by Van Fleisher
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Vik Vasin was found guilty of numerous murders, accessory to murders, several federal felonies, and a whole lot more. He was given a number of life sentences, which he is serving at the Berlin, New Hampshire, Federal Correction Institution. He was not charged with the more serious crimes relating to terrorism, however, because he became the key witness against Mikhail ‘Mike’ Kalin and Yuri Chernyshevsky.
Vik wrote a note to Alek Belikov, congratulating him on his marriage and apologizing for his involvement that led to Alek’s kidnapping and injury. Alek was moved, and he regularly visits Vik in New Hampshire.
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Mikhail ‘Mike’ Kalin was found guilty of terrorism charges by working with foreign adversaries to interfere with and influence U.S. elections and to kill U.S. citizens. He’s serving multiple life sentences with no chance for parole. Sara Huckers does not visit him.
All other members of the Russian ‘Robot’ team, except for Yuri Chernyshevsky, were apprehended, tried, and convicted of various acts of terrorism and federal felonies. All were sentenced and will remain in prison for a very long time. Chernyshevsky remains at large. Russia has refused extradition.
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Moki Joe Hunter’s role in the poisoning at the Wilkes Barre Arena was never discovered, nor was the role of his brother, Tochi Tom, in providing the poisoned colas.
And so, after a while, and without any real leads, dozens of conspiracy theories consumed the cable channels, blogs, and tabloids. Russian involvement of various types and for different reasons were the dominant ones, including: “Putin felt that the President had become more of a liability than an asset,” and “An oligarch killed him because the President screwed him on a real estate deal.”
Others speculated: “The President’s wife wanted to get out of the marriage without the prenup taking everything away.” “The Democrats were afraid he’d be re-elected,” and along that theme, any one of hundreds of other names could be inserted instead of ‘The Democrats.’
As for why the Vice President was included in the assassination, it just appeared that nobody was even interested.
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Marianne Abbott’s bravery did more than eradicate two despicable family members. It turned out that when the London police received Marianne’s letter, they acted on her information, and a reporter for the London Sentinel Echo, Anita Jackson, heard about the story. The Sentinel Echo might not have been a Pulitzer Prize winner, but Anita was passionate about her work and started to dig. What she found was startling and heart-breaking. Knowing exactly how many girls and women are trafficked each year is difficult to measure, but two-thirds of the victims in the USA are thought to be U.S. citizens, and the total number is estimated to be 25,000-50,000.
Anita found out that a Federal measure to help crack down on trafficking was introduced in 2017, but it failed to pass, just as gun laws do. Most states have taken up measures to root out and stop trafficking, but a few still lag behind. In some states, a trafficked woman or girl may even be charged with a crime that she was forced to commit.
Thanks to Anita’s interest and energetic investigation, Marianne’s story shed light on a monstrous crime. And as a result, more and more people came forward with additional information both in London and beyond, helping law enforcement agencies blot out a disgusting stain.
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The United States’ Presidential Election was … well, you’ll see.
Remember, this is a work of fiction.
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THE VERY END
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I dedicate this book to my mother and father, who passed along sufficient intelligence for me to write the FINAL book series. Their more significant accomplishment, however, was guiding me to develop the wisdom to view people through their deeds, rather than the color of their skin, their religion, their political beliefs, or their financial or social status. I confess to finding it increasingly difficult to understand why some individuals and groups seem to go out of their way to hurt others, especially those less fortunate than themselves.
I want to thank my partner in life, Jackie Morris, for her love, encouragement, support, and editing, which helped make FINAL ACT a reality.
I also want to thank my beta readers: Bonnie, Diane, Leda, John, Peter, and Roseann, and suggest that they re-read FINAL ACT again. It’s a much better book than the one you read … thanks to you!
Last but certainly not least, I want to thank the many (more than expected) readers of FINAL NOTICE for their acceptance, liking, and particularly their openness in considering new and different positions on important issues raised in that book. That encouragement drove me to write FINAL ACT.
I found that writing a sequel is tricky, especially because some readers may not have read the first (or earlier) books. I have tried to make Final Act read as a stand-alone story, as well as leave out spoilers in case you decide to read Final Notice later. I hope I achieved the ‘write’ balance.
