When we got off the plane, we were met by three men from Miami. Not one of them gave the traditional Italian greeting which immediately pissed me off. I looked at little John to see what his face showed, but I saw nothing.
“Where's that son of a bitch from Kansas City?”
“He couldn't make it, he's up there planning war on your lab.”
“He won't blow it. It'll take out too much of that neighborhood.”
“I think otherwise, that's why I'm here. You just admitted to me it's yours.”
“Yes, it's ours.”
“You built it without permission. Excuse me for a moment, I'll be calling all the other families in for trial.”
“What
the hell for!
Little John flipped out his cell phone and dial his phone. When it was answered, he said one word. “Sundown”. He then redialed and then “Shadows”.
He said, “I want your video and I want all the proof you have of what happened up there.”
“We
have no video.”
Little John said, “That's the second lie you've told me since I've been on the ground. One more and I will kill you myself and give your fair city to this woman over here.”
The man look at him and said, “Since when did our organization start fraternizing with women?”
“When I decided. She's the first and I can well guarantee you she'll run this place better than you.”
“My guys won't follow her.”
I started walking to their limo. Their driver opened the door for me. As I got in, I saw they were following me.
As soon as they got into the car, little John said, “That's three lies. You just followed her yourself.” His eye were smiling.
“Who the fuck is she?”
“It's not of your concern. Be thinking of reparations I can give them for your lies and deceit.”
“They didn't ask, they told me to get the fuck out. No one tells me to get out of my own place!”
“It wasn't yours. You were there with permission. They went to Charleston and they got permission. Did you call Charleston when you were told to get out?”
“No”
“Then where did you follow the rules? You chose to believe because you weren't called that you were still welcome. By the way, that's your fourth lie. We will now be planning on your absence after trial.”
He looked down and dialed his phone. “Monsoon” he said into it.
He looked back up and said, “Your organization is about to experience something I never thought would happen. Your organization just got given to Kansas City. He turned and looked at me and said, “It's yours. Get your people down here.”
“Who the fuck is this!”
Little John nodded to me and I hauled off and slugged the guy. “Let me introduce myself to you, motherfucker. When you greet someone, you ALWAYS greet them with the Italian greeting. If I'd had permission, I would have hit you then.
Who the fuck I am is Little Gino. Head of Kansas City. You've lied and I'll kill you myself when this is over.”
“You'll
never take it.” he said panicked.
“I just did. Because of your stupidity, I've got to get people down here and I've got to claim it.”
“Rhette, sit back.”
I sat back.
“He will die and I promise you can do it.”
“Good. I'll get you the recording of the conversation between Dave and he where he was requested to get out.”
“I already have it. Dave was asked for everything involving this mess when I spoke with him earlier. I expected treachery, but nothing to the extent it's happened so far.” He looked at the men and said, “Which one of you are his right hand man?”
“They're my guards.”
“That's the last lie. I will speak with you no more. Which one of you are his right hand men because if he told you to come onto the tarmac with him to greet me, I'll kill you both. No one is greeted by guards!”
They looked nervous.
“Little Gino, just as soon as we get to where we're going, we'll be greeted by my men down here. They'll have taken over his operations. We will then watch the video my men are shooting of the explosion up there. They've got a special video to show this man of his man up there screaming like a bitch and confessing more of this man's treachery.”
He looked at the man and said, “Your man is confessing now to figures and totals which are like nothing you've reported. Little Gino's videos and heat signatures showed me the true size of your operation there. You weren't given permission to build that. For that, you jeopardized this whole operation.
IF he can find it on his screens, I'm surprised the feds never found it. I'm supposing they never looked there because it's an elite neighborhood. When it's blown, those people will be asking for answers of which none will come because you will be dead.”
We pulled into a warehouse. It stopped and the driver got out and came around.
“Little Gino, wait in here with me until these men are taken away. You three, get out and get taken to the spot where we will have trial.”
“You can't do this!” the boss screamed.
“You too scream like a bitch when you know it is over. My men are already here. They've already taken your forces peacefully. If you listened, you heard no bullets bouncing off the windshield of this car which would have told me my men hadn't succeeded. Get out and I won't tell you again.”
The three moved and little John put his hand upon my knee. The door shut and he locked it.
“I will give you this city. It saddens me, but the final asset he possessed was the key to it. You will need to get David down here and give it to him to run. I hope this doesn't upset your plans too much.”
“We have no men down here and no structure. We'll be slaughtered.”
“My men have been infiltrating for nine years. They gave me a loyalty pledge before they gave him it. I will bring them to trial and formally charge them, but as I said, it's a formality. What I will do is I will meet with them and tell them I will absolve their disloyalty if they will pledge it to you.”
“Ok, where are we heading now?”
