Ripples from the coup echoed around the world, as Axle slept. Red along with a few close advisers, and top generals monitored events from his study well into the morning. Until they were confident the takeover had been totally quashed. The place looked as though a bomb had hit it. Rosa and staff, had been working in teams round the clock, serving their every whim. Trying at any fee opportunity to tidy up. If you were to lift a corner of the roof, and peek in, one would think Presidential elections were going on?
It was astonishing even to Red how big the business had grown, and how much attention his business was receiving. He actually missed the old days of obscurity and struggle. Not until this unfolded could he really see the full extent and influence he was having. Red had dreaded this moment, although secretly proud of his work, he knew perfectly well that he had a bullseye painted on his back. He had been attracting far too much attention, to himself and his family.
He had developed his business and gained ground only because he was small enough to fly beneath the radar. Now Government agencies, and worse the competition, were turning a closer, and closer eye on him. Bribe’s, payoffs, and staff were increasing incrementally, and cutting heavily into his profits. There was a constant flow of problems needing attending too, that demanded long hard hours from his staff.
He was astonished at first, at the depth and absolute greed of low to high ranking officials, from the police, judges, to politicians. If their greed wasn’t their primary motivation, sex was, and they knew how to compromise them. The threat of exposure and ruin, was far better leverage than greed. In fact, he had a whole division working on just that alone. However, it disgusted him deeply, especially by the extent of it, and it loathed him having anything to do with that end of the business. It seemed as though most normal people changed, once graft enter their pockets?
In his day to day dealings, he saw how the top federal parties, especially the democratic party used the same tactics, along with their pay to play politics. Once it wasn’t beneath them to hire his team on the west-coast to undermine anyone that got in their way. Now they had their own Government gang, comprised of top law officials. CIA, FBI. and dark agencies. Leading possibily right into the White house, to deal with those matters. They had conglomerated every petty street gang, criminal, and well organized criminal organizations across America into one giant machine.
And were in the middle of wrapping up negations with European gangs, and Government officials there. Making it a massive global operation. He knew this first hand, by innuendo, piecing things together, and though slips during diner conversations. And the like.
Red had learned how they had quietly over the years, had masterfully combined church and state, along with owning all the media. And by infiltrating all major university's, right under the worlds noses, and had the taxpayers of those countries pick up the tab. Causing constant confusion, by dropping fake news tips, that changed constantly, about which political party, group, was at fault today. All designed to take any focus off them.
Which was now starting to cause clashes between his operation and theirs. Except they now had the full weight of most of the worlds Governments behind them. Including Americas military and industrial machine. Red had been avoiding many attempts and pressures for him to join their ranks. He was now hard up against a wall, it was time to act, and make a decision! It was becoming very evident that this latest coup, wasn’t an internal matter, but a much bigger, and broader issue.
What worried Red most about this secret movement was how high it went, and to the extent of it? It had reached up into the top echelons of Americas, and the worlds powers. He even suspected the White House. Although trying to remain separate from them, he now had become one of them, simply by being in the same business arena.
The nation he’d immigrated to and loved was completely full of rot, right up to its eyeballs, and what’s more, he had inadvertently helped to bring it about. His old school ways of fair play, and nationality, that once guided him, were now undermining him. The thought of the level of corruption today made him physically ill. He once just assumed like 90% of the world that the top people sworn to protect and serve were doing just that? But over the years as his business grew, he came to see differently, in fact the very opposite. 'People were generally bad, and corrupt to the bone, so deserved exactly what they got.' He used to think, and to justify his actions.
Because turning a blind eye to the spread of this global cancer, he assumed wrongly that he was immune. However now, even thought he despised them, he could see he that he was fast becoming forced to behave like them. Ruining the very thing he was working and striving for. The only thing that mattered to him anymore, was his daughters well being and the future of his grandchildren.
How could this even have happened; his own departed mother would have been devastated at seeing him now. He dreaded facing his daughter later that day. He couldn’t think of anything he could say or do, that would change or undue the damage he’d cause her. If he had known of Angela’s pregnancy, things would have been very different. The news of which would have vibrated out through his actions, throughout the world.
Money wasn’t what was driving him anymore, he had more than he ever dreamed. His daughter and friends will never want for anything. For some strange reason the power and money never went to his head? But more, he wasn’t satisfied anymore he had no more goals to reach. He heard his mothers voice calling to him, and shuttered. ‘Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.’ He tried remembering what passage that was from in the Bible?
