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"What?" he barked sharply

He stood face-to-face with only one man, rather than the two Polly had pro police to be from the very station that Lincoln had established nearly two decades previously Though he wouldn’t have said it aloud in front of his friend, it was Grant’s considered opinion that this could be a true and official policeh the force contained some fine individuals, as a whole, they weren’t up to the snuff of Lincoln’s original vision

"What?" the man asked back Stunned, he stared at the president as if noasn’t certain how he ought to proceed anyain "What, sir? I…"

Grant eneral He’d carried more authority when he’d been pro Keep the tall bastard on his toes "What do you want?"

To his very slight credit, the alleged officer rallied, straightening his posture to emphasize the size difference between hieant Delman at your service, Mr President, sir Didn’t realize you ca here I don’t mean to be rude, but I’rowled He disliked this showing off If you’re tall, be tall But don’t brandish your size like a bully "You’re looking forthe relationship He barely knew the es?" he dee"

"Well, I’ him"

"You’re … I’ to the extra inches in height with age and gravitas "I’ him I’m the president I can do that"

"I … I’ me a liar?"

"No, sir Misinformed, perhaps"

"I’et off this stoop and get on with your business Look at you, policereatto arrest his physician If you had a lick of sense you’d try the side, and be on your best manners! You don’t waltz up and et, seeking some way out of the conversation or past it, but Grant was on a roll "Is this how they teach you to approach your betters? Is that how the force is run these days? I rite letters! I will speak with your captain!"

The big fellow’s eyes narrowed "No, sir, you won’t And I don’t have to walk away because you tellwithout hihed cruelly "Now you’re the one who’s misinformed Get out of here before I send you off this property in a pine box"

"Are you threatening me, sir?"

"If you have to ask, I ain" He pulled out his ’58 and held it with the absolute steadiness of so, and so often, that it co a woman’s hand "Get off this stoop or I’ll blow you off of it"

The tallWind shrieked around hiles of the house and the hollow brick chimneys "You’re the president You can’t shoot ret it with your very last breath"

"You’re not a real copper"

With a sneer, the tall man fired back: "And you’re not a real president"

Without a second thought, and without a single drink left in his systeer

The shot was loud in his ears, even against the violent orchestra of the windstorether--only a door fraht Still, it was like he’d fired inside a closet A siunshot--the most familiar sound in the world--sucked all the air out of the space between the happened The tall man didn’t react except to hold perfectly still Grant held still as well, his gun still raised It flared warm in his hand, but the dry November storm cooled the metal as he held it A small coil of sust of wind shook the house

The fireplacesa prayer

The tall man’s uniform was dark, and it was now fully dark outside, so Grant could barely see the damp hole in his belly

With slow uncertainty, the wounded man took two steps back, turned around, and reached for the handrail He missed it, but held out one foot to step onto the stair below the stoop His knee went crooked, and he fell forward onto the ay that cut through the yard

And the round, so on instinct and years of training, Grant retreated and slaainst it, and felt that it was solid It would withstand more than a handful of bullets before he needed to worry about its integrity