"He has, but that won't matter," I said. "Public opinion is hard to control, and I can guarantee that our enemies will want to create as much havoc as they can. And this would give them an easy opening."

"Exactly," Cleary agreed. "Let's say that you give me whatever tests that make everyone here, all your key people, feel confident that I'm not a risk. There will still be nothing you can do to prevent the press from constantly asking if I'm just lying in wait. The speculation will increase to the point where I'll be accused of being the Mastermind, of having engineered Vince's death, just so that I could fool you into making me your Vice President."

"It would be a good plan," Chuckie said, eyes narrowed.

Cleary managed a chuckle. "Exactly. Mister Reynolds is, rightly, a suspicious man who would need about one shred of evidence to believe it, and he's now the Director of the CIA. I know what his first order will be if you appoint me, Jeff. I honestly don't want to turn my life into that kind of media circus, let alone live the rest of my life under the suspicion and scrutiny that all your people would have to have for me. Like Don, I can do more good for you by staying Governor, and it will also be far better for me, both personally and professionally."

"You're just going to run against me next time out anyway," Jeff said with a laugh.

Cleary shook his head. "No, Jeff. And not just because we've become friends. But by helping out Cliff Goodman, I've ensured that I can never be President-and I can also never be one heartbeat away from the office either."

Jeff heaved a sigh. "Fine. I can tell that everyone agrees with you." He ran his hand through his hair. "We have so many roles to fill."

"That's what someone trying to kill all the leaders does to a country," I said. "But you have plenty of good options, Jeff."

"You can't make Kitty your VP," Tim said with a grin. "Though I'm sure you want to."

"And before you suggest Mortimer Katt," McMillan said, before Jeff could confirm or deny my VP-ness, "you might as well appoint your wife because choosing her uncle isn't going to do you any political favors."

"You're reading me too well, Don. Unfortunately, we have a lot of openings in the Joint Chiefs. I could move Mort there," Jeff suggested hopefully.

"He's not of high enough rank, even though he was just promoted to Lieutenant General," Mom said. "Unfortunately. And neither are any of the military personnel you're used to working with, Jeff."

Serene cleared her throat. "Ah, Jeff? You've just appointed a Chief of Staff and the Director of the CIA. Why don't you take a few moments and have a private discussion with them? And Kitty." She sounded sweet but I could tell she was using her troubadour talent, because all the heads around the table nodded and no one argued that I didn't need to be a part of this little meeting.

"That's a good idea," Jeff said, sounding relieved. He stood and so did Chuckie, Raj, and I.

"Why don't we have Alpha Team along, too?" I suggested, as I slung my purse over my shoulder. White House meeting or not, First Lady or not, by now I'd learned to keep Ol' Trusty with me all the time. "And Richard. They're the people you're the most used to working with."

Jeff nodded. "Fine. Everyone else relax. Antoinette, is food going to be ready soon?"

"Yes, Mister President. In fact, Chef says that it should be ready to be served in five minutes."

"Good. Why don't you escort our guests to whatever dining room we'll be using?"

"What about Thomas?" Culver asked.

"In light of the fact that Kitty's theory is likely to be correct," Chuckie said, "have him and his escorts taken to the dining room, too."

White house staff I didn't know by name yet appeared out of nowhere and, as Antoinette led the way, helped usher everyone out.

"This is a gigantic room that, despite our trusting everyone and all that, could be bugged. Let's go elsewhere." Considered where. "How about the Rose Garden?"

"Works for me." Jeff took my hand, Raj grabbed Chuckie's, Serene took hold of Tim, Gower grabbed Reader, and we headed off, White, Lorraine, and Claudia following. We were in the pretty garden in less than a second. "Now, why do you want to do this so secretly?"

Looked at Serene. "Because I think some of us already have ideas of who you should put where and why."

She smiled. "We do. Jeff, in the downtime we've had, Imageering has done thorough background checks on all of your current cabinet members and those who might be under consideration for posts."

"Really?" Reader sounded surprised. "I didn't give you that order."

"I know, James," Serene said calmly. "You were busy. My team was already in place after helping Kitty to reveal Cliff as the Mastermind. I just had them focus on a wider net."

Knew for a fact that she hadn't really used Imageering, but had used her A-C CIA team. Which I wholeheartedly approved of. "James, just take it as one for the win column and relax. Jeff, you appointed Raj as your Chief of Staff. These recommendations are part of his job."

"Good point." Jeff looked at Raj. "So, what do you recommend?"

