Sor (Voodoo Guardians #29)

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Mr. President, it’s nice to hear from you,” said Luke. He was lying through his teeth but trying to be respectful to the man. “You’re calling on our private line, so I have to assume that this is important.”

“Luke, it’s always a pleasure seeing you boys. Yes, it’s important. Isn’t it always?” he said with a chuckle.

“I suppose it is, sir.”

“Luke, rumor has it that you boys might be headed into a dangerous situation. Now, I don’t know what that dangerous situation is, and of course, the U.S. government can’t take part in that dangerous situation, but I’d sure like to know that it’s all handled.”

Luke, Cam, Hex, and Eric stared at one another, shaking their heads.

“Sir, why would you think we’re headed into a dangerous situation? As you can see, we’re right here,” said Luke.

“Luke, I’m not an idiot. Y’all got more boys on your team than I do here in the White House. Listen, China was kind enough to tell me that you tipped them off about their issue. I can’t say I agree with how they handled it. Hanging and decapitating men isn’t my cup of tea. But. They did handle it. I know there are other areas with the same issues.”

“You knew?” asked Cam. The president was silent for a moment, just staring at the men.

“Yes. I knew,” he said calmly.

“And you did nothing?” asked Eric.

“I know you think I should send people to handle every issue across the world, but I don’t have that kind of manpower or funding.”

“You could have called us before it got to this point. There are children being used, and one military man was already killed over this,” said Luke.

“Yes. I suppose I could have, but I’ve been getting a lot of pressure saying that I’m using private services too frequently.”

“Is that right? Well, do these brainiacs realize that without private services, they’d be up shit’s creek?”

“Sarcasm doesn’t help, Luke.”

“Oh, I disagree,” he said, shaking his head. “It helps me a great deal. See, our fathers, all of us, and our sons have laid down their lives for their country even when we disagreed with some of the bullshit. We didn’t care about politics, who was in office, red or blue, republican or democrat. None of that mattered to us. What mattered was our country.

“Now, you’re calling me telling me that my men might find themselves in a dire situation. Well, I hate to break this to you, Mr. President, but we’re always in dire situations. All the fucking time, thanks to the brain trusts you’ve got in place.”

Cam, Hex, and Eric held their breaths, watching the president’s face as it reddened, staring into the screen. Finally, he let out a long breath and nodded.

“You’re right. But I can’t change their minds on this overnight. All I wanted to say is that you have to do this without anyone knowing or acknowledging that you are from the U.S. We can’t help you if you’re caught behind the lines.”

“When have we ever asked for your help?” said Hex. “No offense, sir, but we’ve never asked for your help other than for information or to run a little interference. What’s really going on here?”

“Sometimes, there are things that can’t be discussed, Hex. Sometimes, governments decide that they’re going to change their government or its leadership and go in a different direction. They need money for that. Lots of money and lots of support.”

“That’s why they want what’s in those caves,” said Eric. “They want the gold and gemstones for an overthrow of the government.”

“Not just that,” said the president. “They’re planning a war on their neighbors.”

“And we’re just going to let that happen?” asked Luke. “We’re going to allow another shit storm to occur in Cambodia and Vietnam?”

“No. No, now, I didn’t say that. All I’m saying is that’s what the money from those caves will be used for. America is not for or against it. We are going to remain neutral on this one.”

“I see,” nodded Luke. “I see it all now. So, if Americans are caught behind the lines, blame will fall to you and your administration. Well, don’t worry, Mr. President. We won’t be caught, and we won’t let them know that Americans were anywhere near their country.”

“I’m glad we understand one another.” The four men stared at one another in disbelief and then back at the screen. “If, theoretically, you were to get the children out, you can’t leave them in Cambodia. It’s my understanding that they would only be taken again. I do wish you good luck in whatever it is you’re not doing.”

Luke just smirked at him, shaking his head.

“Oh, and tell everyone happy holidays for me.” The screen went dark, and Luke looked at the others on his leadership team.

“Am I the only one sick about that call?” he growled.

“Nope. That was a little bothersome, for sure. Maybe it’s time we start distancing ourselves from Uncle Sam. Maybe we only take the things we want with or without the Oval Office’s permission,” said Eric.

“I think we need to meet. All of us. After this is done. In the meantime, see if we can find a place for them to take those damn kids once we’re out. Let Hiro know, and he can help from that end,” said Luke, standing.

“Where are you going?” asked Hex.

“I think I need to have a conversation with my grandmother. She and the president often have their own little fireside chats. I’m wondering what she’s told him.”

“Grandma? Grandma, where are you?” he called out as he entered the Sugar Lodge.

“I’m right here. Stop your yellin’!”

“I’m not yelling,” said Luke, gritting his teeth. His father, Ghost, and Nine were standing beside his grandmother.

“What’s wrong?” asked Ghost.

“I’m not sure. Grandma, when was the last time you spoke to the president?” he asked. Ghost looked at Irene and Nine, shaking his head, knowing that something was wrong. Gaspar stared at his mother.

“Mama, answer Luke, please.”

“You boys are exhausting sometimes. I speak on a regular basis with the president as a sort of counsel for him. We talk about food, children, sometimes politics.”

“Grandma.”

“What do you want to know, Luke?” she said, taking a seat.

“Did you tell the president that our team was headed to Cambodia?” Gaspar jerked his head toward his mother.

“Tell me you didn’t expose these men, Mama,” he said.

“I did not. I did not tell him any such thing. He brought up the subject of strange things happening in their country. He said children were disappearing at an alarming rate, and it was thought there would be a government overthrow soon. I told him someone should go in and get them children out.”

“Jesus, Mama!” said Gaspar, pushing his hands through his hair. “Don’t you understand how this works? Everything is subtle. Everything is below the surface. He plants a thought in your head. You plant a thought in his head. You cannot have these conversations with the president and not expect that he won’t use us. Use the men and women on this team.”

“Alright. Alright, I understand. Did I put the boys in any danger?”

“No. I don’t think you did, Grandma, but you did make the president believe he shouldn’t use us as often.”

“Well, now, that’s just crazy. I never said that,” she huffed.

“I didn’t say it was you. Like Dad said, it’s a thought or idea that gets planted in his head. How did the two of you become friends anyway?” asked Luke.

“How? Boy, I’ve been friends with every president for the last fifty years. When your sons are saving the world for your country, you get to know their commander in chief. They started to get to know me and liked what I said and how I said it. Sometimes, when you’re a man or woman in power like that, people aren’t always as honest as they should be with you.”

“Grandma, you just have to be careful, okay? I know you meant well and had no idea what was happening, but the president did.”

“Well. My apologies,” she said, kissing his cheek.

“Did you just apologize?” frowned Gaspar.

“Don’t test me, Gaspar. I’ve said I’m sorry a whole bunch of times in my life. This was an honest, innocent mistake. It won’t happen again.”

“Fifty years, huh?” smirked Ghost. “What were they like?”

“Oh, now, see, those are stories I can’t tell,” she smirked. “Cheaters, liars, cross-dressers, even pretenders to be a certain party when they’re really another party. One day, I’ll leave it all in a book for y’all to decide what to do with it. But not today. Let’s go. We got work to do.”

She walked away, instructing some of the other seniors on where to place things or move them.

“Everything okay, Luke?” asked Nine.

“Yeah. I think it will be. I’m just not sure we can trust the president as much as we thought. This one might get ugly. I just want to be sure we get those men home and those kids out of there.” Gaspar nodded at his son, slapping his shoulder.

“Then that’s what we do.”