CHAPTER 89

Reston, Virginia

October

REECE TURNED ON THE television in his hotel room as he packed a small bag for his trip south for Freddy’s funeral.

The late President Zubarev wasn’t even in the ground when the talking heads in Washington began suggesting that he be replaced with “proven leader and global philanthropist Vasili Andrenov. ”

Senator Phillip Stanton, another proté gé of super-lobbyist Stewart McGovern, was one of the leading voices supporting Andrenov’s return to Russia. Stanton, who always insisted that “Combat Wounded Ranger Veteran” accompany his formal title, had become a staple on the cable news channels since his election to the U. S. Senate.

Stanton had won the Wisconsin Republican primary and breezed through the general election thanks, in no small part, to his status as a veteran of the Iraq War. Though he did serve as an Army officer in Iraq, his position as a signal officer meant that he rarely left the safety of the Forward Operating Base to which he was assigned. On one of his few forays outside the wire, his unit’s convoy was struck by an IED. The nineteen-year-old private first class driving his vehicle slammed on the brakes, causing then-lieutenant Stanton to suffer a laceration on his forehead when his head hit the dashboard of the up-armored HMMWV. He put himself in for a Purple Heart after receiving two stitches on his forehead, the same award that went to the young men who were killed in the lead vehicle that took the full force of the explosion. He spent the rest of his deployment writing a book about his overseas exploits and had reserved the Web domain www. phillipstantonforpresident. com years before. He now had three books published, all ghostwritten, leading some of his former soldiers to joke that he had completed more books than deployments.

Stanton wore a dark gray suit with a miniature Ranger tab and Purple Heart ribbon on the lapel and had grown a beard to complete the special operator “look” that had become popular on social media.

Reece shook his head as the senator espoused his expertise on global strategic policy thanks to his single overseas assignment as a junior officer. Calling himself a “Ranger” was intentionally misleading; he attended the Army’s grueling eight-week Ranger School after completing the Signal Basic Officer Leaders Course, but never served in the famed 75th Ranger Regiment. Technically, he was “Ranger-qualified” or “Ranger-tabbed” but was not “Ranger-Scrolled. ” Having worked with Rangers on numerous deployments, Reece had nothing but respect for their capabilities, professionalism, and bravery. By calling himself a “Ranger, ” Stanton was intentionally misleading the public to believe that he had been a member of the elite special operations unit rather than a graduate of the school. There was no dishonor in being a Ranger-qualified signal officer; why did guys like this have to make a good story better? Not really stolen valor. Borrowed valor, perhaps?

“Once again, ” Senator Stanton stated in a tone that made Reece think he’d practiced his delivery more than a few times, “we have seen Islamic extremism rear its ugly head in its desire to build a worldwide caliphate. The murder of President Zubarev was yet another battle in the broader conflict. Russia needs a proven leader in the struggle against these terrorists. If the U. S. doesn’t act, our democracy could be next. To think that a fellow combat leader like President Grimes was nearly killed by these terrorists sickens me. We need a leader in Russia who will stamp out this aggression before it spreads. Vasili Andrenov has devoted his life to providing aid to the most impoverished countries in the world and he understands the geopolitical struggles of our time. The United States and the broader international community should support immediate elections in Russia. Andrenov would be a key U. S. partner in Moscow and, together, the United States and Russia can defeat Islamic extremism wherever it appears. ”

The host of Morning Edition turned to Senator Bolls, who sat flanking her Senate colleague at the news desk with her hands folded in front of her.

“This is a rare issue on which the senator from Wisconsin and I can agree, ” she began. “Though I don’t share his characterization of the many peace-loving Muslims in places like Chechnya and Syria, I do believe that Vasili Andrenov would be a natural choice to lead Russia in this time of crisis. The achievements of Mr. Andrenov’s foundation speak for themselves, and he would be a steady hand to stabilize the unrest that is seizing his country. His leadership would help stop the spread of toxic nationalism in Ukraine and help bridge the divide between Russia and the United States as well as the European Union. ”

“Well, ” the host responded, “when two leaders of our highly partisan Congress can agree on something like this, the world should take note. ”

As pictures of a presidential-looking Vasili Andrenov filled the screen, Reece press-checked his SIG and deliberately placed it into the holster on his belt.

• • •

Stewart McGovern smiled as he watched the monitor backstage in the greenroom; both senators had delivered their talking points perfectly, and Stanton was even sounding presidential on foreign affairs. If he could actually get Andrenov elected president of Russia, he would turn his greatest client into his most lucrative financial asset. Every U. S. company wishing to build a business relationship with Russia, and its vast natural resources, would have to hire his law firm to make the deal. He would be the de facto trade minister of Russia. Maybe he would buy that house in Aspen that his wife had suggested they add to their growing list of properties?

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