The Grecian Manifesto by Ernest Dempsey Read Free Book Online

unselfish.
    The presidency was something Dawkins had never really
believed possible, especially considering the fact that he was an independent,
unaffiliated with any political party. When the election came, he ran against
two men who had both been enemies on Capitol Hill. Typically, Dawkins was a
mild-mannered man with a quiet disposition and a nose that was constantly at
the grindstone. Something changed when he entered his first presidential
debate. He fiercely attacked the other two candidates, ripping apart their
scripted retorts and firing back almost insulting comments that exposed the men
for what they really were: puppets.
    Now in his second year as president, Dawkins had already
had a successful term by any standard. His leadership had resulted in a
prosperous run for the country. His approval ratings were higher than that of any
other president in history. No one wanted to run against him in the next
election. They knew it would be fruitless.
    Sean Wyatt stood silently as President Dawkins finished
signing the last of several forms at the dark-brown table. Dawkins laid down the
pen and removed the reading glasses from his sharp nose. His light-brown hair
was still thick and cropped neatly atop a young, boyish face. A few lines creased
his skin around his eyes, the only clues to the president’s age. What Sean
hadn’t expected was to see the man in a pair of board shorts and an old T-shirt.
    Dawkins set the glasses down on the table and stood to
greet Sean. The man was an inch taller than Sean, who was a six-footer himself.
The president crossed the room in two strides and extended his hand.
    “Sean Wyatt? I’m John Dawkins. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The president said it with a smile, but his voice told Sean that something
troubled him. It had a sense of urgency to it.
    “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. President,” Sean said
humbly.
    Dawkins motioned to an empty chair across from where he’d
been sitting at the table. “Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything? A
bottle of water? A Coke?”
    “No thank you, sir.” Sean shook his head. “I’m fine.”
    He sat down in the proffered seat as Dawkins returned to
his. Sitting closer to the patio door, Sean could see there were two agents standing
just beyond the glass, keeping watch.
    “I hope you don’t mind my casual dress,” Dawkins commented
as he crossed one leg over the other knee. “I just came back from the beach.”
    Sean smiled weakly. “Yeah, I’ve never pictured the
president in board shorts and a T-shirt before. Not going to lie, it’s good to
see you’re human. Though I always thought you were.” He chuckled as he said it
and got the same reaction from Dawkins.
    “I’m definitely human,” he agreed. Dawkins thought for a
moment before continuing. “Sean, if you know anything about me, you know that I
don’t beat around the bush very much. I like to be direct, and I prefer to put
things out there as quickly as possible so that solutions can be found and the
job can be done. I look at everything that way.”
    Sean nodded. He knew that about the man. It was another
endearing quality Sean appreciated.
    The president swallowed hard and folded his hands. “When
was the last time you heard from Adriana Villa?”
    Sean’s eyes narrowed. The question of how the president
knew who she was flashed in his brain. The leader of the free world could
likely get any information he needed or wanted in a matter of minutes. Sean had
a bad feeling about where this line of questioning was headed.
    “I don’t know. A couple of days ago?” He answered with a
hint of uncertainty. “She’s investigating an ancient artifact she believes is
located somewhere in Greece. We talked on the phone a few days ago, but I
haven’t heard anything from her since.” Saying it out loud, Sean realized how
long it had been. He hadn’t been worried about her. Adriana knew how to take
care of herself. She’d saved his life more than once. The fact that