The Right to Know
Page 29
Her face drawn, she shuddered. “Y-you’re a monster.” She slowly started to walk backward.
“Monster? Yes, yes, in your south Louisiana swamp-rat brain, I guess you could say I’m a monster. But in my world, I’m a businessman. A damn good one.”
“But you killed those executives . . .”
“Yes. Well, no—I had them killed. But if you’d done the homework you think you’ve done, you would have learned I’ve had dozens of people killed over the years. It’s the cost of doing business.”
Alicia was stunned he admitted it. Her mouth fell open slightly. She struggled for what to say. This man, this monster . . . all her suspicions over the years—confirmed.
“You were wrong about one thing, however,” he said. “Very wrong.”
She looked up at him. “What’s that?”
“That I’m afraid to get my hands dirty.” Sterling reached under his coat and retrieved a Sig-Sauer nine-millimeter with a suppressor screwed in the barrel. Her eyes focused on the tip of the suppressor as he moved the weapon toward her. She tried to say something, tried to scream, but she froze. He pressed the barrel to her forehead. The tip cold against her skin.
A single tear ran down her cheek. She searched his eyes for some sign of decency. “Please . . .”
Sterling squeezed the trigger.
Acknowledgments
I tend to hang on to things too long. This book, much like Surly Bonds and Veil of Deception, started with the germ of an idea I’ve carried around in my head for decades. While the storyline for this book changed significantly, the theme I had come up over two decades ago, proved eerily prophetic. The Right To Know continues to flesh out the world of Jason Conrad, which has been described as “The House of Cards meets Top Gun.” I’d say that’s accurate. And the story is timely.
There’s a lot of people I need to thank, once again. It’s an incredible journey and I wouldn’t be here without you, the reader. Thank you. Some great people have assisted me in getting this book to print. Scott Tyler, my primary sounding board, thank you. John Briggs, my editor; and Rob Rolfsen, Jason E. Fort, and Karl Hughey, thank you. As always, special thanks to my wife Kim, for keeping me grounded. And thank you God, for the blessings you’ve bestowed upon us.
The Right to Know: The After the Epilogue and Credits Scene…
October 3, 1996
Jonathan Bowman stood in his empty office. His secretary and executive assistant removed all his personal things earlier in the day. He took a deep breath as he stared out the window. The culmination of all his efforts over the years—here. This place, this office, this city . . . it was all he’d ever wanted. To make a difference. And he did. He almost reached the top. It didn’t matter—no one was going to defeat the Clinton machine. Bowman knew he would have come closer than Dole, but it remained an insurmountable obstacle.
He heard a noise behind him and saw Betty, his secretary, standing alone, sobbing mercilessly. Bowman waved her over, and she shuffled to him. He placed an arm around her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead.
“I know you think I’m crying because I’m losing my job,” she said, “but I’m going to miss working for you. You’ve been a great boss.”
“There, there . . . don’t worry. Wherever I land, I’ll have a position for you.”
“But I’ve only got two more years until I can retire with my pension.”
Bowman put his hands gently on her shoulders and gazed in her eyes. His eyes watered, too. “Well, then, in two years, you’ve got a retirement job waiting for you. I never would have made it this far without you. You deserve more than a government pension. And I’ll make sure you get it.”
“Thank you, Senator.”
“It’s my pleasure, Betty. Thank you for your professionalism and loyalty.” She left him at the window and his gaze returned to the picture outside. It was a pleasant view, but not the best. His mind reeled with thoughts of the last year or so. How his life had evolved so quick and radically. Running for president, meeting his son for the first time, surviving an attempt on his life—twice, re-connecting with Alicia, and leaving politics… it made his head spin to think about it.
There was a knock on the door frame behind him. Betty stood with Sterling MacIntosh behind her.
“I told him this may not be an appropriate time, Senator,” she said, “but he insisted.”
“It’s alright, Betty.” His voice calm and reassuring. “Sterling, come in.”
Sterling walked to the window and the two men shook hands.
“I’d offer you a drink, but as you can see, I have nothing,” he said, sweeping his arm across the room.
