Apache Crossing

By R.P. Deiss

We had gotten bloody on our last mission. We went to Colombia to rescue my wife and son from a drug cartel that kidnapped them to lure us to South America. Doc was wounded, Brady got a concussion when his Helo crashed and Senior Chief Morrison was killed. The entire team needed time off to decompress. We all took time off and flew back to our home towns to unwind and give back to our communities. Then I got a call from Patch in Arizona.

“LT, I need the team down here. We have a Fentanyl epidemic on the reservation that is killing our youth. My nephew is in the hospital in an induced coma.”

My team is family. When one of us hurts we all hurt. The team rushed down to Patch's location. Come hell or high water we will find out where the Fentanyl is coming from and trace it back to its origin. We learned that thousands of Americans are being killed by Fentanyl annually. Along the way we discovered a Mexican drug cartel is the middle man for the Chinese government. We also learned about corruption in our own government at the highest level.

Hunting for the drugs, we accidentally discovered something we weren’t expecting. If gone unchecked it could mean the end of all life on our planet. Failure is not an option. No matter how bloody we get, we must succeed. We cannot afford to fail. To fail will mean the death of America, and afterward, the death of all animal life on earth. It’s time for the Sea Demons to live up to their name!

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.P. Deiss
• Release date: Dec 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215474471

R.P. Deiss

Hi, I'm a 54 year old Wisconsinite. I served in the Navy during the closing days of Vietnam as part of Operation Frequent Wind. I held a top secret clearance as a radioman. I honed my typing skills on the keyboard of a teletype while serving my country. I'm a 3 term commander of our American Legion Post and designer of our Veterans Memorial. I spent 19 years in the Boy Scout program including 8 years as scoutmaster and helped 11 boys reach Eagle Scout. I also did 11 years as committee chairman. I've written and given many speeches on Veteran issues. . I live in Northeast Wisconsin with my wife Darlene, I have two grown step daughters and six grand kids. I found that i have an insatiable love of writing. I did the first draft of Dead Men's Isle in three weeks. I also did a thriller called Copperhead which will be coming out in february and am now doing s sequal to Dead Men's Isle. I have now written a total of 5 books for your enjoyment. I hope that I can bring you into the pages of my books for a journey that will transport you on an adventure of a lifetime!

Book preview

After our mission in Colombia was completed and we conducted our final team briefing, it was time for the team to have some time off. We had gotten bloody on this one. Chief Morrison had been killed. Doc had been wounded and Brady got a concussion when the helicopter he was flying was shot down. We had come away with vast wealth but I would have thrown it all away to have the chief back.

Each of our shareholders of the Sea Demons had gained tens of millions of dollars in personal wealth from the operation that had been conducted to free my wife and son from a Colombian drug cartel.

My team one and all had felt a need to give back to their communities so all of us flew home to share the wealth. I left Red Dog in charge of our island while we were away. As head of security he was authorized to hire an additional ten security guards. We were strengthening security after Karen and Juan were taken in the dead of night while we were away on a mission that turned out to be a hoax.

I looked past my son, Juan and out the airplane’s window as we came in for a landing in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I had chartered a gulf stream for the flight home. We were wealthy beyond our wildest dreams.

There’s my parents, I said pointing out the window to where they stood next to their SUV.

It’s been a while since we had time to visit them, Rick, my wife Karen said.

It hasn’t been that long since they were in Jamaica for the wedding though, I reminded her.

Grandpa promised to take me walleye fishing while we are visiting, Juan said excitedly.

That’s good. That means we can count on having a fish fry as long as you and dad don’t get skunked, I teased my adopted son.

I’m pretty lucky when it comes to fishing, Juan bragged while sporting a big grin.

Your dad was never very lucky when it came to fishing, my brother Chris said laughing.

Chris had accompanied us home to help plan what we were going to do for our home town. Soon we were on the tarmac hugging each other.

It’s good to have you all back home again, dad said.