Feel free to contact me at [email protected] or visit my website: www.vanfleisher.com.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My journey to becoming an author took over seventy years, and it started in high school – a requirement if I wanted to play football and baseball. Mr. Smith, my literature teacher, was intrigued when I aced his essay test after six weeks of saying nothing in class. And so, he asked me how I did so well. My answer was simply that, “I’d listened.” He asked if I read books, and I answered honestly, “No.” So, he handed me a copy of a book, “The Catcher in the Rye,” suggesting I might like it. I took it and actually read it, anxiously waiting for the baseball part that would surely be in a book with that title. I’d been tricked but kick-started to a lifetime of reading.
I enjoyed two careers over fifty years that afforded me not only the opportunity to read voraciously on my thousands of flights (seriously) but also to learn so much about people, cultures, business, and life. I worked for an international airline and lived in five U.S. cities, three countries, and worked all over the world. My other career was as an international management consultant, working in and flying between thirty plus countries.
Not surprisingly, upon retirement, I decided to write. FINAL NOTICE was my first thriller, and a sequel, FINAL ACT, will be out in April 2020. I split my time between Carpinteria, California, and Simorre, France, with my partner (and editor), Jackie Morris, and our goldendoodle, Yogi.
FINAL ACT QUESTIONS FOR BOOK CLUBS
Following are some suggested discussion questions for book club moderators. The author is happy to consider special book club rates and engage in discussions, as possible. I would love to hear about your conversations and any comments you may have. [email protected].
Overall, do you think that the author was too one-sided, or was he fair in his dealings with the major issues?
What did you like, love, or hate about Final Act?
How would you feel about knowing when you will die, and what would you do with your last days? Could you envisage a situation where you could kill, knowing you would never live to stand trial?
Based on the premise of the Final Act, what do you feel are the country’s most significant issues?
What are your views on guns and gun control?
Based on Vijay’s and Jennifer’s differing views on cooperating with the FBI, whose view is closest to your own?
How do you feel about law enforcement surveillance?
What are your thoughts on the treatment of immigrants?
Did you like the author’s writing style?
Would Final Act (along with or independent from Final Notice, if you’ve read it) make a good movie? What actors would play the main characters?
How did you feel about the event at the Wilkes Barre Arena?
Who were the most likable characters? Least likable?
Did Final Act influence your views on anything?
Your overall rating: 1-5 stars.
Praise for Van Fleisher’s firs
t book: FINAL NOTICE
“Van Fleisher could join the ranks of James Patterson and Tom Clancy with the quality of writing that I found in Final Notice. More importantly, he took a simple idea and elevated it into a thrilling, fast-paced read that never once slackened.” Samantha Coville for Readers’ Favorite
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“… A fiction novel that is not that far from reality. My attention never wavered while reading this novel. The characters are likable and multidimensional ... the plot was perfectly paced ... (and) I kept on turning the pages because I was impatient to see how each character who received a Final Notice would react. I have to congratulate the author on the ability to surprise me multiple times throughout the story." Sarah Khan for OnlineBookClub.org.
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“It is original, with biting humor, and well-executed; Final Notice is a great read. Final Notice by Van Fleisher is a thrilling novel that includes strong elements of sci-fi to provide readers with an awesome reading experience. The story is intelligently plotted, featuring a lot of suspense and grim humor, and forces readers to consider what they would do if they knew when they would die. Van Fleisher has a powerful sense of setting, and readers will feel as though they are navigating the physical and spiritual landscapes of the novel alongside the characters. Final Notice is a great read.” Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite.
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“… A powerful and engrossing set of tales incorporating social and political commentary ... While the underlying premise may come from science fiction, the ultimate impact lies in their social perspectives, which leads readers to think about future desires, the consequences of actions when death is an imminent certainty, and issues ranging from gun rights to senior citizens' quality of life.” D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
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"Van Fleisher is a master entertainer ... Final Notice by Van Fleisher is an intelligently imagined and expertly crafted novel with an original concept. Combining dark and biting humor, satire, and suspense, Van Fleisher creates a story with characters who are sophisticated and reveal a lot about human nature. There is an unpredictability in the plot that makes it intriguing and exciting, with surprises that readers won't see coming. You can't stop reading this book once you start it." Divine Zape, Readers' Favorite.
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