“That’s a big question but let me give you my best guess. The Saudis want Ward and Chism gone and a lot of people agree with them. He’s moving too fast and on too many fronts, Mike. Health care, energy, communications, artificial intelligence, robotics…” The president’s voice faded for a moment. “The human race can’t absorb that many fundamental changes all at once. But this isn’t news to you. You’ve spent your life protecting the world order that Ward’s taking a sledgehammer to.”

There was some truth to the man’s words. The idea that Ward might be paving the road to hell with his good intentions was a topic of discussion in elite circles throughout the world. His brilliance had put him completely out of touch with common people and their ability—even willingness—to constantly reevaluate their place in society. While people like Ward were able to take advantage of constant cultural and technological upheaval, there weren’t all that many people like him. None, in fact.

“And the Saudis are good people to have in your debt,” Nash said, unwilling to let Cook get away with pretending to be a passive observer.

The president didn’t respond, instead shrugging in a way that was an unequivocal confession. And why not? He was the most powerful man in the world and Nash worked for him—not Irene Kennedy or Mitch Rapp. And certainly not Nicholas Ward. Cook was well within his rights to give the Saudis whatever intelligence he saw fit and could deny any knowledge of what they would do with it.

It likely wouldn’t be necessary, though. In the America of today, values and principles had been replaced by partisanship. The Cooks owned the White House, both chambers of Congress, and more than half the voting public. They could molest children in the Rose Garden if they wanted to. Their followers would not only accept it, they’d figure out a way to make it the other party’s fault. The Cooks were all but untouchable and it was now crystal clear that it wasn’t enough. They’d continue to consolidate their power by any means possible. And, as near as Nash could tell, there was nothing to stop them.

“David Chism should have died in the jungle,” the president said finally. “But Rapp interfered. Not ideal, but the Saudis recalibrated. After that, everything seemed to be going to plan. Until now. I’m told that Bashir Isa is one of the buffers between the Saudi government and Gideon Auma. The man who worked directly with Auma—Muhammad Singh—is already dead. Saudi intelligence was in the process of dealing with Isa to clean up their loose ends when Rapp intervened. He killed two Saudi agents at Isa’s house and then helped him escape. The GID is tracking them, but so far they’ve come up empty.”