“We're not. We're going upstairs and we're going to watch the explosions which will be caught on camera and given to CNN. Steve has been coached as to what he will do because we need him to say all of our forces are his elite operations.”
“How are you going to explain the financial part of it?”
“A very wealthy benefactor is paying for them. That benefactor, on paper, will be that man who will die with his head cut off.”
“Damn, I didn't bring my other suit of clothes.”
He chuckled and said, “You won't get bloody.”
“I want to do it.”
“It's out of your hands. I promised it to someone else.”
“Ok”
“Your boundaries are Miami and three hundred miles north. That's it.”
“Ok”
“I wish that man had agreed so easily and kept his word. Tampa gets the honor of doing the deed for lands this man has taken and used to set up another lab without permission on those lands.”
“OH man.”
“Yeah, I regret you can't do it, but you've not been injured as much as Tampa. In a moment, Tampa will be in here. Assure the man this isn't your normal appearance so he will get to know you in the future without the disguise.”
“Let me call Dave and get him down here.”
“He's been made aware. He's been told what Monsoon entails and is coming. My man up there is named Steven too. We'll have to find a way to differentiate the two so there's no confusion.”
“Mine's named Steve. Steven can keep his name. Mine won't do anything with this operation except what he's allowed. I think it will keep it seperate.”
He nodded and said, “I'm sorry how this has went. I know it's sudden, but your men are celebrating.” He patted my knee again and said, “You know, you're enough to have me thinking about finding someone. Gino was a lucky man.”
“Steve is now. Gino let me go.”
“Yes, and do you know my dad even thought that was a bad move?”
“Really?”
“Yes.” He said, “That one Gino had will come back to bite him if he's not careful. But I knew it was different than that. I just didn't expect you to take this long coming back.”
“I didn't want to come back now. I didn't want to owe anyone anything.”
“And you don't. Consider what we've done favors returned and not granted.”
“For what?”
“For keeping the problem area under one rule for so long. For taking another problem and making it better. And for future sanity down here.
I'll let you know now, this area here is going to take every trick you two have up your sleeves. It's infested with so many who are trying to get footholds.”
“We'll be working on it. It might be messy for a while, but we'll be gaining holds.”
“I have complete confidence, that's why I made the decision to go ahead and give it to you.
I'll tell you now, you're going to be viewed with more respect than even I. This hasn't been done previously.”
“I know. I'll get a handle put on this. I need to ask a question.”
“What is it?”
“Can I recruit?”
“Whom?”
“Anyone and everyone who we can use.”
“Don't put them in positions of power without my permission.”
I nodded and said, “I think it will work now. What I will do is ask I have one that's up under David so they will know. I will make that selection myself and then bring the person to you.”
“I trust your judgement. I'll give approval when you bring the person, but please select wisely.”
“Oh, I will. I know what we face if I don't.”
We heard gunshots. I saw the two go down.
“It is happening. When I get the knock, I'll let him in. I think you will be surprised at who it is.”
“I have a feeling.”
“Give me your thought.”
“He can't cook worth a fuck and he's already seen how I'll protect my men.”
He laughed and said, “You are too observant.”
“I know who Gino hired and it wasn't that man. When he said Gino hired him, I thought for a moment I was mistaken, but I know I never met this man. When it's combined with the menu selection, I hope he learned a thing or two from me on what his men need fed before he ever needs to go to war.”
“What did he do?”
“We had this planned for Monday morning. He's feeding them greasy food today and had it planned to feed them it again tomorrow.”
“Oh man!”
“Yes, I told him if he insisted on feeding my men it tomorrow, he would be hauling that chow buggy back to Tampa without feeding a thing and I'd have it catered.”
He laughed and said, “I bet he realized he had you pissed.”
“It made no sense, so we quickly formulated a menu I would approve and then I started giving him cooking advice.”
“I hope he uses it. They use that chow buggy for a lot down here.”
“I imagine they do. What I will be doing is creating ways I can gain goodwill amongst the locals here.”
“I think you'll gain it. I can see the wheels turning.”
“Was David suspecting this would happen?”
“No. My decision got made when he kept lying. You will see David is a person you can trust, but it is wise not to trust anyone.”
“I don't like this feeling, but once I know I can trust him, I'll be better.”
“And me?”
“And you what?”
“Do you trust me?”
“I will see. You've made promises and those remain to be seen.”
“I'll get your trust.”
“Let's hope.”
“You've gained a lot of territory in one day. I'll arrange a meeting with St. Louis.”
“Let me ask one thing. When you bring them to me, do NOT bring anyone by the name of Michaels unless it's little Jimmy. I'll work with him, but tell the elders to go to a nursing home because I will NOT work with them.”
“What are your feelings there?”
“Too much animosity. They're not related. It's that part of me studying history and remembering all too much.”
