A Time for War
Page 35
“Hope Johnny appreciates that his daughter was instrumental in saving a hundred thousand lives.” “Enough to forgive her for going down the rabbit hole,” Jack said.
The men fell silent as the colorful string of beads weighed heavily on them.
“He was a pain in the rear, but a good guy,” Doc said.
“Aren’t we all. So what’s next for you?” Jack asked. “Sounded like you had something lined up.”
“Texas,” he said. “Bunch of folks on the border want to put together a merc army and go after the cartels.”
“That will be interesting,” Jack said.
“It was inevitable. Those suckers are recruiting kids in Victoria and other towns, kids as young as ten, eleven, paying them to get other kids hooked. Why don’t you come along for a look-see? Helluva story in that.”
Jack shook his head. “I’ve got a story I need to produce first. I don’t know who will air it, since it implicates Beijing, Washington, and one of our biggest industrial powers, but I have to tell it just the same.”
“Sounds like you may be safer in Mexico.”
“Maybe.” Jack grinned. “But it’s like that Chinese kid Johnny was telling me about—the one who Maggie brought out of the consulate. Sometimes you just have to do what’s right.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Doc said, draining his glass.
Jack sat back and forced himself to move his arms away from the cup. It was a small gesture, but a significant one.
You can’t let fear rule your life, he thought. Not fear of terrorists or fear of criticizing your own leaders or foreign governments.
“Truth tellers,” Jack said.
“What?”
“Just thinking out loud,” Jack said.
He smiled.
They had killed the show. But they could never kill the ideal.