Chapter 147

"You're having them do what?" David asked.

"You heard me, Draiman. We can kiss the Pentagon goodbye", the Commandant replied.

"What about the State Department, the Supreme Court, all the other crucial government buildings in Washington?"

"We're setting up a MRSI style hit for that. We're going to make it seem like it's the same sniper with different demo teams. Right as the last sniper is taking out the Chief Justice, all of the buildings go up in a blaze of beautiful smoke and flame."

The guys all exchanged a look. "Not a bad idea, actually", Dan said. "Look at it from a tactical point of view and it's a really damn good plan." He looked at the Commandant. "It's a really good plan. A team of snipers, but making it look like it's one hitting each location. fucking genius."

David thought about it. "You're making it seem like a single sniper is walking from one location to another?"

"Exactly. Then right after the Chief Justice hits the ground dead, then all of the Demo teams move in and 'BOOM!!!! There goes the State Department, the Department of Justice, the Supreme Court building, and all of the OTHER buildings that have a department in the Cabinet."

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After the Commandant left, David burst into laughter. "THAT mother fucker is crazy."

"But at least he's getting the job done and you know it, David", Dan said.

He sighed. "I know."

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"Jacob Micah Draiman, cough it up, young man", Brie said to her second son.

"But I don't have your necklace, Mama. Talk to Maddie", he said.

Brie pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. "Ok, I have an idea here. But we're going to wait for your daddy to in here."

David walked in the living room. "Wait for me for what?"

"Remember that necklace you bought me a couple years ago for Christmas?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"It's missing. Maddie says Jake has it. Jake says Maddie has it. So, I'm going to do something that will guarantee that we find the truth."

"What's that?"

"Muscle testing. Jacob Micah, hold one arm out level with your shoulder to the side." He did what he was told. "Is your name Jacob Micah Draiman?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She pushed down on his arm lightly. He didn't move. "Are you five years old?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She pushed down again. No change. "Do you have a twin sister?"

"Yes, ma'am."

No change again when she pushed down. "Do you have my necklace your daddy bought me for Christmas three years ago?"

"No, ma'am."

There was no change. "Ok, you can put your arm down and sit down." She looked at Maddie. "Madison Jade. Get over here now and do what I have Jake do." Maddie step up in front of her mother and held her arm out to her side. "Is your name Madison Jade Draiman?"

"Yes, ma'am."

No change when she pushed down on Maddie's arm. "Are you two years old?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She pushed down on Maddie's arm again, no change. "Do you have a twin?"

"No, ma'am."

No change. "Do you have my necklace that you daddy bought me for Christmas three years ago?"

"No, ma'am."

Her arm fell when Brie pushed on it. "Where is it Madison Jade?"

"I don't have it, Mama!"

"Bull shit, Madison! Where is my necklace?"

Malachai came into the room. "I found this in Maddie and Jordan's room." He held the necklace out to his mother.

"Thank you, Malachai." She looked at Madison. "You care to tell me the TRUTH about what this was doing in your bedroom."

"Jordan was playing with it", she said, pointing at her older sister.

"Were you, Jordan?"

"No", Jordan said.

"You'll say anything, Madison Jade, to stay out of trouble for this, won't you?" David said. "Do you realize what that necklace means to your mama?"

"No, but I didn't..." Maddie started.

David held up a hand. "Stop lying, Madison." He looked at Malachai. "Where did you find the necklace, 'Chai? On Maddie's side or Jordan's side of the room."

"Maddie's, sir", Malachai said.

"Where on Maddie's side of the room?"

"Mom's not going to like what I have to say, but I found it in the floor."

Brie grasped at her chest. David put a hand on his wife's shoulder, then looked at his second daughter. "Maddie, I bought your mama that that necklace for Christmas the year before you were born. I gave it to her a sunrise that morning. That was the morning YOU were conceived. Remember how your little brothers and sisters grew is Miss Natalie's tummy?"

"Yeah."

"Before you were growing in your mama's tummy, I bought her that necklace."

Maddie nodded. "I'm sorry, mama. I saw it and wanted to play with it. It was so pretty."

Brie leaned her elbows on her knees, her hands covering her mouth. David sat down next her. "Do you want to deal with this or do you want me to?"

"I can't. I'll lose my temper with her and I really don't want to do that."

He nodded. "Madison, have a seat. The rest of you, go play."

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Maddie didn't like what she got as punishment. David didn't spank her or ground her. Oh, no. THAT would have been too simple. Instead, he made her pick up the house for Aunt Kristen. By the time she was done picking up the living room, she was complaining. "Keep it to yourself, Madison. And once you're done in here, go to the Kitchen and pick up in there for Aunt Nicole."

Maddie didn't like that one little bit. "But, Daddy..."

"Oh no. 'But Daddy' went out the door when you took Mama's necklace out of Mama and Daddy's room. You're going to pick up every room in the house until you can apologize to your Mama and learn to leave things that don't belong to you alone."