As We Watched

By D.L. Rowley

This is a book about the American ability to look the other way when we have major issues that should be a bright light to a possible confrontation or a time when someone would do harm to our country. We watched in December 1941 as the Japanese made aggressive moves in the Pacific and in China until, finally, we were attacked at Pearl Harbor.

We watched as terrorists completed bombings all over the world, killing Americans and other innocent people, blowing up buildings, and showing no mercy for anyone, including an attack against the World Trade Center in 1993. This was an enemy who did not show a concern for women or children and would use most anyone as a living bomb only to kill or maim the dreaded American.

We watched as fanatics found their way into the country and used flight schools to their advantage and, in the end, took four commercial planes hostage, and they flew two into the world-famous Twin Towers. These were buildings that had been built to withstand the impact of many modern aircraft, but not the modern aircraft of the twenty-first century. The size and speed of the aircraft from the year 2001 were too much for these vaunted towers. Four aircraft were hijacked, with hijackers finding ways past the airport screeners and onto the aircraft. Four aircraft were crashed, and thousands were killed.

As We Watched is a book about a new and even more devastating attack against our great nation and what will bring our country into a new and even more terrifying confrontation. This is a story about Americans dying, doing what they love most. This is a story about Americans entering a new war and fighting back like only Americans can do.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662487217

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As We Watched

D.L. Rowley

Copyright © 2023 D.L. Rowley

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 978-1-6624-8713-2 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-8721-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

About the Author

This is my first book. As I look back on the past several years that it has taken, I am amazed at those who have lent a hand or an ear to help me in completing this odyssey. To all of those people, I want to give my sincere thanks. To my wife of many years, Bev, who has been so much a part of this as she has been my sounding board and judge. I can remember a time when she had proofread a piece and got up to walk away without so much as saying a word. Her only words were, It just made me so mad! I am sure she ended up with a headache or two. To my daughter Amber who had finally heard enough about my book and just told me, Just send it to a publisher! I love you both.

To my many friends along the way beginning with Ken Ekstrom who put forward a thought or two like, Well, that is good, but what if… I could go on with so many more, but I could not close this without saying a heartfelt Thank you to my friends at Foursight Capital. So many of them have stood behind me and listened to so many of my thoughts. So many of them are excited about the book and can't wait to read it. So for those who read it, thank you, and for those who have helped along the way, thank you so much! Not to mention, thank you to Page Publishing for all your help.

Chapter 1

September 18, 2017

Westgate Mall

Salt Lake City, Utah

The mall was unusually busy even for a Friday evening. The Labor Day sales were over, but it was still unusually crowded with people and the bustle that came with it, but it was great for business. With all the current events in the world, no one in the retail market would complain about extra shoppers. The mall music was playing what sounded like some Latino beat with words that no one could possibly make out. There was a group of eight or ten young monsters, all about twelve to fourteen years old, running through the mall, providing the daily dose of mischief and horseplay. Mall security with their pretty white shirts and cute little hats were attempting to round them up but with little success. After all, who really took them seriously?

Robert Moresby stood at the front of the family shoe store as he took a much-needed and well-deserved ten-minute break. As the assistant manager of the store, he was responsible for all of its operations tonight. Today, however, his shift had started at just before nine thirty in the morning, and after the long, busy, and hectic hours of today, it was becoming much harder to stay focused. He watched as the hordes of people walked from destination to destination through the mall, families and couples with and without children and even the occasional single male or female usually looking to be on the prowl. Couples walking hand in hand or with arms around each other and other people walking quickly, cell phones to their ears, totally engrossed in conversations about who knows what.

It was interesting to watch the ebb and flow of the foot traffic in the mall as the people could actually move to and from any one direction or location seemingly without effort. People watching was one of his most favorite pastimes, and working in the mall only made it easier to indulge his hobby. He watched as a young Hispanic couple stopped to admire the women's shoes in the storefront window. The young girl looked like she could not have been more than seventeen years old, but she dressed like she was well into her twenties. She wore a barely there tank top that helped to show off her well-formed and developed young breasts, and the miniskirt she was wearing left many questions to the imagination. But not really all that many! She had finished off the look of her overall appearance with a pair of spiked heels that gave off a very dangerous distinction in more than one way. To have her get mad at you and use those shoes as weapons would definitely have been a most scary and possibly lethal situation.

