military officer, former soldier, FBI agent, Secret service..... and a former president with me. I'll be fine."

  The silence is deafening as he wrestles with himself. From what I've gathered, he thinks of her like he would a biological grandchild. I picture his inner monologue now.

  She's a grown woman now. She can take care of herself.

  He would drag me to the afterlife if his spirit found out I let her come here though-

  She sounds desperate. Don't do it.

Don't.....

Damnit.

  "Fine. Eighteen hours from now?"

  "Yes."

  "I'll be there." He hangs up. None of us move as fast as we should- reminding me of that Belarus trip once again. Nobody that went was looking forward to it. It stressed my security team out, stressed me out since the president and I had everything from trade to them building an embassy in D.C to talk about, and stressed Walter the fuck out because of how many different reporters and translators there were. At a few conferences- he was completely reliant on said translators to get our messages across and had to trust they weren't mistranslating anything on accident. Even back home, Carlos and Melissa had more work to do.

  "So- how are you gonna get us to Moscow?" Leo asks.

  "I'm scary." I say. "I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."