“I was afraid it was feelings carrying over from Kevin's cellmate.”
“No. Big David did cell with him, and he did teach Kevin prison ways, but his tutilage didn't help Kevin.
Speaking of that, I will be bringing in someone from the outside for Springfield, Missouri.”
“Ok, care to elaborate?”
“Yes, His name is Tiny Ray. We were friends in prison. He's gay, but that's not an issue. What is an issue is the man took being stabbed nine times so I could go home unharmed.”
“Oh man!”
“Yes, so I want to reward that loyalty. I know that leopard never changed his spots and I know he will be someone who will make wise choices.”
“Keep him close. He's demonstrated his loyalty.”
“That's why I want him in.”
“Ok. Please bring the man to me when you bring him in. I want to meet him.”
“I will.”
“You're going to need a jet. I'll arrange for yours to be made.”
“When you do, have it painted to match my new Rolls.”
He chuckled and said, “I have a feeling those will be your colors.”
“I like the combination, but the two remind me of the colors when I think of Gino's home.”
“Come to think of it, you're right!”
“He got me all of this, so I'm repaying in little ways...even if it is symbolic.”
“Your loyalty to him is amazing.”
“It was love, not loyalty.”
He nodded and we heard the knock on the roof of the car. Little John opened the door and in got the cook. He smiled at me and said, “This is a surprise!”
“Yes, now my men can eat!”
He laughed and said, “I knew my cover was blown when you told me to pack up and get out.”
“It was safe until he told me I would be surprised who it was. “You're the only person I know from Tampa.”
“Then you need to get to our city more often.”
“It's beautiful, but I've already got three football teams I'll have to put up against yours.”
He laughed really loud.
“Well, I'm at a significant disadvantage.”
“Ooh, don't let your fans hear you!”
“I....I...I didn't mean it that way!” he said laughing a nervous laugh. “I meant three to one.”
Little John said, “In that case, mine is better than any of yours.”
I looked at him and said, “You're wise if you utilize that too.”
He nodded and said, “I see what you mean.” He looked across at the cook and said, “Rhette was teaching me what makes his people so special. A whole lot of things are becoming clear what I need to do in my own city. You'll be wise to take lessons from him.”
“I already have seen some things which really make me impressed. The way he went to bat for his men is one of them. He didn't step out of my ass until he knew I would give them what he wanted. After that, I thought about how I would have been and I realized I'd done what I was going to do to his men several times. That will change.
One other thing I see is how his men are a part of his family. He looks at them as family and sees no lines. All of his men see that and they pull up to him like a cat which is purring. Even his pilot is willing to come out of his jet and kill for him!”
Little John nodded and said, “I need to pay more attention to details. Rhette sees a problem and takes care of it immediately.”
I said, “I hope with all this extra territory, I'll be able to demonstrate to you the other way I'll handle them. It's not that much per month, so I'll have to do it in order to stay in close contact with everyone.”
“I think I'll ask to be put on your list so I can attend the meetings. I'd like to see how it works so I can get a grasp before I make it wide spread.”
“It will work. I do know that. I'll need that jet to get in and out of cities so I can keep up morale.”
He nodded and said, “I'm going to start that too. You've given me a lot of homework.” he said looking down. He looked up and said, “I'd like for you to become a little brother to Rhette. I know he'll be attentive to you and I think you two will build up your areas together where they're strong bonds.”
The cook said, “I'd be happy.”
I asked, “You'll be able to run your organization from up home?”
“Yes, mine is a small operation.”
“We'll change that, you've got a lot of good territory. A lot of it is utilizing your investments and getting invested in what you're controlling.”
“We have little money.”
“Why? You've got a port and you've got at least three major cities.”
“We had a bad shake up.”
“Then what we'll need to do is to empower your men to feel free to cultivate your boundaries so it's brought in profitable.”
He nodded and said, “I'll have to ask your assistance.”
“No problem. What I'll do is get you in on our web conferences and what I'll do is start getting you on my stops as well as David's.”
“That's another thing I really respect about you. Your relationship with David has shown me how close you keep him.”
“I've empowered him because I know he's smarter in business than me. What I want you to do for your homework is to find yourself a good accountant, a good lawyer, and a good businessman in your organization. You keep your muscle and we'll use those people to build your organization.”
Little John said, “I'll do the same.”
“What you need to do too is you need to start cultivating your turf for some people who are strong in the other ethnics. Yes, you need those men, but if you can draw in from the others, you'll find you've gained from them and their strength is now a part of yours. Those men will talk and they'll speak to the other groups and undermine their base of support. That's what I'm going to do here.
What I've got to do now is I've got to get this area better financially. I'll pull in ordinances and lend it to them, but they're going to have to pay me back.”
