During Gabe's time backstage with her, there had been no mention of the visit to Jim Ferendelli's place or her cryptic statement that things were not as Gabe thought, and this was clearly not the time or place for him to ask her about it.

"I want to say a few words," the president was saying, "about the Middle East peace proposal of ours that's currently being considered by—"

A brief volley of coughing cut the sentence short. Gabe instantly went on high alert. Stoddard drank from a glass of water, then started speaking again. More coughing. Gabe looked across to where Treat Griswold was standing, and instantly they connected.

"This may be trouble," Gabe whispered to Alison. "Go ahead back and make sure the FAT kit is unlocked and the IV and oxygen are ready."

"Got it," she said.

Stoddard apologized. Muttered something about a little cold and began speaking again. This time Gabe could almost hear the wheezing.

"Wrangler, Wrangler, are you on top of this?" Griswold's urgent whisper asked.

"I'm not going to let it get any worse before I pull the plug," Gabe replied.

He noticed that several of the attendees were watching him as he spoke into his sleeve, and sensed an instant change in the mood of the room.

". . . Our envoy, Mr. Chudnofsky, is in Amman at this . . ."

The president took a sip of water and glanced over at Gabe. Without hesitating Gabe crossed over to him.

"Mr. President," he whispered, "let's go backstage and sit down before we have a big problem. Excuse us, please," he said to the deathly silent audience.

"All of a sudden," Stoddard whispered hoarsely as Gabe led him away, "my chest just got real tight."

Griswold motioned to the presidential aide to take over and helped Gabe guide Stoddard off the slightly elevated stage and back around to the chair behind the velvet drapes. By the time the aide had begun to tell the attendees to hold their seats, a cordon of Secret Service agents, facing outward, had formed a ten-foot circle from the edges of the curtains. Inside the circle, Alison had opened the FAT kit and was readying equipment. Gabe had already started his evaluation. With Griswold's help, the president removed his shirt.

"Oh-two by mask," Gabe ordered, setting his stethoscope in place, "six liters. Griz, you have that Alupent inhaler?"

"I do."

Stoddard's chief Secret Service agent passed the inhaler over to Stoddard.