Page 23 of Beaches

“Oh, my teeth. I saw Dr. Londyn, and she fixed my teeth. They don’t hurt anymore, and they’re pretty like all of yours.”

“Maybe she can fix mine too,” smiled Calvin.

“Actually, you all have appointments with Gabi and Londyn,” said Cruz, walking up to them. “We want to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Whatever it is, we’ll be able to handle it.”

“A doctor?” frowned Damon. “I haven’t seen a doctor in a long time. It kind of scares me. And a lady doctor.”

“That’s right, big guy,” smiled Gabi, walking toward them. “I’m a lady doctor and a damn good one, along with my friend here, Kennedy.”

“She’s an angel,” whispered Calvin. “Look at her eyes and hair. She’s an angel.”

“Honey, my husband would seriously disagree, but thank you.” Zulu walked up, hugging his wife, and then shook each of the men’s hands.

“What in the world are you eating that your men are this size?” asked Damon. “I’ve met some big men in my time, but you’re all much bigger than average.”

“Mama would say it’s her cooking,” smirked Gaspar. “I think we’re just lucky. You fellas, go with Cruz and let Gabi and the team take good care of you. We’ll catch up later.”

“Can I get another plate of food first?” asked Damon. They looked at Gabi, and she smiled.

“I’m glad to see you eating well. Yes, you can have another plate of food; just don’t gorge yourselves. Cruz? I’ll go get everything ready. See you at the clinic, handsome.”

“I’m right here, babe,” frowned Zulu.

“I know.” Calvin, Damon, and Vic laughed, shaking their heads.

“This is the best place in the whole world.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“Ace, Code, talk to us. Were any of these men reported missing?” asked Ghost. “I damn sure don’t remember any reports of a hundred and twenty men gone missing. And what about the rest of their teams?”

“The men were allegedly assigned to do recon on a potential terrorist threat in the area. When none of the men returned, they were reported as MIA, then reported as believed dead. Funerals were held, wreaths laid, the whole damn thing. The bastard even submitted for posthumous medals for all of them.

“Search parties were sent out. There was even a television special about ‘the lost one-twenty.’ He made a big show of going after the alleged terrorists and destroying their compound, killing all of them. Later, the locals said they weren’t terrorists at all, but a kind of local militia that helped to protect the small villages.”

“Jesus, he got away with this shit for years,” said Gaspar.

“Him and his brother,” said Ace. “Let’s not forget he wasn’t alone. But this is where it gets really sticky. Whoever let those two move into positions of authority obviously didn’t check their backgrounds very well. Their father, Colonel Lucifer Kaplan, I shit you not, Lucifer was his name. Anyway, Lucifer lived up to his name. No matter where he went, he either took over control of brothels or built one himself, and his favorite thing to do was to allow his clients to beat the women.

“Lucifer made friends with every enemy of the state. Every single one believing they had something in common in their tastes. We’re talking about Hitler-like beasts,” said Code. “These men were the worst humanity had to offer, and he took advantage of it. Calling in favors for cash, property, weapons, drugs, anything.”

“Why don’t we know this man’s name?” asked Miller.

“It was wiped from the books,” said Michael. Michael Bodwick, former Navy SEAL, POTUS, and member of REAPER, RP, and now Gray Wolf.

“Welcome home, asshole. You’ve been gone too long. How are you?” smiled Nine, hugging his old friend.

“We’re good, and we can catch up later. This situation? Not good. Lucifer Kaplan was wiped from the books for a reason. He was the greatest embarrassment and mistake made by our nation, possibly ever. He didn’t just get favors from our enemies. He sold them weapons, secrets, and people.”

“People? He sold our men to them?” growled Rafe.

“Men and women. He didn’t believe women should serve, even in a nursing or medic capacity. If he didn’t like you, if he couldn’t manipulate you, he sold you to the greatest enemies we knew. By the time someone had actually blown the whistle on this bastard, there was so much damage done we had to start all over again on weapons programs, space programs, and so much more. He set us back decades.”

“Fuck me. How did this asshole get away with this for so long?” asked Ian.

“He had something on everyone, brother. Even the president. Fortunately, a group got together and went after him, beating him at his own game. They bought favors from his frienemies, and they sold him out. He was quietly removed from command and executed.

“Before he died, he took great delight in telling them that if he were killed, the whereabouts of hundreds of POWs would be lost forever. Most of them thought he was bullshitting. After his execution, an aide found paper maps with circled bodies of land. They sent teams out and searched but found nothing except bones. Wherever he moved them last, no one knew. I’m sure those men are long gone, unfortunately.”

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