It was obvious that the girl knew how to dress up for her boyfriend, but she also knew how to walk to finish the appearance. Her long legs moved in slow but purposeful strides, and from an observer's position, it was hard to understand how a woman, young or old, could walk in those shoes.

To watch the two of them, you could tell that the girl was having a good time showing off for her boyfriend and that she enjoyed the looks from the other male members of the shopping crowd in the mall. She even enjoyed the looks from the wives and girlfriends of the other couples in the mall as the husbands and boyfriends tried to take in her looks without being caught. She knew that anytime she dressed up and they went out, so she could strut her stuff, she could create sore necks and marital strife in most anyplace they went.

Robert Moresby watched the two of them for another moment as he glanced at his watch to see how much of his break was left. He found that it was actually hard to break his eyes away from the attractiveness of the young girl. He couldn't help but notice the male's hand was placed firmly on the right side of the young girls well-shaped rear end. It was a great show, and Mr. Moresby was enjoying each and every part of the display.

Mario listened as his girlfriend carried on about the elevated sandals in the window. She continued on about all the different jeans, skirts, and even shorts that would go just so well with the sandals. Buying nice things for his girlfriend was a favorite pastime to Mario. After all, having a girl like Rosa on your arm was not something that everyone could boast about. He enjoyed walking almost anywhere knowing that at almost any given time, numerous sets of envious eyes were attracted to his girl's attributes. At times though, he had other feelings too. He knew that there were times when the glares and stares from some of the men out there really bothered him. There had been some times when he had felt like making fists of both hands and punching some of these guys in the mouth or giving them a black eye for running their sights over the enticing curves of his girl. But in the end, he still enjoyed the idea of having such a girl on his arm and the feeling it gave him in knowing that dozens of guys out there would like to change places with him. That was a benefit that was hard to deny. The other incredible benefit to buying her nice things from time to time was her fantastic ways that she would show her appreciation. That only he alone could enjoy, and enjoy it he did.

Mario stepped toward the window just opposite Rosa to look at what the store had to offer for the men who like him also needed to stay in style. As he peered through the window, trying to decide which shoe held the most promise, he spun back to Rosa just as she cried out. He reached out to her as she was just about to fall from a collision with a Hispanic-looking male who looked to be about twenty years old. He had collided with Rosa as she had rounded the front window to gain a new visual on the shoes sitting on the middle shelf.

Mario's first thought was that this stupid little guy had just intentionally bumped into his Rosa just to make a play for her or just as an excuse to touch her in some way. But then it was obvious that they had just managed to collide with each other. The male nearly sprawled to the floor, only catching himself as he fell to his hands and one knee. He seemed to curse something as he fell, but Mario could not make out any of the words. If this guy is speaking any type of Spanish, it's a new kind that he didn't know, he thought.

The stranger began to pick himself up from the awkward position and to straighten his rather strange-looking jacket. By this time, Mario's temper had started to build beyond its capacity, and he took a step toward the stranger. Hey, what's up, asshole? What are you running into my lady for? he spoke.

Excuse me, the strange man said. He almost stuttered as his nervousness now showed through even stronger. He had a strange look in his eyes as he looked all around to see who had paid any attention to the events as they unfolded. His hands move to smooth his jacket and then to his hair to push it back and away from his face. As his balance improved, he moved back to the window of the store, his eyes nervously darting from side to side.

Mario gritted his teeth and balled his fists as he advanced toward this very unwelcome person. Not only was he mad at the idea that this guy had just about knocked his precious Rosa to the ground, but he also had to stand proud now and show his girl his manhood in a way she normally didn't get to see. He clenched his fists and advanced toward the male as he stood up. How about I show you what happens when you touch my lady? How about I teach you a big fucking lesson, asshole, about touching her, and I do it right here for the whole world to see.

The man took a step backward. No, I do not want problem. Please, it was accident. I do not do this on purpose. Please…

There was just something different, not just about his broken English, but also in the way his words came out. He held his left hand up to make an effort of holding Mario back from attacking. His right disappeared under his jacket and out of view. He took another step back and bumped into the display window, a look of panic quickly spreading across his face. Please, I want no problem.

Robert Moresby watched the activity for a moment. At first, there was a sense of shock that a fight might actually take place right there in front of him and right here in front of his store. The shock was replaced by a fascination and even an excitement of seeing this fight take place right in front of him. It was then as the girlfriend took a step back to avoid any type of participation in the fight, he brought himself back to the realization of the events as they were about to unfold. Without any further thought, he started forward to hopefully stop this problem before it could get any worse. Hey, guys, we can't have this stuff go on right here in front of the store. Why can't we just break it up and go different directions? I don't want to call security, so let's just call this a dumb accident and nobody will get hurt. Okay? It was just as he attempted to step in between the two men, a military-style hand grenade flashed from under the jacket of the very strange little man.

