Chapter 4

"It's a lot darker than you think," Si grunted. "So, how's the shoulder? Heard it might be kind of gimpy."

Anger rose up in Max at the mention of his injury. It had ruined his career as a SEAL, and talking about it made him want to throw something. Or hit someone.

"Doesn't hurt my fishing," he snapped.

"Hey, hey, hey." Si held his hands up, palms outward. "Just asking. I have the same kind of problem. Wrecked my back and just could not come back from it. Killed me with the SEALS."

Max was instantly contrite. "Sorry to hear that, buddy. And sorry I bit your head off."

Si shrugged. "No biggie. I know just how you feel. So, no women in your life these days? I thought for sure the minute you retired you'd have a long string of them."

Max's laugh was short and sharp. "Yeah, I might have to look beyond Sunset Harbor for that. Seems the best women here are already taken. Anyway, how's Maggie? Did I hear right that the two of you kissed and made up and got hitched again?"

"You did." Si had a prou+d look on his face. "And she's due to pop any day now."

Max's jaw dropped. "She's pregnant? Well, good for you guys."

Everyone in their tightknit SEAL circle knew about the death of Si and Maggie's son, the emotional devastation that followed, and the divorce. He was glad for his friend and wondered for a moment if he'd ever have that kind of emotional commitment with anyone.

Shut up. Si's not here so you can complain about your love life. Or lack of it.

"As a matter of fact," Si continued, "she's one of the main reasons I have this new job."

"Oh yeah?" Max lifted an eyebrow. "How's that?"

"Her connections got me the interview and it was all the way after that." Si nodded at Max's plate. "If you're through with your meal, let's head to that booth in the corner and I'll tell you."

"Oh? We need privacy for this?" Max could not imagine why that was. Except…Wait a minute. Hadn't he heard through the SEALs' grapevine that Si was now with the Department of Homeland Security?

"For sure."

"Okay. How about a beer? Or coffee? Something to wet your throat while we talk."

"Coffee would be great." Si grimaced. "It's been a long day."

As soon as they were settled in the booth, Max looked at his friend. "So, tell me about this cushy office job you have now."

Si barked a laugh. "I'm not in the office that much and I'd hardly call it cushy. But it's the reason I'm here."

"And that is?" Max kept his voice even.

Si reached into his inside beast pocket, pulled out a photo and slapped it on the table.

Max's eyebrows shot up nearly to his hairline.

"Is that a picture of me? Where the hell did you get it, and what are you doing with it? And how did my face get in a picture at an event I've never attended." He stared at the photograph. "Wait. There's something different… Hell! That's not me, but I sure as hell could pass for him."

"Exactly. He also happens to be named Max. Max Ferron"

Max DiSalvo frowned. "Do I know him?"

"No. He and his brother, Bernardo, have made billions in the arms and munitions industry."

"Yeah? Why does that give me a bad feeling?"

"Because you always were a smart son of a bitch, with good instincts."

Max was still looking at the photo. "So, what is it you want from me?"

"How would you like to go to a very private, very small meeting with people who want to take over this country?"

Max was sure his jaw dropped far enough to hit the table.

"Are you shitting me?"

Si shook his head. "Not even a little. Look. I head up a unit of the DHS that's so secret no one ever mentions it. We deal with the threats to national security that are so heavy, one misstep and the country goes to hell. We have a dangerous situation evolving here, Max, and I need you. Your country needs you. It's not done with you yet. If you're up for it, we need to go someplace more private to talk." He paused. "And then, if you're in, we need to head to the D.C. area."

It took Max all of three seconds to make up his mind. He jogged over to the bar, slapped some bills on it then motioned to Si to head out the door with him.

"Where's your car?" he asked. When Si pointed, Max said, "Follow me."

Fifteen minutes later, they were in Max's living room, Max sitting and Si pacing.

"First of all," Si began, "I have this super-secret group within the DHS. It was my idea, and the director supports it. A small number of retired SEAL officers who can lead a group of multi-agency operatives when needed on missions no one else can know about."

"And what's this group of yours called?"

Si grinned. "The Bone Frog Command."

Max chuckled. "I couldn't have picked a better one."

Every SEAL knew that in the Vietnam era Navy SEALs were known as frogmen. In the early 2000s a new image for the SEAL Teams began to emerge, a skeleton of a frog that paid homage to those earlier generations of SEALs. It became the inspiration for tattoos on many SEAL Team warriors. Max had one as did several of his SEAL friends.

"So," he prodded, "what is it you want from me?"

"I want you to go to this meeting where there's a good chance someone will try to kill you, get all the information you can, and get out with your skin intact so we can destroy this before it gets off the ground. And lock these people away."

"That's all?" Max burst out laughing. "You make it sound so appealing." Then he looked at Si's face and all laughter went away. "You're serious. Okay. Let's have it. What's this all about?"

Si cleared his throat. "There is a groupa cabalof five couples who live in some of the Western states. They control enormous wealth and have vast, silent, almost invisible reaches of power. They think they are untouchable gods who can do anything they want."

"And what is it they want?"

"More power. All the power. Like I said earlier, their goal is to gain full control of the United States. To get rid of the government as we know it and have every bit of power in their hands, with their own puppet at the head so they can pull the strings."

Max whistled. "Holy shit."

"Yeah. No kidding. There's some kickers here." He ticked them off on his fingers. "One. They want to get rid of everyone in key positions of power and replace them with their own people. Two. They've been in bed with one of the most powerful cartels for some time. The Rojas cartel. One of them had the original connection and was providing a safe passage the cartel could use to bring drugs into this country. Apparently, along the way, the cartel added terrorists looking for new, fertile territory to rebuild their power. Now these people are working with that cartel to smuggle some of the worst, most high-value extremists over the border into this country."

Max could feel the color draining from his face. "God. For what purpose?"