Green File Crime Thrillers Box Set

by James Kipling

  Outside in the darkness, the ‘Red Spiders’ thundered down the street, found a dead man beside a souped-up Oldsmobile, and began screaming in rage.

  “It was Alvin!” a sixteen-year-old kid yelled, wearing a red shirt and a black pair of pants that nearly dropped down to his knees. “I saw Alvin cap 5 Skin!” More yelling and screaming were heard, as murderous hands began reaching for knives, guns, and chains.

  “Alvin has to be in his store!” Carmen yelled, as a heavy, dark rain began to fall. He whipped out a knife, yanked off a black bandana that was covering his head, and threw it down onto the street. “You’re dead, Alvin!” he roared, finding courage only in the presence of all the other spiders surrounding him. The rest of the ‘Red Spiders’ started yelling threats at Alvin, and then, as if a bomb exploded, they all charged at the thrift store, kicked open the door, and rushed inside just as Jacob slammed the back door shut.

  “There!” a large, vicious-looking spider with dead eyes yelled.

  Jacob knew there was no time to escape. By the time Mandy managed to lower the wheelchair lift and get safely into the van, the ‘Red Spiders’ would be spilling out into the dark, rainy alley and firing every bullet in their arsenal at the van.

  “Get in!” he yelled. “Alvin, get over here and help me hold down the fort!”

  “We have no time!” Alvin yelled, as his panicked eyes studied the dark alley. The alley was open on both ends.

  “I have to get my wheelchair into—” Mandy began to yell.

  Alvin charged up to Jessica, slammed his gun down into her hands, and ran back to Mandy. “Hold on!” he yelled. He swooped Mandy up out of her wheelchair, popped open the driver’s door with his right hand, and then, as carefully but as quickly as possible, shoved Mandy into the driver’s seat, like the woman was a sardine being stuffed into a can. “Make way for your wheelchair!” Alvin snatched Mandy’s wheelchair up, ran around to the back of the van, snatched open the back doors, and threw the wheelchair in just as the ‘Red Spiders’ arrived at the back door.

  “Get in the van!” Jacob ordered Jessica in a voice that was strangely and suddenly calm. Jessica watched in shock as Jacob knelt down on one knee, aimed his gun at the back door, and emptied a full clip. Unable to move, Jessica watched each bullet rip through a flimsy metal back door and vanish. Seconds later she heard cries of pain explode through the falling rain.

  “Get in the van,” Alvin yelled at Jessica, grabbing her arm, and pulling her to the driver’s side door, as Jacob retained his position and reloaded. Gang members, he knew, were unskilled, untrained bullies who ran at the first sign of danger. As a pack, gang members were extremely dangerous, as any group of people would be, but even a pack of wild, deadly dogs scattered at the sound of gun shots. It was part of their nature, and humans were no different.

  “In!” Alvin shoved Jessica into the van, careful not to hurt the woman, and then jumped up into the driver’s seat. “Let’s move!”

  Jacob calmly began duck walking in a backward motion toward the van, as he watched the back door. In his mind, he counted to thirty, and then released a second clip into the back door, just as the ‘Red Spiders’ inside managed to regroup and began to exchange fire. The bullets from Jacob’s gun flew over a few wounded spiders and pushed the remaining spiders back down.

  “Go!” Jacob hollered, as he ran to the back of the van and dived inside. Alvin hit the gas and sped out of the alley, as Jacob filled his gun with a third clip and waited thirty more seconds. When the thirty seconds were up, he fired down the alley just as Alvin made a sharp right onto a dark, rainy street. The bullets from his gun forced a few brave spiders, who were daring to burst out into the alley, back inside the thrift store.

  Jessica, who was now holding Mandy in her lap, watched Jacob reload and wait. The man was a fighter. Was she?

  Chapter 2

  Roger Alden

  I’ll cause a nuclear war. But first, it’s time to play the game as I work it all out in my mind. Yes, it’s time to play the game.

  Roger Alden thought those words to himself as he walked into a private meeting room located four floors under the CIA building, standing like a hideous disease in the heart of Washington D.C. The meeting room was solid concrete, lined with heavy, black stone walls. A single black table sat in the middle of the room, accompanied by twenty black leather chairs. No other items occupied the meeting room, and no communication devices were allowed in. A detail of four heavily armed men stood on guard outside of the room. Each guard was trained to kill without question; men who had been brainwashed and turned into killer puppets by a society that praised violence and death, rather than honoring life and truth.