At first, Mario stopped his attack and looked at the man as he stood there holding the grenade in the air. Caught off guard by the sudden presentation of the grenade, he wasn't sure whether to run, punch, or just duck. He looked at the man to his left, and this man had just stopped immediately in his tracks with a stunned look on his face.

The man holding the grenade began shouting at Mario and the employee from the store. Stop or I will detonate this grenade! Move away now, or you will all die! He took a few short steps toward Mario and began to shake the grenade in his face. The pull ring attached to the pin in the top of the grenade rattled noisily each time the man shook the grenade.

Mario looked at Rosa and at the store employee to his left. Rosa had moved back against the display glass behind her with her hands to her face. She had crouched down, and tears were streaming down her face. Black trails of mascara had already begun to run down her brown face. She could be heard mumbling something over and over, but whatever it was that she was saying could not be understood. The store employee had taken several steps back, and the mask of fear and terror on his face made it clear that to him this was some sort of a nightmare.

The man stood up straight and took another step toward Mario, all the while holding the grenade high for everyone to see. I tell you all, move now or die. I am not afraid to die. If I die, then I die for the holy glory of Allah. Move back now, and maybe I will let you and your woman live, at least for now.

Mario began to finally gather his senses. At no point up until now in his life had anyone been able to catch him that far off guard. He had survived gang fights and drive-by shootings and on one occasion had even pulled the trigger during a drive-by of his own. Drugs, guns, and violence had been a way of life for him up until this point in his life, but this was definitely a different type of situation. He threw his hands in the air and started to wave them at the man. "I don't think that damn thing is real. So why don't you just go ahead and blow us all up, little punk. Come on, asshole, show me what you've got. He continued flailing his hands in the man's direction and started making menacing gestures when the man reached up with his other hand and pulled the pin from the grenade.

The store employee broke from his position and ran back into the store. He started shouting for the customers and employees in the store to move to the rear of the store and lie on the floor. He hurriedly picked up the phone and started trying to contact mall security. He crouched down behind the cash register counter and waited impatiently on the phone for the mall operator to locate someone from the security department. After a few seconds of frustration, he gave up, hung up the receiver, and then dialed 911. The 911 operator answered by saying, "Nine one one, operator 66, what type of emergency do you have?

There is a man with a hand grenade inside the Westgate Mall.

Chapter 2

Stone Hills Mall

Denver, Colorado

The fatigues still seemed too stiff, but in the Marine Corps, there was no letdown on appearance even in everyday dress. Lieutenant Colonel John Morris held the chair for his wife to take her seat as the two looked forward to a leisurely dinner in the mall. It had just been one of those days when the time had come available, and the Marine officer and his wife had taken the chance to get some shopping done.

His wife, Beverly, placed the bags of purchases at her feet as she sat in her chair and waited for him to push her chair forward. She was used to him being such a Prince Charming as even after twenty-two years of marriage, he still held her chair for her and opened the car door for her at every opportunity. Moving into the table as he pushed her chair forward, she felt a light kiss on her neck just before he moved around to his chair.

Sitting just a scant few inches from her, he smiled and flashed the same look at her that had made her fall so in love with him so many years before. His eyes squinted just the slightest, and the blue in his eyes shone out at her like so many times before, and even now she could feel that flush in her face and even more so she could feel the warmth of those feelings deep in her abdomen.

I'm famished, she said.

I must admit that I am pretty hungry too, he replied. Just can't quite make up my mind what I want to eat. I love the menu here, and it is all so good, it makes it hard to make a choice. Reaching over to hand her a menu, he opened another menu in front of him to ponder the choices inside.

On other shopping trips to the mall, they had almost always stopped at the same little restaurant. It would frequently take a few extra minutes to get a seat, so they were used to just calling ahead to put in their name to save time. With the place just a little darker and with a more flavorful menu, they had always enjoyed the idea of getting lost here for a secluded lunch or dinner. The restaurant served both an Italian and American flavor, and the couple had fallen into a routine of the house favorite of three-cheese ravioli and a tossed salad with a vinaigrette dressing. A favorite red wine would always accompany the meal, and of course, there was never a big hurry to leave, and the waiter knew that a large and generous tip would follow.

