The Inside Ring. Mike Lawson

      THE INSIDE RING

      MIKE LAWSON

       For my father

       Bernard Norman Lawson

       1924–2004

       Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

       Dedication

Prologue

Chattooga River Assassin Found Dead

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       40

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       43

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       45

       Acknowledgments

       Keep Reading

       Praise

       About the Author

       Copyright

       About the Publisher

       Prologue

      The video begins with the President walking toward a marine helicopter.

      The rapids of the Chattooga River are visible behind the helicopter, and beyond the river is a dense pine forest, the ground rising sharply to a bluff overlooking the river. The President is dressed in khaki pants, a blue T-shirt, and hiking boots. Over the T-shirt he wears a lightweight fishing vest with multiple pockets for storing tackle. He appears relaxed, his pace is unhurried. He smiles and waves once in the direction of the camera, and then ignores it. In the third year of his first term he’s comfortable with the mantle of power, undaunted by the media’s ever present eye.

      There are two Secret Service agents in front of the President and two behind him. The agents wear identical dark-blue Windbreakers and all have on sunglasses. A puff of wind exposes the automatic weapon one agent carries on a sling beneath