“You need to look at this area as a part of yours.”
“No, it's like you looking at New York as yours and all the rest as yours. You delegate authority, as do we. It's what makes us strong, however this area can't be seen as part of Kansas City because if they do, they'll lose their identity. For me to do that wouldn't be fair to either Kansas City, or Miami. I'll treat them each as children, but that's it.”
He nodded and said, “I'm now seeing what you're doing. I hope I've not made a mistake in giving you this territory.”
“What does that mean?”
“You've got six areas now under you. That's a base of support that could take me out.”
“Bullshit. I gave you my loyalty and support and you're now suspecting I'll be a liar. That's unwise on your part.”
He smiled and said, “I didn't mean to offend you. I'm guessing I'm feeling insecure because I'm seeing where your strengths are.”
“That's understandable, but what you will learn from me is how to manage better and increase your power. Did you mistrust a teacher in grade school?”
“No”
“Then look at me as teaching you as if you were a lad again. You'll learn newer and better and together, we'll rise to be more powerful than ever before. The one thing we must do is not get so set in our ways the new ways become suspect. If we do that, then we're no better than those dinosaurs you're going to have to replace.”
“I'm now understanding what I've got to do. It makes more sense.”
“Well, let's get out of this car and go see what I've gotten myself into.”
He laughed and said, “You're really interesting to me. You teach and then you sound like a mother.”
“Me-maw taught me well. Gino thought he had the power, but I knew she ruled through her little humming and the way she pursed her lips. If she gave that man any sign she wasn't happy, he knew he was in for a world of hurt until things were back to rights.”
He chuckled and said, “My grandmother was the same. My dad was all flash, but when he got home, he was still her son. Maybe we should turn this thing over to the old women.”
“If you do, all the young Italian guys we bring in will be stripping!”
They roared with laughter and he said, “I imagine so!”
We got out of the car and I asked, “Why a warehouse?”
“They chose this.”
“Well, it's got to change.”
“Change it, but don't be too obvious.”
“I'll probably find a penthouse like out in San Diego. We can run operations from here, but all the main power will be there.”
“I like that out there. You need to go see him.”
“I know. It's been too long.”
As soon as he made the statement, I knew he knew about Lance's condition.
We walked over to the offices and up into the board room. In a hallway, I ran my finger over a window ledge and came back with nothing but dust and shook my head in disgust. CNN was on showing the black smoke rising from the island.
“We've got to get home soon. Let's watch that video.”
We watched the video and then we continued to watch reports from the area. At least five times in fifteen minutes, I saw Steve on the news. It seemed the camera man was following him wherever he went. What made me proudest was the look on Steve's face. I knew he was worried because his eyes were squinting some, but his back remained straight. The best shot of the whole day, I thought, was one of Randy's girls running up to him crying and him picking her up.
“I'm scared.” she said with her finger in her mouth.
“It'll be alright. I'm here.”
I turned with tears in my eyes and said, “Buy me that footage. That's what we're going to run as one of his ads.”
“It's your footage. The camera man is one of yours from Kansas City.” he said with tears in his eyes. He looked at me as a tear ran down his cheek and said, “I could run that man for President right now and he'd get it. You need to call him and tell him to make the announcement tomorrow he's running for Governor and criticize the Governor for his slow response.”
“Ok, we'll need to do it subtly with a sign on his chest or something. I don't want him seen as using people's misery for his betterment.”
“I'm going to make some calls and tell the DEA, FEMA and FBI to start referring to Steve in all their comments in a favorable light.”
“What are we going to do about getting them having someone to pin this on?”
“The man's head and hands are being sent to Washington so they can use it to pin it to him. No mention of where he's from will be made.”
“Ok, but refer to him as a major underworld drug manufacturer. I'll tell Steve to make a statement about him stamping it out in his area and apologizing to his citizens for not knowing it's there.
You get someone who is notable on CNN to corroborate how grow houses are in average neighborhoods and most law agencies are fooled so he's not looking like an idiot. Then, you get me a grow house not too far away we can be seen as busting.”
“Man, you're putting this together.”
“I need to hit hard and have those people up there seeing he's doing something. What we'll need is someone that's a neighbor who acting upon what he heard on CNN and reporting it to the Sheriff. We need a hero in this that's an average citizen.....hold on, get Andrew to do it!”
Little John was smiling and said, “You're orchestrating this thing like it was your whole plan.”
“Yeah, but if we can keep a momentum, it's not going to be yesterday's news tomorrow and history by Thursday. I want us to get a good week from this because that's how long it would take for us to recover from a hurricane.
You tell CNN to keep that man live as often as possible for the next three days and then get me a grow house he can bust on Tuesday which will get him a new ignition of fire up there. I want the FBI to be left scratching their heads and saying their scans with their copters for heat didn't even turn up anything so it's not pointing fingers at Steve as being inept. Then, you get neighbors around that house who are being seen saying “the people who lived there look average and we didn't even suspect.””