  Carrying the sickening stench of someone consumed with corrupted authority, Roger walked into the black room.

  “Wendy Cratterson?” he demanded in a vicious voice.

  “Transferred to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, Sir,” Tim Beltmore gave a direct answer as he snapped to his feet like a soldier preparing to salute a high-ranking military officer. Tim Beltmore was Roger Alden’s second-in-command. Deadly, vicious, clever and cruel—the man fit every professional requirement the CIA demanded of a killer. “Condition is stable but serous.”

  “Be seated, Tim,” Roger ordered, as his evil eyes glared around the room. Noel Slate was present. Randy Mills was present. Henry Lundred was present. Roger’s personal team was all present and accounted for. “Wendy Cratterson was my error. I believed the woman had promise. Her background in computer engineering, along with her personal attributes, were perfect for monitoring Jessica Mayes. However, Wendy Cratterson committed an act of betrayal.” Tim Beltmore slowly sat down with a violent expression on his stone face. “We want Wendy alive, Tim,” Roger ordered, reading the man’s face. “Although she has caused me a few headaches, Wendy Cratterson has, without realizing it, actually assisted me in my quest.”

  “How so, Sir?” Noel Slate asked, sitting in her chair like a blond-headed cobra dripping venom onto her black suit.

  “Assuming Jessica Mayes has the virus and the stolen files,” Roger explained, soaking up Noel’s cruel energy as he took a seat at the head of the table, “careful action needs to be taken. I could have snatched the woman and tortured the truth out of her, but as we all know, in today’s world, no secret is safe. Although we control the media, we do not control the internet or every social media outlet. China, Russia, France, Mexico...all searching for fuel to throw onto the fire.” Roger shook his head. “We have too many traitors polluting the bowels of our agency.”

  “We will find every last one of the traitors,” Randy Mills vowed, sitting in his chair and resembling a sneaky rat wearing thin glasses. Randy was a Harvard-trained attorney, whose job was to defend every criminal law voted into existence by sinister politicians pretending to be both Republic and Democrat. They were demonic people working on the same team, while deceiving the masses, until President Green arrived on the scene and started uniting one patriotic party. “Every last one.”

  “Yes, we will,” Henry Lundred confirmed. Henry Lundred was Roger Alden’s cousin. He was an older man, but he still held a very dangerous intelligence. “In time, we will allow society to expose our deepest enemies. Right now, we must exercise patience.” Henry focused on Roger. “You were right not to have Jessica Mayes put into a black room, Roger. You were also right in assigning Wendy Cratterson to monitor the woman. I, too, believed Wendy was exhibiting a grand scale of promise. She deceived us all.”

  Roger reached into the inside pocket of his fancy gray suit and retrieved an expensive silver cigarette holder. “Yes, Wendy did seem to have her own personal agenda,” he explained, nodding his head. “However, after spending a few hours examining her antics, it doesn’t seem like the woman was trying to betray me personally. The act of betrayal Wendy acted on was toward my order to monitor Jessica Mayes.” Roger took an imported European cigarette from the silver case. “Wendy, it appears, seemed to believe that
I was...in error...believing Jessica Mayes was an important pawn to watch.”

  Tim snatched a gray cigarette lighter from the right pocket of his black suit and, like a dog hurrying to please his owner, lit Roger’s cigarette. “Are you suggesting we spare Wendy Cratterson’s life, Sir?”

  “No,” Roger explained, remaining calm with Tim. He took a deep draw from the cigarette and slowly exhaled. The day had been very tiring, and he needed to speak his thoughts openly. “I want Wendy dead,” Roger continued. “I am aware of her antics. She must be made an example of. However, because of Wendy’s act of ignorance, I can now turn Jessica Mayes into the most wanted woman in the world. By doing this, the CIA will be justified in certain actions and deeds without receiving negative publicity. In fact, I intend to use Jessica Mayes to make everyone sitting in this room appear a hero to the American people and the global community.” Roger took another deep draw off his cigarette. “In our line of work, we learn very quickly to turn someone’s mistake, or acts of betrayal, into a useful tool. No action or thought should ever go to waste.”

