Read SANCTION: A Thriller for Free Online Page A

President will be coming through that door there,” he said, pointing to a set of double doors opposite the entrance Brad had just come through.
    “When the President enters the room, please refrain from asking him any questions.” Most of the people Brad assumed to be family of the hostages had faces of shock and concern. Many of them had swollen and tender eyes, obviously induced by hours of crying.
    The double doors on the other side of the room swung wide and Graham Vanderbilt stepped in, flanked by a multitude of Secret Service agents, Presidential aides and Military Generals.
    “Thank you all for coming.”
    The President took center stage in front of a large round table in the middle of the room.
    “I know these are trying times. I can’t really begin to imagine what you are going through but I asked you to be here to reassure you that your Government is doing everything in its power to get your sons and daughters back.”
    “What are you doing to get them back?” shouted an old man off to the side of the crowd.
    “Um…we have been investigating satellite imagery and trying to discern who exactly is responsible for this crime.” He replied. The President didn’t look uncomfortable as he answered the man’s question, though his response was short of adequate.
    “The news is reporting that this was a terrorist group based in Syria. Some have even speculated that the Syrian government may be involved. How come CNN knows who did this but you guys are still doing homework?” The statement came from a thin blonde lady that stood next to her husband. Despite the resolute tone of her words, her voice trembled as she addressed the most powerful man on the planet.
    “That is a possibility, though definitely not confirmed. We can’t go off of hearsay and risk basing any kind of response on false or inaccurate information,” he said holding a tight smile for all in the room.
    “So, what is going to be our response when we do have accurate information?”
    This question came from another elderly man.
    “As I said just a short while ago, the President unfortunately, is unable to answer questions at this time,” pinstripes said, his face showing no sign that he was upset at the breach of protocol.
    The President motioned with his hand for his aide to settle down. “It’s alright Jon.”
    “Right now I can’t divulge any information about what we can and will do when the time comes. It is a matter of National Security,” he said confidently.
    “Some people say you are more worried about polling data than you are with getting our children back,” a woman said from the midst of a group of teenagers and an athletic looking man in his mid-forties. Her cheeks were wet with tears but her voice did not falter.
    “I resent the press’s accusations and assumptions about my motives. I have no desire to allow innocent Americans to stay in the hands of terrorists.” For the first time, Brad noticed a shift in the President’s demeanor.
    “If there are no further questions, we will be heading over to the press room where I will be giving a press conference to announce our position.” Of course there was a barrage of questions on the tip of every family member’s tongue but they were not about to be offered a real chance to ask them.
    Now it made sense, Brad thought. The President wasn’t really interested in fielding questions or the concerns of the family members for their loved ones. He wanted the families to appear as standing behind him in support for whatever he was going to say in his press conference.
    A young Hispanic man next to Brad huffed. “I don’t know why they bothered to bring us here. I learned more from watching Fox News. They haven’t said anything that I didn’t already know about my sister in-law’s abduction.” Brad wasn’t a sentimental guy but the thought of this man’s sister being in the hands of these terrorists was heartbreaking.
    “Pinstripes” began ushering people from the