Josh continued, “Do you trust me?”
“What?”
“Do you trust me?”
“It’s my job not to trust.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
Davidson just shook his head. “It appears you just saved our butts despite our best efforts to stop you. You hijacked the military-industrial complex and had it doing your bidding, while holding the most powerful government agencies at bay.” He stopped and looked behind him before adding, “Very impressive by the way.”
He continued, “The people who worked for you trust you completely. In fact, we heard the story about the cliff rescue. I’d have discounted it as exaggeration, but we got the same story from several eyewitnesses.” He shook his head again. “Frankly, I’d love to see you working for us ... but I’m not entirely sure we shouldn’t be working for you.”
Josh smiled. “Why did you make the CIA your career?”
“What?” Davidson sighed. “I’m going to have to go back to remedial interrogation school.” He pulled a chair up next to the bed and sat down. Finally smiling, he said, “What the heck. Josh, I was a history major. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the day I discovered that World War I happened largely due to wrong assumptions and miscommunications. I believed, and still believe, that if we can ferret out the truth, if all the parties know what’s really happening and why, we might prevent governments from making stupid mistakes, mistakes that cost thousands of lives. Maybe even stop wars that don’t need to happen.”
Josh said, “You’re an idealist.”
Davidson looked genuinely surprised. “I’ve been called a lot of things during my career, but it’s been a very, very long time since anyone called me an idealist.” He smiled and shrugged. “Thank you.”
Josh nodded. “We’re not that different, you and I. If you have to define me, think of me as another cynical, idealistic soldier. Like you, I have discretion to operate autonomously, but still have to report to a higher authority. The human race has a huge challenge ahead. It’s going to take the best we can be to survive. I helped, but I’m not Superman.”
“You did a pretty good imitation.”
Josh shook his head. “Superman wouldn’t be hooked to an IV.”
Davidson became serious. “You asked me if I trusted you, but trust goes both ways. Can you give me something, anything, to anchor you into my world?”
Josh understood exactly what Davidson was asking. He needed something to make Josh Fuze appear human. He sighed. “I can’t tell you much, but I can tell you that I grew up in the United States. I was educated as an engineer in an Ivy league school.” He knew Davidson was a Yale graduate. “And I was a Navy pilot.”
“Yeah, we kinda figured that out after you stole the Hornet. By the way, your landing sucked. The Australians are already asking when we’re going to replace it.”
Josh frowned, shaking his head. “A gallon just doesn’t go as far as it used to.”
Davidson laughed. “OK, you asked me if I trust you. I believe actions speak louder than words. Based on that, as hard as it is for me to say this, and it better never be repeated,” he sighed, “yes, I do trust you.”
“Thank you. I know exactly how hard that is to do.”
“So where do we go from here?”
“I was nothing more than a catalyst. All the cards are on the table now. There’s nothing more I can add.”
Davidson nodded.
Josh continued, “Ultimately, the next step is your call. I have no identity. No one will miss me. I’ve broken enough laws that no one would blame you if I were to suffer complications from the surgery.”
“You’re not a very good poker player. You’re not supposed to show all your cards.”
“No, but I am a good judge of character.”
Davidson smiled. “Yeah, you probably also realize that there’s no way we could ever prosecute. To do that would require showing what you actually did. It would be awkward delaying the trial for a Medal of Honor ceremony.” He continued more seriously, “The problem is that you can’t just fade into the shadows. There are people out there who know you and know what you did. There will be too many questions.”
“Actually, not many people do know me or what role I played. Between your agency and the administration, I bet you can come up with a great story to explain all this.”
“You’re willing to let others take the credit for this?”
“Of course.”
Davidson smiled. “Well that won’t be a problem. That’s something governments are very good at.” He paused. “I noticed you didn’t exactly live lavishly. You had a cheap one-bedroom apartment and drove a used Ford. I assume your finances aren’t superhuman?”
Josh realized his “slush fund” from Musk would cease. He smiled and shook his head.
Davidson looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, “Tell you what. I’ll create an account for $175,000 a year that you can draw on any time. By the way, that’s what I make. Consider it a pension from the federal government for services rendered. If you don’t deserve it, no one does.”
Josh smiled. “A pension ... or a retainer fee?”
Davidson shrugged with a slight smile. “Whatever.”
“I imagine use of that account might be traceable?”
“Yeah, I figured you might think of that.” He continued more seriously, “Josh, I can promise you as long as I’m around, that information will go to no one but me, but yes, I would like to be able to stay in touch with you.”
“Thanks, I’ll think about it.” Josh realized there was one other thing he needed to do. “Brian, none of this could have happened without Carl Casey and Tim Smith. I don’t know what happened behind the scenes, but I’m sure without Carl, I’d be dead or in a prison cell and London would be burning. Tim Smith actually fired the Blaster, knowing he would almost certainly be killed in the process.”
Davidson added, “He would have been killed, if you hadn’t gotten in the way.”
“Both of these men risked everything to make this work.”