How long do you plan on being home? Hopefully it will be more than just a few days, mom said hopefully.

Maybe a week and a half or so. Then we have to go visit Karen’s parents. Once we get the ball rolling Chris can finish up here by himself, I said.

You didn’t say very much when you called and said you were on your way home, dad reminded me.

How are you and Juan doing Karen? It must be terrifying to have been kidnapped like that, my mother said.

It was, but we kept our faith that Rick would be able to find some way to rescue us, Karen admitted.

Yeah, I knew dad and my uncles would come to the rescue and get us back, Juan said confidently.

Let’s load up your bags. We can talk more on the way back to the farm, dad said as he opened up the back of the SUV. Soon we were traveling home.

We want to build a boys and girls club in town and a legion post of our own instead of just using a back room, I explained to him.

How much money are you planning to spend on the project? Those things can’t be cheap, dad said.

"Whatever it takes to get done. We’re going to do the same thing in Karen’s hometown too,’’ I said.

I know you have money after finding Captain Kidd’s treasure. But with what you did on your island can you afford to spend all of that money? my mom asked.

"When we went down to South America to rescue Karen and Juan we also relieved them of several billion dollars of drug money. So we aren’t too concerned about how much we spend on the project, I informed them.

We want to give you money too. There is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to travel and do fun things in your retirement years, Chris explained to them.

We get along all right son, dad said as his pride showed through. We have a warm house and food on the table.

I have this made out for you. Go and buy a bigger table dad and enjoy yourself, you’ve earned it, Chris said as he passed a check to his mother.

Land sakes! Am I looking at this check right? mom said in total shock.

What does the check say? my dad asked as his head snapped to the side.

It’s made out to us and it says it’s for five million dollars! mom said as the check trembled in her hands.

Half is from Chris and the other half is from us. And before you ask, that’s just a drop in the bucket compared to what we actually have in our banks, I informed them.

We can go somewhere warm next winter if we have a mind to honey, my mother said.

Jamaica is always warm and you’re always welcome to stay with us, I reminded her.

I know we are dear. But it would be nice to be with people our own age and it’s so remote where you are twenty miles off the coast of Montego Bay, mom answered.

Dad, tomorrow why don’t you take Juan fishing. We’ll be busy all day in meetings. First with the city council and then an informal meeting with the officers of the legion post, I said.

What do you say Juan, do you want to go out on Lake Winnebago and catch a few walleyes for supper? dad asked with a grin.

Oh boy, do I! I’m really lucky when I go fishing. I bet that I catch the biggest one, grandpa, Juan said excitedly.

The next morning found us in the council chambers with the mayor and city council.

It’s been a while Rick, Chris, the mayor said. Who is this beautiful lady you brought with you?

Jeff, this is my wife Karen, I said.

You said briefly you wanted to talk about building and donating a boys and girls club to the community, Jim said.

We do. We want to give back to the community. We plan on it being a facility kids from all over the area will want to spend time at. Indoor swimming pool and basketball courts. Baseball and softball fields. Activity rooms and tennis courts, the whole nine yards, I informed him.

That sounds really great for our kids and our community. What do you need from us to get it done? one of the council men asked.

I need to find acreage, enough to build the facility on with the tennis courts, and ball diamonds. We want to know what you’re willing to do tax wise to lower the operational cost of the facility, Chris told them.

Well, it will have to be enough land for parking lots too. Ten acres should be plenty of land with room for expansion, the mayor said with a little bit of thought.

Just how big is ten acres? Karen asked.

Including end zones, it’s approximately seven football fields, the mayor answered.

Do you have something that size available? Chris asked.

The city doesn’t own anything nearly that big but I have a couple of ideas for you. There is farm land east of the middle school and north of the high school the farmer may be willing to sell some off. He’s getting up there in age. If you want something right on the highway I’m afraid you’ll end up building out of town, the mayor said.

