THE CLOUDY SKY TURNED INTO DROPS and, minutes later, it was raining heavily. From the Sea King helicopter, one could already have an aerial view of the most important building in the country, the White House.
A terrible silence fell over the aircraft as it arrived. All that could be heard was the sound of its engine, along with the sound of raindrops hitting the bodywork. Floyd Kenagan got up from where he was and went to the pilot when he noticed that he was preparing to land.
— Make sure there's no one on the perimeter, we want to go down alone and enter the building. Only park if everything is clear. — he told the man.
— Yes, sir. — replied the pilot, focused.
The strong wind made maneuvering difficult, but the quick-witted pilot made a good landing on the North Lawn, very close to the White House front door. The moss green helicopter with a white roof and the American flag painted on the sides was finally on the ground.
Gregory Evans was incredibly focused at the moment of landing, he had received a file from Martin and a warning:
Watch alone...
Without any communication, on his own initiative, as soon as the side door opened and the ladder descended to the ground, it was he who went down, under the strong torrent of rain, to assess the situation around the perimeter.
The extremely strong wind, reinforced by the spinning of the propellers that were still speeding above him, was capable of knocking him to the ground if he did not resist with all his strength against its impetus. The cold froze his wounds, increasing the pain in his side and also caused great discomfort in his eyes, forcing him to close them repeatedly. It was difficult to see very far ahead, thanks to the storm, but Gregory Evans tried to check as much as possible around him, until he was sure that there was no danger.
He ran to the entrance of the building and there was no one there, as requested by FBI Inspector General Floyd Kenagan.
With a wave, he confirmed the situation to those waiting in the helicopter.
Now it was their turn to come...
Floyd Kenagan led the way, and President Kenan Vaine followed closely behind him, trying to protect himself from the rain. As quickly as they could, they ran through the doors into the building's lobby.
As they waited for that moment...
— We're not safe yet! — Floyd Kenagan shouted vehemently, also motioning for the pilot to keep the aircraft ready for any evasion. — We need to find out if we're going to have any problems here.
It was impossible to predict what would happen when the President arrived. No one could know whether there would be a reaction to the sight of him, as there had been on Fifth Avenue, or whether the people there would be free of the problem. There was also the possibility that a coup, an ambush, was waiting for them, and this was even more likely, as Floyd Kenagan calculated, and more difficult to predict. Even if the people were not affected by the sinister attack, they could still be traitors. They were definitely in the hands of fate, and fate had not been very friendly in recent days.
Just ahead of them, in the reception area, there were a couple of guns and ammunition waiting for them, as well as a radio frequency communicator, as Floyd Kenagan had ordered. Several other weapons were on a table in the center. With the weapons already in hand, he picked up the communicator and contacted the team waiting on the other side of the building:
— We're in the building! You can send the first one!
Gregory Evans, Tommy and he stood with their weapons drawn, awaiting the arrival of the first security agent, who was on his way. Kenan remained apart from the trio.
At the end of the corridor appeared a man, wearing the standard presidential security suit and with his headset connected to the communicator of each other on the team. He was not carrying any weapon and was under the gun of the two who were waiting for him.
— No sudden movements! — shouted Floyd Kenagan, extremely stressed. — Keep your hands where I can see them!
The agent arrived and was led under their gaze to a place where he could see the President. It was expected that if the individual had been convicted of some kind of brainwashing, he would react upon seeing him. Gregory Evans and Floyd watched him closely, trying to figure out if he was suffering from something, but they could identify nothing.
"Were you subjected to the Fifth Avenue attack?" Kenagan asked.
— No, sir. — replied the man.
— Have you heard similar noises anywhere else? Radio, television, musical equipment?
— No, sir.
— Say the name of the President.
— President Kenan M. Vaine.
Gregory Evans looked suspiciously at the strange interrogation, but he knew that Floyd Kenagan was competent enough to have his own methods of analysis.
"Do you consider yourself capable of protecting President Kenan at this time?" Kenagan continued.
— Yes, I am eligible. — replied the agent.
— Look at him! — the man looked into Kenan's eyes.
Floyd continued.
—Repeat the President's name!
— Kenan M. Vaine, sir. — the man replied, nervous due to the incomprehensible interrogation.
With nothing else to do, Floyd Kenagan stared at the man, observing his eyes and expression. Then he turned to the President and asked:
— I believe there are no problems, do you agree to release him?
Kenan was very scared, but he had no better option. He answered yes. After Floyd Kenagan's nod, the man took one of the guns that was on the table and helped them to safety.
Floyd called another of those waiting and the procedure was repeated.
Gregory Evans understood that he was forcing them to stare at the President and repeat his name as many times as possible in an attempt to elicit some sort of reaction to the attack. After gathering a larger group, they decided to escort the President to his quarters and resume standard White House security procedures. Every alarm was activated, every camera was alerted, every corner of the building was under surveillance as never before.
Finally Kenan Vaine was safe again.