Read In Sheep's Clothing: An Action-Packed Political Thriller (Matthew Richter Thriller Series Book 1) for Free Online

last night?” 
    “Just the last few minutes of the third period, sir.” 
    The president patted Richter on the shoulder.  “That’s about all I caught too.  See you tomorrow.”
    Richter remained at his post while the president climbed the stairs.  Lansing and Sartori followed.
    Although the president could have taken the elevator, Richter noted, he always chose the stairs.  And unlike many before him, President Kendall was enjoyable to work for.  This was the biggest factor that kept Richter from leaving.
___
    On the landing just below the second floor, Lansing radioed the Secret Service Command Center and all other agents on duty that night.
    “Falcon’s in the nest.”
    In the command center, another agent updated the Location Board, noting that “POTUS,” the Secret Service acronym for President of the United States, was now in the residence section of the White House. It was a low-tech way of making sure every agent on the protective detail knew exactly where the President was at all times. 
    If they didn’t know, they couldn’t protect him.
     
___
    Stephanie Sartori walked back to her post.  She had been on presidential detail for two years.  Thirty-two years old and divorced, the prospect of another marriage, let alone any halfway serious relationship, was dim, given her job.  In fact, her commitment to being an investigative agent and her desire to further her career were the primary reasons her marriage had failed three years before.  Shocked when her husband had demanded a divorce, she soon began to look on it as a blessing.  Without the distraction, she devoted herself to her job, distinguishing herself on numerous occasions, eventually earning the coveted promotion to presidential bodyguard.
    Relationships were tough for those in the Service, she knew, especially for those on presidential detail.  Many agents burnt out and, after paying their dues, were eventually reassigned to a field office.  Hopefully their families were still with them, but not always. 
    To make matters worse, many agents were still haunted by President Walters’ death.  Although she hadn’t been on duty when he took his life, she still experienced the feelings of failure.  After all, the Secret Service was a team job, and the only way to win was to never lose.  Unfortunately, the team had lost big time last year when Walters had pulled the trigger.
___
    With his wife and daughters in bed, the residence section of the White House was quiet as President Kendall stepped into the Treaty Room.   Located down the center hall from his bedroom, he had been using the room as his private study.  Filled with antique furniture dating back to the eighteen hundreds, including the table that had been used in 1898 to sign the peace treaty ending the Spanish-American War, the sense of history was powerful.  As he sat, he glanced at the oil painting depicting the event over the fireplace; then his eyes swept over the paintings of Lincoln and Grant and over the various treaties and historical documents displayed around the room.  More of a place to think and reflect than to plow through paperwork, he had found himself drawn to the room in the evening. 
    He left the lights dim, reminiscent of the gas lighting that had been used in Lincoln’s time, and sat quietly in the armchair behind the Treaty Table.  As he rubbed his hand across the polished surface, he reflected on the day.
    He had to make a decision on Project Boston.  He had cautiously supported the program when it had been proposed three months earlier but had counseled his predecessor to be careful with how much leeway he granted to the Drug Enforcement Administration and to the CIA.  Now that he had inherited the program, he had to be certain that they were still able to achieve their objectives while operating within the law.  He had insisted that someone from the FBI, not a Justice Department lawyer, be involved.  He didn’t want to deal with shades of gray