I’m sure the community can put up signs pointing the way to the youth center so out of towners can find it, one of the councilmen stated.

As far as taxes go we can work out some kind of five or ten year tax break for you, the mayor said as he looked at the nodding heads of the other members of his council.

I have a better idea for you. We’ll build the facility and open up an operational trust to pay the bills and upkeep with. We’ll donate the facility once completed to the community. I’ll have a lawyer draw up the contract agreement between you and us. It’s not that I don’t trust you but five years from now or longer we might have all new people in charge where you’re sitting and I won’t have the kids’ money squandered on road repairs or other community projects, I said.

How can we say no to that? Is there anything else you need from us? the mayor asked as he stood up to shake our hands.

We need a liquor license. Is there one available in the community? I asked him.

You want to sell beer at the youth center? one of the councilmen asked in shock.

I looked at him and started laughing. No, the other project we plan on doing is building a legion post. But it doesn’t pay to do that if we can’t get a liquor license.

There are a couple in town that have been dormant for years. Others have tried to buy them but they refused to accept a reasonable offer, The mayor said.

Give me their names, they’ll sell, Chris said with confidence.

Jim, how about coming with us and introduce us to the farmer that has the land? I said.

Sure, I can do that. The meeting is adjourned gentlemen unless anyone has a question or a problem with the proposal, the mayor said.

One of the councilmen looked around the table at the other members. We’re all for it one hundred percent, aren’t we guys?"

Let’s keep it legal and above board guys. All in favor signify by saying aye, opposed signify by saying nay. The ayes have it by a vote of five to nothing, the mayor said with a broad grin.

We drove to the farm at the edge of town and were introduced to the farmer.

Bob, these folks want to buy ten acres of land from you to build a youth center on, the mayor informed him.

The Chamber brothers, well I’ll be danged. It’s been a while boys, the farmer said with a grin.

I didn’t know it but the farmer was one of dad’s friends from the legion post. Hi, Bob, are you willing to part with a few acres? I asked as I squeezed his hand.

I sold the land the new school is sitting on. I reckon I can part with a little more. How does six thousand an acre sound? Bob asked.

I shook my head no. We’ll pay you ten thousand an acre with our thanks for working with us, I replied.

That’s a done deal, Bob said, shaking hands all around.

We have to get to the meeting with the legion, Chris said, glancing at his watch.

We’ll have the papers drawn up and a check for you in a couple of days, I promised the farmer before climbing back into the car.

We met at a local bar where the legion held its meetings. I knew most of the members that were there from going to meetings with dad.

Grab something to drink Rick. We’ll meet in the back room, Jerry the post commander said.

Being late morning we grabbed cans of soft drinks and followed him across the hallway.

So what’s on your mind Rick? the commander asked as we sat down at the table with the group.

We came back home for a visit. While here we wanted to give back to the veterans of the community by building you your own legion post, I explained to him.

Are you serious? We can’t believe that you’re doing that for us, Jerry said in disbelief.

We have more money than we ever thought possible after recent operations my team conducted and we want to take the opportunity to give back to the community, Chris said matter of factly.

We’re going to build a youth center too, Karen said.

We don’t know what to say but that is a tremendously generous offer that you’re making to us. How can we say no? the post adjutant said.

We took the liberty to have an architect draw up plans for us. Let me show you what we have in mind, I said as I rolled out the papers on the table.

The building is well thought out as far as we can see but maybe you have ideas to improve the design, Chris said.

Okay, right here you have a large bar area with tables where people can sit and eat a meal. Walkin cooler and freezer over here. Kitchen is back here. It will be designed and outfitted so you can cook for groups of people for banquets and weddings. Offices will be down this hallway and bathrooms will be positioned between the bar and the banquet hall. There will be a smaller bar in the banquet hall to handle weddings and a stage for bands and DJ’s, I said as I pointed out the features to them.

How many will the banquet hall seat for meals? Jerry asked us.

