White House White-Out (11 page)

“Let’s spread out around the circle,” Dink said. He still had the flashlight he’d taken from the van. Molly handed out the other flashlights, and they each took a position.

Eight faces were turned toward the sky. The snowmobile lights threw their shadows into the circle.

Suddenly Natasha let out a bark. She pointed her muzzle up and began to whimper.

A moment later, they all heard what Natasha had heard.

“It’s the helicopter!” Dink said. “Turn on the flashlights!”

A dark object flew in front of the moon. Tiny lights blinked on and off as the object flew lower in the sky.

“They see us!” Josh cried.

Everyone began waving their flashlights as the chopper came closer. Dink’s hat almost blew off his head from the wind made by the blades.

Natasha began to howl. She tugged on her leash as the helicopter landed in the middle of the circle.

“She knows who it is,” KC said.

They all stared at the black helicopter. Then a side door opened and the President of the United States stepped out.

“Oh my gosh,” said Tinker. “It really is him!”

KC and Natasha ran toward the president.

After all the hugging was over, KC led her stepfather over to introduce him to her new friends.

Everyone shook hands with President Zachary Thornton.

He looked at Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. “I understand you stayed with KC and Marshall through the entire ordeal,” he said. “Thank you very much. I owe you.”

Dink blushed down to his toes. “Natasha was the real hero,” he said. “She went to get help and led Tinker and Loren right to us.”

“Did you fly that yourself … sir?” Tinker asked the president.

“No, I brought my pilot,” the president said. “Jeff and I have been out looking since we found the note.”

“What note?” KC asked.

“Your mom found it on one of the Christmas wreaths,” the president told
her. “It was a ransom note for Natasha. A little while later, we realized you and Marshall were gone, too.”

“Would you and your pilot like to come inside?” Molly asked. “The kids ate every scrap of food, but I could make coffee.”

“That would be wonderful,” the president said.

Twenty minutes later, everyone was crowded into the living room. The five kids were telling everyone how they burned the spare tire on the bonfire, when there was a knock on the door.

“More company?” Molly said. “It’s way after midnight!”

“I think I know who it is,” the president said. “I sent a couple of FBI boys to collect the bad guys.”

Molly opened the door. Two big men in dark uniforms stood on the porch.
Between them were Jo Payne and Ace Boyd. The pair was handcuffed together.

The president looked at KC. “Are these the people who took you?” he asked.

“She is,” KC said. “I never got a good look at him, though.”

“I did!” Dink said. He pulled the cigarette from his pocket. “I was hiding ten feet away and I saw his face. He was smoking this.”

“Thank you,” the president said. He took the cigarette butt and slipped it into a pocket. “Agents Dirk and Lynch, take these two back to the city and lock them up. Have FBI Director Smiley call me tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir!” The FBI agents and their prisoners left.

“We have to leave, too,” the president said. “Molly, Tinker, and Loren, thank you for what you did. If there’s
anything I can ever do, please call me.”

“The White House?” Tinker asked. “Like, just call you?”

The president smiled. “Yes, Tinker,” he said. “Like, just call me.”

The kids all hugged Molly and Tinker and Loren. Then Jeff the pilot helped the five kids and Natasha climb into the helicopter. When everyone was strapped in, he took the chopper up out of the Makepeaces’ strawberry field.

Fifteen minutes later, Dink poked Josh and Ruth Rose. “Look,” he said. He pointed down. They were flying over the White House.

Surrounded by snow and with all the lights on, the White House looked magical. Jeff landed the helicopter on the president’s special landing pad.

Everyone thanked Jeff, then they all followed the president to his private residence. Dink was surprised to see his
father sitting on the sofa in the president’s living room.

“Dad!” Dink said. “How’d you get here?”

“President Thornton was kind enough to send a car for me,” Dink’s father said. “Lois and Mr. and Mrs. Li and I have had a nice chat about how our kids manage to get in trouble.”

“Dad, it wasn’t our fault!” Dink said. “That crazy lady drove away while we were trying to rescue Natasha.”

His father smiled. “I know that, son,” he said.

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose were all introduced to KC’s mom and Marshall’s parents.

When everyone had found seats, KC’s mom said, “What I don’t understand is how this Jo Payne knew that Natasha was the president’s dog.”

“Mom, Natasha’s sweater says
FIRST DOG
on it,” KC said. “You should know, you knitted it for her!”

Everyone had a good laugh.

“So I guess Jo Payne figured she could steal the dog and get some ransom money,” Dink said.

“And the rest of us were just along for the ride,” Josh said, rubbing his sore arm.

KC yawned. “The First Stepdaughter is tired,” she said.

The president stood up. “I think we all need to get to bed,” he said.

“I can’t wait to get back to the hotel,” Josh said.

“Actually, you and Dink and Marshall will be sharing Lincoln’s bedroom tonight,” the president said. He winked at Dink’s father.

“We’re sleeping here tonight?” Josh yelped. “In the White House?”

“Yes, everyone is having a sleepover,”
KC’s mom said. “Ruth Rose, you can share KC’s room.”

“I brought our luggage,” Dink’s father told Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. “Your pajamas and things are already in your rooms.”

“Mr. Li and I will head home,” Marshall’s mother said. “I have to be up early for work.” She kissed Marshall. “Get some sleep, and no staying up all night talking.”

The kids all shared a high five.