Page 41 of Down and Dirty

“Besides, I suspect the one-year WEALS program, if it succeeds, is going to end up being a two-or three-year deal, just like SEALs,” Zach speculated.

“What’s the latest with Arsallah?” Ragnor wanted to know.

“Still making lots of noise. Our government doesn’t deal with terrorists — at least not publicly — but the Afghan government is now claiming Sammy belongs in his native country. And the Department of State is on my tail, too, wanting concessions to avoid alienating the tenuous government there.”

“I’m thinkin’ it’s a Taliban pride kinda thing,” Cage said, tugging at the stupid gold loop in one of his ears. “The U.S. representing some imperial warrior kinda monster tryin’ ta destroy Afghan culture.”

“In other words, a propaganda nightmare,” Geek remarked.

“What kind of concessions?” Max asked. Being a fairly new father, Zach suspected that he was more conscious of the paternal instinct. “Surely not a shared custody, because you gotta know, once they get him, they’re never letting him come back.”

“I know. Ironically, to Arsallah, Sammy is racially impure. I’ve gleaned this from bits and pieces Sammy reveals. When Arsallah looks at him, he doesn’t see half-Afghan, he sees half-American. No blood bond there.”

“And worse,” JAM added, “Sammy was fathered by a Navy SEAL, number one on the Taliban hit list.”

“I don’t think they would use Sammy as a suicide bomber, nothing that drastic, but my greatest fear is that they would use him in some political way. Train him to speak against America… and me, representing the U.S. military.”

“When do those bodyguards hired by your father arrive?” Geek asked.

“Any time now. Plainclothes, of course. Two in Sammy’s vicinity at all times until this whole mess settles down.”

They all nodded their understanding of the need for protection.

“You making any progress with your son?” Ragnor asked.

“Not much,” he answered honestly. “He resents me for not coming for him the instant his mother died. And he resents me for having abandoned his mother, too, when she was pregnant. Not that he says so in those words. In his potty-mouth lingo, he pretty much says, you humped my mother, then left.”

All the guys grinned.

“It’s not funny.”

They still grinned.

“Dickheads,” he muttered and took a long draw on his beer, meanwhile checking out Sammy. He was still blowing bubbles, but he was blowing them at some seagulls that were trying to pick a few crumbs left on the beach. The gulls ignored him.

“I’m ready to ditch this party after we eat… if MacLean ever gets that filet done. How about a lift to the Wet and Wild?” JAM was speaking to Geek.

“Yeah, I’m in the mood for a little… dancin’.” Cage waggled his eyebrows to indicate it was more than dancing he had in mind, though the Cajun did love his two-step.

Geek’s face turned red. “Sorry. I’m not going in that direction.”

“Oh?” Zach said. “Big date?”

He hadn’t really meant anything by his question, except Geek’s face turned even redder. Geek gave the impression of being sexually inexperienced, but, hell, at his age he was no virgin. So, why the embarrassment? The other guys must have thought the same thing, because they were all staring at Geek.

“I’m helping a friend set up a website,” Geek said.

“And that makes yer face turn red as boiled crawfish?”

“Could this friend be of the female persuasion?” Max asked.

“Yes, it’s a girl. She has this… uh, invention that she wants to market on the Internet. I’m just helping her set up the website.”

Ragnor, also a computer expert, tapped a forefinger against his closed lips thoughtfully before he inquired, “And the name of this site would be?”

Geek put his face in both hands.

Now every guy in the group was on red alert.