Panetta arrived at the hospital, but he was stopped outside the operating room.
There were many people standing outside the operating room, mostly from the Special Service Bureau, along with personnel from the White House, and of course, some officials, but the highest-ranking person who arrived was Panetta.
After scanning the room, Panetta suddenly shouted, "Who is the on-duty bodyguard? Who decided to bring the president here? Who is the doctor?"
A middle-aged man stepped forward silently and said in a low voice, "It was me."
Panetta recognized him; this was not an agent from the Special Service Bureau, but the bodyguard who had been by the President's side for twenty-two years.
A personal bodyguard, protecting the President since his days as a businessman.
Panetta stared at the bodyguard. The bodyguard met Panetta's gaze; he didn't look away. Although there was some shame in his eyes, he bravely locked his gaze with Panetta's.