Red hadn’t fully realized what was eating at him until this takeover occurred. And now that things looked relatively settled again, he began for the first time thinking of ways to get out or dismantle his operation? Most of all he didn’t want it getting into the hands of the globalist web stretching world wide. His business and its connections would be a giant feather in their cap. But every scenario he could think of, always led to a dead end. He was trapped by his own making. He had no one he could totally confide in anymore, and this realization disturbed him deeply? He sensed that his higher staff resented his leniency toward their enemies, and if it got out it would lead to further Attacks. They knew he was living off his prior reputation.
Tired, and wanting desperately to sleep, he listened attentively to his advisers urging him to search out any link between his business, and a globalist takeover. They strongly felt the globalist gang had their hands all over it. Only their blundering in trying to make it look like an internal matter, had raised their suspicions even more. They were convinced of it, the evidence pointed directly to it, and they knew this was only the beginning. They reminded him of his own technique of infiltration, and felt strongly that he should send out a strong message to the globalist. They knew that personally they were cowards themselves, and relied entirety on others to do their dirty work. And although they may have temporally avoided any infiltration so far, they knew these people wouldn’t stop until they succeeded.
His aides were united on this, and felt that he should at the very least, start making crafted attempts to peacefully join forces, and unite with this powerful globalist scourge. They knew through experience, that once the Globalist felt that they had them in line, that they would ease off. But they also knew Reds strong beliefs to the contrary, and that it wouldn't be long before they would be starting asking for favors. They along with Reds high ranking generals, bitterly opposed his, so called "Mark of Cane." Where he chose to allows his enemy's to live, be it a zombie life, rather than permently dealt with. It showed weakness to them.
Red closed the meeting by reassuring them that he would run it by his generals, and that they would reconvene with in the week. Protesting, they all left stating that he should be convening with the globalist now, and not later. He directed them to his kitchen and left them under the care of Rosa and her capable staff.
“What did you think.” Asked Red, of Micky? Who stepped into Reds office by a side door.
“Personally, I think their all a bunch of twats! But I think they may have a point!”
“Seriously?” Stated Red? "You too?"
“Yup, I’m serious,” replied Micky pouring them both a Scotch. “Its time. We can't beat them for much longer!
“I’m still not one hundred percent convinced. And as you know I never make a decision until I am.”
“You’re the boss, boss!”
“I’m gonna wait to see what Ernie and the others have to say when I run this by them. Do you have the stick…?” Micky offered it as Red spoke.
“Send them in after you finish your drink,” directed Red, downing his whisky, I need to get this over with, I need sleep."
Red played the video of his advisor’s comments and suggestions. But they hadn’t heard anything they hadn’t already known. Red already knew this, but wanted to see their body language? They didn’t say a word. Red had the horrible feeling they may be compromised as well. Red thought that maybe Ernie, who had been with him from the beginning, and whom he trusted the most would have picked up on something, that he himself had detected? But it wasn’t to be.
Red knew, like himself that they were exhausted, and asked them to get some rest. But not to leave the complex, and that they would reconvene that evening afresh. They had their own small, but private quarters, and Red asked them to phone Rosa if they wanted breakfast or anything. And not to mingle with the advisors eating in the main kitchen.
After they left, Red stood wondering how all this could have escaped him, why he hadn’t seen it coming…and for the first time began to doubt himself. As Micky re-entered the office, Red asked him to sweep the place thoroughly again. Micky nodded, knowing that Red knew he did it every day. "Am I being to soft', thought Red, as he left the room?
Angela noticed all the activity in the kitchen and recognized some of them. They were only around if there was trouble. She went back to her room. Picking up her phone again, then tossed it back on the bed. Pacing the floor, she jumped when Rosa opened her door. “Aha, my treasure you’re awake,” said Rosa in Spanish? Angela smiled, and returned to her phone, staring blankly at it.
“Axle,” asked Rosa. Angela nodded her head.
“I took him his breakfast this morning.”
“Was he up?”
“Si,” replied Rosa. “He asked me if he could eat early yesterday,”
“And.”
“Well he said that he wanted to take a walk on the beach. I assume he's still down there?”
Angela, swooped past Rosa, grabbing her flip-flops, and startling her. “I’ve been a fool Rosa.” She yelled from the hallway.
When Rosa got to the hall, Angela was already gone. Rosa strolled back to her quests, with a bounce in her step, smiling from ear to ear.
