by Samuel David
As David thought over everything, he knew he had to find out what Jack was up to, how he won the lotteries and everything else about Jack that The Waldger Group wanted to know. Moreover, that came directly from the top. David always did as he was, told.
Chapter 4
6:45 AM EST Day one of 1260 New York - The Network Studios
As Mark Anderson glanced around the room taking in his surroundings, he was thinking how he had managed to get in the middle of this mess today. He reluctantly agreed to be a part of this, he thought to himself, due solely to Jack’s associate, Gabriel.
When he had agreed to represent Jack and when he was in the meeting with Jack’s associates, Gabriel had initially irritated me by asking about my religious beliefs and if I knew about the final plan of God for humanity. He then went on to say that I had been, chosen to help a long time ago. They also told me my career had been, directed by God, to be able to handle what was going to occur over the next few months and years. I was not sure I agreed with that, even now. I listened to what Gabriel and Ariel had to say in our private meeting, but it was almost beyond my ability to believe. Gabriel had looked at me and said, “I guess you need some proof don’t you?” Then Gabriel just disappeared in front of my eyes, but Ariel was still sitting across from me. I had felt a tap on my shoulder and I swiveled around to see Gabriel standing there. Then once again, he disappeared as I turned back to Ariel, he was sitting across the desk. I remember the sweat was starting to pour from my forehead. It was at that moment that I started to realize there was a power beyond this earth in my office and that I was indeed speaking with messengers from God. The meeting reminded me of my Jewish history when Abraham was visited by the messengers in the Sodom and Gomorrah story.
I then gathered my composure and listened attentively to the plan from Gabriel and Ariel. Once they finished telling me the complete story, I understood my role. What I knew was that when Jack begins his ministry, the government would want to take him in and find out what makes him tick. My job is to stop that from ever happening. That was also, why they hired the PR firm, to make sure Jack’s visibility to the public was so high that not only would the U.S. government, but any government would shy away from just picking him up and locking him away to get answers. After my time with the Gabriel and Ariel, I was resolved I would use every bit of my knowledge and power to protect Jack as long as I could, at any cost.
I looked over at my client. Jack was very quiet and calm and seemed to be in his own world. I was wondering what he might be thinking, then my mind started wandering too as I started reminiscing about how I had gotten to this point in my life.
My grandparents had migrated to the U.S. during the beginning of World War II. Like others of their kind during the period, they melted into the society called America. They chose to drop the Jewish name, Zingle, for they felt it was too difficult to use and too Jewish. They adopted the American surname of Anderson and that change allowed the family to easily, integrate themselves into American society. This was a common practice of German Jews coming to America during that time. Not only was being Jewish a problem, but having a German Jewish name was difficult during that period. Therefore, the anglicized name, Anderson, resolved the issue.
My grandparents eventually moved from the tenements of New York after the war to Chicago. They ended up in a small suburb of Chicago, known as Cicero. Cicero was well known for its Jewish community and it was there that my grandfather set up shop as a small finance company, financing small purchases for immigrants that banks usually would turn down.
My father was born two years later, and when he was old enough, started working in the company along with his brother and father. The company offices were, originally housed in a little one-room office, but by the early 60’s they moved onto a new facility on Cicero Avenue where it still stands today. The company was loaning out over three million dollars a year by then, at rates of up to forty five percent Illinois did not have any caps on finance charges, so it was simple, if you wanted to take the risk to make money, then at forty five percent you could make some.
My father and mother were married in 1962 and I was born in 1963. My brother Michael, was born in 1964 and my sister, Carolyn, in 1966. As a young man, I had little appetite for the finance business. I felt bad about the repossessions, and the collections side of financing. I let my father know that it bothered me and felt that loaning money was an unscrupulous practice.
My father had no tolerance with me, and my refusal to work in the family business. After I kept up the pressure on him, he finally asked what I really wanted to do. “Practice law,” I told him. “I want to help people.” Therefore, he gave in and sent me off to college where I excelled. After graduation from Illinois State, I was able to attend Columbia Law School, where I graduated at the top of my class.
After graduation, I returned to Chicago and immediately took a position as a Public Defender for the City of Chicago. I worked there for three years. I then opened my own law office in Cicero, specializing in criminal defense. The practice grew exponentially in the late 90’s. I ended up with several high profiled federal defense cases, which I won. The practice then exploded with clients ranging from politicians, movie stars, and even people with no money. We also took assignments as court appointed attorneys from the state, especially capital cases, which we were very good at winning.
By 2005, I had over 200 attorneys on our staff and multiple locations. The home office was in downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue in the AON building. There were satellite offices in New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles. In the past three years, I usually did not take a case, but referred it to one of our capable staff attorneys. I had become more of an advisor to my clients and let other attorneys do the brunt of the work. At least that was true until this case came along.
My journey in finding God came about when I lost a death penalty case and my client was, sentenced to death. It was a very high profile case, and I knew he was innocent, but I could not prove it. Unfortunately, I lost all appeals and my client was, executed. That lead me to do some soul searching and I had many questions swimming around in my head. I finally found my answers in God.
