Lee’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. The two-word message filled him with joy.
I accept.
Now it was Lee who pumped his fist in a quiet show of victory. Lee was committed to reopening the TPI to honor Yoshi’s memory and mission. With the help of involved parents, Lee had raised several hundred thousand dollars toward that goal. Fundraising would be an ongoing effort, and for that, they needed a new director. Ellen had used her contacts to find the perfect person. Her name was Nozomi Arakida, a Japanese woman who had studied at the TPI under Yoshi and who had gone on to found a similar school in St. Louis. It was Nozomi who had texted Lee, accepting his offer to take over the Washington school, extending her brand’s reach in the process. In a strange way, Hewitt’s dream of ushering forth a new golden age of culture and learning had taken a small step toward becoming a reality.
The game continued. Taylor forced his opponent to trade off queens. Lee saw now what others saw earlier as the inevitable outcome. Black did not have enough material to get to checkmate. The game ended in a draw. In a way, it was a fitting conclusion. There was no clear victor, but it was a clear victory nonetheless.
Thunderous applause shook the room. Taylor stood shakily and waved to the crowd. His smile was broad and beaming, eyes elated. Cam and Taylor shared an embrace. They broke apart, and while holding hands, raised their arms overhead in shared triumph. Everyone knew they had won as a team.
The rest of the U.S. team soon swallowed Taylor and Cam in a large group hug. Cam slipped away from the huddled masses as Susie rushed the floor. Nobody in the Secret Service moved as she neared him. They knew how important she was to Cam and Cam to her. They hugged tightly. Then Cam raced over to his parents. He threw his arms around his mother and held her as she gave him a kiss on the forehead. Tears filled her eyes. Cam broke away and approached the president.
The president wiped his tear-lined eyes, opened his arms, and pulled Cam into a tight embrace. He pulled his lips tight, straining against raw emotion. “I’m so proud of you, son,” he said. “I’m so proud.”
Son.
It did not matter what Hewitt had done to this family. Cam was Geoffrey’s son regardless, his pride and joy. His boy. The first family gathered in a huddle, bodies leaning forward, foreheads pressed tightly together in an unbroken circle.
Lee watched, his heart swelling with joy.
Josh put an arm around Lee. “Pretty awesome, Dad,” he said.
Karen came over and stood beside them.
“Yeah, pretty awesome,” Lee said in a quiet voice.
Valerie and Susie had joined the first family in their victory celebration. All were talking excitedly.
“I got something else that’s pretty awesome,” Josh said. He handed a piece of paper to Lee, who read it before handing it to Karen.
“You’ve applied for the Secret Service?”
Karen’s voice rose sharply. She put a hand to her chest, looking as excited as Cam post-victory.
“Hey, I need a job, right?” Josh said. “Can’t think of a better place to work or a better person to work for.” Josh winked at his mom.
“I’ll put in a good word for you,” Karen said, laughing as she stifled a cry.
Lee, Josh, and Karen huddled together, touching foreheads just like the first family had done. Eventually, the two families converged, forming a larger group huddle, with Susie and Valerie joining as well.
Strange as it was, a peaceful feeling washed over Lee. He knew everyone would soon go separate ways. Josh and Susie’s relationship would either blossom or wither, while Josh and Karen would become closer working together for the Secret Service. Susie would continue to play music, follow her dreams. Valerie would take a nursing job at the MDC and still care for Susie and Cam as needed. Ellen and Geoffrey would spend their last year in the White House working to raise money for the genetic research initiative. Lee would go to work for the president and first lady, committed to finding a cure for the survivors. Everyone would be involved in something new, but they would have an unbreakable connection for years to come.
In that way, they had all become family.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This novel began with a simple premise: write a story about the president’s family. In many ways, this book is an homage to my father, whose book, The First Patient, which had received (along with stellar sales) glowing praise from President Bill Clinton. It became apparent quite early in the writing process that I sorely lacked knowledge in numerous areas of expertise. To that end, I’d like to thank my uncle and trusted medical advisor, Dr. David Grass, without whom my character’s medical deeds, as well as the trials of running a family practice, could not have been told with any degree of verisimilitude. David was also my sounding board for plot and story arc, and it’s safe to say he played a vital role in making sure the novel never flatlined.
My brother and fellow thriller scribe, Matthew Palmer, also graciously shared with me his insider knowledge of the White House and various facets of how the government machine operates. I owe additional thanks to another writer friend, Lisa Gardner, who opened my eyes to how I could open the book. My brilliantly talented and dedicated mother read every page of the manuscript and offered her candid feedback, which I appreciate to no end. In that same regard, my thanks also go to super agents Meg Ruley and Rebecca Scherer, as well as to Clair Lamb, who helped improve the novel immeasurably with their careful reading and thoughtful critique. Special gratitude goes to Jennifer Enderlin, my father’s devoted editor, who has taken me under her wing and allowed me the opportunity to carry on my dad’s legacy while sharing with me her incredible gifts for story and character.
My deep appreciation also extends to Ben Beauchemin of Wicked Weaponry, and U.S. Secret Service, Office of Government & Public Affairs, who assisted with tactical details portrayed in the book; and to Dr. Ethan Prince, who provided invaluable medical consultations. My thanks, too, to the generous individuals who purchased character names in support of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and the Greater Nashua Food Bank: Karen Ray, Valerie Cowart, Woody Lapham, and Dr. Marilyn Piekarski. A special note of appreciation I extend to the sales and marketing team at St. Martins for doing all they do to put these books into the hands of eager readers.
It goes without saying that my father, Michael Palmer, is a huge presence in every word I write and that we all miss and love him. I’m grateful for the opportunity to carry on his legacy, and I hope this novel does him proud.
Last, but hardly least, my deepest thanks goes to my wife, Jessie, and my two children, Benjamin and Sophie, for your love and support, and the joy and meaning you bring to every day.
ALSO BY MICHAEL PALMER AND DANIEL PALMER
Mercy
Trauma
ALSO BY MICHAEL PALMER
Resistant
Political Suicide
Oath of Office
A Heartbeat Away
The Last Surgeon
The First Patient
The Fifth Vial
The Sisterhood
Side Effects
Flashback
Extreme Measures
Natural Causes
Silent Treatment
Critical Judgment
Miracle Cure
The Patient
Fatal
The Society
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
MICHAEL PALMER is the author of twenty novels of medical suspense, all international bestsellers. His books have been translated into thirty-five languages. Extreme Measures was the basis for a movie starring Hugh Grant and Gene Hackman. You can sign up for email updates here.
DANIEL PALMER is the author of four critically acclaimed suspense novels. After receiving his master’s degree from Boston University, he spent a decade as an e-commerce pioneer. A recording artist, accomplished blues harmonica player, and lifelong Red Sox fan, Daniel lives in New Hampshire with his wife and two children, where he is currently at wor
k on his next novel. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also by Michael Palmer and Daniel Palmer
About the Authors
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE FIRST FAMILY. Copyright © 2018 by Daniel Palmer. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover by Rob Grom
Cover photograph: White House © Panoramic Images/Getty Images
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-10742-8 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-10744-2 (ebook)
eISBN 9781250107442
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact your local bookseller or the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First Edition: April 2018