The Reluctant First Lady (31 page)

Ashley stumbled into the cabin and locked the door. She looked out the kitchen window to see if he was still around, but there was nothing to see. Her breathing was coming in ragged breaths. Now that she could no longer see the interloper, her brave front crumbled. It was time to get out of here even though she’d originally planned to stay another day.

She ran upstairs and threw her things into her backpack and headed to the front door. When she opened it, she stifled another scream; Matt and Dave were standing on the front porch. Neither looked as though he was in the mood for any nonsense. The expression on their faces indicated they were furious.

Dave responded sarcastically, “What? You don’t look glad to see us?”

Ashley grabbed each of them by an arm. “Quick. There was a man on the back deck.” She pointed in the direction of the deck. “He threatened me.”

Dave stayed with Ashley while Matt went through the kitchen and out the back door. He returned shortly and shook his head at Dave. “We need to call in our investigative unit and see what we can find.”

“I know who it was. In fact, so do you. Remember the photographer who took my picture outside my apartment when I first returned from the inauguration? It was him. He came up to me on the deck and said I was easy to find, like he’d been following me. I ran toward the house, but he grabbed me. He said he could get to me anytime he wanted and someone needed to teach me a lesson. Then he . . .” Ashley stammered, finally realizing the danger she had truly been in. “Then he tried to lift my T-shirt. That’s when I screamed.”

“We didn’t hear any scream,” Matt said.

Ashley said, almost absentmindedly, “I did scream . . . as loud as I could. You must not have been close enough to the house.”

Dave and Matt exchanged a look. This was precisely the kind of situation they had tried to protect Mrs. Taylor from. What transpired here would be thoroughly investigated, but at least they had a face, and soon a name, to start their inquiry.

“On our trip back to New York, we’d like you to go over what happened and what was said. It’s important to remember even the smallest detail. It looked like you were leaving when you opened the door. Do you have everything?” Matt asked.

The threat from the man on the deck had completely erased any thoughts she previously had, but now she realized Dave and Matt had actually found her. “How did you find me?”

Dave answered, “I don’t think that’s important. What’s really more to the point is why we had to find you at all.”

“I wasn’t trying to cause any trouble, and that’s the truth. But I needed to get away to think. It’s not natural to have people watching your every move; surely you recognize that. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I needed to think, so I took off. I don’t think a federal case needs to be made out of it although I’m sure it already has. Again, how did you find me?”

Dave and Matt said nothing.

“Fine. Have it your way. I’d planned to stay another day, but after what’s happened, I’m ready to go back. And the two of you don’t need to look so smug. Eventually I’ll figure out how you found me.”

Dave coughed into his fisted hand. “Bullshit.”

“What did you say?”

“Absolutely nothing. I was simply clearing my throat.” Dave looked completely innocent.

Ashley looked at Dave suspiciously, “Uh-huh, I’m sure. Jeremy often coughs to clear his throat in exactly the same way. At any rate, I’m ready to go. I need to get back to New York, and truthfully I’m a little shaken by the encounter with that man. I’m glad you showed up when you did. ”

Matt interjected, “I think you should know, we’re under orders from the president. He told us to find you and bring you back, and that’s what we’re going to do. If you have a problem with that, feel free to call him and . . .” Matt stopped what he was saying as another government- issued SUV pulled up in front of Steve’s cabin. Two men stepped out and walked toward them.

The agents all nodded to one another. Dave brought the other agents up to speed on what had happened. Then, three of them went inside the cabin where Ashley could no longer hear them. She supposed the new agents would thoroughly investigate the scene and see if they could find any clues.

Dave returned and spoke to Matt. “It’s time we get Mrs. Taylor back to New York.” To which Matt replied, “I completely agree.”

43

During the drive back to New York, the atmosphere in the SUV was strained. Matt and Dave asked Ashley to recount exactly what happened at the cabin, which she was glad to do while it was fresh in her mind. While she repeated the story, they were both struck with how unafraid Ashley had been during the incident. She was angry more than anything else. Still, she had escaped what could have been a very nasty situation, all of which could’ve have been avoided if she hadn’t ditched her Secret Service agents.