  Noel placed her hands together. “Sir, please excuse my ignorance, but what if...” Noel braced herself to be yelled at, “What if Wendy Cratterson was correct, and Jessica Mayes is not the target we should be aiming at?”

  “Good question, Noel,” Roger answered in a stern but calm tone that sent a wave of relief through Noel’s heart. “If Jessica Mayes turns out to be an empty bullet, we will have no other choice but to activate ‘Gray Cloud 911’.

  Every person sitting inside the meeting room grew silent and pale. Roger leaned back in his chair, focused on his cigarette, and allowed his team to absorb his words. After five minutes passed, Tim decided to speak. “Sir, we’re not in a position—”

  “To create a nuclear war?” Roger asked. He narrowed his eyes and pointed a hard finger at Tim. “If Jessica Mayes turns out to be an empty bullet, that leaves two possibilities, Tim,” he snapped. “The first possibility is that Jack Mayes didn’t pass off his virus or the stolen files on Edwin Green to anyone. I can’t, and will not, accept that possibility. The second possibility is that Jack Mayes passed the virus and the stolen files to a second unknown person.” Roger completed his cigarette and tossed the butt down onto the floor. “My original goal, ladies and gentlemen, was to destroy Edwin Green by locating the files Jack Mayes stole, while also taking full custody of the virus.” Roger stood up and began pacing back and forth in front of the table, with his hands clasped behind his back. “That goal has changed. However, after much personal debate, I have come to the conclusion that I can’t risk Edwin Green ever taking custody of the virus Jack Mayes created.”

  Tim studied Roger’s face and saw a deep concern, an inner war, he had never seen before. Roger Alden was a man trapped within a war of constantly changing chores and choices. “Sir,” he spoke, “forgive me, but are you implying we assassinate Edwin Green and stop trying to track down the stolen files?”

  Roger shot a vicious glare at Tim. “Every plan I created, from the moment I learned of Jack Mayes, no longer stands,” he barked. “I was approaching the situation with fear, Tim.”

  “Fear, Sir?” Tim asked in a shocked voice.

  “Yes, fear!” Roger yelled and kicked his chair over. “The virus Jack Mayes created is some kind of artificial intelligence virus that can mimic anything it touches without anyone knowing! Do you know what that means, Tim? Do you?”

  “Yes, Sir,” Tim nodded his head, with alarm in his eyes. “I’m fully aware—”

  “That whoever has the virus can destroy us!” Roger yelled at Tim. “The last thing in the world I needed to do was spook Jessica Mayes. Wendy Cratterson was ordered to monitor the woman while remaining invisible. Now...” Roger snapped his hands back behind his back. “The situation has changed, but for our benefit.”

  “How so, Sir?” Noel asked.

  “We will eliminate Edwin Green with a bullet, and blame the death on Jessica Mayes,” Roger explained in a poison tone. “We had no leverage to conduct an assassination until this point. This didn’t occur to me until earlier today, while I was sitting in my office reviewing Wendy Cratterson’s crumb trail.” Roger nodded at his chair. Tim jumped to his feet, placed the chair into a proper sitting position, and then quickly sat back down. Roger drew in a deep breath and slowly returned to his chair. “We’re not sure what files were stolen on Edwin Green? I’m assuming the files were extremely damaging. Otherwise, why did Jack Mayes steal them?”

  “The files—” Noel began to speak.

  “Are a needle in a haystack,” Randy cut in, reading Roger’s eyes.

  “Yes,” Roger agreed. “You all must understand that this information was thrown onto my desk very suddenly. I was forced to act in, shall we say…haste, based on assumptions rather than facts. I assumed Jessica Mayes was our target. I assumed the files Jack Mayes stole were vital in our mission to destroy Edwin Green. I assumed Wendy Cratterson...” Roger paused as the failure of his mission hit him squarely in the face. “I have had time to reconsider all of my options today and decided to use Wendy Cratterson’s antics to my advantage.” Roger narrowed his eyes. “We will eliminate Edwin Green with a bullet only after we confirm Jessica Mayes is a dud. If the woman turns out to be a ‘Red File’, we will destroy Edwin Green through other means.”

