Chapter 18

Somehow having a seventy-two million dollar plane makes people forget about questioning your wealth. As we boarded, Nicole and Leslie stared in disbelief at my jet, but Kristine loved it, running on her injured ankle to the bedroom to check it out while her mother got settled in.

Leslie and Nicole walked around the jet in a daze, enjoying the leather finishes, plush decor, and general ambiance. I liked watching them explore the plane. They were like small girls, peeking inside the big, scary, adult world. We were airborne in just a few minutes, and the pilots set our course for Key West where James Saunders awaited us.

We enjoyed snacking as we jetted towards Key West. The ladies talked incessantly about the jet, while Kristine and I used the time for more constructive purposes. "Which would you rather be A Doorknob, or A Skeleton?"

"Well, my little darling, I think I'd rather be a doorknob, but only because people would sometimes come around, so I wouldn't be so bored. Skeletons are usually all alone."

She giggled.

"Well, which would you rather do climb a volcano, or fall off a mountain?"

"Hmmm ... I think I'd rather fall off a mountain, because volcanoes are REALLY HOT!"

It went on like that for hours. Kristine loved the attention, and I loved her giggling. Nicole would look at us, laughing, giggling, and poking fun at each other, and just sigh like we were entirely nuts. Leslie was very tempted to join in but held back because Nicole hadn't.

That was the setting when the pilots called me up front.

"Noah, the FAA is ordering all planes to land ASAP! They aren't saying what, or where, but there's been another terrorist attack. We are cleared to Key West, but grounded when this jet touches down, so do you want to file a flight plan change and head home or go on to Key West?"

I didn't even have to think about it. "File the change to Asheville, and let's get this bird on the ground." I hurried to the back to let the girls hear the bad news and see if there was anything about it on TV.

"We have a serious problem," I said, as I took a seat beside Leslie. "There has been another attack, and the FAA is closing the airspace all over the country. They will let us go on to our destination, but once these wheels touch the ground, we are not going to be able to get home. Rather than deal with how to get us off the island and back up north, we are heading to Asheville and will figure it out from there. I can always drive you home, if it comes to that, but you said there's no home to go to in Johnson City, so let's head to my ranch and see what develops. Is that Ok with you three?" Kristine didn't care to go to Key West, and the girls saw the futility in going somewhere far from home and being stuck, so we all agreed that the ranch was a good alternative.

We got the TV on just in time to hear the FOXNEWS anchor say, "Federal Authorities are scrambling, trying to get their arms around a string of new terror bombings involving government facilities. All told seven locations were hit at roughly the same time this morning.

"President Dryden addressed the nation just moments ago and said this..." The picture changed to the bunker under Sixteen hundred Pennsylvania Avenue and the desk that the President uses when directing activity from below ground.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen. We are saddened to report to you another terrorist attack on America. At approximately eleven-fifteen, A.M. today, bombs exploded in seven locations around the country. The difference this time was the terrorists chose federal buildings, including two child day care centers and a veteran's hospital. My staff assures me that the names and cities of those attacks are being rolled at the bottom of this screen so that I may continue to bring you up to date, but still inform you as much as possible.

"The full might of our federal service and military has responded and is assisting local and state authorities in directing and supplying the relief efforts. It is my sad duty to inform you all that the loss of life as quite high and expected to be higher as reports of additional casualties are released.

"The military has taken first place in how we shall respond. Our military services have been informed, as have our allies, that weapons of mass destruction were employed against America, today, and all might and power at my disposal is being marshaled against those responsible, including their sponsors, financiers, and support networks.

"Our Congressional leaders informed me that a Declaration of War against all forces of ISIS, wherever they may be, was voted immediately, releasing me to unleash the full anger and fury of America at our enemies. I have some things to share with you, already.

"The video you are watching is of a financial center in South Yemen that has been warned repeatedly to stop supplying terrorists with millions of dollars in untraceable cash used to finance terror attacks against Americans. The picture you see is from several hours ago. The new picture that just came up is of the same block of buildings, taken just a few minutes ago, when forces of the United States destroyed their Headquarters and unleashed electronic destruction of their computer networks, including back-ups, fail safes, and paper storage of records."

Hawk Dryden paused and let that sink in. He wasn't talking to America. He was giving one last warning to our enemies. I loved it. Hawk was being the biggest, baddest, dog on the porch. He was tearing every other dog a new asshole for refusing to understand the terms of their surrender.

It was priceless, and I loved him for it.