“Oh man, this is going to be good.”
“We need to get home. I want Steve to be on a dozer by Thursday with a camera man filming and Steve saying that road much be rebuilt. That will get us a tie in to roads for his campaign.”
“Holy Shit! I see how you're doing it now!”
“Yeah, I want the average Joes to be watching him take control and I want them to be nodding their heads in agreement. IF we can get a whole state to doing that, then we'll have the good old boys eating their hatred when they find out he's gay. Because their friends will turn it back on them. I'll stay in the background seen comforting some of the elderly. Tell the camera man to get me footage of it all on CNN. I'll get the votes of all the fringes.”
“Ok, we'll get it done. I think we need to get you back up home. You're going to be running my ass ragged down here.” he chuckled.
We went down and got in the limo. The bodies were already taken away, but the bloodstains remained.
When we got to the airport, little John tapped my arm and said, “That jet there is just like the one you'll be getting.”
“It's beautiful.”
“Yes, I think mine will be one when I replace it. The value of them are amazing.”
“Good. I hope not having an American made jet will not bite me later.”
“Boeing's not going to say anything because they're in on that endeavor.”
“Good.”
We flew out and then I turned to the cook. “You would have had to left right after us!”
“Yes.”
“You could have flown down with us and it would have saved fuel.”
“No, it was meant to be as a surprise, but when we get up there, don't let my identity out.”
“I won't, but I've a question.”
“What is it?”
“Tomorrow, you're going to have help in your trailer. She's a woman who is my beautician. I need to find a nice older man for her. I have a feeling she's well aware of the family, but I want to find her someone.”
Little John said, “How do you know she's aware of the family?”
“She made mention to the Charleston family.”
“What's her name?”
“June.”
“Ok, she's a widow.”
“She said she was divorced.”
“Yes, but he's now dead. She should be on benefits. If she's not, let me know.”
“Ok, I'll casually ask.”
The cook said, “Maybe I could be more better to find out. She won't view me as someone who is in any position.”
“Ok, I appreciate it.”
As we flew, little John was calling people and giving them orders to fulfill what I was wanting. When he got off the phone once, he chuckled and said, “That man said he's dealt with a lot of campaign managers, but this campaign manager is better than what he's dealt with before because of the amount of orchestrating.”
“I love him. I've got his best interests at heart.”
I dialed the phone and called Rose, “Hello?”
“Hi, what I need you to do is get a bunch of elderly together, both black and white so I can have a photo op with Steve when we get back.”
“He's rather busy right now.”
“I know. It's my camera man that's on him and getting him all over CNN.”
“Really!”
“Yeah, so what we need is that photo op so we can garner the elderly vote in the elections.”
“Ok! I never thought of that. If we can make them a star on CNN, they'll remember and then when we show that ad, they'll be a star again on the commercials.”
“Yes, and we've already got the footage of him with Randy's little girl.”
“What happened?”
I told her and she said, “Oh hon, I've not seen it but it's brought tears to my eyes.”
“It's one of those moments which just happened.”
Little John tapped my arm and said, “Tell her it will be on CNN at the top of the hour. We're running it for the next eight hours.”
“Did you hear that?”
“No.”
“He said he spoke to CNN and they're running that spot at the top of the hour for the next eight hours.”
“Ok, I'll watch it. Tell him thank you.”
“She said Thank you.”
“Tell her she's welcome for giving you someone you can love that much.”
“I heard him.”
I got off the phone and little John said, “I've got a house for you. Ray over here will get those plants in and get it looking like a real grow house. When you get a chance, you get that kid out there being seen in the neighborhood by a neighbor and then we'll get him see talking to Steve on that live shot. Then, on Tuesday, after the bust, we'll have Steve do a quick photo op with him being labeled a local hero because he told. I'll get you people Steve can be seen arrested who will be the ones responsible for it. We'll do that on Friday to stir it up again. Then, we're going to have the Sheriff down in the county down there get a report about that lab and be seen with the FBI and the DEA going in. I made that deal so we can get those guys to give Steve equal billing on everything. They'll be doing photo ops on live shots and press conferences so Steve's face stays out there.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. It gets rid of our problem and it helps you. It's worth it.”
“You're sure it can't be tied to Miami?”
“I'm sure. The county records are being changed now. The man is being listed as coming from that address up there.”
“Ok, that will make it tidy because then the FBI can't find anything.”
When the plane landed, little John said, “We'll wait to get off. You go ahead and get off.”
I looked at him strange, but figured he had business to discuss with the cook. When I got to the bottom of the steps, I saw Steve running to me. He swooped me up into his arms with a huge embrace. I saw the camera filming us and asked, “What the fuck?”