We tossed that back and forth and we came up with two hundred and fifty. Big enough to hold your bingo sessions in and do most weddings or community events in, Karen answered.

I would suggest hiring a manager. You can serve Friday night fish and sandwiches at the bar. I would have regular operating hours. You’ll need a manager to schedule shifts and resupply the bar and restaurant, I explained further.

We’ll give you start-up cash to get going but once you’re up and running you should be self sustained, Chris the bean counter informed them.

Can you see anything you would like to be different from what we are proposing to you? I asked the group.

I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but can we also have a smaller room for smaller gatherings? We can use it for birthday parties and holding our monthly meetings. The banquet hall would be too big for our regular monthly meetings and we could have zone heating and have the heat turned down lower when not in use, Jerry said.

I think that would be a great idea. We can have that added to the design on the other side of the bar. The bathrooms will stay where they are. Centrally located between the bar and the banquet hall," I said.

We have our eye on a piece of land on the edge of town that should be large enough to build the legion hall and have ample parking, Karen said.

We talked for a while more with the excited and happy group before heading for my parents’ home.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chapter Two

My phone rang as we pulled into my parents’ farm lane. Looking at the caller ID I saw it was Patch on the other end of the call.

Hi Patch, how’s it going in sunny Arizona? I asked my teammate cheerfully.

LT, I need our team down here and I need them here now, Patch said in anger.

Why, what happened to get you so riled up? I asked surprised.

We have a drug problem here on the reservation LT. Kids are getting a hold of Fentanyl and dying. They have them colored and looking like harmless candy. One pill is enough to kill a person. LT in the last week three of our young people have died from accidentally taking the drug. My fourteen year old nephew is in critical condition in a local hospital, Patch informed me.

We need to find out where the drugs are coming from and destroy the supply chain, I said.

The tribal police have reached out to us. They know I’m a member of the Sea Demons and are asking for any help we can give them. The United States government refuses to shut down the border and the poison is flooding over the border at will. They just made a drug bust recently. There was enough Fentanyl to kill thirty million people. It only takes a very small amount to kill someone, Patch said.

Tell your tribal police that we’re on our way but will take a couple of days to get organized and get down to your location, I said.

Thanks LT, I knew you wouldn’t let me down and told them to expect us on site, Patch said with a calmer voice.

Don’t do anything on your own before we get there Patch. Wait for the team to show up to watch your back for you, I warned him.

I thought about it LT, I surely did. But I knew the organization would be too big for one pissed off Apache to handle on his own, Patch admitted.

Knowing Patch as well as I did I believed he would have attempted it. Especially in his younger days.

Chris and I will be there sometime tomorrow. Figure on the rest of the team to follow behind us in a day or two.

Thanks LT, I’ll go and pass on the good word.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chapter Three

We need to have a team meeting in the dining room. Mom and dad, can you join us? I said as I left the room.

We only heard one side of the conversation Bro. What’s happening in Arizona? Chris asked.

In the last week three young tribal members were killed by Fentanyl. It was colored to look like candy and they didn’t know any better. Patch’s nephew is in the hospital in critical condition. Patch doesn’t know if he is going to pull through, I explained.

So we’re heading for Arizona to lend a hand? Karen asked me.

I think it’s best if we drop you and Juan off at your parents on the way there, I tried to reason with her.

No way buster! I’m half of the medical team and I belong where I’m needed, Karen said hotly. Karen can have a temper.

I’m afraid, Dad. Last time you left I was kidnapped, Juan said as the tears blossomed in his eyes.

We won’t leave ourselves exposed again Juan. Dad, are you alright with keeping Juan here with you? I asked.

We wouldn’t have it any other way Rick. Don’t worry about Juan being safe, dad said.

If it’s alright with you I’ll get a couple of our security people up here to help watch over things, I offered.

A couple of extra sets of eyes couldn’t hurt none. We can put them up in one of the guest rooms, dad said.