"The next series of pictures shows another group of buildings, these are inside Iran. This super-secret facility enriches uranium for their bomb making program. Iran is a state sponsor of terror, and has funded numerous ISIS attacks on America. Warnings did nothing to stem the flow of money and assistance to ISSI terror groups, and even after the late President John Gray assisted in the destruction of another secret Iranian nuclear facility, their behavior did not change.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I owe you all an apology. The pictures you see are actually that facility a few hours ago."

The picture changed, and I could feel the entire country gasp. There was nothing left but a huge hole in the ground.

"These pictures are of that same facility, just moments ago." The camera panned three-hundred and sixty degrees, showing nothing - NOTHING at all. Hawk was killing this press conference, and our allies were clearly feeling their oats, as the rolling words at the bottom of the screen changed to a list of nations that signed onto our declaration of war against ISIS. It sucked to be those bastards, today. Nobody earned it more than they did.

"As you might now suspect, we have long been prepared to take out this scourge on humanity, but we needed Congressional approval to act. The weapon was aimed, and now the trigger is pulled. Our 'terrible swift sword' has been unsheathed and only begun to swing!"

My President continued. "We cannot expect this to be the last of their bombing missions. It is the last time they will ever carry out a bombing against American interests and not pay tenfold for their ignorance and inhumanity.

"To our military, I say, 'Stand Tall.'" Go where you are sent and take our enemies out. We are done playing by their rules. They lost any chance of easy treatment, and now they will taste our anger.

"To our Law Enforcement officers, I say, "Be strong, vigilant, and have courage. You wondered when the gloves would come off, and today they are off. Go with God, and take care of our cities, towns, and villages. Be courageous and measured. Never let your anger drive you to the wrong conclusion, but never hesitate if hesitation will get you hurt.

"We stand behind you and beside you. Our military supports and defends you. Your government proclaims, as one, we will defend America till the last ISIS enemy is dead.

To those who support ISIS, I guarantee your destruction, just like those you saw obliterated a few seconds ago. Run for your lives, the United States is through with you, and now it's time to pay the devil.

"To ISIS, I say, "Flee for your lives. We will kill you where we find you, and there will be no soft beds at Guantanamo. There will be a hot bullet with your name on it, and an American anxious to deliver my message in person to you. Run For Your LIVES! We will find you and kill you."

The scene changed to a montage of the destruction wrought by ISIS. Clip after clip rolled, showing dead Americans, crying children, destroyed buildings, blown up vehicles, and downed bridges. Slowly the scene changed to what had to be, current missions being carried against ISIS bases, and support all over Mexico, Europe, and the Middle East.

Hawk was using a brilliant strategy to defeat ISIS. He just turned them into pariahs. No sane country would dare allow funding for terror, when they saw and heard about what Hawk just ordered. It was an amazingly smart move.

We watched the news until we landed in Asheville. I took the girls home in my Lexus that just happened to be parked in the hangar. We stopped at a great mom and pop for lunch - supper, and lolly-gagged over it for almost two hours. No sense getting home hungry without much to eat in the house.

Our next stop was the grocery store, where we stocked up on all the obvious things and perishables, then we tromped all over J.C. Pennies, outfitting the ladies with whatever they needed for the next few weeks.

It was after ten when we pulled in, and too late to bother showing anyone around. I showed each lady to her room and put away the groceries while they got ready for bed. Each bedroom had its own bathroom, and I made sure they all had working night lights. When I was done, I went out and sat on the porch, watching the moonlight play across the valley, and enjoying the quiet and solitude of my home. That's where Leslie and Nicole found me a little while later.

We chatted about inconsequential things, relaxed and letting the stress of traveling bleed off. Leslie, needing closeness and assurance, moved over next to me and pulled my arm around her shoulders. That was no surprise, but what was, was when Nicole asked, "Noah, can you see yourself living with all three of us? We like you pretty well, and you make us feel safe. What I am asking is, do you think it would be Ok for us stay here for a little while, until we decide what's next? I don't want to give my crazy sister-in-law a free shot at us, and this is far away from where she thinks we might go"

It was a no brainer. "Stay as long as you like, but I might have to leave you to take care of business, so sometimes you'll be on your own." Everybody was happy with our arrangement, and I turned in.

There was activity as Leslie and Nicole got ready for bed, then the door opened, and a warm body snuggled up against me. "I wondered if you would be in to keep me company tonight, Leslie," I said softly, into the darkness.

"Shhh It's not Leslie," Nicole said, and kissed me deeply.