by Lee Gimenez
“I did, ma’am. It just rings and rings. The voice mail message that he had is gone.”
Megan clenched her fists, trying to control her anger. She had wanted to talk to Norton to tell him what she planned to do, but that looked unlikely. The man could be dead.
Making a snap judgment, she decided to go ahead with her plan. Time was running out. “Lisa, call the White House. Now. Tell them I have to meet with the president today. Tell them it’s urgent.”
“Yes, ma’am,” her assistant said as she picked up the phone.
***
El Paso, Texas
Erica Blake walked on the crowded sidewalk of downtown, feeling like hell. Her arm throbbed and she was exhausted from the long drive. And she was starved – she’d only had the candy bars and Coke to keep her going.
She pushed those thoughts aside, thankful she was still a free woman. A police car had followed her for a few minutes as soon as she pulled into town, so she decided to ditch the Ford sedan. Driving into a parking garage, she lost the tail and parked the car in an empty slot, then quickly walked away.
It was a brutally hot day, the sun beating down from a cloudless sky. Her polo shirt clung to her from sweat and dried blood. But she was thankful for the jacket she wore. It was too big, but it concealed her wrapped arm.
The city smelled of asphalt, smog, and exhaust from the cars that packed the streets. She pulled her cap lower over her eyes and tried to blend in with the other pedestrians. Many of the people were Hispanic and she caught snatches of conversations in Spanish.
Desperately wanting to stop and rest, instead she pushed on, knowing she had to keep going. She had to get out of town and across the border. She hoped she could lose herself there, in some remote corner of Mexico, until she could figure a way out of this mess.
As she strode on the sidewalk, sidestepping the other pedestrians, she kept an eye out for a parked car she could steal. But the area was too open, with too many people around.
Finally she spotted a three-story parking garage at the end of the street and headed there. She needed wheels and that was her best bet.
***
The Oval Office
The White House
Washington, D.C.
President Taylor sat behind his desk, feeling a lot better today. The yearning for booze wasn’t as strong and the massive headaches he’d been having had receded to a mild throb. Maybe I’ll stop drinking completely, he thought. He barked out a harsh laugh, knowing that would never happen. He liked the stuff way too much.
As he sat alone in his office idly reading budget reports, the upcoming election crossed his mind. Once BlackSnow was complete, he’d start campaigning hard. Now that he had tasted the power of the presidency, his overriding goal was be to get elected next year. Glancing around the famous office, he smiled to himself. The place was addictive, just like the booze.
“Mr. President,” he heard Alice’s voice over the intercom, “Senator Lewis is here to see you.”
He straightened his tie and buttoned his suit jacket. Then he stood and walked around his desk. He hated the woman, but would need her help in the upcoming election.
The senator walked in, wearing a fashionable, probably very expensive, navy pant suit.
“Megan, it’s good to see you again.” He held out his hand and they shook.
“Mr. President, thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”
“No problem. Now that I’m president, I realize the value of your counsel. Your work on the Swiss proposal was first rate.” He pointed to the couches in the front part of the office. “Why don’t we sit there – it’ll be more comfortable.”
She looked surprised at first, then smiled. “Of course, Mr. President.”
They sat across from each other and he said, “Would you like some coffee or tea? I can have Alice bring us some.”
The woman leaned forward in her seat. “No, thank you, sir. I’m fine.”
Taylor unbuttoned his snug suit jacket. “You told Alice you had something urgent to discuss?”
“Yes, sir. As you’re acutely aware, many tragic events have taken place in our country recently.”
He shook his head slowly for effect. “Yes, tragic. Very tragic.”
“The president’s assassination, the death of Senator Carpenter, Secretary Cruz’s disappearance, the death of the Admiral Stanton….”
Taylor flinched when he heard the admiral’s name. He thought he had kept that quiet, but somehow Lewis had picked up on it. He forced himself to calm down and see where the conversation was heading. But a feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach. “Yes, I agree, it’s been a strange sequence of events.”
She frowned. “I believe they’re all connected, Mr. President.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sir, I’ve recently learned of a secret operation, an operation that I think links all of these events.”
His jaw dropped in what he hoped was a look of astonishment. “What? What are you saying? That there’s a conspiracy?”
“Yes, Mr. President. As soon as I confirmed the facts, I decided to come to you. This secret operation is so immense it would change the course of history for our country and probably the world.”
Taylor swallowed hard, his mind racing. Then he said, “I’m glad you came to me. As president, I’ll make sure I get to the bottom of any conspiracy.”
The frown stayed on her face. “That’s what I was hoping,” she said, but not with much conviction.
“Tell me more about this operation, Megan. Who and what’s involved?”
“I found out about it from a friend of mine, an Air Force colonel named Norton.”
Taylor shrugged. “I don’t know the name.”
“He works at the Pentagon, runs an intel group there. Anyway, he confirmed there’s a group of top generals who are planning a nuclear first strike. They even have a timetable for implementation.”
“A rogue group of military officers? A nuclear attack? Are you sure of your facts, Megan? It sounds preposterous.”