We need to make some phone calls now, I said as I looked at my stored numbers and hit one.

Lieutenant Chambers, I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon, the vice president of the United States said.

Sir, we made that arrangement on the last mission to use a C130 when needed. I could use one now.

Where are we taking you, lieutenant? he asked.

Arizona sir, there is a problem with Fentanyl trafficking on the Apache reservation. Young tribal members are dying and we have been asked to assist them, I explained.

I don’t think they can afford your rates. Last time we made a deal it was for forty million dollars, the vice president reminded me.

One of our team members is a member of the tribe sir. His nephew is in the hospital in critical condition. We’re doing this one pro bono.

When do you want the plane in Montego Bay?

The day after tomorrow at sunrise if possible. I’m not at the island and it will take a day or so to get our gear ready for the mission, I explained to him.

I will make it happen, lieutenant. I can only hope you have success. The Fentanyl problem in this country is very real. Twenty thousand deaths a year, he stated.

But yet we leave the borders wide open for them to cross anywhere they want, I said in disgust. One bust had enough of the poison to kill thirty million Americans. It’s time to do something about the problem with or without the help of the federal government.

I’m on your side, lieutenant. Politics is a dirty business, especially here in Washington, the veep said.

I didn’t mean to heap this all on your shoulders sir. I realize you don’t have the final say with policy, I explained.

I’ll let you go now lieutenant. My line is open if you have any other needs.

Thank you sir. I have some more calls to make, I said as the veep hung up.

You have a direct line to the vice president of the United States? my mom asked in shock.

Yeah, it’s useful to have sometimes. We need to call Red Dog next, I said as I punched in the number.

What can I do for you LT? Red Dog said, seeing my number pop up.

I have you on speaker with my parents, Chris and my family. I have a C130 landing at dawn the day after tomorrow. I need you to get fully operational. Load the trucks with our extra handguns and M4 carbines. You know what we need loading in the cargo areas, make it happen.

What’s the destination LT. Knowing might make it easier to figure out what you need for equipment, Red Dog explained.

Arizona, the Apache reservation. Patch called needing help with a Fentanyl outbreak, I said.

I’ll make it happen. Is there anything else I can do for you? he asked.

I need you to send two of your best men to me in Wisconsin to watch over Juan while we’re away. I’m not letting my guard down again. Chris made a call and a private jet will be waiting at the airport," I explained.

You’re going to fly them on a private jet and not on a commercial flight? Red Dog asked in surprise.

Two trains of thought. I want them here tonight and I want them fully armed when they come. Handguns, M4 carbines, night vision and com units. It would be difficult to get those things on a commercial flight, I explained.

I’m on it LT. Call me if there is anything else you need, Red Dog said.

How are they coming with the new island defenses? Have they started working on it yet? Chris asked.

Engineers have been here planning on putting the second floor on the dormitory building. The chain guns and missile launcher haven’t arrived yet Chris, Red Dog explained.

Have you hired the new men yet? Chris asked.

I have hired them. I know them all personally and they’re all good men. But they haven’t arrived yet. The first ones should be here tomorrow, Red Dog said.

Okay, we need to call Danny next, I said as I ended the call.

Is Danny going to be part of the mission Rick? Arizona is a long way from the ocean, Chris reminded me.

I know Chris but he has to be ready. Look at the last mission. We didn’t think we would need him for that but we did, I reminded him.

Danny picked up the phone on the first ring. Rick, I didn’t think we’d be hearing from you so soon.

Problems with Patch in Arizona, Danny. I need you to get the Sea Eagle fully stocked and ready for sea. We don’t know yet if you’ll be involved or not but we need to be ready, just in case, I explained.

We have replacement missiles coming to replace the ones we used on the last mission. Rusty is supposed to be bringing depleted uranium rounds for the chain guns. I’ll double check with him and see when he’ll be here, Danny said.