“Photo ops hon” he whispered in my ear.
“I'm in drag!”
“Yeah, we're doing what we can to snag the red necks and have them saying you're hot and I'm a lucky man. They'll jack off thinking about you and then when they find out you're a guy, they'll have doubts about themselves.”
“Ok, I'll play along and give them the strut.”
We went over to his patrol car and said something to the camera. Then he came around and got in and drove us out of there.
“I just told the camera and everyone you were already flying in and I had given you my word I would be picking you up, so I had to keep my word no matter what. I also told them I would fill you in on the situation as I took you home.”
“Good, now I'll be insisting on going downtown to where your mom is to comfort people.”
“Huh?”
“I called your mom and told her to get a group of black and white elderly together so we could comfort elderly. It will get their votes later.”
“Oh man, you're thinking of it all!”
“Hon, the best one was when you picked up Randy's little girl. It had all of us wiseguys with tears in our eyes.”
“Really!”
“Yeah.”
“That wasn't even supposed to happen. As it turned out, it was the crowd that had scared her.”
“Well, it's going to be one of your ads and then we're going to tell the adults of the state you comforted them too when you were handling the situation. Then we'll say with an announcer, “For Six Days, Sheriff Steve Jackson handled himself in a manner which the Governor did not.” Then, we're going to have you make an announcement tomorrow criticizing how the Governor hasn't acted as fast as he should have. What you don't know is the Governor is being told to stay the fuck away.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, we're orchestrating things behind the scenes you have no idea.”
“Like what?”
“The feds area all being told whenever they make statements to praise you and talk you up. They're going to be out here in photo ops with you as you're entirely too busy to talk to them otherwise. Then, when they do have press conferences, you're going to be there and you're going to be deferred to.”
“Man!”
“Yeah, it's going to make you look like the man in charge. Little John said he could run you for President right now and get it for you. He's pushing buttons as fast as I can. Together, we're on this for you hon.”
“So this is going to run for six days?”
“Yeah, right now, we're getting a grow house put together. Sometime, Andrew will be seen by the neighbors and then he's going to come up to you on camera someplace and be seen telling you something. On Tuesday, you'll bust that house on camera and then, you're going to make him a local hero on the air.”
“Wow!”
“Yeah, right after that, CNN will have someone who is an authority on there speaking and saying how you couldn't possibly know about those things because that's the way the drug manufacturers work.
Then, we're going to have the FBI say they never even saw the grow house on their scans of the area and how they would like more citizens to report suspicious activity to their local Sheriff.”
“Man, this is turning into something else!”
“Yeah, but the eyes of the state are upon you and everything after this is going to be reported as something which is your response to making your area safer. With CNN reporting it, you sure know the whole state is going to watch and each one is a free ad for you running for Governor.”
“Ok, Dave and I had a really good talk.”
“Good. Now, I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I got given the Miami area. It shouldn't affect us any because I'm going to put Dave over it. It's going to take some to get it up and running.”
“What happened.”
“Little John had all sorts of information we couldn't get fast. When we got down there, the man didn't kiss him on both cheeks which was a like a face slap to him. Then, he lied repeatedly about everything, but he did admit it was his. What we later found out was there's another huge lab that's in Florida attributed to this man.”
“What they going to do about it?”
“It's going to be discovered and reported. That's what's going to get the DEA and FBI out of here. It's our deal to get them to talk you up to the press.”
“Ok, I'm understanding how this is done a lot better now.”
“Good.”
“So, do you want photo ops?”
“Yeah, I want us seen together for a while. I want us to be seen as working together and us being the ideal couple.”
“Ok, but all the state is going to be amazed at how I'm luckier than hell.”
“They better be looking at me as the lucky one.”
He smiled and held my hand. “I'm going to be doing a few kisses publicly. I want them to see we're affectionate.”
“Ok, now on Thursday, we're going to have you over there on a bulldozer.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to be insisting on those homeowners getting their road back open. It's going to tie you into providing good roads to the state.”
“Ok, that's a good idea.”
“Thanks, now we have to be seen somehow with the disadvantaged youths as you being seen as caring for them.”
“We'll see if I can think of something.”
“I'll see what we can get for a basketball game outdoors. That would look good for a photo op, but wait until I'm out of my dress clothes because I want to be in something which tones it down a lot more.”
“Ok, you're doing amazing.”
“Thanks, I've got some more news, but it can wait. What we'll do is we'll put this to bed right after dark. I do want you to have night shots, but right after that, we'll get home. They'll have some press conferences, but those won't last long. You'll probably be asked to do a lot of news tonight and then I'd say, Larry King will have you on probably Wednesday. If possible, I'll do that with you. It should really be amazing because I think we'll come out there.”
