First Defense

First Defense

Written and Illustrated by William J. Ryan

Copyright 2018 William J. Ryan

Published by William J. Ryan at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. This book may not be reproduced in part or in whole without the written permission of the author. You may write to William J. Ryan at Post Office Box 666, Dade City, Florida 33526

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All information, theories and any philosophies or hypotheses should be verified by the reader from outside sources before one takes action to protect oneself from any of the impending dooms that are predicted to come within this book. All theories and characters in this book (if any) are fictitious and any resemblance to others or actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental unless a true name is used and true quotes are used.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

ChapterThree

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

About William J. Ryan

Other books by William J. Ryan

Connect with William J. Ryan

Prologue

This book depicts a war taking place in our nation against illegal drug trafficking. It is a story about a few people who have been forced to stand their ground in defense of their land, all without the assistance of the Government, or their interference. This is not a new war, or even one that’s been fought for years, but one that has been going on for decades.

You won’t hear much about it on the national news for that would unnecessarily alarm people and show just how overwhelmed the local Governments are and how the Federal Government has been ignoring the problem. The question is, Why would the Federal Government choose to ignore this? They postulate on how tough they are, but go on letting this war worsen.

The effects are in our schools, on our streets, in our businesses and in our Government. Most of us turn our heads and look the other way until inevitably, it spills out in front of us and we just say, That’s too bad. Well it is too bad because we are losing this war. Every atrocity that you read about in this book is a direct result of a decision made at the top. It’s just like if you go into any place of business and you are treated poorly, it’s because the man at the top says it’s okay. What the one at the top thinks, trickles down.

What you are about to read describes a battlefield, one that will probably surprise and shock you. So put yourself in their places. What would you do if it were your land, your property, your neighbor or your own family?

Chapter One

The Gift

The morning sun crests over the horizon, as darkness is replaced with first light we can see the silhouette of corn tassels blowing in the wind. Somewhere in the background, we hear a radio playing and a weather report comes on, Good morning Cedar Rapids. It’s a beautiful summer day out there. We are knee high by July and that is good news to start out our month. We’re starting the day with temps in the 50s and will rise up to the upper 90s. We may crack the 100 degree mark today, so try to keep cool.

The broadcast continues with the hog futures report, the value of eggs and a series of fertilizer ads. Next we are serenaded with a familiar melody from Hank Williams. Off in the distance we can also hear the sounds of a highway leading to a small town as we continue to pan the countryside. There are rows of older homes, pre-WWII, small and humble. The houses turn into small stores and businesses and we find ourselves in a small town in Iowa.

Rush hour traffic consists of six cars, ten trucks and two tractors all sitting at the only stoplight in town. It is a slow moving place, but with everything the big city has, crime, gangs, drugs, prostitution and most of all, political corruption, like anywhere in America. The tallest building in town is six stories high.

The top floor of that six story building is occupied by a large law firm. It’s been in business for over eighty years, and has been passed down to the sons like most businesses in just such a small town. Up until recently, there has been little new growth, only the perpetuation of the same. This firm at one time was a one-man operation until the laws prohibiting advertising were lifted and then it took off. Ambulance chasing became the refined art of suing people and businesses for any reason they could think of. That’s when the money started really coming in and now the law firm has bought up most of the property in town, and with power comes arrogance.

As we look at the outside of the building we see it’s made of red brick. The cornerstone reads, 1946. It was the first new project of its kind built in Iowa after the war. The plant that supplied the brick went out of business in the fifties and was dismantled, but you can still find the owner of the land and for forty dollars fill up the back of your truck with some of this same brick that’s over a hundred years old.

Moving up the outside wall of the office building we look in each row of windows. Women are busy filing or typing and the men are standing around drinking coffee and telling jokes. Then we get to the top floor windows which belong to the lawyers in their blue striped shirts and stiff white collars. As we look into the conference room we see ten men sitting in leather arm chairs at a long, wide mahogany conference table. The top attorney at the firm is seated at the head of the table.

His name is Robert, the old man, and he is speaking to all of the other attorneys about one of them, John here has been very successful in acquiring a major account with the addition of the military jet manufacturing plant. It has created an enormous boost to our bottom line, which, let’s face it, is one of the main reasons we all became attorneys in the first place. As you know, we are nearing John’s ten year anniversary with our firm and as everyone is also aware, at least everyone seated at this table today, we have been planning on making John a full partner for some time.

Turning to John, Robert continues, John, we would like to officially welcome you as a full partner of this firm, which includes many benefits other than financial. To celebrate your partnership, we have planned a little vacation for you, one we know you need and will appreciate. Everyone applauds.

John smiles and says, I am very appreciative and I promise to do my best for the firm, but with everything that’s on the table right now, I can’t possibly take off on a trip.

But John, Robert says, It is important that everyone takes a vacation. You have worked hard, now it’s time to play hard. You have to be able to pull yourself away from your responsibilities once in a while. A man must be able to stop and walk away. We are not asking you to take anything like a week off, but we do have a fabulous three day weekend planned. Knowing that you are an avid hunter and knowing your political beliefs, we are inviting you on a very unique trip.

Robert reaches down under the table pulls out a very expensive gun case. He carefully lays it on the shiny mahogany table and smiles, watching John’s face. Here John, this gift is for you. Get ready for three days of fun.

John is awestruck as he opens up the case and there inside is a magnificent handmade high powered sniper rifle. It’s the one he has always wanted and talked about, but never having the time or inclination to get. He stroked it like it was made of gold.

Get ready to use it, I hope you remember how, Robert cheerfully tells him.

It has been awhile since my days in Vietnam, John replies, looking down and stroking the gun, But I haven’t forgotten everything. As long as I can keep my glasses clean, I think I can hold my own. Thank you very much."

Robert, smiling, says, You are going to get a chance.