WAR (26 page)

“I would like to address the peace loving people in the LSA and the Russian Federation, I’m going to turn your electrical power on within ten minutes of the end of my speech. On the other hand, until you demand a change from your leaders, you shall have no internet. If you think this isn’t possible, may I remind you of what happened back at the end of 2014 when the North Koreans hacked one of our major Hollywood movie companies, we turned their internet off, in fact, I don’t think we’ve turned it back on yet. Peoples of the LSA and Russian Federation think of your lives without the Internet, think about how you will communicate, share experiences and even telework without the internet. If you want your freedoms, you have to take responsibility for the type of government you allow to rule over you. Generals, remember the minutes are ticking down to zero. Those of you in the LSA, you might ask where your President’s wealth went and where is he? I hear there are rumors that the Gray House has exploded. Terrible things those gas leaks, aren’t they?

“The people of the USA don’t hold a grudge, we don’t want to hurt you, however if anyone presents a clear and present danger to the people of the United States, I will have no option but to engage you under my terms. Thank you for your attention.”

Chapter 17

“President Rand, you have a call I suggest you take on the outside line.”

Looking up from the conference table which is covered in notes while Presidents Brownstone and Cruise review electronic maps on the wall mounted large monitors with General Wilcox, President Rand lifts his eyes to the aide saying, “Who might be calling that you recommend I interrupt our meeting for?”

“Sir, he says he’s an old friend of President Brownstone from New York City, something about being his godfather. He said it’s very important.”

Hearing his name mentioned Rod looks over towards the interaction of the aide and President Rand, he listens a moment before saying, “Paul I think you should take the call. I think it’s someone who might have some information we could use.” Smiling Rod nods towards Paul.

President Rand nods saying, “Put the caller on the speaker.” Rod says, “Hello Godfather, it’s been a while. How’s your family?”

“Mr. President, yes it’s been a while since we’ve broken bread together. I’d like to invite you and your successors to dinner.”

“My old friend, you know we can’t come to New York City, Bloomberg will grab us the second we get close to the border.”

Laughing, the Godfather says, “My son, I don’t expect you to visit me, I’m here in D.C. where I’ve taken over the top floor of the Ritz-Carlton. Would it be possible for us to see each other?”

Rod laughs replying, “I’ll have the secret service escort you to the House.”

“Would you like me to meet them in the tunnel under the parking garage?”

“Normally I’d ask how you know about the tunnel, however, in your case I’m not surprised. Did you bring any of your people with you?”

“Of course, I never go anywhere without them, just as you never go anywhere without your shadow, the hit man Grover.” 

“Godfather, two secret service agents will meet you at the entrance to the tunnel in one hour, please only have one person with you, and please tell your aide to turn their weapons over to the secret service before they ask for them. It will go a long way to prove creditability. We’ll dine in the House. No one will know you were here.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you shortly.”

Paul asks, “Is that who I think it is?”

“Yes and he’ll be here in a little over an hour. I suggest we tell the chef, tell Paul his favorite wine taster is here for dinner.”

“He’s been here before? In the house?”

Rod says, “Of course. You know the house has seen its share of all types of good and bad guests. I’ve known our dinner guest for many years. As a young officer, I did him a favor without knowing it was his family I was helping. I was in Little Italy one evening before a deployment when I came upon three punks trying to have their way with a pretty young woman. I was young and dumb; I put all three into the hospital, rescued the young woman who turned out to be his daughter. I brought her home to her father. He offered me one million in cash. I laughed thinking he was joking. I turned him down and went on my deployment. I learned a year later whose daughter I’d saved. We’ve been friends since.”

Ted smiles saying, “You have a strange set of friends, national leaders and the head of the five families?”

“Good to keep all of the bases covered.”

Paul asks, “Why do you think he’s here?”

“He almost never leaves the city where he’s protected. It must be something critical for him to cross the border.”

Ted asks, “Speaking of which, isn’t he on the FBI’s most wanted list? How did he cross the border?”

“I think he fell off of the FBI list when he provided some assistance to them in rounding up a terror suspect. If he came to us, he has something very urgent and sensitive to talk with us about. I suggest we listen to him with an open mind.”

              Ted and Paul both nod in their agreement when Special Agent Rick Falks walks in, “Sirs, we can’t allow you to meet your guest. I assume you know who he is
,
don’t you?”

              Rod replies, “Of course, we do. I can promise you, we’re safe from any harm.”

              “Mr. Presidents, we can’t allow him to be within twenty feet of you.”

              Rod says, “Agent, you search him and his aide, you set up metal detectors and anything else you want, I’m having dinner with him either in the House or I’ll meet him at a downtown restaurant. Which do you think is going to be harder for you to secure?”

              “Sir, you don’t understand…”

              “I do, we all do. You’ve secured all of us in the past, I know you can do it again. Trust me when I say this man means us no harm. If he meant us harm, he wouldn’t be here himself. He’d have sent someone to do it for him.”

              “Sir?”

              President Rand smiles saying, “Agent, you can have your people in the dining room to ensure our safety.”

              “Sir, if that’s your decision, may I remind you, we are still at DEFCON 1 and as such, you’re not supposed to be out of the bunker?”

              “Agent, we know, we’ll be fine.”