“Ok, I think the quicker we're honest with the public, the better.”
“Me too. What I'm afraid of is them catching wind about me and that news back home.”
“Ask little John to keep it down low. It wouldn't look good if we're seen as being just together. It will look staged.”
“I understand.”
I flipped open my cell phone and called little John.
“Yeah”
“Ok, here's what we need, but you've got to get to CNN and the news back home and tell them to keep my involvement with my beating out of the press. They'll investigate me and this could blow up as being staged.”
“I never thought of that, I'll get on it.”
“On Wednesday, get us on Larry King. It will be good for Steve because we'll have the grow house from Tuesday. What we'll do is we'll come out of the closet on Larry King. By then the good old boys should have whacked off a few rounds.”
He laughed
“With us coming out, everyone's going to see us as normal and him as being a lucky man....when I'm the lucky one. Get the National Enquirer on the phone and tell all them to leave any investigative journalism out of it and give us a favorable slant on being gay. Ok?”
“Sure, that will make you household names and bring the average public to bat for you.”
“Yeah, now, what we're doing is we're going to do a lot of photo ops so everyone can be seeing us as the first couple. Ok?”
“Sure, we're just pulling up to the plantation now.”
“Alright, we'll see you later. I'll be contacting you periodically.”
“I'm getting ahold of some publicity people to throw them together so we can think of more things.”
“We're going to be getting a bunch of youths together so we can get the photo op. I need someone to bring my clothes in from earlier so I can change out sometime.”
“I'll have Alex do it. Your security needs to be around you.”
“I never thought about them. Where are they at?”
“I'm not sure, but they should be there.”
“I really don't like not knowing where they are. This is crazy.
What you can do is you can open a school as an emergency center. Get some food over there and get those kids to playing basketball. We can use that for the photo op. It doesn't matter if there are any displaced people.”
“I'll get it done. You're doing great.”
I rung off and Steve was smiling. “You're brain is going fast. I'm proud of you.”
“Well, it has to look real.”
“It will. You're thinking of things I wouldn't.”
We got out of the car over where they had the road blocked off near the causeway. The position Rose had chosen for the photo op with the elderly was amazing. It showed the smoke rising in the back ground.
I went over to the camera man and said, “You get that shot with the smoke rising and us comforting these elderly. You get close up shots, but you do NOT get my eye socket.”
“I never even noticed.”
“Well make sure they don't either, but I want them to see the tears.”
“Ok, I'll get it.”
“We're playing things fast and if you see anything you think would be a good photo op, you scream it at me. We've got several in mind, but the goal is to get him in the Governor's mansion.”
“Will do.”
I turned around and put the artificial tears in my eyes. When I turned around, they looked genuine. Mascara was running and I knew I'd need to get a new face done before I could do anything else.
When I went over, I began shaking hands with people. A short black lady saw my tears and instantly hugged me. “Baby, it'll be alright!”
“Yes, with him here, we'll be fine.” We turned and looked at the smoke rising and then when we turned back, I turned so my left side was showing and my good eye socket was closest to the camera. The tears were flowing and I hugged her to me again with my head raised. Right behind me was the rising smoke. I heard a camera doing it's snap whir...snap whir...snap whir...(Who knew the fucking thing would end up on the cover of Newsweek? Damn I'm good.)
I continued down the group of elderly and shook hands. When I got to an old man, he said, “It made me think of Pearl Harbor all over again.” By then, the camera man was close and got his comments. I knew it was going to be another moment. I hugged him and said, “Thank you for serving our country.” We parted and he said, “He's a lucky man.”
“I'm the lucky one. You made the world safer for us once, and he'll do it again.”
When I stepped away, the camera man was smiling like you wouldn't believe. “You just got the veterans votes too.”
I walked along the causeway and when I got to the blockade, an FBI man said, “Mrs Jackson, you're cleared to go through if you'd like.” I looked at him strangely and he smirked. “They've got a HUMVEE over there.
“Can I bring this news man?”
“He
can take shots, but if there's a body laying around, he can't show
them. We're not allowing press in yet.”
“Ok” I turned to the camera man and said, “Come on. You're getting them the exclusive.”
He smiled and said, “When we get up there, you put on a show of crying but looking proud. I want this state to feel you're with them emotionally.”
“Ok, I'll think about it as if it were my home that got blown to hell.”
“It was something else. I'll say that. The shock wave from the explosion was enough to knock windows out and set off alarms all over the place.”
“Has CNN reported that?”
“I
don't know.”
“Let me call.”
I called little John. “Yeah”
“Has CNN reported what the shock wave was like? It knocked windows out all over the place and set off house alarms.”
“I'll tell them to report it and find the furthest alarm and have them report that.”
