Wake the Dead

by Victoria Buck

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  27

  28

  29

  30

  31

  32

  33

  34

  35

  36

  37

  38

  39

  40

  41

  42

  43

  44

  45

  46

  47

  48

  50

  51

  52

  53

  54

  Thank you

  Wake the Dead

  Victoria Buck

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Wake the Dead

  COPYRIGHT 2014 by Victoria Buck

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Pelican Ventures, LLC except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  eBook editions are licensed for your personal enjoyment only. eBooks may not be re-sold, copied or given away to other people. If you would like to share an eBook edition, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with.

  Contact Information: titleadmin@pelicanbookgroup.com

  All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version(R), NIV(R), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

  Cover Art by Nicola Martinez

  Harbourlight Books, a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC

  www.pelicanbookgroup.com PO Box 1738 *Aztec, NM * 87410

  Harbourlight Books sail and mast logo is a trademark of Pelican Ventures, LLC

  Publishing History

  First Harbourlight Edition, 2014

  Paperback Edition ISBN 978-1-61116-336-0

  Electronic Edition ISBN 978-1-61116-335-3

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To my husband, Randy; my number one proofreader, Jackie Thomas; and my fellow writers at Word Weavers.

  1

  In the near future…

  Chase Sterling, with great pride and sentiment, announced the unmatched prizes awarded by his primetime unreality program, Change Your Life. “A hundred million in a world exchange account and a ninety-foot yacht to take you to the Caribbean island mansion built for you and your family, Judy Bamber.”

  The five thousand fans lucky enough to hold tickets to the show that night applauded in wild astonishment.

  Chase lifted his hand, and the cheers fell to a low roar. “That’s not all, Judy. You’ll have the best surgeons we can find to turn you into a goddess, and you’re the new owner of a WR Selfdrive dealership sure to gross millions every year.”

  The cries of the throng rose louder. But without the glint of a tear or a single word of gratitude, Judy Bamber dropped to her knees and her portly middle-aged mug slapped the golden stage.

  Chase pored over his shocked and simmering congregation. He had to sustain the momentum. The fans had just witnessed the biggest win in the show’s history. And the most dramatic reaction—Judy’s face hit hard. Not that a broken nose mattered now. She’d soon have a new one.

  Electric blue beams coursed through the auditorium and the music reached its peak, but the crowd hushed. Along with them, millions, maybe a billion, likely held a collective gasp in front of their GrapheVisions.

  Chase had to deliver, to pull yet another miserable soul from the ranks of the poor, the sick, and the unattractive. His mission, his destiny, was to make winners out of losers. That’s what he planned to do for the rest of his life. No one could stop him.

  The glorious anthem that accompanied every win ebbed to the melodic equivalent of bated breath. Nice touch. The director played the situation well. But he’d better not flood the stage with medics. Chase could get this dumpling off the floor.

  He knelt on one knee next to the show’s newest chosen one and turned to the crowd. “People, help me out. Judy is missing the moment.” He hoped it worked. “Scream loud enough to wake the dead!”

  The hum escalated to a roar and the walls seemed to shake. Within seconds, Judy rose to her feet as though a hand had come through the stage to thrust her upright. Or else, from somewhere among the brilliant lights overhead, a puppeteer had tugged a string and lifted her.

  Chase stood and clasped her hand. She smiled, having survived the greatest moment of her life with no visible damage. No broken teeth. No swollen nose.

  A reverberation of awe, decibels lower than the dead-awakening shriek, swept through the assembly. Chase kept his eyes on the risen Judy Bamber, but he knew from where he stood that some in the audience dropped to their seats or to the floor of the narrow aisles. No one seemed concerned about this contagion of fainting. Those still on their feet held their stare on the newest victor.

  Chase swallowed hard. It felt like the first time he’d announced a big win. What a privilege to bestow such a blessing. The network supplied the goods—by means of the advertisers, of course—but Chase bestowed the bounty on this floating, glowing gazillionaire. He was Judy Bamber’s savior. She was the star, at least for the moment. He was the endless sky.

  “Judy, are you all right? You gave us a scare hitting the floor like that.”

  She scarcely giggled as she nodded. “Forgive me.”

  “You are our biggest winner ever. How does it feel?”

  She lifted her hands to the lights. “It feels like air, Chase. Like I couldn’t breathe before, but now I can.”

  “Do you hear that, people? Resuscitation. This woman will never have to worry again. She has entered the world of the wealthy, the universe of the unrestricted. Thanks to SynVue, our generous global network, Judy Bamber is now one of the richest women in the Western Republic. Her prize is beyond anything our wondrous program has awarded to date.”

  Chase spread his arms wide. “And as you all know, the bigger the winner’s prize…”

  The crowd let loose with a frenzied shout.