“I thought so too, sir. At first. But I believe it’s the truth. The people who uncovered the plot are all disappearing. Norton’s missing, as is the NCO who cracked the secret transmission.”
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and he took out a handkerchief and dabbed them away. “I see. The whole thing sounds ominous. Is there a name for this operation?”
“Yes, Mr. President. It’s called BlackSnow. Operation BlackSnow.”
Taylor shook his head forcefully. “I’ve never heard of it.”
A skeptical look crossed her face. “Are you sure, sir? There are some very high level people involved.”
He grimaced and bolted out of his seat. “Are you questioning my veracity? We’ve had differences in the past, but when our country’s future is at stake, we’re all in this together!”
She seemed taken aback by his outburst. “I’m sorry, sir. I apologize. It’s just been so crazy lately.”
He sat back down. “I understand. Now, tell me more about this, what did you call it? BlackSnow?”
“I hadn’t heard of this operation until a few days ago. But I believe what Norton told me is true. And now that so many people have disappeared or died, it reinforces the case that it exists. There are too many coincidences.”
Taylor nodded, plastering an earnest look on his face. “You may be right, Senator. Maybe all the tragic events are connected. And from what you’re telling me, there seems to be a major effort to keep this operation a secret.” He paused for affect. “You said these generals were planning a nuclear first strike. On who?”
“Norton didn’t know.”
“I see. You also said there was some type of timetable?”
“Yes, Mr. President – it appears it will take place about a week from now.”
“Oh, my God! That soon? I’ve got to get to the bottom of this, and fast. There’s no way I will authorize a nuclear first strike.” Taylor shook his head slowly an
d let out a long breath. “God damn it, I can’t believe this could be happening under my watch. I’ll find these people, whoever they are, and have them arrested. You can bet your ass I will!”
Relief flooded her expression. “Thank you, Mr. President. I’m glad I came to you with this.”
“As am I, Megan. Give me a couple of days to ferret out the truth. I’ll have the Attorney General and the Joint Chiefs begin an immediate investigation. Using the Patriot Act, I’ll have these conspirators charged with insurrection and placed in military confinement. In the meantime, I’d appreciate if you kept this to yourself. I wouldn’t want to spook these bastards. They might flee the country.”
Lewis smiled. “I agree, sir. I’ll keep this quiet. I want to make sure this group is put behind bars before something unspeakable happens.” She leaned back on the couch, and her body seemed to relax. “You don’t know how relieved I am right now.”
He stood, walked over to her and extended his hand. She stood also and they shook.
“Thank you, Senator. You’ve done our country a great service by exposing this conspiracy.” He gave her a wide smile. “I’m going to award you the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
She blushed. “That would be an honor, sir.”
Lewis left the office, closing the door behind her.
Taylor, his heart pounding and his thoughts racing, began pacing the large office.
After a few minutes, he took off his jacket, loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves. Then he pressed the intercom on his desk. “Alice,” he bellowed, “get Corvan in here. Now!”
Three minutes later Corvan came in the office.
Taylor stopped pacing, said, “Close the door, General. We’ve got a massive problem.” He pointed to one of the wingback chairs. “Grab a chair.”
“What is it?” Corvan asked, alarm in his voice.
Taylor went around his desk, slumped in his seat. “Just met with Senator Lewis. Incredibly, she’s found out about BlackSnow.”
“What? How’s that possible? We’ve had a super-tight lid on this operation.”
Taylor shook his head. “The Air force colonel, Norton, told her.”
“Shit…I’m sorry, Mr. President. Pardon my language.”
The president waved a hand in the air. “Forget it.”
“Sir, Colonel Norton has been terminated.”
Taylor shot him a dark look. “But not soon enough.”
“No, sir.”
“Okay, Corvan. Let’s focus here. What the hell do I do about Lewis? I need her for the election. But if she spreads the word about BlackSnow, you, me, we’re all screwed.”
“I understand. I’m assuming she’s keeping it quiet for the moment?”
“Yeah. I gave her a song and dance, told her I’d investigate immediately and arrest anyone connected to it.” He let out a cold, harsh laugh. “Jesus, I’m becoming too good a liar. I guess that’s what makes a great politician.”
“What do you want to do, sir?”
“Let me think, damn it!” Taylor folded his arms across his chest and closed his eyes.
After a moment, he opened them, said, “I’ve got to cut the Senator loose. Damn the election. BlackSnow is too important. I’ll figure out a way to win without her help.”
“Garcia’s tied up. Do you want me to send an NSA team to take Lewis out?”
Taylor grunted. “After they screwed-up the last assignment? Hell no.” He rubbed his jaw. “Where’s Garcia now?”
“He’s going after Blake. They’ve got a pretty good fix on her location.”
“Put that on the back-burner, Corvan. Redeploy him to take care of Lewis. She’s the priority now.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And. I don’t want the senator taken alive.”
“Terminate her with extreme prejudice?”
A wicked smile spread over the president’s face. “Yeah. I always hated that bitch.”