I became a patron of the local Synagogue and religiously started my journey into learning about God. I read the Pentateuch, and then out of curiosity about what we call the Gentiles, I studied about Jesus and the New Testament. I became very interested in the Bible itself and especially the end time prophecy. Moreover, without my peers knowing, I became a believer. Now, as I thought about today, I realized that my curiosity had landed me right in the middle of prophecy.
Jack brought me back to reality when he asked, “Are you ready with the video unit?”
“Yes, it is ready to go. I checked it out this morning and sent a test message as instructed by Luke at his firm. They received the video and it was useable.”
“It is very important Mark, that immediately after the interview, you send the data. As you know, when we negotiated the terms of the interview, you are, allowed to be right next to the cameras to video for me. They are expecting you to do that, but probably not expecting you to transmit it.”
“Jack, do you want to tell me what you are going to say?” I asked for the second time today.
“No, you will know soon enough and I don’t want to alarm you. Moreover, as we discussed, it is very important we do this correctly. I have read over the interview questions we agreed on but I think they are going to throw some curveballs to me. What do you think?”
“Well Jack, a news anchor is like a prosecuting attorney. He will follow a script up to a point. They think they can make you slip, and as we rehearsed, you need to be prepared. Keep your answers to a minimum amount of words. Many have, been caught in a statement that has destroyed them. So remember how we coached you. Do you have any idea what they might ask that is not on the pre-screen they gave you?”
“Yeah, I think they are going to elude to some sort of conspiracy and that I manipulated info
rmation and or fixed the lotteries. The odds of winning are very close to zero, as we all know.”
“What if they do ask that directly? What will you tell them?”
“The truth,” Jack said, “the absolute truth.”
After digesting Jack’s answer, I thought to myself, yes they will now all learn the truth and yet be very confused at the same time. The truth Jack will tell them is not going to be what anyone ever expected.
Chapter 5
6:50 AM EST Day one of 1260 New York - The Network Studios
The door opened and Molly, the dog woman, entered. I was somewhat relieved to see her for he had grown tired of his attorney’s continuous questioning of what he was going to say to Brad. I needed a break from his questioning and turned towards Molly. “Are the dogs calmer now?”
She replied, “They are doing fine, Jack. I needed to get some coffee and freshen up some.”
“Me too, I need to look my best on TV right?”
She smiled at me as she poured out coffee into a Styrofoam cup and started adding sugar.
I then excused myself and went into the restroom to comb my hair and make sure I did not look very bad. As I gazed into the mirror, I checked my tie, collar, and brushed some lint off my sports jacket. My hair was fine. As I looked at my reflection, I realized that in a very short time, everything that was my life for the past fifty-eight years would now change. There was a plan for me beyond my power. It was beyond anyone’s power here on this earth and it was time for me to do as I was, asked. I was ready, even though I had no idea why I felt so calm.
I was thinking of my family and what, they would be thinking after today. I had not told my wife the whole story. Lois would have been quite upset if she knew all of it before today. She would have said no. I did not want her and the kids in the middle of this. I only explained to her that because of all the money, she and the kids would be at risk. She took, this information into consideration, and then packed herself and the boys up and moved out of the country to a villa we had purchased in Brazil. They had around the clock security with them at this time. You never knew what people would do, especially after today. I hoped they would, be protected regardless of my personal demise.
There was a knock on the door of the restroom. I opened the door to find Michelle there with another man. She introduced him to me as Chuck, one of the pages for the show. He put his hand out to shake and I responded as well. Michelle said, “You are on at 7:20, just before the 7:25 local station break away. I wanted to take you down now to get comfortable on the interview couch. Are you ready to go?”
I responded, “It’s now or never.” I motioned for Mark to follow us and we left the Teal Room to go to the studio where the interview was to take place. I glanced over my shoulder to Molly and waved goodbye.
She said, “Good luck. Break a leg.” Mark and I then walked through the door and down the hallway, following Chuck.
Chapter 6
6:50 AM EST Day one of 1260 New York - The Network Studios, Anchor Brad William’s Dressing Room
In my dressing room, I looked at the clock by the door. It was 6:50 a.m. I had just finished doing one-line spots for various affiliates around the country and was having the makeup people touch me up before the actual show started taping. I had about five minutes before it was show time for me, Brad Williams, the Best Anchor in America, to deliver the day’s headlines and happenings.
Today though, I was a bit uneasy. I had the interview with the multiple state lottery winner Jack South. Ordinarily this would not bother me I thought, but yesterday I had been, called into my producer’s office and there was Joe Biggman, President of News Network. They wanted to talk about the interview with Jack South. They both knew I had interviewed several lottery winners over the years and knew what I was to do. This is the first time that I had been called in and been given a complete different set of questions for the interview than the standard ones given to Jack a week ago.