I’ll have Chris reach out to the Navy and check on those missiles too, I promised. I have to call Red Dog back again, Danny. Get fully operational and have your crew on standby. I’ll get back to you in a day or two.

Alright Rick, I’m on it, Danny said before ending the call.

I called Red Dog again. How many men do you have on your security force counting the new hires that haven’t arrived yet?

The new men will bring it up to twenty two LT. That’s including me and my second in command, he said.

You have the two men coming to my location now. Have them bring an extra set of gear. Rifle, handgun, com unit and night vision for my dad to use.

Alright, they are just getting their gear ready to go now. They should be leaving in the next twenty minutes or so.

I want you to take six men with you aboard the Sea Eagle to provide security. Chief York’s men and the ship’s crew can help to reinforce security if they are needed. Leave the rest of your men there with your second in command in charge of island security I instructed him.

So we are getting underway then? Red Dog asked.

I’m not one hundred percent sure yet but you know me I tend to over plan. I won’t lose a man because we got sloppy.

Roger that, LT. I’ll get some men transferred from the dormitory to the ship’s berthing compartment before the end of the day, Red Dog promised me.

I need you or some of the island’s staff to go into each of the team members’ houses and grab their gear. They’ll probably be flying directly to Arizona. Outfit them for desert camo and not forest camo, I said.

We better do it ourselves instead of using island staff. Not knowing what to grab they could end up leaving key pieces of gear behind, Red Dog said.

Get everything to our garage and load it into our trucks. Post two men there overnight to guard everything. The lot is well lit now so there is no need for night vision but make sure they have their com units on, I said.

We’ll make it happen, LT, Red Dog said before ending the call from Rick.

Red Dog turned to his second in command. You heard the man, Jason. Take a couple of men and two or three UTVs and go house to house and grab their gear. Load it into suitcases, backpacks or seabags, whatever is handy. Tag everything so they don’t have to tear everything apart looking for their own gear, Red Dog told his second in command.

We’ll get it done, Red Dog, Jason said as he ducked out of the room.

I called Brady next. Brady, Patch ran into a situation in Arizona and needs the team ASAP. Get your ass back to our island and load all of our field medical supplies on the helicopter and get to Patch’s location, I said without a greeting.

Slow down LT. What kind of trouble did Patch get himself into visiting home? Brady asked.

Fentanyl is killing young people in the tribe. His own nephew is in the hospital and his survival is touch and go, I replied.

I’m on my way LT. I’ll get back to the island today and head out for Arizona first thing in the morning, Brady promised.

Make sure the chain gun is fully loaded and the rocket pod has the right rockets in it. We won’t need incendiary rounds in the desert. Last mission we were burning poppy fields with napalm rockets.

I’ll get a corporate jet standing by to take me back to Montego Bay LT, Brady said before ending the call.

The entire team had taken private jets home. The whole team, including Karen, were required to always be armed with their sidearms, even while on vacation. Not only could we afford the luxury of private jets but they were needed because of the weapons we were wearing. We couldn’t get through security checkpoints used on commercial flights.

I’m going to call Bill and have him get hold of Sam. The two of them can contact the other team members and get them heading for Arizona, I said.

I’ll go into the other room and call our contact with the Navy and find out when our Missiles will be delivered, Chris said as he got up.

What’s going on LT? Bill asked after seeing the call was coming from me.

I need you to call the team together and get them all heading to Arizona and the Apache reservation.

Why, what’s going on with Patch, LT, Bill asked in surprise.

It seems they have kids dying from accidently using Fentanyl disguised as candy. Patch’s nephew is in the hospital in critical condition. Patch isn’t sure he’ll make it or not. We’re going to find out where the hell the poison is coming from and put an end to it, I explained.

I’ll start making calls right away. When are you heading for Arizona LT? Bill asked.

Chris, Karen and I will be headed out first thing in the morning. Patch is expecting us. The tribal police are asking us for any help we can provide them with. I have Red Dog going house to house on the island grabbing your gear. Come right to Arizona a C130 cargo plane will be bringing our gear to us the day after tomorrow, I explained.

