chapterTen
i’mInCharge
“That was Jeremiah…He said throw my phone away…So I did. I…I think he’s in trouble and we have to save him. I just have the feeling.”
Mitch pondered what Juan had just said. He sat down at the rickety table and started sketching. David, who was sitting next to him asked, “What’s that, Mitch? Kind of looks like the White House.”
“It is…What do you mean by ’kind of’? Juan, tells us the plan you mentioned last night….to possible get Abby out of there.”
Juan spoke, “There are four of us here in this room that know every square inch of that property. We know every hiding place and can easily slip in and out of there with ease. I’ve done it before…….”
Rick interrupted, “I have too…I think we all have…What’s the point?”
Juan continued, “We have to do this, of course, under the cover of darkness. We need someone on the inside…Who do we know we can trust who is still SS?”
Mitch looked at David and then David spoke, “I …Correct me if I’m wrong, Mitch, but didn’t Cecil say he wanted out of there?…Do you know him, Juan?”
“No, but can we trust him?”
Mitch pondered for a few seconds and then responded, “I believe we can trust him. He also has a kid on the way but he’s not married and the boss, Sidney, hates that stuff. He thinks it makes the agents vulnerable. ….Well, we can use that vulnerability in our favor. What do you guys think?”
They all agreed that Mitch would call Cecil on David’s secured cell phone and to see if he wanted out of the big house.
Mitch began, “Here goes, guys. Wish me luck…….”
Mitch dialed the number that he had for Cecil. It rang several times with no answer. Mitch tried again to no avail. Mitch inserted, “No answer… Maybe because he recognized David’s number or he was working with Leonard or Jerry. What now, gentlemen?”
The phone, while in Mitch’s hand, buzzed, “Hello, …….Cecil, is that you…..No, not David, It’s Mitch…….I’m still alive……We haven’t killed anybody, Cecil. You know us better than that….. Juan? You mean Garcia? …He’s not a killer, either…..He didn’t shoot the President. He’s his best friend. We just wanted to ask you if you wanted out of that mess….We will arrange protection for you girl friend. You can’t trace this phone… It’s just like your work phone…..We need your help. We think the President, Abby and Josh are in trouble…..OK, think about it, but how will you get a hold of us. This phone is going bye, bye when we finish this call…….OK. The next time we call you it will be on a number ending in 3214. Answer it and let us know…..Three hours? Will do. Be strong, big guy. We could surely use your help to get our country back….Later.”
David asked, “So what did he say?”
Mitch, responded, “He’s really scared. He was with the President and Leonard when I called the first two times. Cec told them he needed to go to the bathroom…I think he’s in, but he needed to think about it and then find a more secluded spot to talk to us. I’ll call him back on that expensive, non traceable phone over there, in about three hours. In the mean time Juan was going to share a plan.”
Juan nodded his head and took a piece of paper, drew out the plan and explained it in detail to the team. They all curiously watched and listened to see what part each would have in rescuing the Issachar family.
Three hours had passed so Mitch prepared to call Cecil Spence to find out if he was going to be the team’s inside man. The phone rang several times. Mitch was ready to hang up when someone answered the phone. Mitch began, “Yes, OK. Hold tight. Let us take care of your girl friend, first……Where is she? A couple of days to secure their location….In Virginia?” Mitch wrote down an address and handed it to David.
The call continued, “David and Jerry will do that…They are leaving, now. Does she know? ...”
David, Jerry and Dan got up and prepared what they needed to travel to Virginia. Their first order of business was to find a safe location for Cecil’s girl friend, who was pregnant.
“David will bring her to a safe location and you won’t know where, for now, for your own safety…..We will call you again when your girl is safe. Don’t worry; we will make sure she is safe. You’re the one I worry about most. Just keep the faith…Two days and I’ll call from this same number….What’s a good time? OK, noon on Wednesday….Talk to you then.”
When Mitch hung the phone up, David spoke, “I’ll bring his friend to my parent ‘place in western Virginia…A little town called Hillsville. It will take us at least a day…Where do we meet you?”
Mitch took a map of the east coast out of his back pocket. He opened it up and studied it for a minute and then he pointed to a location on the map. David looked over Mitch’s shoulder and nodded his head. Then he said, “OK, we will be there just before you call Cecil back, Lord willing and the ‘creek don’t rise.’ Let’s go guys.”
David and his small team exited the cabin and loaded the Camaro. A half hour later they were on the road to Virginia.
Mitch, Juan and Rick continued to work on the logistics of their plan. Mitch and Juan thought that maybe they could recruit a few more trustworthy soldiers to assist them in their mission. They called several men whom they thought were trustworthy and lived in the area. A dozen or more said they would meet with the team in York by the next day.
