Danger Close by James Sumner (classic novels for teens txt) 📕

network, assuring the citizens of Paluga that they were safe and their army would protect them.

On Jericho’s orders, every GlobaTech operative in Paluga was to return to their designated camps and await orders. They were not to interfere with the Palugan military nor react if provoked. They should still protect themselves if necessary and protect the lives of any innocents in danger, but if they were left alone, they should respect that.

Jericho stood in the palace’s war room, staring at the bank of computers and wall-mounted screens before him. It was a far cry from what he imagined the situation room in the White House looked like. This was a large boardroom in the center of the palace, one floor below ground level. However, it was secure and well-guarded at all times.

Beside him, Colonel Ramirez looked at one of the large monitors, which was playing security footage of Herrera’s assassination captured from a surveillance camera in a nearby building. Two military analysts and a GlobaTech operative presided over the network of machines.

Jericho leaned back on the conference table that stretched out behind him. Around it, more military advisers huddled and muttered to themselves, seemingly led by Raul Montez, who had been uncharacteristically quiet since the assassination.

Ramirez clapped his hands together in frustration. “We are wasting our time! We have nothing.”

“Take a breath, Colonel,” said Jericho, trying to reassure him. “We don’t have nothing. We know where the shot was fired from. I’ve given that information to my boss, who has given it to the U.N. That’s not nothing.”

“Yes, Mr. Stone, but we still don’t know who the shooter is. We have no footage, no angle that shows anyone entering or leaving that building on the day of the shooting.”

Jericho nodded patiently. “Not yet. But we’ll find it. This is the job.”

Ramirez took a moment to compose himself, then smiled. “You are right, of course. This is just… unprecedented. I joined the army to avoid politics. Now here we all are, in the middle of… whatever the hell this is.”

Jericho folded his arms across his chest. His muscles bulged and flexed naturally. He looked at the floor, choosing his words before looking up at the colonel.

“I don’t think I’ve actually said this to you, but… I’m truly sorry for what happened,” he said. “I was fortunate to get to spend some time with the president before all this. He was a good man. I liked him. I’m sorry for your country’s loss and for my failure to protect him. I won’t rest until—”

Ramirez held up a hand, smiling. “Mr. Stone, while I appreciate your kind words, they are not necessary. I do not hold you or your company responsible for this mess.” His smile faded. He moved beside Jericho and sat back against the edge of the table. “If I’m being honest, we brought this on ourselves.”

Jericho frowned. “How do you mean, Colonel?”

Ramirez let out a heavy sigh. “This country… it wasn’t ready for the changes President Herrera wanted to make. I’m not saying they weren’t what we needed. But these people have been through a lot. Generations of oppression cannot be erased overnight. Paluga… we need to learn to trust someone before we follow them.”

Jericho nodded his understanding. “Did you agree with the president’s plan to downsize and defund the military?”

Ramirez shrugged. “I’m a soldier, Mr. Stone. I do as I am told. If I’m told that tomorrow, I am no longer needed, then so be it. The day after… I don’t know. Maybe I’ll become a carpenter. Why do you ask this?”

“Your general took serious issue with it. That’s why we’re all here. I just wondered why you didn’t.”

“I am not a young man, Mr. Stone, but I am younger than the general. He and I… we are from different generations. I am probably the last generation that is open-minded enough to change. To adapt. To evolve as a nation. The general…” He screwed his face up and held out his hand flat, tilting it from side to side. “Not so much. He’s what you might call… old school.”

Jericho smiled. “I know the type.”

“Unfortunately, he’s respected enough that when he talks, people listen.”

“People listened to Herrera too.”

Ramirez smiled politely, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Not nearly enough.”

“Yeah. Hopefully, we can find the shooter before the situation escalates any further. How are your men doing? It must be hard on them, having to pick sides like this.”

Ramirez shrugged. “Not as hard as you might think. Our soldiers are strong. We may not train them like your Marines, Mr. Stone, but we train them to be strong here.” He tapped his temple with his finger. “They love their country. We do not force patriotism upon them. Their morals are their own.”

“That is an admirable approach, Colonel, but there’s a reason our soldiers have the morals trained out of them. If you let them think for themselves, they begin questioning orders. And that leads us here.”

“True. But what use is a unified military force if it is fighting for the wrong cause?”

Jericho shrugged. “That depends. Who decides the right and wrong thing to fight for?”

Ramirez smiled, relishing the friendly debate. “Whomever the people elect should make those decisions.”

“You’re right. But it’s hard to stop people from arguing with you without looking like you’re just another dictator.”

“It is. That is why, if the general wanted his voice to be heard, he should have run for office. But he didn’t. He said Herrera was wrong without providing an alternative.”

“And people bought into it because he’s a respected military figure and knows how to work a crowd.”

“Precisely.”

“Yeah… because, historically, people like that have such a great reputation of leading their countries, right?”

Ramirez smiled. “You make a good point, Mr. Stone. You have perhaps missed your calling as a politician yourself.”

Jericho rolled his eyes. “Your president said the same thing.”

As the men shared a laugh, the GlobaTech analyst turned in his seat to face them.

“Sir, we’ve scanned every angle we have for the twenty-four hours