State of Terror

As Ellen flies back to Washington she updates the president on Ivanov’s revelations. She recommends “a commando raid on the home of a former President to kidnap one of his guests” (275). Ellen is worried because Hamilton’s death and Farhad’s last words mean that there is a high-level traitor in the White House, working on their enemies’ behalf. She believes that the High-Level Informant conspiracy theory is real. The president agrees to her suggestions despite the potential political and legal ramifications.

While former President Dunn plays golf, a Special Operators team sneak into his home. They move past the private security guards with ease and silently snatch Shah from the kitchen. President Williams realizes that the unnamed General with whom he sat in the Oval Office may be a friend of the journalist who once investigated the High-Level Informant conspiracy.

Ellen returns home to shower and change her clothes. While Betsy cooks breakfast, Ellen tells Betsy that she does not want her friend to come to the White House. She bids Betsy an emotional farewell.

In Canada, a friendly police officer convinces Huang, the former journalist, to talk. According to his research, HLI is an ultra-right extremist conservative group which wants to “return America to what they think it should be” (283).