Raj grinned. "I thought you'd never ask. Honestly, I was expecting to be the Press Secretary, so I don't have this as thought-out as I would have if I'd realized you were moving me here. However, I do have some suggestions. Charles, if you object to any of these, just speak up."

Chuckie nodded. "Will do."

"Fine. Let's start with the easy ones. Appoint Nathalie Gagnon-Brewer to Secretary of Transportation. That section was run by one of our biggest enemies and so needs someone who will be willing to ferret out all the bad seeds. These people helped murder her husband. She'll find them."

"I can agree with that," Jeff said.

"Next, put Colonel Marvin Hamlin in as the Secretary of Homeland Security."

This earned some shocked looks from everyone other than Serene, me, and White. "I agree." Now the shocked looks were turned toward me. "Look, the dude may be anti-alien, but he's got the goods, and it would be nice to have someone in that role who can't be fooled by the next Mastermind to come along."

"He's been reinstated with full rank and honors," White added. "And is being hailed as a hero by the entire military. If he were of high enough rank, he'd be the man to put into the Joint Chiefs."

"He's not, though," Raj said, "and we need him in this position. He can work his way up, and I believe he'll want to."

"He's far less anti-alien than he was," Serene added. "It's amazing how your feelings change when you see the face of the real enemy."

"He's also up for Brigadier General," Chuckie said. "Jeff, that decision will be yours."

"You don't have to tell me twice, I'll approve it. But that means he won't be able to move into the Cabinet post."

"True enough," Raj said. "We'll circle back on Hamlin, then. The next one will be tricky. But, I believe I have a way around Angela's legitimate concerns. I suggest that you request that Mortimer Katt be made a four-star general."

"That could work," Reader said. "They're nominated by the President, after all."

"It's a double jump in rank, though," Claudia pointed out.

"In less than a week," Lorraine added. "Will that be allowed?"

"We jumped our First Lady up several levels without question way back when," White said with a smile. "I'm certain that Mortimer has the regard of his peers."

"I'm just going to bet that Centaurion Division is a little looser than the Marine Corps." Most of the guys snorted laughs. Ignored them. "But I'm with you, Richard-Uncle Mort being the uncle by marriage to the President is a reason that will probably fly in military circles."

"Then that solves the issue of who the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs will be," Raj went on. "Under the circumstances, I doubt anyone in the Marine Corps is going to argue with this. They'll see it as you having a strong relationship with the Corps, relative by marriage or not."

"What about Hamlin?" Jeff asked. "Can we jump him enough to get him into the Joint Chiefs?"

"No," Chuckie said flatly. "Frankly, I'd bet that, awards or not, he'll be willing to take Homeland Security."

"That's not where he really belongs." Got the group's attention, go me. "Look, if we're asking for what we want and hoping that no one's going to tell us no, then let's put the right people in place everywhere. And if we have to make him give up his military career-again, I might add-then let's give him what I know he wanted all along. Make him the Secretary of Defense."

"Then what happens to Hochberg?" Jeff asked. "Fritzy's done a good job."

"He has, however, he feels like he's failed," Chuckie said. "And that's going to affect him."

"He's trustworthy," Raj went on. "In fact, out of most of the existing Cabinet members still alive, he's probably the most reliable. He was a four-star general in the Army. He's also shown no signs of working against Vince or you, and nothing links him to any anti-alien groups or interests, either."

"So, why are we shoving him off, then?" Jeff sounded frustrated. "You're telling me that my best man needs to go because we have someone else we think we like better?"

"No," Raj said, Troubadour Tones set to Soothe. "I'm saying that I want you to move your best man into another position."

"What would a former military man be better at than Secretary of Defense?" Jeff asked.

Couldn't help it, the Inner Hyena took over. While everyone stared at me-Raj and Serene clearly trying not to laugh as well-got myself under control. "This from the man who used to be in charge of all of Centaurion Division's military? I know where Raj is going with this, and I agree that it makes sense."

"What makes sense?" Jeff asked.

"Making Fritz Hochberg your Vice President."

CHAPTER 9.

"OH." Jeff was quiet for a moment. "That does make sense, actually. I hadn't considered him because I wanted him to remain in the position he was already in."

Chuckie was looking up into the air. A quick glance confirmed that he wasn't looking at anything-he was thinking. "I like it," he said finally. "You give him a much-needed boost of confidence, and put even more people we can trust into key positions. You earn Hochberg's loyalty and show all of those who aren't your intimates that you'll move the best person for the job up, regardless of existing friendships." He nodded and looked back at Jeff. "I say do it, just be sure that you tell him why you're asking him so late, because that information will matter to him. Greatly."