Two days later…………………….Washington DC
Sidney Leonard was invited into the Oval Office where Jeremiah Issachar sat at his desk looking at news clippings from the riots all over the country. Issachar shook his head and turned the computer off as the Chief of Staff entered the room and sat in a chair near the President’s desk.
Issachar looked up and said, “Sidney, all the things we put in place and still Los Angeles is a mess……and Chicago? What is next?”
“We now can see that you can’t handle this. We, Horace, Dr. Hocks and I, have decided that we will handle this situation from here on. In other words, you are our face but we are really the ones running the country.”
“With all due respect, Sidney, but is that legal?”
“You should know by now…We don’t care if it’s legal but it is what we are going to do.”
“Then, what will you do to me? Get me assassinated? And blame it on the Tea Part again?”
“You need not worry. We will keep you around for a while. By the way, how’s that sweet wife of yours. Have you seen her today? And your son?”
“You….You didn’t do anything to….my family. I’ll….”
“Don’t worry; they are coming to see you, right now. We are making plans for you three for the night. You will be under house arrest. The Secret Service will make sure you don’t go anywhere or talk to anyone. No one in the country but a few of us will know what’s going on, including the SS.”
“Sidney, you won’t get away with this. I assure you. There are still some good people in this country that won’t allow this to happen.”
“Enough said. Your family is coming, now”
Several Secret Service agents escorted Abby and Josh into the Oval Office. Abby had no idea what was happening so she asked, “Jerry, Mr. President, what is this all about?”
“Dear, ask Sidney. He says he’s in charge, now. He and Horace Jenkins.”
Abby gasped and screamed, “What!!”
Sidney grabbed Abby’s harm and pulled her over near the President’s desk and he spoke, “You and your husband are under house arrest for high treason against the United States. We are taking over the country for the countries own protection. This man, Jeremiah Issachar, and you are conspiring against the government.”
“Jerry, what is this all about? Is this a joke or something? Some kind of prank? What did we do?”
Leonard turned around and walked toward the door. He stopped and turned back toward the President and his family. He spoke to Cecil who was leading the Secret Service team, “Take them to the residence and lock them in. Guard every window and door. No one is to enter or leave without permission from Horace or myself. Go, now!”
Cecil and his team surrounded the Issachar family and Cecil gently grabbed the President’s arm and escorted him out into the hallway. The rest of the agents ushered Abby carrying her son. Cecil opened the Presidential residence and everyone was led inside. One agent stayed outside and locked the front door.
Issachar turned to look at Cecil and questioned him with his eyes. Cecil nodded his head and escorted Jeremiah to the guest room in the back of the residence leaving Abby and Josh in the living area with several agents.
Cecil called back down the hall to the other agents, “Hey, they want me to speak to the President. We’ll be back in a few minutes. Make the Mrs. comfortable for now.”
“OK, we’ve got it covered,” an agent answered from down the hall.
Issachar entered the guest room and Cecil followed. The President asked, “Cecil, what are you going to do…beat it out of me? What is all of this about?”
“Sir, calm down.” Cecil pulled out a note pad and pen from his inside pocket and wrote. He handed the note to Jeremiah. The President smiled and shook his head. They both turned around and exited the guest room.
Jeremiah walked back into the living area and found Abby still standing and holding Josh with tears streaming down her face. He pulled her close and embraced his wife and Josh for several minutes.
Issachar spoke to Abby, “Everything will be OK. I guarantee you. Trust me.”
“Abby mumbled, “Jerry, I love you.”
Abby set Josh down on the couch and sat next to him. Josh asked, “Mommy, why is Daddy home? Are we going home to the yellow house with two bathrooms?”
Abbey covered her face and began to weep. Jeremiah sat next to Abby and did his best to comfort her. He said, “Abby, I love you.”
Abbey turned quickly and looked at her husband with a startled look. “Jerry, you haven’t said that to me in years. What do we do? Are they going to…?”
“Abby, no…just be patient. Josh, look at Daddy.”
Josh looked at his Dad.
“We are going to find the yellow house, OK? The one with the two bathrooms.”
“Daddy, don’t lie to me…”
“I mean it this time, Josh. Please, believe me….Please.”
Abby looked at Josh and he looked back and then the six year old spoke, “I believe you this time, Daddy. But Mommy, I’m hungry.”
Abby and Jeremiah laughed, and lovingly gazed at each other. The President pulled his wife close and kissed her.
Cecil gave the signal and the President and his family were quickly led toward the back door.