  “Judy, you know what to say.” He faced her to wait with the fans.

  “Yes, Chase, my prize is big. My fortune is their fortune.” She turned her avid expression to him. “What will they receive?”

  “Here’s what I’m going to give them, Judy. Every one of them.” He turned again to the crowd. “You’re all going home with a brand new…” He paused until he thought a few eyeballs would pop out and roll down the aisles. “Autonomous fuel cell car, complete with front and rear reality shield.”

  The thunderous reaction brought a buzz to Chase’s eardrums. Judy clapped her plump hands and smiled as she turned her gaze upward to the rear of the massive auditorium. A foretelling quiet descended on the fans, and then the soft voice called from above.

  “Judy Bamber, come claim your prize and begin your new life.” This in
vitation from the show’s mystifying producer brought another ovation from the spectators. They knew the voice and turned as one to the blackened portal high against the far wall. From there, the illustrious Kerstin Bennett called forth the new winner. “I’m waiting for you Judy, with all that you will receive.”

  Judy blasted off the stage and took the center aisle like a nimble twenty-year-old. The fans reached for her as she passed by. They cheered as she climbed the golden stairs, and sighed as she vanished into the passageway between the lower level and the tiered balcony.

  Chase took his usual spot—the center platform edged with shafts of white light. But this remarkable episode called for something different. He stepped onto the illuminated ramp and went down into the crowd. A spotlight followed him. The people cried out in delight as the nearest ones reached for him.

  “And so we’ve sent another lucky soul to begin her new life. Remember, our aim is to change your life. Good night.” He touched a few outstretched hands before racing up the incline. The musical finale resonated through the auditorium as he reached the backstage egress.

  Chase retreated, knowing thousands stampeded the exits to form lines to the prize arena. Dozens of SynVue employees would spend the rest of the night handing out vouchers for the cars. Kerstin’s team would devote the next several hours to Judy Bamber. They’d go over the regulations, sign documents, and schedule appearances.

  But Chase’s part, at least for tonight, was done.

  “Nice job out there, boss.” His right-hand girl thrust a bottle of cold water into his outstretched hand.

  “Thanks, Mel. Can you handle the press?”

  “Me? I don’t think the queen would like that.”

  “Watch what you say, Mel.”

  “Sorry, Ms. Bennett wouldn’t like it. Besides, you love the post-show interview, especially after a big win. And this—”

  “Is the biggest win ever, I know,” Chase said. “I’ll be tempted to say too much.”

  Mel stepped close, her brown eyes growing wide. “About what?”

  “Never mind. Don’t worry about Kerstin. I’ll take care of her.” He put his hands on Mel’s shoulders and turned her toward the approaching crowd. “Just handle it.”

  “You got it.” She stepped toward the gathering of media reps. “This way to the press room. You know the routine.”

  “Chase, how’s our favorite game show host? You’ve got to be running out of ideas. And money,” one of the herd called.

  Chase couldn’t let this go without a response. “Change Your Life is no game. Unreality programming remakes the real world of helpless individuals. As for your other insinuations, ideas and money are limitless, my friend. SynVue knows no boundaries. And soon…” He forced his warmest smile before giving them just enough to rouse their curiosity. “Greater things are coming. Thank you all for being here. My assistant will answer any questions about our winner and her wonderful new life.”

  Chase left them and took the rear hallway. With his pulse racing and his ears still buzzing, he considered his show’s future.

  After this, they’d bring in a couple of contestants destined for smaller victories. Then, something big. Bigger than the massive fortune just awarded to Judy Bamber. Lucky lady. But her luck would soon be forgotten.

  On to other projects. New contestants. Bigger prizes.

  Something unforgettable.

  2

  “Did you see the look on her face when I told her everything she’d won?” Chase smiled. “She turned white as a ghost. I knew she was going to pass out.”

  “We couldn’t have planned it any better.” Kerstin kicked off her red pumps and put her feet on the coffee table. “But it would have been ruined if we’d had to carry her out on a stretcher. We’re lucky she got up.”

  “She didn’t just get up. It was miraculous. Somebody up there is on our side. We’re jumping to the next level.”

  “We’re going back to business as usual.” Kerstin took the clip from her dark hair, and the long tresses fell against her shoulders.

  “But Kerstin, sweetheart, business as usual means we have to make the next big win bigger than tonight’s win. We’ve been on a progression for two years. We’ve got to keep the—”

  “Chase, really, you’re going to bankrupt SynVue.” She sipped from a stemmed goblet.

  “Not possible.”

  “We just gave away more money than the combined annual salaries of two thirds of SynVue’s employees.”

  Chase dropped to the sofa and put both arms around her. “Two thirds of SynVue’s employees don’t make much.” He kissed her ear. “But the rest of them—”

  “Includes you and me. So stop giving away our money.”

