Thomas, David said, you are the best public speaker Ive heard in my lifetime. No, I wasnt around for John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King, but that doesnt matter. No one alive right now even comes close to you. Someone tried to murder you today. They destroyed the White House, and killed nearly two dozen people. The American people want to hear from you. I say speak to them. Speak from your heart. Move them, and lead them. Use this speech as a guide if you want, or throw the whole thing out and wing it. Ive seen you speak off the cuff and bring entire rooms to tears.

Hayes nodded. He liked the idea of winging it. He liked the idea of taking leadership. And when he thought about leading, he realized what was missing now. That sense of dread, of trepidation, of being pulled apart like a piece of saltwater taffy. It was gone. The attack today had focused his mind. He felt confident. He felt that he could be a leader again. He no longer cared what the House of Representatives thought, or what people like Bill Ryan did.

Thomas Hayes had been elected to lead by the people of the United States of America. Lead was what he intended to do.

Do you suppose Susan will show up for this?

David nodded. I know she will. I talked to her late this afternoon. She doesnt like you very much right now, but thats neither here nor there. Well get that patched up later. In the meantime, shes going to do her job. When your speech ends, and you are greeting and chatting with the most powerful people in America, and everyone gathers together for a show of unity in front of the cameras, she will be right out in front and very, very visible.

Okay, David. I feel badly about today. I do want to patch it up.

David nodded. You will.

When the time came, Hayes rose from the chair, shrugged into his suit jacket, and marched out of the room. David was with him, a half step behind. Hayes entered the underground TV studio. His podium, with the seal of the President, was on a raised stage a foot high, with blue carpeting. It was surrounded by cameras and lights.

Hayes felt good, he felt energetic, and he felt powerful. He felt that surge of electricity he used to get before a race, back when he was the captain of a nationally ranked rowing team.

He resisted the urge to run up onto the stage like a game show host.

Behind him, Davids phone started to ring. He glanced back at his Chief of Staff. David was looking at the caller ID. He glanced up.

Its Luke Stone.

The President shrugged. Take it. We have a couple of minutes. And anyway, I can handle this. Ive done it before a million times.