"That also means Jeff will have made positive moves for Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps personnel. I think we need to look at the Navy for something, anything, just 'cause." Knew suggesting the flyboys all get Cabinet posts was out. Tried not to worry about them and the others who were missing. Failed.

Everyone nodded. "I'll think of someone," Raj said with a grin.

"Super. By the way, have you checked Fritzy out like Raj did, Secret Agent Man?" Hey, just because he seemed good, I didn't want to discover we'd missed something.

Chuckie grinned. "Yeah. After your trip to another world, I investigated him. I investigated Monica Strauss, too, but since she's dead, we have no more worries there. But Hochberg checked out just as Raj said."

"Speaking of Secretary of State, though, that needs to be someone really good with the diplomacy, and while I'd suggest Richard he already took a job with the Embassy."

White chuckled. "I believe Jeffrey putting his uncle into the position would create the same havoc as him assigning that position to his wife. However, Missus Martini is right-that position is as important as your Vice President."

"Vander," Reader said. "It's a perfect position for him."

Chuckie nodded slowly. "I can agree with that."

"Vander's the one who said I needed higher profile people," Jeff pointed out.

"For VP," Tim said. "But not for the other positions. Though, honestly, I think we need him in Homeland Security, because based on all of this, that's still open."

"It's a much lower Cabinet rank," Jeff said.

"Not after last week it isn't," I pointed out. "Let's face it, we're going to want to focus on our plethora of home-grown terrorists. I think Tim's right-put someone we know has the goods into that position and let him make it a higher-ranking post."

"Put him there," Chuckie agreed. "He'll be more likely to agree to it, and Tim and Kitty are both right."

Raj nodded. "I can agree with that as well. Before we look at Secretary of State, though, are you satisfied with the rest of Vince's Cabinet? And we still have slots open in the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

"I'll ask Mort for his recommendations on the Joint Chiefs," Jeff said. "And my answer to the rest of Vince's Cabinet and other assignments is to ask you and Chuck which of them we need to cut loose immediately and which ones we should keep."

"Get rid of Marion Villanova immediately if not sooner."

"I'll do a workup with Mister Reynolds," Raj said.

Chuckie shook his head. "Seriously, why the formality all of a sudden?"

Looked where Raj was. "Oh. Because we're about to have visitors." Elaine and Mom were heading for us, our Secret Service details with them. Shocking no one, the Secret Service agents all had long-suffering expressions.

"Why do you persist in running off without us?" Joseph, the head of Jeff's detail asked when they all reached us.

"We're impetuous." This earned me the "really?" look from every single one of the Secret Service. Chose not to let it harsh my groove. The Secret Service fanned out, Joseph and Evalyne staying nearest to us.

"Sorry to barge in," Elaine said. "But Angela felt you might want my input, so we came under the guise of letting you all know that Thomas Kendrick is here and everyone's eating without you."

Mom nodded. "You're discussing people that Vince might have talked about in private with his wife. It seems prudent to ask Elaine her impressions before you make commitments you can't take back easily."

"Ooh, Mom, love where your head's at." Since I'd honed my Recap Girl skills a lot over the past few years, I brought them up to speed on our suggested nominations.

"Those all sound good to me," Mom said. "Elaine?"

She nodded. "I agree about Fritzy and the others, and also about ensuring that Marion Villanova is no longer around. Monica relied on her-and Monica was a good enough Secretary of State to work for two Presidents-but I've never liked her."

"Proving that you're a woman of taste and refinement."

Tim jerked. "You know, supposedly she was dating Langston Whitmore."

Claudia and Lorraine looked at each other. "If she was, she sure wasn't around when we went to get him to confess on the news," Lorraine said.

"And he never mentioned her," Claudia added. "At all."

"They're both gay and closeted," I reminded everyone. "They're pretending to date each other, and I honestly thought they were going to get married to double down on the charade, but they're clearly not pretending at all in private."

"Okay, great, we know that," Tim said patiently. "But her boss is dead and her 'boyfriend' almost died. So where the hell is she?"

"On it," Lorraine said. She and Claudia kicked up the hyperspeed and disappeared. The Secret Service didn't even blink. This should have been flattering to me, but it was just a reminder that my every move was being watched and everyone was focused on ensuring that I'd never see any action ever again. Haters.

"That never stops being . . . odd," Elaine said. "So, while we wait for the Captains to return, I'd like to go over the remaining personnel with Mister Singh and Mister Reynolds. I'm certain we need to remove some others, just in case. Starting with the Secretary of the Treasury, but he won't be the only one."