After a few minutes, the waiter returned to the table with tablet in hand. Smiling at the colonel, he said, Glad to see the two of you return. Have you decided on your selection today, or are we having the usual?

With a slight chuckle, the colonel looked up at the waiter and held up the two menus. Arthur, you know us entirely too well. It looks like we are going to go with our usual selection. It is just too good to pass up.

The waiter collected the menus and smiled at the couple. He placed a small bowl of salted pretzels on the table, and as he turned, he said, I will have your wine here in just a few moments.

As the waiter turned and walked away, the wife jumped slightly as her husband put his hand on her leg. Thoughts of last night's lovemaking quickly ran through her mind, and her color flushed slightly. The color in her cheeks made her feel warm, and the memories of the sexual lovemaking reminded her of years gone by. Smiling at him, she turned to look him in the face. Just in case I have forgotten to tell you in a while, I love you. Putting her hand on top of his, she gave his hand a light squeeze.

I love you too, he replied.

A quiet banter of conversation continued between the two for what ended up being many long and uncounted minutes. The time had gone by without notice as they lost themselves in topics as mundane as trips, mall shopping, and then, of course, the United States Marine Corps. Colonel Morris had been on three separate deployments in the Middle East and had only been home from his last deployment for just over a week. As usual, he had once again found it hard to slide back into the home routine and away from the tense and hectic times in the war zones. He had thought that this time it would be different, and he would find a way to quickly relax and get into the peacetime life that he had yearned for. But he still had to fight the images of men in battle and the constant worry of just what might be around the next corner. No, this would not be an easy change, but he was determined that it was a change he would make.

I, uh, have been meaning to talk to you, he said. I have been doing some long, hard thinking, and I have made a decision.

His wife looked at him with inquiring eyes, waiting for the next words to announce that he was already thinking about his next deployment and where it would take him. She had learned to follow him as the Marine Corps had been his life, and he was so proud to be a Marine. He was almost like a different man when he was in uniform, and well, when he wore his dress blues uniform, he was just about the most incredible-looking man in the world. Dread ran through her mind as she could think of numerous things that would not be to her liking, but she had to wait for long, hard seconds as he paused in what he was saying.

I know that you have stood behind me for our entire life. I can't even remember how many duty stations I have had and how many times we have moved to different bases and countries. When we left our families, you just said it was our life and we moved. When we left the country for Germany, you just followed and set up house. There has been base after base, and you never complained. I first want to thank you for being my wife. He paused and almost seemed to be choked up as he stroked her hand. Without you, this life could never have worked, and I would never have made it to what I am today. You have always had my back, held me up, and pushed me forward to where I am, and I cannot thank you enough.

For a moment, she thought that she could see a small tear in the corner of his eye. What was he doing? she thought. Just what was he taking so damn long in trying to say? The suspense was almost driving her from her seat, but she knew that she had to remain seated and calm to give him the chance to finish whatever it was that he was trying to say.

Reaching across the table, he continued to stroke the back of her hand. His eyes looked down at her hand, and for almost what seemed to be several minutes, he waited for the emotions that had held him back to relax enough that he could continue. Taking a deep breath, he started to speak again.

What I am trying to say is that maybe it is time that I leave the Marine Corps. It was almost like he had to blurt it out to get it past all the emotions and feelings that had been holding it back. I know that I have not told you about my feelings about this, and I know that I have not talked to you about this, but I really do feel that it is time. I have twenty-five years in the Corps now, and I do not think that even if I stay in for another two or three years, I will make full bird colonel. Besides, if I get out now, I will not have to think about another deployment or even another duty station. It just feels right, and I think that my mind is in the best place it has been for a long time. So please tell me what your thoughts are?

The shock of the announcement from her husband had caught her so off guard that she had absolutely no idea what to say. The Marine Corps had been all that they had known for all of their married life, and to have her husband spring this on her out of nowhere, well, it was just so unexpected.

John, she stammered. I just don't know what to say. I mean, I had no idea that you were thinking about this, and to be honest I was afraid that you were going to tell me about a new deployment or something. But to spring this on me without any notice, I just don't know what to say. I love you, and any decision that you make is great with me, and I stand beside you no matter what.

