Antonio paused and took a sip of water from the glass placed on the table by Noble. He waited a few minutes longer to collect his thoughts before resuming.
“Let’s move on.” Max suspected they still had a lot of ground to cover.
“During the Climategate scandal, other critics of global warming popped up.”
“What does this have to do with Veunet and his testimony?” Noble interjected, sensing he was getting sidetracked.
“Claus knew that Jonas’ colleague Dennis Avery had compelling scientific evidence that the sun played a key role in climate change along with cloud formations and shifts in the ocean, concluding that reducing fossil fuel use would have no discernible effect on rising temperatures. Claus assumed these factors had not been accounted for in the computer-driven climate models. Ironically, at the same time, Luca was following reports from the Global Warming Policy Foundation about disputes among independent climate scientists.” Antonio continued to throw out names and scientific dogma with ease, but his tempo was a bit unsettling for his audience.
“Antonio, please slow down. The SD memory card has plenty of storage, so we’ll give you all the time you need.” Noble wanted to hear it all.
At a calmer pace Antonio went into further detail and then explained, “The conflicting views added only more fuel to the global-warming skeptic’s bonfire. But it provided information that Claus needed to support his hypothesis.”
Antonio took another nervous sip of water before continuing. Clearly he was tiring, but Max reminded him of the importance that they get the entire story on tape without delay.
“You still haven’t explained what this has to do with Veunet’s testimony? Noble repeated. And what is his hypothesis?”
“With the mounting evidence against manmade global warming, Claus wanted to disprove the CPU climate models with empirical certainty. He believed with the additional information Jonas had collected from Avery and the scientific findings Luca had uncovered, he would finally be able to end the controversy. But he needed Luca and Jonas to work with him to prove his theory. That is when they started working together. He needed to be absolute before making a public statement and releasing the email.”
“Was this an attempt to expose the IPCC in the cover-up?” Max’s expression was more than dubious.
“Not completely, becau—” Antonio stopped in mid-sentence. Clearly, he was about to broach another subject, but then quickly reverted to topic. “Luca and Jonas agreed to work with Claus to run independent climate models to see if they could formulate different results. They believed that the models were conflating correlation and causation.”
“How did you end up working with them? You said earlier that your work at NASA was unrelated to climate science.” Max was overly curious considering he seemed to be the linchpin to the entire conspiracy.
“Because of my association with Doiron, Claus knew that I had a direct link to The Right Climate Stuff research team. He asked me to funnel scientific data from the team to him. But Claus didn’t want me directly involved at that time. He said it could get dangerous, and they needed someone on the outside. He said I would be their failsafe.”
“Failsafe—now I’m more than confused?
“Remember the equation Spark wrote on the back of the photo?”
Max and Noble nodded, wondering where this would lead.
“Claus and Luca decided that instead of trying to mimic the computer-driven climate models they would use empirical data from The Right Climate Stuff research team to calculate the various metrics such as Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity, Transient Climate Response, Total Radiative Forcing, and Representative Concentration Pathway, including the Global Mean Surface Temperatures, the same equation you discovered on Spark’s photo.” Antonio glared at Max, gauging how much more information to reveal.
“And?” she asked impatiently.
“The equation for the Global Mean Surface Temperatures was crucial. It forecast that no more than one-point-zero degree Celsius of global warming above current levels will occur in this century from burning fossil fuels, proving that the current alarmism regarding CO2 emissions is scientifically unjustified. Claus called me. He was ecstatic. He said that they finally had the undeniable proof that man-made CO2 emissions were not a major factor in global warming—but the impact was even greater than they had imagined!”
“What did they discover?” Max was clearly tiring at pulling teeth.
“Claus wouldn’t tell me. He wanted to arrange a meeting with both Avery and Doiron to show them the results personally before he made the findings public. All he said was for me to hang tight and emphasized it was for my own safety. He promised it would be over soon.”
“Did you ever find out what happened at the meeting?” Noble asked.
“It never took place.” Antonio moved his head from side to side and then bemoaned, “Claus died the day before. Evidently he was scheduled to meet prior to testifying before the Committee on Climate Change Initiatives. I had no idea about Claus’ death or the testimony until Luca called me. Needless to say, I was thunderstruck.”
Noble got a sudden sense they had just scratched the surface. “What happened next?”
“Shortly after, Luca started receiving threats and after his subsequent death, Jonas had to step up to the plate and prepare to testify before the congressional committee to report their findings. It was then that Jonas involved me directly. According to him, Claus had agreed to testify on the condition that no one else in the group would be exposed to the committee. But Spark was desperate to discredit what he viewed as the global-warming swindle. Evidently he threatened to unleash the fact that Claus had stolen the scientific records from the CRU, which is why he agreed to testify in the first place. I can only assume Spark had something on Luca and Jonas as well.”
“Did Jonas tell you the results of their findings?”
Antonio was clearly rattled by Max’s question.
She laid the pressure on. “Antonio, did Jonas tell you what they discovered?”
“Yes!” After his outburst, he took a moment to regain his composure. Then, he methodically unleashed the startling results, test-by-test.
