CHAPTER THIRTY
Although all of the House wasn’t present, there were enough members to handle what needed to be handled. General Abrams was seated in the front row, next to Admiral Chen and General Wykofski. They’d both been briefed on his involvement and were ready to secure him should they need to.
The Speaker stared at his colleagues and looked toward the five men to the side of him. Michael had been especially helpful in crafting the speech that would implicate the two men at the highest seats of power in their nation.
“I appreciate all of you getting here as quickly as possible,” said Manmoth. “The last thirty-six hours have been some of the strangest of my life. I have learned that men that I, that we have trusted with our nation, have secretly been using her as a pawn in their game of power.”
Murmurs of displeasure and concern swept across the room, but Abrams didn’t budge. The look of condescension and assuredness told them he thought he was untouchable.
“In this room are at least five men who have betrayed this country in ways that seem unfathomable. They have placed our men and women in uniform in danger. They have abused their authority, taken advantage of their status, and worse. We are a nation that has always stood up for those in need. These men twisted this, taking advantage of the weak, stealing their resources, hoarding them to use for their own gain.”
That made the POTUS squirm in his seat. He stood, slamming a hand down on the desk in front of him.
“For God’s sake, Manmoth, get to the point.” Manmoth swallowed, nodding at the older man.
“Of course. I’d like to present the evidence that our own president, vice president, General Abrams, Jamal Buckner, and several other high-ranking officials schemed to deprive our South American neighbors of their own resources.”
The loud cries and calls for action, some for dismissal, were overwhelming, but Manmoth stood his ground. He began listing off the crimes, showing the proof on the screen overhead. When the room claimed that the documents could have been forged, Michael Bodwick, former president, stood and took the stand.
The room grew eerily quiet, staring at their former leader, who didn’t look a day older.
“Allow me, Mr. Speaker.” He placed the device near the microphone and played the recorded conversations that the tech team had pulled from various phones. The conspiracy, the deception, ran deep.
General Abrams squirmed in his seat, then abruptly stood.
“I’m not going to be a part of this witch hunt,” he said, turning to leave. Admiral Chen nodded at the MPs, who immediately took his arm, leading him from the House floor. One by one, the dominoes fell.
It would be days before the dust settled, and the Speaker placed as the temporary POTUS until Congress could ratify it. There was no doubt that the others had committed major crimes against their own country.
“Michael, I’ve got you on speed dial,” said Manmoth. Micheal laughed, shaking his head.
“You won’t need me, Wayne. You’re a good man, and you know what’s right and what’s wrong. I’ll be here for you if you need me but trust your gut and choose men and women around you that you know you can trust. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
“Gee, thanks,” he smirked. “Seriously. Thank you all for what you’ve done. I won’t forget it.”
“Our pleasure, sir,” said Ghost.
“What about Leon? Have we heard anything?” he asked.
“You won’t have to worry about Leon. We can guarantee that.”
As they left the House, the sun was shining on D.C. There was a cold north wind, but with the sun, you hardly noticed. They walked along the mall, silently shuffling their feet against the gravel of the path. When they reached the WWII memorial, they paid their respects and then moved on to the Vietnam Wall and the Korean War Memorial.
At the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, they turned and took in the spectacular view of the pool, the memorials, the Washington Monument, and, in the distance, the capitol. Nine began to speak.
“In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”
“You memorized that?” asked Ghost. Nine nodded.
“I don’t want any temples or shrines. I just want one fucking honest politician. Is that too much to ask for?” Michael looked at his old friends.
“I’m afraid it might be,” he said, staring at the men. “It just might be.”