  “You believe Jessica Mayes is an empty bullet, don’t you, Sir?” Randy dared to ask.

  “Yes,” Roger confirmed in a heavy voice. “I studied Jessica Mayes’ psychological profile for a second time today. The woman’s profile does seem to indicate that she could be a carrier. However,” Roger went for a second cigarette, “after watching the hidden surveillance tape Sheriff Butler sent me and seeing Jessica Mayes place herself in a position of absolute death, rather than to better her chances of escape… her actions did not speak of a woman who was in possession of two powerful weapons that can alter the global community as we know it. Also,” Roger added, “Jessica Mayes allowed herself to be taken into custody. No good.” Tim quickly lit Roger’s cigarette. “But then,” Roger continued, “Jessica Mayes was aware she was being monitored and might have attempted to pull off a grand illusion. At this point, I’m going to allow Jessica Mayes to become the most wanted woman on earth, track her down, and then, if she is a ‘Red File’, use any means necessary to retrieve the stolen files and the virus. If Jessica Mayes turns out to be an empty bullet, we will kill her, assassinate Edwin Green, and create a nuclear war.”

  “You’re going to make Jessica Mayes appear to be working for—” Noel began.

  “The Russians and the Chinese,” Roger Alden explained, his voice a little shaky. “It is no secret that the Russians and the Chinese are preparing to attack the United States, Noel. The Chinese will attack using the West coast and the southern border. The Russians will come down through the northern border and the East coast. The Iranians and the North Koreans will be assisting in the attack, along with the Turkish military and some minor European military air support. Canada and Mexico will stand down.”

  “Yes Sir. We know this. But this attack isn’t set to take place, according to intelligence reports, until the current Russian President is eliminated, and China takes full control of the world market. Our intelligence reports state that China is preparing to alter the American economy in order to weaken the military budget, therefore destabilizing—”

  “I have read the reports, Tim!” Roger yelled and struck the table with his left hand. “Now listen to me, all of you!” he hissed. “Up until this morning, I have not been able to overthrow the opposition I face in regard to destroying Edwin Green. The man is a celebrity now. If we kill him, every gun owner in America would march on us,” Roger explained. “There are too many patriotic gun owners in this country. There are more of them than us. Thus, I was forced to carry out political maneuvers that haven’t been getting me anywhere. Now, I have Jessica Mayes. If the woman is a ‘Red File’, I can destroy Edwin Green and avoid a n
uclear war. If the woman is a dud, we go to war. But not before rallying the American people to our side, by making them believe Jessica Mayes killed their beloved President at the orders of the Chinese and the Russians, who are planning to attack.” Roger took a deep draw from his cigarette. “Either way,” he finished, “we are going to win this war.”

  Noel nervously raised her right hand into the air. “Sir?”

  “What?”

  “How will we win if we begin a nuclear war?” Noel asked. “If we strike the Russians and the Chinese, they will strike back.”

  A troubled expression scarred Roger’s evil face. “Noel,” he stated, “even if Jessica Mayes is a ‘Red File’, we may have to create a nuclear war and accept full retaliation. When the smoke clears, we’ll climb out of our holes and start rebuilding.”

  Roger’s word’s suddenly struck Tim the wrong way. He looked into the man’s devious face and saw a horrible, mad genius at work. Roger Alden was hiding a secret weapon. Also, Tim realized in horror, Roger Alden was manipulating the four people he was closest to. But why? What was Roger Alden’s hidden plan? Tim didn’t know. What the man did know was that creating a nuclear war with the Russians and Chinese would destroy America. There would be nothing left. Unless...unless, somehow, Roger Alden had discovered a way to completely shut down the nuclear arsenal the Russians and Chinese were in possession of. But how?

  Jessica Mayes, Tim thought to himself, as he stared into Roger’s face. Roger still believes the woman has the virus, and he’s going to use the virus to destroy and kill, and afterward, bring all the world governments under his control.

  Tim felt a cold chill run down his spine as he stared at Roger. He stared at a monster who had decided to use one woman to create absolute power for himself.

  ((((((((((*))))))))))

  After the meeting, Roger decided to return home. He maneuvered a black BMW down snowy streets lined with warm homes. The sight filled him with ideas he despised, ideas that were his true and ultimate enemy. He tried to sort them out.