“Thank you, but that’s okay. I’m fine. The question is, how are you?”
Bowman looked out the window again.
“I’m fine. I’m ready. It’s time to go. I’ve still got a life to live. I’ve given most of it to public service. It’s time to do something for myself.”
“Yes, but how are you?”
He faced Sterling, who had a quizzical expression across his face.
“I’m fine, like I said. It’s been tough—dealing with Alicia’s murder. And the damn Democrats saying I was involved with it didn’t help any.” He paused. “We were going to get back together, you know. Try to make things work out.”
“I wasn’t aware of that,” Sterling said.
“Yes. It was my idea. Leave the Senate, start a family. Actually, just re-connect with the family I had.” He turned away from the window. “The Bureau is still tracking down leads, but they’ve got nothing.” A tear rolled down his left cheek. “We went through so much in such a short period of time. That’s what our relationship was always like. Short, intense, passionate, fierce. She was a spunky one, my Alicia. Full of grit and battle.”
“Yes. Yes, she was.” Sterling turned to face the window. “Have you talked to the boy?”
Bowman nodded. “Jason graduated pilot training last month. It was a nice ceremony. They say he was on track to get an F-16 to Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, but after everything that went on, his grades slipped. He wanted to stay in Oklahoma and fly the T-38. I called the Air Force chief of staff and made his wishes known. Turns out, he didn’t need my help. That’s what he was getting anyway.”
“And about his mother?”
“The poor kid struggled with his mother’s death. He doesn’t accept the status of an unsolved murder. He’s had to compartmentalize a lot the past few months.”
“Sounds like a fascinating young man. I’d like to meet him some day.”
Bowman’s head tilted. “You haven’t met him?”
“No.”
“We’ll have to arrange that.”
“I look forward to it. In the interim, what are we going to do about you?”
“Meaning?”
“Have you thought about my offer? I want you to take over my new company. I’ve merged the acquisition of Century Aerospace with one of my fledgling robotics companies and weapons manufacturers. The new company will be called Century Aero-bot. With you on board, we’ll be one of the nation’s biggest defense contractors in no time.”
“I’ve thought about it. It sounds like a challenge. Sounds promising.”
Sterling patted him on the back and headed for the door. “Think harder. This is an opportunity you won’t get anywhere else.” He stopped in the doorway and looked back. “Besides, you stand to make a fortune off the war in Afghanistan.”
“War? What war?”
Sterling turned to leave the office. “The one that’s coming,” he said as he walked away. “A few years from now.”
Get Jason’s next adventure:
Veil of Deception
About the Author
Michael Byars Lewis, is an Amazon #1 International Bestselling Author, and his books have also been on the Bestseller lists on Barnes and Noble Nook and Kobo platforms. The award-winning author of the Jason Conrad thriller series, has been on numerous author panels at writer’s conferences such
as Thrillerfest, The Louisiana Book Festival, and Killer Nashville. The Jason Conrad Thriller Series, consisting of Retribution, Surly Bonds, The Right to Know, and Veil of Deception, has garnered fifteen book awards.
Michael is a former AC-130U Spooky Gunship Evaluator Pilot with 18 years in Air Force Special Operations Command. A 25-year Air Force pilot, he has flown special operations combat missions in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He served as an Expeditionary Squadron Commander for AC-130U combat operations in Iraq and spent his final assignment on active duty instructing and mentoring the next generation of gunship pilots at the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center’s schoolhouse for flight instruction, the 19th Special Operations Squadron. Michael is currently a pilot for a major U.S. airline.
Active in his community, Michael has mentored college students on leadership development and team-building and is a facilitator for an international leadership training program. He has teamed with the Air Commando Foundation, which supports Air Commando’s and their families’ unmet needs during critical times.
While his adventures have led to travels all around the world, Michael lives in Florida with his wife Kim.
Follow Michael Byars Lewis:
www.michaelbyarslewis.com
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Contact Michael Byars Lewis:
michael@michaelbyarslewis.com
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Also by Michael Byars Lewis
Retribution
Surly Bonds
The Right to Know
Veil of Deception