Holding Their Own XI: Hearts and Minds (45 page)
Read Holding Their Own XI: Hearts and Minds Online
Authors: Joe Nobody
Tags: #Science Fiction, #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Dystopian, #Action & Adventure, #Literature & Fiction
“Before we get into that, I would like to speak with my diplomat. Privately, if you please.”
Nick tensed, not liking the chief executive’s request one bit. “I’m not so sure that’s wise,” the big guy said, glancing at the Secret Service bodyguard as if to say, “Help me out here.”
The Colonel, however, wasn’t going to budge. “Wise or not, I would like to speak with Mr. McQuire. After we’re finished, I’ll be happy to discuss possible resolutions to our dilemma.”
It was clear that Nick was on the verge of losing what little diplomacy existed inside his super-sized frame.
Bishop had been studying his former boss from the far corner. The Texan detected a slight nuance in the Colonel’s language. “There’s nothing wrong with letting a conversation take place, is there Nick?”
For a moment, it looked like Bishop was going to receive the big man’s wrath, but then Nick softened after exchanging glances with his friend.
“I suppose not,” Nick begrudgingly acknowledged.
Word was sent for Chase to be wheeled to the courthouse while a conference room was prepared for the meeting. A few minutes later, the condemned man was waiting for his Commander in Chief.
The Colonel entered the small room and then stopped his Secret Service agent at the door. “I need to have a
private
conversation. This won’t take long. Besides, he’s in a wheelchair, and I’m not some toothless old hound. I can take care of myself.”
Closing the door behind him, the president left several puzzled faces in the hall. Everyone from Diana to Terri stood around, trying not to drift too far away, yet not wanting to appear as eavesdroppers hovering around the threshold.
While the sound of Chase’s voice occasionally drifted into the corridor, the old courthouse’s thick walls didn’t allow anyone to make out specific words.
Nick was in a state. Stepping close to Bishop, he said, “We can’t let him take that bastard out of here, immunity or not. It’s just not going to happen.”
Before Bishop could respond, a single shot rang out from the conference room.
In went the Secret Service man with weapon drawn. Nick was right behind him, security from both heads of state rushing into the hall.
They found the president sitting calmly at the table, a smoking .45 pistol in his hand. Chase was slumped over in his wheelchair, a small, red hole visible in the center of his chest.
Once the Secret Service agent was assured his protectorate was unharmed and in no danger, the president calmly explained, “He tried to escape.”
No one believed it, not for a second. Yet there wasn’t a single challenge to the president’s claim. Bishop merely glanced at Nick, a sly smile on his face.
As the president rose to leave the room, he stopped and leaned close to Diana. In a whisper, he said, “I’m sorry, Miss Brown, but I couldn’t allow you to execute that pitiful excuse for a human being. I, on the other hand, sure as hell could. Have a good day, madam.”
Epilogue
The twilight of dawn hid the dust trails as four M1 battle tanks rolled across the Oklahoma prairie.
Accompanied by Stryker fighting vehicles, the armored units approached the Lewis Oil facility from four different vectors.
The Strykers lowered their rear ramps, the sound of heavy, thumping boots disturbing the otherwise quiet morning.
Scores of U.S. infantry poured from the transports, racing for the perimeter fence in a well-rehearsed choreography of assault. The deadly cannons and machine guns atop the tanks swept left and right, their gunners ready for any form of resistance.
Moments later, green-uniformed troopers were inside the compound, spreading out to search every nook and cranny.
It wasn’t long before the bad news began to spread.
“There’s not a soul here,” reported a sergeant on the command radio. “This place is completely abandoned. Looks like they packed up and left some time ago.”
“Damn it,” replied the officer leading the operation. “The old man’s not going to be happy about this. Leave behind enough men to hold the facility and then get everyone else mounted back up. I’ll radio HQ and let them know our status.”
The End
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