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    “Yeah.”
    Cal had read the bios on all the fallen Marines. What a loss. They were good men, some of the finest warriors America had. One had even received the Silver Star a week earlier. Tragic that so much talent should go down in a training exercise. But that was life in the military. You never knew which day was going to be your last. So far, Cal and the majority of his companions had dodged fate’s cruel aim, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.
    They pulled into the parking lot of a long nondescript building. Cal had never been there before, but the gate guard had given them perfect directions. He knew they were in the right place because of armored Humvees and military police cruisers surrounding the place. Luckily, a familiar face was waiting outside, and the man pointed to Cal and Diane, saying something to a burly black airman in full combat gear.
    Travis Haden met the two visitors halfway, crushing Cal in a bearhug in the process.
    “Good to see you,” said the former Navy SEAL, who also happened to be Cal’s cousin.
    “Jeez, Trav. Save it for the ladies.”
    Travis placed a wet kiss on Cal’s forehead and let him go.
    “Diane, it’s great to see you again.”
    His hug for her was much more chaste.
    “What, no bearhug for me?” Diane asked, kissing Travis on the cheek.
    “Are you kidding? Cal might not look like much, but he’s a scrapper when it comes to defending your honor,” Travis said, motioning for them to follow him into the building.
    They walked past the amused looks of the security contingent, and Cal nodded to the Secret Service agents inside the door.
    “We just met with the Blackhawk crew’s families. He wants to swing by Lejeune on the way home, spend some time with the Raiders too.”
    “That’s good,” Cal replied. It was more evidence of how the Massachusetts Democrat had evolved from self-absorbed playboy to the Commander-in-Chief. While Cal would never admit it to Brandon, he was beginning to think that his friend just might go down in history as one of the best presidents who’d ever lived.
    “He’s in here,” Travis said, although the comment was unnecessary. There were four gun-toting special operations troops with full beards standing watch outside the door. They nodded to Travis as he walked in the door, and gave Cal a once-over as he passed.
    The door closed behind them and President Zimmer stood from where he’d been reading a thick file behind an old metal desk.
    “Well hello, strangers,” he said, coming around the desk to give Diane a hug, and Cal a handshake that turned into an embrace. “I’m sorry to take you away from the beach, guys.”
    “It’s no problem, Mr. President,” Diane said. “Cal promised me a hop in Air Force One.”
    Zimmer looked at Cal, who was shaking his head. The president chuckled.
    “She’s as bad as you are.”
    “Worse,” Cal added, receiving a playful slap on the shoulder from his girlfriend. “Any word on what caused the crash?”
    Zimmer shook his head, the smile fading from his lips. “They think it might’ve had something to do with the fog, but they’re not sure yet.”
    Everyone was silent for a moment.
    “So what did you want to talk about?” Cal asked.
    “Did you know we went to Rome?”
    “Yeah. We saw you on TV with the Pope. Good visit?”
    Zimmer nodded. “The Pope is a good man. I’m glad I got to meet him.” There was hesitation there, something in his eyes that made Cal wonder. He’d assumed the trip up to Eglin was about the crash, that maybe the investigators needed help.
    “Is this about the Pope?”
    “It is.” Zimmer ran a hand through his perfectly sculpted hair. “Honestly, I’m not sure what to make of it. That’s why I wanted to talk to you first.”
    “Okay. Give me the overview.”
    President Zimmer told Cal about the private conversation with the Pope, about the attack on the small Acapulco parish and possibly others. Finally, he detailed what he knew about the secret