Davidson nodded. “They’re good men. The Distinguished Intelligence Cross presentation is actually the fun part of my job.” Looking at his watch, he said, “I’ve got to go. I have to brief the President.” He frowned. “But first I have to figure out what I’m going to say. You’ve created quite an opportunity and challenge for us.” He put a card on the table next to Josh. It had nothing but a telephone number on it. “This is my direct line.” As he turned to leave, he said, “Oh, we’re assigning medical personnel to supervise your recovery.”
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary.”
As he left, he said over his shoulder, “It’s the least we can do.”
55
PROPOSAL
After waiting several hours, Elizabeth saw the door open. A slim man in his fifties entered, flanked by two men. Smiling, he walked over with his hand out, saying, “Ms. Edvardsen, it’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Brian Davidson.” He added to the two men with him, “Will you please excuse us for a moment?”
As they left the room and closed the door, she shook his hand, not knowing what to expect. She assumed he was a government official but didn’t know who he represented.
As if reading her mind, he said, “Ms. Edvardsen, I’m the Acting Director of the CIA, and I want to sincerely apologize to you for your incarceration and interrogation. We didn’t understand what Josh was doing. We had good intentions, but as much as I hate to admit it, we were operating under some major misconceptions. I’m so sorry. Can you ever forgive us?”
This took her by surprise. He looked as if he was prepared to take a verbal beating. “Mr. Davidson, Josh is ... unique. I can imagine your situation quite easily. No apology necessary, officially or personally.” She already liked this man.
With a look of relief, he smiled and said, “Please, call me Brian. We also owe you a huge debt of gratitude.”
Surprised, she asked, “Me? Why?”
/>
“You put enough doubt in your interrogators that we forwarded the meteoroid trajectory information to observatories and NORAD. The early warnings saved countless lives.” He paused. “Would you like to see the Prophet?” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I mean Josh.”
She cocked her head and looked at him carefully. “Did you say prophet?”
“Slip of the tongue. That was just the project codename.” With a slightly apprehensive look, he continued, “I don’t know if anyone told you, but Josh was injured during the South Pole operation.”
“What happened!”
Davidson frowned. “He’s OK, but he was accidentally shot.”
Her eyes got wide. “Shot!”
Speaking quickly, he added, “The bullets have been removed, and he’s doing well. I’ve already been in to talk to him. He seems to have an unusually strong—”
She interrupted, “Can I see him?”
“Yes. Yes, of course.”
Davidson accompanied her to the ship’s sickbay. As they followed a Navy commander on a several-minute walk through the metal maze, Davidson continued to talk to her. They finally reached sickbay. It was a small but fully equipped hospital. She recognized most of the equipment and was impressed. It made sense if you had to handle serious combat casualties. At a private room with a Marine guard, Davidson stopped outside and waved her in.
Josh heard someone outside and looked up. He was shocked to see Elizabeth. She ran to his bed and gently grabbed his face in her hands. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Are you all right?”
Smiling and trying not to get emotional himself, he said, “I’m doing great, really.”
She gave a small laugh but her voice quavered as she said, “What is it with you? Do I need to buy you Kevlar underwear?”
He laughed and then winced. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
She leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. “How and where did you get shot?” She was already peeking under his sheet.
“I think I have an extra belly button or two.”
With anger, she said, “Who did this to you?”
“It’s not important and please don’t hold it against anyone. Brian Davidson’s a good guy. You can trust him.”
He stopped and sighed. He realized it was time to come clean. It wouldn’t get any easier with time. He’d rather have a root canal than what he was about to do, but they were alone. He didn’t know if they would let him see her again, and he needed to be the one to tell her. He said softly, “Elizabeth ... I need to tell you something. It’s something I should have told you long ago.”
She took his hand and with a little smile said, “You really don’t know anything about plumbing, do you?”
He couldn’t help but smile. It was true; sprinkler systems and faucets never worked the same after he “fixed” them.
He started and then stopped. Finally, he sighed. “Elizabeth, I’m so sorry ... I’m not what you think I am.” There it was, finally out in the open.
She frowned and said slowly, “What do I think you are?”
He frowned. “I ... I’m not exactly sure.”
She gave him a compassionate smile. “Then how do you know you’re not what I think you are?”
A chill went down his spine at still another parallel Jesse conversation.
She shook her head, laughing softly. “You really don’t get it, do you? You’re cute, but you are soooo dense. I would love you even if you turned out to be a raging schizophrenic with delusions of grandeur. Don’t you understand? It doesn’t matter to me who you are or who you think you are.” Looking around conspiratorially, she smiled, adding, “But we might be able to set aside the delusions of grandeur diagnosis.” She continued, “Never underestimate a woman’s intuition.” She leaned over and kissed him gently.
As he was processing this, she said, “And I’m going to be sticking around until you’re fully recovered.”
Finally grasping at a subject he could comprehend, he asked weakly, “They’ll let you take that much time off work?”
She grinned. “Brian — probably as a way to make amends — offered me a contract to be your personal nurse through your recovery.” She smiled. “To the tune of $250,000.”
