Presidential Mercy

By Sheri McLaughlin

A political thriller that invokes Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to remove the sitting President just before Election Day. An unlikely, unprecedented scenario unfolds, but now the person in charge becomes a target. Secret Service and FBI agents must work together. They’ll need to take down the kingpin of a multi-National hate group before it’s too late.

Special thanks to the men and women in the military, law enforcement, and medical field who put their lives on the line every day protecting others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sheri McLaughlin
• Release date: Dec 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005746360

Sheri McLaughlin

When the pandemic caused the world to retreat into isolation, McLaughlin discovered a new passion - writing fiction stories. She enjoys creating new adventures adding action, drama, and mystery.Other fiction titles include: “Lovers Fall in Arcticville”, "Frozen Isolation", “A New Adventure on the Escuadrón Polar”, “Whispering Angels”, “Vanishing Author”, “Angry Hornets”, “Terror Unleashed: Angry Hornets Return”, “Presidential Mercy”, and “Mercy on the Trail”. She is currently working on her tenth novel, “Quantum Mercy” which will complete her Mercy Trilogy.

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Book #1 in the Mercy Trilogy

Independently Published

Presidential Mercy

United States Copyright © 2020 Sheri McLaughlin

All rights reserved.The author has created a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. This book may contain different points of view and are used only to create a believable fiction story. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any group, politician, or elected official. Any content provided by the author is of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, anyone, or anything.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author/publisher.

Cover design by: Sheri McLaughlin

Library of Congress Registration Number: TXu002200200

Official Author Website:

https://www.sherimclaughlinauthor.com

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Prologue

Underground extremist groups were gaining a foothold all over the world; determined to thwart anyone who they deemed a threat or who could topple their organization. Their cynical, warped beliefs penetrated much more of society than governments wanted to admit.

Jacques Troudeaux was a French extremist with ties to the United States. He spoke two languages with perfect dialects; having a French mother and an American father. For most of his childhood, he lived in France, but frequently visited the United States to stay with his father, who’d taught him how to shoot. He was 12 years old when his parents divorced. Shortly thereafter, his father decided to move to Montréal, Canada. His father had been able to obtain dual citizenship from both Canada and the United States.

Jacques remained in France to finish his education. In his teenage years, he butted heads frequently with his mother over pointless matters. Without his dad’s daily presence, his mother had become very strict and overprotective.

Jacques began lashing out, defying all that his mother wanted him to do. Just before his eighteenth birthday, he graduated from one of France’s secondary schools, Lycée Saint-Louis. He felt the need to venture out on his own. He’d meet a group of successful men who’d given him a place to stay. They weren’t the best role models.

He excelled in college and became an attorney in the financial world. With an easily-influenced young adult mind he’d picked up bad habits, like smoking and drinking. He also shaved his head and became involved with an elite French group consisting of only men.

Jacques’s became more and more involved with this cult-like group of male extremists. They’d proudly boasted about male dominance. When a news article about the anti-feminist group referred to this group as the "Maîtres de la Tâche Maléfique (Evil Task Masters"), it stuck. This name would become their official title.

Shortly thereafter, Jacques learnt that his father had died from a prescription drug overdose in Montréal, Canada. Jacques falsely blamed his father’s death on his mother’s quips. He vowed to cease all communication with his own mother.

As a prominent member, Jacques kept a low profile, keeping his ties with the group private. He’d come too far to risk losing his lucrative career. If any of his clients knew about his ties to this group, it would be detrimental to his livelihood.

*****

Nicknames were given to each member of the group with strict instructions never to call anyone by their real names. Chrome was the name Jacques had been assigned. He’d kept a gun collection, but his favorite had been a chrome-plated limited edition 1934 Winchester 67 single shot rifle. Chrome boasted about being called the King of Sharp Shooters in his teenage years.

Two male-dominated, anti-feminist groups merged and conspired to foil women’s attempts at achieving high-ranking leadership roles. Extremists were involved with thwarting plans involving female successors. At times, lethal action and coercion were necessary. Such was the case when London’s parliament had been infiltrated.

The United States had its own share of problems stemming from organized hate groups within its borders. News broadcasters were labeling the U.S. women hate group, Men Against the Feminist Movement (MAFM).

Unbeknownst to anyone, this group had been secretly sharing inside intelligence with France’s Maîtres de la Tâche Maléfique.

FBI and CIA agents all over the world were doing their best to flush out these organizations. It was an uphill battle. Citizens of the world had been relying on agents in the field to flush out terrorists. But bringing about justice and peace was a surmounting task.