              An hour later two men are escorted into the White House dining room; Rod and his old friend hug, much to the dismay of the secret service agents. The Godfather smiles over his shoulder saying, “I’m perfectly safe. I would never hurt this man. He saved my little girl. I’m forever in his debt.”

              Rod shows the guests where to sit, after a glass of wine, he says, “What can we do for you?”

              “My friend, it is I who owe you. I have a story to tell you. A couple of days ago a messenger from the West Coast came to visit a few friends of mine with an offer. They offered us a large pile of money in order to remove the three of you from this house.”

              The secret service agents all come alive, all grab inside their jackets for their side arms, while they start chatting in urgent tones on their radios, “Condition RED, no drill.”

              Ted lifts his right hand saying, “Agents, if this man meant us harm he wouldn’t have warned us first.”

              President Rand asks, “I assume this messenger was the real deal?”

              “Yes he was vetted, he came with a handwritten note from your friend who lives in, or should I say he used to live in before it had an accidental gas explosion, the Gray House. By the way, it is such a shame that accidents like that happen isn’t it?”

              President Rand looks very surprised, “Should I even ask what you’re talking about?’

              Smiling their guest says, “Come now Mr. President, we all know that was no accident, if I had to guess. Since I don’t see my son’s sidekick standing behind him, I’d guess your man of action, I think you brought him back as a full Colonel, even if such positions rarely get their own hands dirty, paid a visit to the west coast.”

              President Rand says, “None of us can say anything. If an accident happened on the West Coast than I’m sure, it was a horrible accident. I hope no one was injured.”

              All at the table laugh.

              Rod says, “I assume you turned down the offer that is why you’re here.”

              “My son, of course, you’re correct. I have reached the age I never expected to see. In two weeks, I’ll celebrate my 83
rd
birthday. You saved my little girl more than fifty years ago. This grand experiment, the progressives have forced on some of us, is a disaster. It’s bad for all of our businesses. It’s bad for the entire country. The average person in the LSA is much worse off now than they were before the split. Sure they are all equal, except for the ruling class which is more equal than everyone else. We have equal and more equal. The LSA is out of money; they are running out of options. Their government always spends more than it takes in while at the same time promising to hand out additional benefits; sooner or later you have an empty wallet and no credit left to borrow on. They have borrowed themselves empty; they have even tried to borrow from me. Can you believe the country would try to borrow from a shylock? My interest rates will make your eyes bleed.

              “Bloomberg wants to destabilize the USA; he wants to take out the office of the President while causing a race and class war. While the USA is leaderless, while the people are in distress, confused from everything, he will move in to unify the country under his leadership. His plan was to become the first king of North America. You know he has an army outside your fair city, he’s claiming he has the three of you being held hostage. He’s holding Vegas hostage. He destroyed your fleet, he’s using FSB agents to force a race war, and next on his agenda is a class war where he’ll pitch the lower class against the upper. It’s no different from what Obsma tried before he met his end. Bloomberg isn’t dumb like Obsma was. Remember he’s surrounded by all of the progressives who ran the country into the ground. The only real problem he sees, is New York’s Mayor De Blasio planning on taking him out and taking over.”

              The three President’s all look at each other. While they had most of what they’d just heard, they didn’t know that the LSA was looking at an internal war within its leadership ranks. Nor did they know Bloomberg had gone so far as trying to have them taken out in a gangland-style hit.

              Rod looks into his friend’s eyes saying, “Godfather, this is all very interesting. You are sure about the battle for control of the LSA at the very top?”

              “My son of course. When have I ever been wrong when I passed something along to you?”

              “You’ve never been wrong.”

              “If I were your consigliere I’d advise you to make the gas explosion look like it was arranged by a certain Warren Wilhelm, Jr.”

              Ted says, “Who?”

              Rod says, “That’s De Blasio’s real name. He changed it when he wanted to run for office.”

              Paul and Rod nod at each other, Rod says, “Thank you my friend. Is there anything else you think we should know?”

              “My friend, I assume you know that Bloomberg plans to flood your economy with trillions of counterfeit dollars. He has the LSA mint working overtime printing USA currency. He plans to use the phony money to destroy you.”

              Rod replies, “We’ve heard. We had an interesting call from one of their bankers asking us to verify the currency.”

              Sliding an envelope across the table to Rod, the Godfather says, “Here’s some samples, consider them my gift. I would prefer no one know you got them from me.”

              Ted says, “Are you buying the counterfeit money from them to use in your businesses?”

              “I was offered it, I decided to bring it to you.”

              All three president’s nod their thanks. “Now before it’s too late for my old bones, what’s for dinner?”

              Paul replies, “Our chef has made your favorite, veal.”

              “Excellent, I can’t wait to try it.”

@@@@@

              “Colonel, we have a secure message coming in.”

              “What’s it say?”

              “Colonel, you’re not going to believe this, but we’re being asked if we’re sure Bloomberg was in the house and if we can leave evidence that De Blasio was behind the attack.”

              “Shit. I was afraid they weren’t going to allow us to just slip out of town. Pick three men and let’s return to the scene of the crime like good little criminals always do.”

              “How are we going to slip through the security barrier?”

              “We’re going to be five DepLIES senior officers from the East Coast.”

              “Sounds like a good idea. No one is going to stop us or even question us dressed as DepLIES senior agents.”

              “Colonel, why didn’t we dress as DepLIES agents to blow the Gray House?”