They didn’t need to lecture her. President Taylor would handle his wife.

Their preference would have been to put her on the closest plane heading back to New York, but with strict orders to keep Ashley’s disappearance quiet and out of the media, it was probably smarter to drive her there. That way, no one would be wiser.

Ashley was physically and emotionally drained from her unnerving experience on the deck. With each hour that passed and with each mile they drove away from Steve’s Vermont retreat, the more she realized the bullet she had dodged. Now that it was over and she was safe, she felt like a deflated balloon.

Still, she wondered what the man could possibly have wanted . . . and he’d mentioned something about having an employer, which meant he was working for someone else, and she suspected he wasn’t referring to a newspaper. Whoever it was had evidently had her followed, but for what purpose? Why would someone deliberately try to scare her? Plus, the man hadn’t covered his face with a mask. In the movies and books, that was generally a sign that the attacker intended to kill his victim. Why didn’t he wear a mask? Certainly he knew she would recognize him. The more questions she asked, the more confusing his motive seemed. The whole situation was like a crazy dream.

She shook her head as if by doing so, she could shake off the whole incident. It was time to get to work. Ashley picked up her cell phone to call Robert.

Robert looked at his caller ID as he answered. “Where are you, young lady?”

“I’m on my way back to New York, and I’d like to talk to you this afternoon. Do you have any free time?”

“I’ll make some. Do you have any idea how much you’ve upset your husband, not to mention the rest of us.”

“Robert,” Ashley said in a low, soft voice, “how’s Rick?”

“Not so quick, Ashley. What you did was childish and inconsiderate. I really didn’t think you’d put your loved ones through such an ordeal.”

“I believe I had very good reasons, which I’ll tell you when I see you this afternoon. You can lecture me when I get there, but for now, please tell me, how is Rick?”

“Before I tell you about Rick, I want you to know this conversation is definitely not over. And you can be certain that when you get here, it will continue. As for Rick, we were lucky. The damage to his heart wasn’t as severe as they first thought. The doctors performed the double bypass. He’s still in the hospital, but we hope he can go home in a few days.”

“I’m so relieved. I asked Mavis to call and check on his progress daily so she could bring me up-to-date when I returned.”

All of a sudden, something occurred to Robert. “Where are you exactly?”

“I’m in the backseat of a car with two of my Secret Service agents.” She spoke a little louder so her fellow travelers would be sure to hear her. “They’re being very unfriendly and uncommunicative right now. Nevertheless, I’m on my way back to the city, and I want to explain to you why I left and discuss a possible solution to the situation I created by not taking on the role of the First Lady.”

“I’ll be interested to hear what exactly drove you to take such drastic actions. What time should I expect you?”

“I don’t know—in a few hours.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

“Goodbye, Robert, and simmer down. Nothing happened to me.”

“There are so many things wrong with that statement, but my comments will have to wait until I see you.”

As soon as Ashley clicked off her cell, it rang again. The number on the call waiting indicated it was Michael.
Oh boy, here we go
.

“Hello, Michael.”

“What the hell were you thinking?” Michael was in no mood for any niceties.

“Listen . . .”

“Ashley, you scared the living daylights out of me, your kids, your cousin, and your boss, and you made the Secret Service agents guarding you look like they’re completely incompetent, and you want me to listen?”

“Yes, I want a chance to explain. I left a message with Mavis so you wouldn’t worry. I told her I’d be gone for about three days and that I needed time alone to think. I’ve done that now, and I’ve made some decisions I’d like to share with you, but first I need to talk to a couple of people, and then I’ll come to Washington.”

“No. You’re coming to Washington now. You can talk to whomever you want to talk to from here. What you did is irresponsible and completely unacceptable.”

“Michael, I realize you can’t see the situation from my point of view, but what I did, I did for us.”