I had been, directed by the big man himself to find out why Jack South had spent millions on a criminal defense team. This Jack was utilizing the services of the largest law firm in the U.S. that defends major criminals. He also spent millions more on a nationally recognized PR firm. As Joe stated to me, “There is something wrong with this whole Jack South thing and we want you to use your skills to get him to spill his guts on national TV.” Joe went on to say, “We were going to change the rules to see if we can catch him off guard.”
We have done that in the past; tell the interviewee that he or she is on at a certain time, sit them down early, no pre-introductions, start the interview early, and change the questions they may have been prepped for. Usually, this works with the person and we get answers we would not normally get. It has been, done before and we were going to try it with Jack South as well.
I was still uneasy. My sixth sense was telling me Jack South was not the normal lottery winner. He and his demands before the interview, like having his attorney present to video tape the interview himself, and having the legal right to a copy of the interview were not normal at all. What was Jack up to? Why all the uproar by the head of the news department and the producer”
We had a whole dossier on Jack and he was colorful at least. Jack was in a lot of trouble as a kid and has been, through several marriages. Jack’s life was just spotty in general. If necessary, I felt I could crucify him on TV and get to the truth, but still I was uneasy.
My thoughts were, interrupted as my assistant said, “Mr. Williams, time to go. We have less than two minutes before you need to be out front,” I looked in the mirror, smiled, tore off the paper around my neck, stood, and walked towards the door. Just another day I said to myself.
Chapter 7
7:00 AM EST Day one of 1260 New York - The Network Interview Studio
The interview studio had a couch with the anchor’s chair adjacent to it. The studio lights were on full tilt and the room was not, uncomfortable but somewhat warm. I was, directed by the page to sit on the corner of the couch next to where Brad Williams would sit for my interview.
As I sat down, I wondered why I had not at least gotten to say a cursory hello to Brad, but I then remembered in the coaching that they may try and set me up to see if they could learn something. A man walked up and started talking to me, “Hi, Mr. South, I am Lester Marks and I am in charge of the cameras and lighting. I want to have you move a bit closer to the arm of the couch and look straight out to the target you see over there,” as he pointed to a relatively large red circle located near one of the cameras. I looked directly at the spot and Lester said, “Okay, smile. We are doing a little promo on you and all you have to do is look at the target and smile if you like. Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, he then moved away from the couch.
“After about thirty seconds,” he said, “We got it. You can relax now Mr. South.” He then came back over to the couch and sat beside me. “Okay, here is how it works. Brad Williams will come out and sit right beside you in his chair,” pointing out the interview chair. “It will not be necessary for you to get up to greet him, and we will give a countdown,” pointing over to an area that would be behind Brad, “over there. The assistant producer will use his fingers like this,” he showed me his hand. He bent one finger down and then the rest, “five, four, three, two, one. The camera will then be on Mr. Williams, then the two of you, and the interview will begin. All I ask of you is to look at Brad when speaking, try, and not look directly into the camera. Do you have any questions?”
“No, I think I understand what to do.”
“Great, I’m sure you’ll be fine,” as he stood and walked back to the cameras.
I glanced at my watch. It was 7:05 a.m. I looked around and it was a sea of people. There were cameras and wires everywhere. A woman came up to me and said, “Mr. South, I need to hook up this mike to you on your lapel. It is wireless and you can put this earpiece in your left ear away from the cameras.” She adjusted the mike to my lapel and I p
ut the earpiece in my ear. She then asked me to say my name, which I did. She got a heads up sign from one of the technicians located in the control booth and she said, “You’re wired and ready to go, Mr. South.” She left to go to her position, which was in the control booth in front of the studio area.
I started thinking to myself well here we go Jack! I felt in my pocket for the piece of paper with the information I was about to share and sat rather stiffly on the couch. I looked at my watch again and it was now 7:09. I looked up and saw Brad Williams coming towards me. He stopped in front of me and said, “Mr. South, Brad Williams,” offering to shake my hand. We shook and then he sat down. Two techs came over, checked his mike and he then leaned towards me. “We decided to start a bit early on your interview. Are you ready?”
“Yes, I am as ready as I will ever be.” I glanced at my watch. It was 7:11, not 7:20. I knew now they were going to try to trip me up.
Chapter 8
7:11 AM EST Day one of 1260 New York - The Network Interview Studio
My sight line was, being, directed by a person standing a bit behind Brad Williams. I noticed my attorney was ready with the portable web enabled video unit and he was right by the camera. Everything said would, be captured on the video. I only hoped the quality was acceptable.
I looked back to the camera I was supposed to be looking at and the person there was counting down on his fingers five, four, three, two, one, and then Brad started talking.
“Today we have Mr. Jack South, winner of two jackpot lotteries: the Super Ball and the Multi Rich Millions. Mr. South used the exact same numbers in winning both lotteries and, in the same week. His net winnings are close to a half a billion dollars after taxes. That makes Mr. South, the largest winner ever of a lottery in the history of lotteries. And,” he paused, “according to sources, his chances of winning both at the same time were zero. So Jack, how did you do it?” Brad asked as he turned to me.
