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“My name…is Rebecca Pierce, I was born in Quantico, Virginia…and have spent…the last ten years working…with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s cyber-crime unit. A few weeks ago…I was taken by terrorists—”
The moment she said the word, one of the men hit her with the butt of his rifle. She let out a small cry as she fell forward, and the other man reached down with a gloved arm and pulled her back to her knees.
“I was taken…by the revolutionary group; Rsamas…They are tired…of the hypocritical nature of our…government in this country. They are tired of the lies…and the cover-ups. They’ve tried to…get in contact with Dir…ector…Avian Doers and other agents, but their legiti…mate requests have all been… ignored, mocked, and pushed aside…They know now that they cannot fight evil with good, but only with more evil, …and they will not stop until not only the director…of the FBI stands…down, but the President as well,” she stammered.
I looked to Mel at that, but she just grinned in reply. I was not aware that we wanted the President gone, especially after we’d spent millions to get him into office.
An altered voice recording spoke out. “It’s time for the people to step up. It’s time for the people to fight back. It’s time for the people to become Republic Soldiers Against More American Savagism. If not, we will do as our forefathers have done and declare war. If you hear a rumble close by, or see a smoke cloud over the horizon, take that as proof of our intent. We’re requesting that you, Mr. President and Mr. Director, step down, or the blood of many innocent victims will be on your hands.” And with that, the video feed was cut, and Avian’s broadcast was once more being shown as the reporter commented
He stood at the podium with a stony expression on his face as his agents filled him in on the latest developments. As they stepped back, he turned and glared into the camera with such intensity that it would have made even me flinch if I were a weaker man. Then he left without answering any of the questions that the reporters were hurling at him.
“I think he’s angry,” Mel smirked, as her phone rang. Pulling it out, she paused as she turned and showed me the caller ID.
“Mr. Director, I’d like to think that there are more pressing situations for you to be handling at this moment than calling to have a chat with your dear, old granddaughter,” Mel mocked as she placed him on speaker.
“Do you know what you’ve just done?” he snapped.
My grin widened. We’d struck a nerve. “Why don't you inform us, Avian?”
“I’ve protected your imprudent, truculent, ungrateful, dirty family for decades. I know where all the bodies are buried. I know all the motherfucking codes to your bank accounts, any and everything you have is because I have allowed it. I am the hand of God, and you have bitten me. If you believe, even for a moment, that I was concerned with you or the insufficiency that is your family, then you were mistaken. But now, you have my full attention…and trust me, it’s something you never wanted to have.”
“Are you threatening us?” I hissed, as I took the phone into my hand. “You and I both know that you cannot expose us without exposing your-fucking-self. Self-preservation is in our blood. Come at us and I will drag you to hell with me, grandfather-in-law. We will expose secrets that will destroy all faith in the government that you care so deeply about. We will bring down your entire world. Our reign of terror will pale in comparison to what will happen here. So, I’m not buying what you’re fucking selling. You’re threatening the wrong motherfucking person.”
“This day will haunt you for the rest of your pathetic life, Callahan. When I strike, I plan on destroying you, all of you…sooner than you think. I can guarantee that,” he sneered before hanging up.
“I’d say he’s pretty fucking angry,” Mel muttered, as she leaned against the desk.
I handed her the phone as it once more began to ring.
With a sigh, she answered. “Mr. President.”
“Did you do this?!”
“Do what, exactly?” she asked him before sitting in the chair.
“These terrorists? Rsamas? You’ve crossed the fucking line, Callahan. You’ve all lost your minds. I have congressmen, governors, the FBI, CIA, and Interpol turning to me for a plan! I have to give a response in the next five minutes. You have no idea what you’ve done. You’re dealing with things that are greater than you. I want this to end, now.”
“Puppet—”
“Don’t you dare! I am the President of the goddamn United States, and I will not allow you to fuck with people like this! I—”
Mel hung up, waved the phone in the air for a moment and even checked her nails before hitting redial.
“Did you hang up on me?” Colemen yelled so loudly that I was sure he’d popped something vital.
“Yes, I did, you were speaking nonsense again. So to spare you our rage, we thought we would start this conversation again. Are you ready to act like a grown up? Or should I call back later?” Mel asked calmly.
Silence.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” she stated. “You will not answer a fucking question from the press. You will not fire Avian Doers, you will send him to Ukraine, Turkey, Greece, wherever fucking suits your fancy. In his place, you will set up a special team to find Rsamas. Don’t worry, the dream team list is with Mina. Remember, President Colemen, the United States does not negotiate with a terrorist.
“And finally, you will stand before the seal, with that shiny American flag pinned to your suit, and you will look strong. You will lead your people, and all of America will love you for it. If you in any way try to undercut us—I shouldn’t even need to threaten you because you know what the end result will be. We promised you eight years, we never said they would be easy, but we promised there would be eight. So do as we say. Your five minutes are up and we’re watching.”
She hung up and turned on the television, waiting for him to speak. I smiled at her back. She had a way with words that was beyond me. She could disarm and cut people down with them alone. It was a talent of hers. She had no need for guns, she just liked them.
“I can feel you staring a hole into my head,” she said, without looking at me.
“Get over it.” I smiled.
I heard her chuckle as the President came on the screen. He looked both calm and collected, and even from a distance I could see the American flag pin on his suit jacket, just as Mel directed. But I couldn’t pay attention to his words because my phone beeped and as I looked down, I saw a photo message from Avian.
My breath caught in my throat as the image registered in my mind.
“What is it?” Mel asked me.
Adrenaline rushed through my veins, and I was up and out the door as my fingers frantically dialed.
For the love of God, pick up.
SEDRIC
“I’ve never been a fan of this sport,” Evelyn said with a laugh as Ethan rested in her arms.
We’d just left the Arena and we were outside with both Monte and Kain. Mel and Liam were beginning to get paranoid, or at the very least, they seemed to have forgotten who I was. But that tended to happen to people who got old and retired. People started to treat you as if you’ve somehow forgotten things that you’d been doing for decades.
