The Boiling Point

(Washington D.C./ June 27, 2009)

“Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States.”

President Warren Michael Reed stepped up to the podium. As the first president of African-American heritage, President Reed was used to the careful stares that seemed to follow him as his six-foot, four-inch frame stepped behind the podium.

Today there were even more than the normal number of eyes fixed upon him, and he knew that millions more were watching from TV land. America was at a standstill and he knew it. Only the Lord knew how he and his advisors had spent more than enough time on the speech he was about to give - trying to make sure the wording was just right.

But it didn’t matter. America had been sold a lie, and there were no carefully chosen words that would soften the blow he was about to expose to the nation, the truth.

“Thank you, Katherine,” President Reed said to the pretty brunette who had introduced him. He turned toward the camera. The people of the press waited with anticipation and very little knowledge of what this hastily called press conference was all about. The Executive Office of the United States Government had actually done an uncommonly outstanding job putting the lid on any leaks. President Reed knew with information this sensitive, there could be no other way.

He surveyed the room for just a brief moment, and allowed his gaze to linger on the teleprompter. Maybe if he just read the words, didn’t think about them, as he delivered the speech, the information he was about to reveal to the world wouldn’t be so ghastly.

“My fellow Americans,” he said, as the first of what would be many droplets of sweat began to trickle from his closely-cropped hair, gently tickling his mocha-colored temple.

He allowed himself a single deep breath. That was easy. Been there, done that. Now the hard part.

“Last night it was brought to my attention that America has been at war. Do not be alarmed by these words, because the battle we have been fighting has not been with another nation, but with ourselves. In the past you have heard me, like so many of my predecessors before me, declare a war against drugs. This has been a challenge within this country’s boundaries that has, at times, seemed to be an impossibly daunting mission. Last night, I found out why.”

The remains of his earlier deep breath seeped slowly from his lips. “As some of you have already heard, last night Colonel Jacob Walker, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, lost his long and courageous battle with another enemy that has touched every American in one way or another. At approximately 10:20 p.m., Colonel Walker died from complications arising from cancer.” Reed allowed himself the luxury of another deep breath. His eyes darted from those of one reporter to another. He knew this moment in American history would be the last of its kind. Not certain of what his next words would bring, he was sure of one thing. In the next few moments the powder keg would be lit.

All right, here it comes. Just say it, and get the hell back to your bunker, he thought.

“Before he passed away, Colonel Walker made a confession to myself, and news journalist Darrell Simms. Due to the sensitive nature of Colonel Walker’s confession, I will only briefly go into the details - waiting until we are all better informed. I have designated a task force that has already begun to investigate these allegations, and I give you my word that we shall fight to rectify all the wrongs that may have been created.”

The members of the media began to buzz with anticipation. Get to the point, he told himself, before their imaginations run wild. That’s a funny thought, what I’m about to tell them is worse than ninety-nine percent of anything they could imagine.

“We have been fighting a losing war against drugs.” He exhaled. “We now know why. Colonel Walker confessed to personally overseeing the infiltration of crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana into those areas of the United States heavily populated with blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities.”

The words flew rapid-fire from President Reed’s lips. The crowd exploded. Hands shot in the air, voices shouted out questions. Even the television cameramen were so shocked by what they were hearing, they allowed their cameras to drift downward.

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