She moved forward on her seat and put her other hand on top of his. Leaning closer to him, she studied his face and looked for signs of any type of emotion. I don't know what brought this up, and I really want to understand what is driving this in you. If this is a decision that you are making because you feel it is time, then I am good with that. If this is a decision that you are happy with and you can live with, then I am happy with that too. I have stood with you for over twenty-two years, and I have done that because you are my husband. I am proud of you, and I am proud of who you are and what you have done.

A slow smile began to spread across his face as he looked up and into the warm dark eyes of his beloved wife. He could feel her hands as they held their grip firmly around his large hand. The warm and loving and yet secure feeling that they had always given him once again flowed directly to his very core. Listen, I know that I haven't talked this over with you, but it is what I want to do, and I am convinced that it is time. I have done what I needed to do. I have protected my country, and I have served with pride, and I am proud of what I have done. I am proud of my uniform, and I will always be a Marine at heart. Hell, you know the old saying, once a Marine, always a Marine. I am looking at you right now and right here with a smile on my face. I am saying that I am ready, and it is time for us to start a new life outside of the Corps.

She let out a small chuckle, and with both hands grabbing his, she reached forward to plant a kiss on his hand. She followed that up with a light kiss to his cheek, and once again, she thought, Is that a tear that I see? John, if you are telling me that it is the right time and for the right reason, then I am happier than I can explain. It is just that this is coming from out of nowhere, and I must ask myself just where it came from and how long it is that you have been thinking about this.

Well, it's like this. Looking down at her strong but feminine hand, he took a short pause before continuing. I have actually had this on my mind for a couple of months, and the thoughts just kept getting bigger and bigger until I realized that I was just trying to convince myself that it really is time. It got to the point that it was hard to sleep, and I thought I was going to go completely crazy before I figured out just what I was thinking about. I, uh—

It was just at that moment in time that it seemed as though a war had started somewhere in the mall. First, a sound of gunshots as they seemed to bounce and reverberate from the walls were quickly followed by the sound of an explosion. The next sounds to come from the polished and shining walkways of the mall seemed to be cries and shouts of panicked and scared people running in the mall trying to find cover and safety. These were sounds that Lieutenant Colonel John Morris had heard many times before.

Chapter 3

Soon, soon, soon, they will see and feel all that is due to each and every one of them.

He took one last drag from his cigarette, turned his hand over, and watched as the ashes glowed fiercely in a dark sparkling red explosion of heat. There was a special warmth in his hand as the butt slowly cooled and the smoke curled lazily between his fingers. He held the smoke in his lungs for an extra few seconds while savoring the burning and yet relaxing sensations and effects of his cigarette. He enjoyed the feeling of holding the smoke in as it gave him a warm and satisfying feeling, and at this moment, he would relish all that he could get. American cigarettes, one of the genuinely great pleasures to be enjoyed from the American people that he had learned to hate so much.

He flipped the remaining butt through the air and watched as it arced toward the ground. In the remaining darkness of the ending night, he watched the embers explode as it hit the ground. The dying ashes seemed to be as much alive as a small forest fire fighting to live on to the very last instant. How many more cigarettes would there be in his life?

He was jolted back to the present by a noise coming from the crew of men working around the truck and trailer just a few feet away. He watched for a few moments with admiration as his crew worked on without instruction to complete each of their assigned tasks. They worked almost silently as each individual task had been assigned, practiced, and memorized. Each member of this crew had learned his position's responsibilities to a point that the individual jobs could have been completed in the dark with no illumination whatsoever. Fingers and hands had become expert at finding and connecting wires, plugs, and connectors. Attaching, moving, and tightening screws, nuts, bolts, and connectors were completed with but the slightest of efforts. Occasional jokes about food, television, or even home could be heard. Even an infrequent and deliberate cuss word was thrown around. Above all else, only English was spoken.

Already most of the removable panels had been dismantled from the passenger side of the truck as it was the side that faced away from the road and the canvas cover of the trailer had been pulled up to expose some of the contents. During this step in the preparation, only the crew working on the vehicles could have had any type of an idea as to the nature of the business of both the vehicles and the crew.

This truck and trailer really did not stand out at first glance. The truck itself was a very nondescript-looking work truck. At twenty-eight feet in length, gray and black in color, the truck looked like most other box-type trucks driving down any road. A company logo identifying the truck as belonging to D&D Construction was attached to the sides of the truck. A much larger sign stated that no job was too large or too small and quality was always guaranteed. A closer look would have shown that this particular truck had once been nothing more than a moving van. Stolen more than three months ago from a truck rental company in Denver, the truck had gone through a complete face-lift, getting a new paint job, new tires and