Chapter 1 - Press Secretary

Bill Harper left the podium, flustered and exasperated by the media’s inquiries concerning the Commander-in-Chief’s whereabouts. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a folded handkerchief. Then he dabbed the beads of sweat off his round face and re-pocketed the damp cloth.

Ever since he’d become Press Secretary, his blood pressure numbers have increased. Doctors prescribed medication and urged him to find other ways to destress. He was still sweating profusely, fumbling with his necktie to loosen it. It felt more like a noose.

As he walked briskly down the corridor toward Murphy Jensen’s office, he noticed the door had been left ajar. Bill impatiently knocked on it.

The Communications Director had been watching the news media reports that followed the briefing. He’d half turned his head to glance at Bill, but then snapped it back to see the 20-inch television. Harper, come in! Jensen was intently listening to news correspondents. He briefly held his hand up to prevent any interruptions.

Bill patiently waited. When the tv went to a commercial break, Jensen rotated his office chair to completely face him. Could have been a lot worse, but we’ll need to cover for POTUS a little while longer. He’d been contemplating their next move, drumming his fingertips on the desktop.

How much longer are we talking about, Murphy? The public have a right to know the President’s predicament! It’s only a matter of time before someone figures it out. He’s been struggling with noticeable tremors and cognitive thinking for quite some time. Don’t you think people will figure it out soon enough? Bill asked

"Look, the election is less than six months away. The last thing we need is to play right into the hands of the Republicans. If the public doesn’t think Gerry can handle the Oval Office for another four years, we’ll all be looking for new jobs. And you know as well as I do, we can’t let Milton Fosbury gain momentum in the polls. He’s as far to the right as you can get.

From what I understand, the illness has been progressing slowly. So far, he’s been able to maintain focus on what the Democratic Party needs right now. Once all the tests have been run, we’ll work with medical staff to make the transition after the election. It makes the most sense to keep quiet about it. The last thing we need right now is a media frenzy. Let them believe he’s only having routine checkups. There is no premise for releasing the details of his brief stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Harper sighed, shrugging his shoulders. He wanted to argue his point of view, but reluctantly walked out of Murphy’s office instead. He had never been good at lying or twisting the truth. That was one of the many traits people admired about him. As much as he did not want to disappoint his fellow Democrats, he was feeling more and more uncomfortable holding everything inside. This was a time for our country to come together. Was there ever going to be a time when politics could be set aside for the good of mankind? He returned to his office and shut the door. His internal dialogue had not been helpful with keeping his blood pressure low.

Harper walked behind his desk and picked up a photo of his wife, Gina. A calmness came over him when he recalled that blissful weekend. He’d been going to law school while she was working as a bank teller. They’d driven along the Virginia coast and found a bed and breakfast where they passionately rediscovered each other.

He set the photo back down and sat down. Keeping the status quo would be beneficial for everyone involved. He owed it to his wife to hold it together, especially now. His job was what enabled them to afford IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). He and Gina had been trying to have kids for quite some time and this would be their last chance, as she was quickly approaching 40 years of age. Their relationship had become strained with dampening expectations and numerous failed attempts.

Knowing that tomorrow’s news briefing would betray millions of Americans, he scribbled an outline with some key points to use during his next speech. Focusing on a 798-page bill that needed to be passed concerning child care and unemployment, he’d been flabbergasted with the lack of compassion the Republican Party seemed to exhibit towards it. The Republicans fattened the bill by adding their own stipulations, like tax breaks for big insurance and health care corporations.

Ever since he could remember, politics have always gone that way. Each party has its own agenda, based on lobbyists and contributions to political campaigns. He scratched his shiny bald head. Hmm, imagine if there was a bill that disallowed political contributions. Nothing more than asinine briberies. American politics at its finest. What a pity!

Harper’s administrative assistant, Dorothy Lang, knocked on the door. Gina’s on Line 3.

Thanks, Dot. He leaned forward and snapped up the phone. After pressing his index finger on the blinking button, Hi, Gina. Is everything all right?

Yes, Bill, everything is great. What time will you be home tonight. I’ve been really looking forward to our weekend getaway, just the two of us. Everything’s all packed up and ready to go.

Great! Yes, I’m excited too. I’ve been busy prepping my speech. Yes, it will do us both a world of good. Okay, gotta go. Love ya.

As soon as he hung up, there was a knock on his door. Come in!

Dorothy was holding the latest water pollution trends and a thick green folder full of detailed environmental engineers’ reports. Bill, here’s the stuff you asked me for. The residents of Ohio and Pennsylvania have been up-in-arms about the fracking. Did you hear about the most recent earthquake this afternoon?

Bill answered, No, how bad was it?

"A 4.7 in the Bradford