Betty, unlocked Axles door, and piled a load of mail, she’d retrieved from the front desk, on his kitchen table. Most of it was junk mail. One bland looking envelope with no re-tune address fell to the floor. It was addressed to Axle. Betty wanted to open it but forced herself not too. Remembering his objections, the last time she gave way to temptation.
She watered his plants like she was asked too and left. Then returned and tore open the envelope. It was a cashiers check for over two thousand dollars. Betty checked the envelope for anything else but it was empty. Then held up the check “What the hell?” said Betty out loud. Guilt hit, and she knew t she couldn’t wiggle out of this one. She slipped the check back into the envelope and left. Dreading the day Axle returned.
Axles phone rang, while he was walking the beach. It was Lonnie. He paused for a second, deciding if he was in the mood to talk to her. “Hello Lonnie, how ya doen”, he asked?
“Oh fine son, how’s the weather in Seattle? “I don’t know!” replied Axle. “I suppose its raining?”
“I thought you lived there?”
“I do, but I’m not there at the moment.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m down in California.” Answered Axle, “Is everything ok?’
“Yes son…fine. But I think your father has Alzheimer’s now though.”
“What!” replied Axle.
“Ya.” Said Lonnie. “The phone rang the other night, and a mans voice asked for you. He left a number. Lonnie repeated it to him. I'll just check. Hang on, while I get my glasses, I wrote it down.” Axle could here her rummaging around, and he started feeling apprehensive.
“Hello, you there?”
“Ya.”
“What’s that sound?” Asked Lonnie
“Waves.” Answered Axle. “Please Lonnie, did they say anything else?”
“They only left the number," answered Lonnie. “That’s it. I think your father’s losing his mind?” Continued Lonnie. “What do you think Axle?” asked Lonnie. But all she could hear was a dial tone. Lonnie tapped the receiver a few times, and said, “Axle, you there?
“What’s up." yelled Steve from the living room?”
“He hung up on me!”
“Naw, you probably just got disconnected.”
“He’s in California.”
“Nice, a real globetrotter” said Steve. “Grab me a beer will ya, since yer up!”
“Axle!” yelled Angela, waving from high on the cliff. Axle waved back up to her. Her words were muffled in the wind, and from the roaring surf. But mostly it was because she was carefully watching her steps down, and not speaking clearly to him. He quickly hit dial, paused, then hung up. Angela didn’t see him do it, nor did he think the man on watch saw him.
Angela stopped and waved again from a deck railing, part way down the cliff side. She looked beautiful to Axle, with her windblown hair. Axle sat on a drift log and waited for her to finish descending the long sets of steps. He thought again of the recorded message he’d just heard. “Check on way, Tom Holder.” He turned to see Angela stepping onto the beach, negotiating the large bleached logs, looking like sleeping seals.
“Oh my love,” cried Angela, “I’ve been so stupid.” As they hugged one another. Axle dropped to his knees in the beach pebbles to listen for the miracle. Burying his head into her soft belly. “Silly…you can’t hear anything yet!” She said laughing.
“Isn’t it amazing…life is growing in you like a plant, cell dividing into cell?” Said Axle, tears starting to stream down his face, suddenly overwhelmed by the incredible power of life.
“Plant, I hope not.” laughed Angela.
“Its it a boy or a girl?”
“I don’t know, it’s been a little less than a month now,” said Angela. “I suppose I better see a doctor?” Oh darling I really wanted to tell you sooner, but I couldn’t. I just couldn’t. I had to follow reds plan, he’s my father.”
“Does he know?”
“God no, with all the crap going down now, I don’t think he could handle it?”
“What crap?”
“You’re the only one that knows darling, well except for Rosa. We tell each other everything.” Continued Angela. “ O, Some big takeover, even Drainos involved! I over heard that he’s in big shit!”
“Draino, what’s the creep done now?”
“I really don’t know darling, you know Red always keeps me outta the loop. He says its for my own protection.”
“Was that his plane, helicopter, I heard last night?”
“Ya he’s back…its like a zoo up their right now.”
Angela sat down beside Him, kicking off her flip-flops, and started squishing the small pebbles with her toes, famous for west coast beaches. “Red wants to see you later, at your convenience of coarse.” Laughed Angela. It seems so weird the shoe being on the other foot?”
“But he used to send you on small missions, how can I possibly forget that time with fucking Draino?”
“Ya, but that was different. This is war!”
“A war,” stated Axle?
“All I can piece together, seeing all his war generals and advisors around, and the fact that Red moved his operations here. Is that a war is going on. He can leave to go in any direction from here if he has too, he’d be trapped if he were at the compound.”
Dan Ger