“Really?” Michael said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “As if there’s a reasonable explanation for your actions. Go ahead, explain your absolutely reckless behavior.”

“I’d rather explain it all to you in person. You know communications on the phone or e-mail can be misinterpreted; you can’t see a person’s body language. I need to see Robert, and after that I’ll come to Washington.” Ashley promptly disconnected the call before her husband could say anything else.

Almost instantaneously, Matt’s phone rang. “Agent Campton speaking.”

Whoever had called him, Matt was listening intently. He responded, “Yes, sir, I understand. Yes, sir, I’ll bring her to Washington immediately.” Again, silence on Matt’s part. “Thank you, sir. We appreciate that, Mr. President. We should be in Washington this afternoon.”

After Matt hung up, he spoke to Dave. “Change of plans. President Taylor wants us to drive Mrs. Taylor directly to Washington. He also thanked us both for finding her.”

Ashley spoke from the back seat. “Do not take me to Washington. I need to speak with my boss first. We can go to Washington after that.”

“The president has directed us to bring you straight to Washington. I think you know whose orders we’ll be following. If what you have to say to your boss is so important, I suggest you call him back and have the conversation you wanted to have while we’re en route.”

Ashley was furious. She had known when she left he’d be angry, but she thought he’d be a little more reasonable when she explained her reasons for leaving. She also knew it would do no good to argue with Matt and Dave. They would do exactly as the president had ordered. She picked up her phone again. At least, she could use the time to talk to Robert about her proposal.

44

Robert, it’s Ashley again. I won’t be coming to New York after all. Michael is insisting that I come directly to Washington, and he’s not taking no for an answer.”

“Good for him. I’m sure he needs to see that you’re all right, and no amount of calming his fears can possibly take the place of seeing you in person. It’s what I’d do if I were him.”

Ashley let out an exasperated sigh. “Of course, you would. Anyway, instead of getting to talk to you in person as I wanted, I have to settle with having the conversation over the phone. Can you put aside your support of Michael long enough to listen to why I felt I needed to get away from everyone and everything? I think I may have found a way to make things work for Michael and me, but I’ll need your help to carry through with my plan.”

“Of course I’ll listen; I’d love to know what drove you to do something so crazy.”

“Remember when you talked to me after the inauguration about possibly moving to the Washington museum? I’m assuming the door is still open for that discussion.”

“Of course it is. Have you changed your mind?”

“It depends. A lot has changed since we had that conversation. Since Ted’s wreck, I’ve been hoping and praying for a full recovery, but it looks as though he’s got at least a year of rehabilitation ahead of him if he’s ever able to return to work. I don’t know what you’ve been thinking about in regards to replacing him, but I’d like to make a suggestion. I could head up both museums. I’d commute between the two, either dividing each week or spending one week at one museum and the next week at the other. Max could cover for me when I’m not in New York, and Elise could cover for me while I’m not in Washington. I know she’s excellent, and she and Ted work together very much as Max and I do. Both Max and Elise are top-notch curators. This would leave Ted’s job open for him to come back to if he’s physically able. Plus, it would give me a chance to be with Michael about half of each month, and I could get an idea of how working in Washington would feel without making a lasting commitment. It allows me to have a foot in the door but doesn’t close the door. What do you think?”

Robert said almost immediately, “I think it’s a brilliant solution. You’re right. It would help Ted, and I think it’ll be an extra incentive for him to work harder to get well since I know he’d feel it was an imposition on you. Just as you said, it allows you to try on the Washington museum to see how it fits. It’s really a good idea, Ashley. I agree Max and Elise can carry the load in your absence. When would you want to start?”

“Can I get back to you on that? I’d like to start right away, but I need to talk to Michael to see what he thinks although I can probably predict fairly accurately that he’ll be in favor of my solution. Realistically I would think we could activate our plan within the next two weeks. How does that sound?”

“I’ll support whatever works for you. I don’t agree with what you did or how you did it, but I must say this is a well-thought-out plan. I hope you know I wish you well.”

“I do. Thank you.”