6 Days to Zero Hour
Command & Control Center
Chinese Military
Beijing, China
General Wu Chang stood in the Center and stared at the ten massive video screens that covered the far wall of the huge room. The bombproof bunker was located five floors below street level, in a highly-secure military installation just outside the city.
The screens showed live feeds from ten different Chinese satellites. From this room, Chang and his staff monitored foreign military activity around the world.
“Give me a close-up on Screen 6,” Chang said to Lieutenant Wong. A wiry man in his twenties, Wong was one of five military officers who manned the consoles arrayed in the middle of the room.
“Yes, General,” Wong replied.
Screen 6 was showing an overhead view of a large group of American warships, heading through the Straits of Hormuz in the Middle East. The ships appeared as dots on a blue background of the ocean, but as the satellite zoomed in, the details of the craft came into focus. Individual jets parked on an aircraft carrier were clearly visible.
Chang observed as the fleet churned north. Satisfied, the general said, “Now give me a close-up on the American Pacific Fleet.”
Wong toggled a switch and Screen 3 zoomed in. The dots were replaced by an armada of military warships, navigating on choppy, dark-blue water. The ships, Chang knew from the coordinates superimposed on the screen, were approximately one-hundred miles west of Los Angeles, California. The Demarcation Line was also superimposed on the screen and Chang watched intently as the ships cruised west, then slowed, and began to turn around, well shy of the Line.
“This is excellent,” Chang muttered to himself. It was clear the new U.S. president was following his predecessors’ agreement with the Chinese government. “We own the Americans.”
“What’s that, sir?” Wong asked.
“Nothing. Carry on, Lieutenant.”
Just then the general’s cell phone rang and he unclipped the phone and held it to his ear.
“It’s me,” he heard Captain Lin’s sultry voice on the other end. “Ready for more, General?”
Chang was immediately aroused. The woman is insatiable, he mused.
“I’m busy right now, Captain,” he replied.
“General, get your ass back here. I want to do nasty things to you.”
Chang’s mind flashed back to their last encounter and his willpower melted. Glancing at his watch, he said, “Give me twenty minutes.”
“Hurry,” he heard her say breathlessly. “I’m wet for you now.”
***
Hart Senate Office Building
Adjacent to the U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.
Megan Lewis was confused. As she sat behind her desk in her office, she thought about her options. Her meeting with Taylor had turned out much better than she had expected. She had figured the bastard would deny everything and tell her she was crazy. But instead, he’d promised an immediate investigation. Maybe he isn’t involved. Maybe it is a rogue group of generals acting on their own. He had seemed incredibly sincere. And Taylor’s offer of a Presidential Medal of Freedom! That was truly unexpected. The medal, she knew, was the highest award a U.S. president can bestow on a civilian. She smiled, savoring the thought of the medal. It would definitely enhance my presidential ambitions.
A dark thought clouded her mind. What if Taylor is lying? What if he’s trying to stall me?
Still confused, she pressed her intercom. “Lisa,” she barked. “Get in here.”
The assistant came in her office seconds later. “Yes, ma’am?”
“I need to speak with General Owen Tarkington at the Pentagon. Get a hold of him.”
“But I’m working on the budget analysis. The vote is in two hours.”
“Screw that, Lisa. Find the general.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The assistant left and Lewis tapped her gold Cross pen on her desk for a full minute. Then Lisa’s voice came over the intercom. “I have the general on the line, Senator.”
“No problem, Senator. Haven’t heard from you in a while.”
“I’ve been so busy lately.” She let out a girlish laugh. “We’ll get together soon, I promise. We had fun last time, didn’t we?”
There was a throaty laugh from the other end. “Senator, you can rock my world anytime. What do you need?”
“Just a small favor, Owen. I’m in the middle of something. Something big. It’s called Operation BlackSnow. Top-secret, national security stuff. I just need to find out something. Am I in the know or in the cross-hairs? You’re high-up in the Pentagon. I need you to find out for me.”
“I haven’t heard of the operation. But promise me a good time soon, Senator, and I’ll find out.”
She laughed. “You got it, Owen.”
“Okay. I’ll call you back.”
Megan hung up. She pressed the intercom again. “Lisa, bring me coffee. A whole pot.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The senator leaned back in her chair and waited for the return call.
An hour later, Megan stared at the empty coffee cup and empty pot on her desk and rubbed her sour-feeling stomach. Regretting drinking the whole thing, she knew she’d had no choice. She always drank a lot of coffee when she was nervous and she had been on edge all morning.
The intercom buzzed and she heard Lisa’s voice. “Senator, I have General Tarkington on the line.”
“Put him on.”
She picked up the receiver.
“Megan,” she heard him say, “I’ve got info for you.” His voice sounded edgy – all the playfulness was gone.
“Okay. Go ahead.”
“You’re in deep shit, Senator. I only found out a vague outline of the operation.” He paused for a moment, then said. “I don’t want to know more about it. In fact, this is the last call you’ll get from me. This is too big, way too big. I’ve got a career to protect.”
“Okay, Owen. What did you find out about me?”
“If I were you, I’d get the hell out of town.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a contract out on you. You’re persona-non-grata.”