  “I just do what I’m told. Besides, it’s the advertisers’ money, and they’re not hurting.”

  The feel of her flawless skin energized him. Everything about her was perfect, from her unembellished beauty—the SynVue surgeons were not needed here—to her management of the show. She brought in the advertisers and their money, chose the contestants, arranged every detail of the winners’ new lives, and then kept those fortunate souls from recklessness. They had to be maintained.

  The show truly did change lives. But its success depended on the lasting triumph of the winners. No one wanted to see someone monumentally prized, outrageously wealthy, and virtually reborn come to failure. Kerstin made sure the winners stayed winners. If Chase was the adored one, and he was, then Kerstin was the revered one. She made it all happen.

  But Chase was not left out of the running of the show. Ideas were easy—funding was the hard part. Kerstin would love this idea, and it wouldn’t cost SynVue anything. He sat straight and looked her in the eye. “I’ve come across something new. Something better than plastic surgery and outrageous wealth.”

  “Life is money, Chase, and money is life.” Kerstin’s VirtuPad chirped. She reached for it and read the message. “We’ve got trouble.” She slammed the VPad on the coffee table. “My gutless assistant says you will tell me about it.”

  “I don’t know any—”

  “Checked your messages lately, Chase? You can’t be out of touch. I’ve told you that.”

  So much for timing. He stood, reached for his jacket, and plucked his VPad from the pocket. It came to life at the touch of his hand.

  Kerstin’s creamy skin turned a mean shade of red. “I knew something like this would happen.”

  “We don’t know what happened, Kerstin.” He paced across the living room then out the open glass door and onto the moonlit patio. Kerstin’s breath hissed on the back of his neck. “There’s a message from Mel.”

  He punched the text-only option, and then grabbed hold of the iron railing that encircled the patio as he read the news. The very bad news. Why did he have to be the one to tell Kerstin? He turned to face her.

  “Well, what is it?” Kerstin folded her arms.

  He stuffed the VPad into his pants pocket. “One of our re-creations is having some issues. We’ll need Dr. Jacobson. And a suite at SynVue Estate. And a good psychiatrist. Latmore, maybe. Or—”

  “Chase. What happened?”

  “Elaine Jenz. Remember? New face, new body, job anchoring for SynVue.”

  “Of course I remember. We made a star reporter out of a sow’s ear. What did she do?”

  Chase wiped his hand through his hair and then put both his hands on his hips. “She took a laser knife and cut up her own face. On the air, during a broadcast.”

  Kerstin covered her mouth with her hand.

  “She said something about Change Your Life.”

  “What about it?”

  “That it was our fault.”

  Kerstin turned to go back in the house and grabbed her VPad. “OK, damage control. I’ll get the publicity team on this. We’ll issue a sympathetic refute. Nobody can blame us for this. She cracked. That’s all.”

  “Poor woman,” Chase said. “What would make her do something so awful?”

  “I’m not
as concerned about that as what this will do to us—to the show.”

  “Kerstin, she’s obviously sick. Shouldn’t we stand by her?”

  “Listen to me, Chase.” Kerstin came beside him and put her hand on his shoulder. “We can’t take blame for this. Our reputation is rock-solid. We make people’s lives better. Wonderful. Perfect.” She brushed her fingers against his temple. “We’ll stand by her, yes. But only as long as it takes to distance ourselves as gracefully as possible.”

  3

  Chase escaped to his dressing room while the directors planned the next shoot. He fell to the sofa and closed his eyes, but recent events flashed a show of their own.

  In the last two weeks, he’d taken heat in countless interviews, rejecting conclusions of why a former winner turned to despair and self-mutilation. “Elaine Jenz had a drug problem,” Chase told the reporters. She didn’t adhere to the coaching she’d received, and she slipped back into old habits. The explanation sufficed. None of it was true, but he had to protect the show. Now that a little time had passed, the incident was hardly remembered, at least by the press.

  As for Elaine, Chase tried visiting her at SynVue Estate, but after a few minutes, she pounded on the shatterproof windows of her private suite, screaming to be saved from the devil.

  Kerstin was right. He had to distance himself. He didn’t go back.

  The episodes following Judy Bamber’s big win spotlighted a middle-aged man in need of a kidney transplant. And major debt reduction, of course. How did these people get themselves into grave-deep debt? Chase came alongside Larin Andrews, as with all the poor souls chosen as contestants by SynVue, and acted the part of sympathetic confidante.

  Larin played the game, though it wasn’t really a game. And he would win—there wasn’t any chance he’d lose. After three episodes filled with emotional tugs and careful management, viewers would pick the winner’s prizes, casting their votes on VPads and graphene systems across the world. Of course, SynVue execs picked the prizes ahead of time. The votes meant nothing. Chase shifted on the leather sofa and put both hands behind his head.