Noble and Max sat back and listened as they watched Antonio on the large screen. They were aghast by what they heard. The implications would have indescribable consequences.
Max feared the answer, but they needed to know. “Did anyone else know about the testimony, other than the four of you and Senator Spark?”
“Spark told Claus that Senator Erog knew only that he had evidence to disprove the computer-driven climate models. Evidently Claus freaked out, but Spark assured him that he did not give Erog any specific information, just enough for him to agree to allow the testimony. Jonas told me he suspected Spark had some dirt on Erog and used it as a persuasive weapon.”
“Why didn’t Spark go directly to the president?”
“I can only presume he didn’t want the president to have to decide between covering up a scam or cause a multi-trillion-dollar worldwide economic collapse.”
Both Noble and Max flinched at the same time. They sensed they were getting to the crux of the case.
“Personally, I thought it was rather naïve for Senator Spark to think the consciences of the other senators would be in his court,” Antonio posed.
“Noted. But putting that aside, let’s back up a minute. You still haven’t answered the question as to who sent the email.” Noble was starting to wonder whether the ending would have the hoped-for startling conclusion.
“I’ll get to that in a mome—”
“You’re losing me!” Max was equally frustrated.
“Antonio, who sent the email to Claus?” Noble’s request had clearly converted to a demand.
“The email that circulated through the scientific community came from the IPCC’s Secretariat. It was also cc’d to the Secretary General of the UN.”
Max and Noble were stunned by the blatant attempt to control the debate. Bu
t from Antonio’s body language they sensed they were getting close to the core of the issue—and it was something big. They remained silent.
“It was the email that put Claus in such a lather and caused him to seek advice from Luca and Jonas—but then there was another email.”
Both Max and Noble picked up on the unusual expression on Antonio’s face and made a mental note, but they were eager to let him continue.
“Claus was having coffee at his favorite corner cafe during his usual morning stop. While he was there he was approached by a man who handed him a plain envelope. The guy abruptly turned and walked away before Claus could identify him. But in the envelope was a copy of another email with orders to cut and paste the contents and then destroy the original email. It contained the same language that Claus received in the email from the Secretariat.”
“Okay, who sent that email?” Noble was losing his patience, beginning to wonder whether Antonio was playing them.
Antonio took a deep breath and then blurted out, “The Director of the Consortium.”
“The Consortium!” Max and Noble responded in unison. They were overwhelmed for a second time.
Noble immediately hit the Stop button.
The room went silent.
Chapter 40
CUT TO THE CHASE
They were not sure how much Antonio knew about the Consortium. There was no reason he should be acquainted, but they chose to tread carefully. For many the Consortium was considered a mythical legend. But for those in the upper echelon, its membership was rumored to mimic the roster of the Bilderberg Group as well as their mission: to debate the future of the world and ensure the survival of over seven billion humans. But whether the Consortium was comprised of the same prominent business moguls and heads of state, there was no question they wielded enormous power in the slurry of the political swamp. They professed democracy, but in reality it was clear they considered public participation a rather cumbersome concept that would only stymie their superior goals.
When a popular political candidate suddenly dropped from a race, or a Supreme Court Judge voted counter to his or her beliefs, or a prominent senator unexpectedly stepped down, the Consortium’s calling card was omnipresent. Their behind-the-scenes power was controlling the metrics of the entire world. But its members remained cloaked in anonymity by imposing the Chatham House Rule as evidenced by their circulated documents without attribution, an extreme measure to remain clandestine. The Consortium was also rumored to be the ghost-whisperer for groups like the Bilderberg, or the Illuminati, even extending to some factions of the United Nations.
Max sat motionless, grappling with the idea that the Consortium was pushing the narrative, until she could hold back no longer and broke the silence. “There has never been any tangible proof as to its membership or its elusive Director. It’s akin to the iconic question: Who is John Galt?”
Noble was not completely satisfied. He needed further confirmation. “Antonio, are you positive that it came from the Director?”
He hesitated for a few seconds and then confirmed, “There’s no doubt.”
“Then—let’s continue.” Noble reached over and hit the Record button. “Antonio, what do you know about the Consortium?”
“I know the Consortium has great influence to push the concepts of global warming and the sustainability of Mother Earth. They go to great lengths to perpetuate the myth, to protect their unmistakable agenda to seek power fueled by greed, which underlies all of their activities. The Consortium is comprised of charlatans who created the Potemkin Village called global warming. In the process they created a highly profitable cottage industry. But because of the Consortium, the global-warming fairytale will remain off the debate stage, even though it’s predicated on pseudoscience. They’re willing to kill deniers. What better proof than when they killed my friends, who became deniers in the name of true science. I hold the Director personally responsible!” Antonio had finished his fiery delivery and slouched back into his chair.
“If this is true, then it is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the world,” Max averred, almost disbelieving her own words.
“That’s what all of us in the thick of it believed,” Antonio muttered.
Max and Noble were astounded by his seeming level of knowledge. His depth of anger was also clear. He had not only lost friends, but he was forced to begin a lifestyle cloaked in secrecy. They understood his level of distress—but it did not negate the fact they still needed proof.
