Eggsecutive Orders

For a moment I wondered where Nana was, but I didn’t have time. I ran, full out.

I didn’t get far.

“Ollie!”

I turned.

Ruth stood behind one of the abandoned balloon sculpture tents, the right half of her body hidden from view. She peered out around the corner, struggling with something I couldn’t see. “You need to get me out of here.”

I said the first thing that came to mind. “You killed your own husband? My God, why?”

“Get me out of here. I know you can do it.”

Whatever she had behind the white canvas made her recoil.

“Get me out of here now.” Her teeth gritted. “Before it’s too late.”

Several hundred yards away, Kap turned to look around. I started to call to him.

“Don’t,” she said.

And then she jerked her quarry into view.

I started to scream, but clapped my hands over my mouth. If I drew any attention to the three of us…

Nana fought her captor, but Ruth was twenty years younger and ten times stronger. She’d shoved fabric into Nana’s mouth, and had her wrapped in a bear hug from behind. “Shut up,” Ruth said, but her voice was ragged from exertion. Then to me: “Get me out of here or your grandmother gets dosed.”

My mind telescoped to the small vial in Ruth’s left hand. She held on to it so tightly, I could see the whites of her knuckles straining her skin. Nana kicked and tried to scream. Ruth rocked sideways, maintaining control of my grandmother’s writhing form.

“Don’t mess with me, I’m warning you. You have to get me out of here. You know how to do it.”

Secret Service agents were busy with Cooper and with Kap. No one took notice of three women by this vacant tent. I took a step closer. “Give it up, Ruth.”

“You want Grandma dead?”

Nana kicked, and although Ruth grimaced, she didn’t let go.

Working to tamp down the panic crawling up my throat, I pleaded. “Listen to me. Let her go-I’ll get you out. I will.”

“She comes with.” Ruth gave the area a quick glance. “No one is going to question us if we’re helping your grandmother. She stays with me until I’m out.”

My mouth was dry, and I couldn’t think-couldn’t begin to figure a way out of this one. “Nana,” I said.

Ruth tugged Nana in a vicious Heimlich maneuver. Nana’s muffled gasp tore at my heart. She slumped, unconscious.

“Nana!” I cried, starting toward her.

“Get back!” Ruth said. “Damn.” Tightening her hold around my grandmother, she pulled her hands close enough to start unscrewing the vial. “Get me out now, or I swear…”

“Okay.” My fear made it almost impossible to breathe. “Keep the bottle closed. Please.”

She looked both directions. “Which way out?” she asked. Then, as I started to move toward her, she yelled at me to stop again. “I don’t trust you.”

At that moment the trees behind Ruth parted and a giant purple bu

“You can trust me,” I said, talking quickly. “You can. There is a way to get you out. I know how to do it.”

Ruth shook her head. When she let Nana’s body go, it dropped almost soundlessly to the ground. My heart dropped with her.

“No,” she said. “You won’t do it. You’re one of those bleeding-heart patriots.” Her words came fast. “But…” She glanced at the vial, then at Nana’s prone form. “I can make sure you won’t follow me.” She bent, intending to pour the liquid onto Nana’s face.

I rushed her, just as the Guzy behind Ruth shouted, “Stop!”

Her head jerked up.

The split-second delay was all I needed. I hit Ruth in a full-body tackle, grabbing her bony wrist, dragging it away from Nana as far as I could. Ruth and I twisted together as we fell to the ground. She gurgled her surprise, but recovered quickly and began fighting me, hard.

Her face contorted with effort, she yanked her arm. I felt her wrist slipping out of my grasp but the bottle flew from her hand. Time seemed to move in slow motion as the vial somersaulted about six inches above her face, about six inches below mine. I clenched my mouth and eyes shut until I heard the dull thud of the glass hitting bone. It had bounced off her cheek, spilling its contents all over her face-some in her eyes-with the bulk ru

I whirled to grab my grandmother by her shoulders. “Nana?”

She blinked up at me. “Are we safe now?”

None of the liquid had landed anywhere near my grandmother. I breathed a deep sigh of relief.

“Are we safe?” Nana asked again.

“Yes,” I said. “What about you? Are you okay?”

“Help me up,” she said.

“Maybe we should wait for the paramedics. You shouldn’t move around so fast.”

She boosted herself on one arm. “Help me up,” she said again, this time forcefully. “You think I didn’t do that on purpose?”

“You faked passing out?”

“Dead weight is always harder to work with,” she said as she got to her feet. “Figured you needed some assistance on this one, honey. Glad your old nana was here to help.”

We gave Ruth and Guzy wide berth as he came behind her, pulling out his handcuffs from within his fuzzy costume. “Careful,” I warned. I pointed to the vial and to Ruth, who was sobbing into the soft grass. “Tetrodotoxin.”

The headless rabbit spoke into his microphone as he knelt next to her.

The emergency staff quickly surrounded us. Joel broke through. “Mom?” He sca

Ruth had begun to hyperventilate, screaming about a conspiracy, but I noticed her gasping for air. I couldn’t watch. And I didn’t want Nana to see any of it either. I walked her away from the crowd. “Let’s get you inside,” I said. Secret Service agents swarmed the area, and we made a slow trek toward the White House. Within seconds, Mom joined us.

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you later. Where’s Kap?”

She pointed back in the direction we’d come. “He’s checking on Mr. Cooper. Ollie, what just happened?”

Nana held my mom’s hand. “Cori

I shook my head. Even if I had suspicions, I wasn’t ready to share them aloud.

“See, Cori

CHAPTER 25

CRAIG SANDERSON CIRCLED MY CHAIR FOR the third time.

This small office in the East Wing-the same one where I’d waited to be interrogated by Secret Service assistant deputy Jack Brewster last week-was cold. I kept my hands together between my knees for warmth, but shivered involuntarily. Craig smiled at my discomfort, and tried to share the enjoyment with the only other person in the room, Agent Snyabar.

Snyabar stared straight ahead. Totally impassive.

Craig started in on me again. “You told the medic on the scene that Agent Cooper had ingested tetrodotoxin.”

It wasn’t exactly a question, so I didn’t answer.

He rubbed his chin, feigning thoughtfulness as he continued to pace around me. “I have to wonder how you knew which toxin killed Carl Minkus.”

Still not a direct question. I bit the insides of my mouth.

“Not that we aren’t grateful, mind you. Agent Cooper is in intensive care, but is expected to make a full recovery.” He stopped and looked down at me. “I’m sure he’s very appreciative of your intervention. And your prescience. How did you know what he’d been poisoned with? Oh wait! I forgot just who we’re dealing with here-the White House chef who feeds the First Family and saves the world in her spare time.” A frown contorted his face as he glared down at me. “Like a special agent in disguise. Talk about delusions.”