Okay LT, I’d better get moving. I have a lot of calls to make including one for myself for a plane ride, Bill said as he disconnected.

Chris came walking back into the room. I contacted the Navy. A frigate left Pensacola and should be arriving at our island tomorrow morning. I called Danny and told him to prepare the ship to receive the missiles and get them stored in the armory, Chris said.

Good, one more problem solved. Dad, I hate to saddle you with this, but I need you to supervise the projects we have going on in town, I said apologetically.

I saw that one coming a mile away, dad joked.

There is one more thing we need to do today, Chris. We need to secure that liquor license for the legion hall, I reminded him.

I guess the license’s face value is twenty thousand dollars. Let’s go and see how much one will cost us to get, I said.

Oh, by the way, Juan, did you and your grandpa catch any fish this morning? Karen asked.

We caught six of them and I caught the biggest one too! Juan said proudly.

Walleye for supper tonight. Grandma has her own secret recipe, Chris told Juan.

Oh pshaw, it’s just what I use for breading the fish. Honey, stop at the store and get the other fixings we need for supper tonight, she told her husband.

We drove back to town. Both vacant liquor licenses were from closed pizza joints. The first person we needed to talk to currently worked at a local cheese house so that was our first stop. I knew the person we needed to talk to. Not real well but I knew her. That’s the way it is in small towns.

Judy was working behind the store’s counter. Judy, can we talk to you about the liquor license you have? I asked her.

You can ask anything you’d like, she said with raised eyebrows.

How much money will it take to buy the license from you? I asked.

I’ve been offered thirty thousand dollars for it and turned it down two years ago.

Why are you hanging on to it if you’re not going to use it? Chris asked her.

One day I might use it again, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. I’ll never be able to get another one in this town, She reasoned.

I want to build an American Legion hall for the veterans in the community and I can’t do it without the license. How much will it cost us to get you to part ways with your license? I asked her.

I really had no intention of parting ways with it for any price to tell you the truth. But it is for the veterans. I suppose I can see myself letting it go for fifty thousand, she said reluctantly.

Sold, you know my dad. I’ll have him come by and pay you in the next day or two. If you could have the license ready to hand off to him. Thanks for working with us Judy, I said with a smile.

We went back to the house and the smell of frying fish. Juan was in the kitchen supervising.

Dad, the first step will be to get bids from contractors. You’ll need big companies for the youth center. Medium sized contractors for the legion hall. I told Judy at the cheese house you’d be there in the next day or two to pay her fifty thousand for her liquor license. Chris has set-up an account at the local bank with your name on it to use for the projects. Draw money from that account for any expenses you run into. You’ll also have to pay Bob a hundred thousand for the ten acres he is selling us. Work with your lawyer to get the needed papers drawn up, I said.

Looks like I’m not retired anymore. How am I supposed to enjoy that money you gave your mom and me if I’m working? He joked.

Working will make you feel young again, I joked back.

How much do you have in that bank account for the projects? They might want up front money, dad said.

We started with ten million dollars. I’m hoping that’s enough for the entire project, Chris said.

Let’s sit down and eat. You can talk business after supper, mom said as she placed the platter of fish on the table.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chapter Four

We stood watching as our gulfstream private jet taxied to a stop in front of us.

Juan, make sure to listen to your grandparents, Karen told her adopted son.

I will, but I wish you weren’t going on another mission so soon. I’m afraid and don’t feel very safe, Juan admitted.

These guys will make sure nothing happens to you, right guys, I said, eyeing the two security guards that had arrived the night before from our island.

We’ll make sure nothing happens while you’re away LT, the senior guard promised.

You got your instructions. The two of you sleep in shifts during the day. At night both of you have to be alert. Wear your com units and night vision at night. Dad has his gear now too, I said, repeating my earlier instructions.

"You