“Antonio, let me cut to the chase—it’s not enough! We need something other than your word.” Noble’s tone made it clear that his testimony thus far, was not sufficient.
Antonio seemed overly hesitant. In his mind he started to question his level of freedom.
Noble and Max feared he did not have the silver bullet to confirm the conspiracy.
Noble tried one more time and stressed, “Antonio, you are indicting some very large fish and one extremely dangerous shark. What proof do you have?”
After a deep breath and another gulp of water, he told them what they needed to hear. “When Jonas sensed danger was around the corner, he gave me a going-away gift. He told me that if anything happened to him, I would be the only one to have the proof—to have the scientific findings and the supporting documents.” Antonio flashed his wrist. “They prove the Consortium was controlling the IPCC. It will make the Panama Papers look like a leaflet.”
Max noticed for the first time a newly formed scar on Antonio’s arm. She was curious as to its significance.
“Do you have a sharp knife?” Antonio asked.
“You’re not serious!” Max recoiled.
Noble didn’t hesitate. He hurried into the bathroom and retrieved his Swiss army knife from his toiletry kit. When he bolted back into the living room he asked, “Need help?”
Antonio shook his head and then bit down on his lip. Trying not to grimace he deftly sliced open the scar.
Max did all the grimacing for him as she watched him perform self-surgery on the flat screen TV.
Under the flap of bloody skin, Antonio dug out a micro SD, a secure digital memory card about the size of a fingernail. “This also contains photos of the emails along with tracking information and the location of the Director’s extremely private and impenetrable network. The truth can’t be distorted. I think you’ll agree this is better than any hearsay.”
Max and Noble had listened intently throughout the entire interview, oftentimes questioning his testimony. But then when Antonio handed Noble a stick of dynamite in the form of a memory card, his words could no longer be ignored.
Antonio was overcome with exhaustion. Not surprisingly, having to resurrect the timing of events leading to the deaths of his classmates was difficult physically and emotionally. But it was finally over. He sat back and pressed his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose and tried to rub away the fatigue.
Noble hit the Stop button. “Astounding!” Immediately, he retrieved his xPhad from the table and placed the micro SD in the additional slot. Quickly, he copied the data from the micro SD to the SD card containing the interview. Once he confirmed all the data had been transferred, he encrypted the data and then removed both SD cards. He placed the SD card with the interview and incriminating evidence in a small envelope and placed it in his pocket. Then, he walked over to the microwave oven at the make-shift kitchen and placed the micro SD card inside. He set the timer for ten seconds.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Antonio asked, coming out of his haze.
At the sound of the ding, Noble opened the door to the microwave and pulled out the black molten glob. “Now only the President of the United States will know what truly transpired.”
A hush filled the room.
Suddenly there was a rap on the door. They instinctively froze.
Noble looked at his watch. He had not realized it was already noon. “It’s Enzo,” he said, trying to put Antonio at ease.
Chapter 41
&nbs
p; TYING LOOSE ENDS
“Sono io, it’s me,” sounded the faint voice from the other side of the door.
Noble shot up in a flash and opened the door to let Enzo into the room.
Max remained on the sofa.
“Well I’ll be damned!” Enzo brandished a huge smile at the sight of Max and Noble in the same room. He wagged his index finger in between them as he maintained his grin.
“Yes, Enzo, we’re together.” Max responded indifferently, still shaken by Antonio’s testimony.
“Splen—di—do!” As soon as the word left his mouth he sensed something was wrong. He scanned their faces and thought perhaps they could use some good news. “News flash. I just received a text from the main office. Your country has proof that the deadly assassin known as L was found dead outside a bar in Washington near the Navy Yard. The circumstances are unknown, other than one more really bad guy is gone. Great news, eh?”
Max, all at once perked up. “Was it at The Bachelor’s Mill?”
Simultaneously, an inquisitive look appeared on the faces of both Enzo and Noble.
Noble took the challenge. “How did you know that?”
Max stared back at the two of them. “I’m a detective.” Then, out of nowhere, she got this wrenching feeling that either Jax or Sam, or perhaps even both, had something to do with the hit. A thought she kept to herself.
Antonio remained seated in the chair as he waited for the chitchat to halt. He was still emotionally drained from the last few hours’ events and did not mind delaying the inevitable. But then finally Noble made the formal introduction to Enzo, and he was forced to stand up.
“And Noble,” Enzo chided, “you forgot to mention also a dear friend who has come to the rescue.”
Antonio’s face instantly relaxed. “Mi piacere.” He shook Enzo’s hand.
“Let’s all take a seat,” Enzo suggested, trying to alleviate the obvious tension in the room. He grabbed a seat in the chair next to Antonio and then focused all his attention in Antonio’s direction. “These should fit you nicely.” He handed him a gray T-shirt with “San Marino” emblazoned on the front and a baseball cap decorated with the initials “SM.” He also handed him a pair of horn-rimmed eyeglasses and a smartphone. “All of these items will help you get out of here safely.”
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