“Wow.”
Looking mischievous, she said, “Look, it’s not as though I really want to be around you, I just need the money to fix the plumbing in my condo.” She winked. “The contract says I must supervise your full medical recovery and ensure you re-establish all your physical abilities.” She gave him an innocent look. “Course, I’m not entirely sure what all your physical abilities are.”
Saving Josh from a response, a corpsman came in and said he would have to check the wound and change the dressings. Josh watched Elizabeth, as she watched the corpsman examine him. He wasn’t impulsive, but came to a sudden decision. As the corpsman left and Elizabeth came back over to his bed, he asked, “Elizabeth, you really aren’t mad at me? I mean you’re not just being nice because you feel sorry for my situation?”
She didn’t say anything. She just smiled and shook her head and held his hand.
He forged ahead. “Then, Elizabeth, could you do me a favor?”
She said, “Sure.”
“If I survive and don’t do life in prison, will you marry me?”
Her eyes got big.
He’d accomplished something rare. He rendered her speechless.
Finally, with damp eyes, she said, “Let me think about it.” Then, with a big smile, immediately added, “Yes!”
Before she could kiss him, one of the agents came in and said she was needed. She said, “Just a second,” and leaned over and gave him a long kiss.
As Elizabeth left Josh’s room, the agent said to her, “I’ll escort you back to the Director and then show you to your stateroom. You can return here any time you wish.” He handed her a plastic ID on a neck strap, and said, “Ms. Edvardsen, this will take care of you while you’re on the ship.” Then he handed her a manila envelope and explained. “There’s a State Department passport and a government credit card for expenses.” As they walked, she took the maroon colored passport out and looked inside. She frowned, shaking her head. “They couldn’t have found a better picture?”
The agent brought her back to the small conference room.
Several people surrounded Davidson, but as soon as he saw her, he disengaged and came over. “Ms. Edvardsen, is there anything we can do for you?”
She said, “Just call me Elizabeth. You’ve been great, and I really appreciate your honesty. I don’t hold what happened to Josh against you. I can’t, because he doesn’t. In fact, he said you were a good guy and to trust you.” She paused. “But if you don’t mind my asking, how did he get shot?”
Davidson surprised, said, “He didn’t tell you?”
“No,” she shook her head in disbelief. “He said it wasn’t important.”
Davidson started slowly, “Let’s just say, the individual responsible won’t cause any more trouble. He’s currently under sedation.”
Elizabeth looked at him closely. “You introduced yourself as Acting Director.”
Davidson gave her a half smile.
Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “What will happen to the ... individual responsible?”
“Nothing dramatic unfortunately, but he’s been removed from his position and has been retired from government service ... under supervision.”
She nodded silently.
He looked her in the eye. “Elizabeth, may I ask you a question?”
She nodded again.
Glancing around, he quietly asked, “Who is he and how was he able to find and figure out how to move a 15-kilometer mountain?”
With a slight smile, she tilted her head and said, “‘I tell you the truth. If you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” She winked.
Frowning, his eyes unconsciously glanced upward.
Then he shook his head with a half-smile and said, “Uh, yeah ... OK.” Quickly changing the subject, he said, “Well, gotta go. I have a lot of creative explaining to do.” As they shook hands, he added, “Take care of him, Elizabeth. We may need him again.”
EPILOGUE
HEADLINES
CIA Director Johnson Resigns Over Health Issues
President Yager said, “Mr. Johnson will be missed but Acting Director Davidson has my complete confidence.” ...
Millennium Comet Officially Named Chandra-Wooldridge
With humility, Dr. Wooldridge stated, “I certainly don’t want to take all the credit, but ...”
Australians Sacrifice Super Hornet to Save the Queen
Squadron Commander and courageous pilot to be knighted ...
Strategic Defense Initiative Cover Story for Deflection?
Department of Defense spokesman refused to confirm or deny ...
Meadows Appointed U.N. Director of Planetary Defense
Admiral Joe Meadows earned his second star, as the 10th Blaster became operational on Mount Howe ...
Elton Musk Declines Invitation to Run for President
With his usual elfish grin, Musk responded, “Why on earth would I want to have those limits?” ...
Josh said, “It’s out of my hands now. I can disappear.”
Can you?
“Are you suggesting there’s another threat out there?
Silence.
“What could be more dangerous than a giant comet?”
You ... and what you create.
Preview of the first chapter of book two of the Fuzed Trilogy follows
HOW REAL IS THIS?
This is a work of fiction. Unfortunately, the science behind it isn’t.
After the asteroid blew up over Russia in 2013, astrophysicists reevaluated the impact rate. They used newly declassified data from the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty monitoring system — it listens for nuclear detonations in the atmosphere. There wasn’t a single nuclear explosion, but between 2000 and 2013, there were 26 massive detonations. All of them were asteroids exploding in the atmosphere and some were bigger than the Hiroshima bomb! 1
Impact (Fuzed Trilogy Book 1) Page 35