“Ok”
“Thanks, it will give them something to put in as filler. That last scene of you was amazing!”
“The next one's going to be good. We were allowed to go up to the blast zone.”
“What!”
“The FBI cleared me to go through.”
“Ok, well that means our man is working. Good.”
I rung off and said, “The shot you got back on the causeway was awesome.”
“I knew it would be.”
“Keep this up and whatever they're paying you, I'll double.”
“Ok, you got yourself a deal.”
“Get him some really really good shots. I don't care how you do it, but I want him to have shots like you wouldn't believe.”
“We've got a ton of them. I'll get more. This is my specialty.”
“Great. Where are you from?”
“Kansas City, I knew you when you and Tony were together.”
“That was a whole other life.”
“I can tell. You're looking a lot different.”
“Yeah, a lot of plastic surgery.”
“I can tell. When I heard your name, I remembered you, but at first, I thought it was two different people. When you mentioned your eye socket, I instantly knew. What happened?”
“I got beat by four guys back home. It was in the news last week when they got arrested.”
“Ok, I filmed the Sheriff up there. He is a real asshole.”
“Yeah, but he'll not be Sheriff in the next election.”
We pulled up to the blast zone and got out. “I'm going to go back as far as they'll let me and get shots of these trees broken off. You go up there and I'll get a shot of you. Don't be wailing away, but just have tears in your eyes. I'll give you a shot and then, I'm going to take it on past you to the devastation. This is fucking incredible.”
I went up and I heard his footsteps away. I put the artificial tears in my eyes and got ready. He came up and then, he got the shot of me and I shook my head sadly. He went past and I went back towards the HUMVEE. When I got to the HUMVEE, I heard a “Hmmpf” off in the brush. I turned to look and listened for where it came from. My senses were alert because I expected to be shot at any second. Then, I heard “Hmmpf”
“We GOT ONE!”
“What!”
a military man said behind me.
I was already running toward the sound. “Hmmf”
I looked down below a patch of brush and squatted. The patch of brush moved and I saw fur. “Hurry! It's alive!”
I moved the brush. It was one of their dobermans. I lifted it's head. The cameraman came running and the way he was running, I knew he was filming. I lifted the dog and a faint squeal came from it. I put my head down near it's neck and said, “It's ok boy! No one's going to hurt you any more.”
It looked up at me with pain in it's eyes and I said, “Get me a veterinarian. This animal's hurt bad.”
I carried him up and got in. The military man got in the humvee and said, “We'll get you there, I know where one is.”
The cameraman got in and said, “This is incredible. CNN's now screaming in my ear asking to continue the shot. I'll get it when we get you out of the truck. You get me a lot of tears when you have to release that animal. Being a dog lover will endear you to a lot of people.”
“That's not fake. I've got a cocker spaniel at home. She's my world.”
He smiled and said, “Well, this one just got you a huge following.”
“Well, if I can this one's going to be mine. If you can save a dog like this, it'll give it's life for you.”
“Hmmpf”
“It's got a lot of broken bones.” I said. I could feel it's rib cage really flailing from double fractures.
We rolled through the road block and didn't stop. He rolled up up around the corner and into a parking lot. The cameraman jumped out and around the truck as the military guy opened my door. I got out and carried it in. The receptionist said, “Oh my god! Doc!”
A man came out and I said, “This dog was up in the blast. It's got a lot of broken bones.”
“Bring him in here. We'll get him looked at.”
“Whatever it takes, I'll pay it. I want this dog to live.”
“It could be expensive.”
“I'll pay it.”
“OK, give your name to the receptionist.”
The camera man was standing in the reception area when I came in. The tears were real. My front was covered with blood and mud. I went over to the receptionist and said, “Here's my name. My cell number and my debit card number. Use whatever you need to get that dog well.”
“Ok, we'll give you a call.”
I went back outside and turned to face a camera. I brushed back my hair and said, “Get that away please. I need time to be alone.” The tears came and I crouched down.
Wisely, he didn't stop filming.
“We've got to make this world safe. If he can't make it safe for everyone, what in the hell are we doing?” I wondered.
Steve came over and said, “Babe, are you ok?”
“Oh Steve”
“Honey, it's ok. I just heard.”
“That dog is just so broken.” I said sniffling.
“He's in good hands. I need to make sure you're ok. You're my world.”
“I'll be ok. I want that dog.”
“You can have him. I'm sure his owner is dead.”
“It's terrible up there.”
“Yes, but we'll have to make it better.”
“It's too much.”
“Honey! It'll be ok. Sometimes the bad guys don't win.”
“You promise?”
“Yeah”
“I love you.”
He hugged me and said, “I love you too.”
The camera man said, “Cut!”
“You motherfucker! I told you to stop filming!”