The Phoenix Agenda: A Thriller (A Rossler Foundation Mystery Book 6)

by JC Ryan

  Daniel had a brainwave, “Hang on. I think there might be a way. Rebecca, you said that etorphine stuff is used to sedate wild animals, right? What are the chances that places like a zoo or a wildlife park might have the stuff in their possession?”

  Everyone saw where he was going and shouted in a chorus, “Places such as Yellowstone!”

  “Only one way to find out, I guess,” said Daniel with a smile.

  Law and order

  The Supreme Council had already announced the very popular decision to provide free education for everyone on the planet. They'd appointed their head of the Bureau of Education, and she was already busy implementing the plan. Her colleague Anastasia Oriov made sure that the opening of every school under the new plan received as much public exposure as possible, locally, nationally and internationally. The media shouted it from the rooftops - these schools were state of the art facilities with the widest possible curriculum choices and the best teachers. Funding would never again stand in the way of education.

  The Bureau of Education could not keep ahead of the demand for New World Order schools; waiting lists had thousands of hopeful students. The Supreme Council were extremely pleased their education reform program was working like a charm and bagged many millions of supporters for the regime.

  It was still early days for them, and there were still a long list of agenda items that had to be addressed, but now law and order were next on the agenda. They'd learned a few useful lessons from the gun control operation about swift and efficient law enforcement. There were just too many criminal activities going on in too many countries and it was time to curtail that. The first step was to introduce the death penalty for possession of firearms. It did not involve a long court process, as the police were authorized to shoot to kill anyone found in possession of a firearm. No due process or trial was necessary. Possession was a de facto guilty verdict. People had already had enough warning and grace – now the Council showed themselves to be dead serious about it.

  The police received sweeping powers, were heavily armed and authorized to arrest and detain without trial anyone suspected of committing or capable of committing a crime. Police could stop and frisk anyone anywhere at any time, no suspicion was required. They called it preventative law enforcement.

  The media trumpeted the statistics of dwindling crime figures, and some were even predicting a crimeless society within two to three years. No one ever dared to say that this was not law enforcement but rather terrorization of the citizens.

  A one-strike rule was introduced. For the first offence, irrespective of the nature or severity, the culprit would be shipped off to a reorientation facility. There they would be taught how to be a loyal and useful citizen to society. The second crime carried either the death penalty or, if the criminal were lucky, a minimum five-year mandatory sentence plus the penalty for the actual crime.

  By now the biochip factories were in full production and every criminal found guilty of any offence received a biochip. It was a quick and easy procedure, which was completed at courthouses and police stations, where trained staff would inject a small capsule-shaped device, about half an inch long, underneath the right collarbone. It was part of the preventative law enforcement philosophy.

  All law enforcement agencies were also authorized to perform the implants on anyone whom they suspected of committing a crime or whom they suspected might commit a crime in the future. The procedure quickly became known as ‘chipping’. The police did not hesitate to use this method often. After all, they were all chipped for their own security and protection before they could assume or continue their duties in the new police forces. They knew it to be safe and harmless, so why not apply it for the good of society to known and potential criminals?

  Everyone was given very explicit instructions not to tamper with the chips in any manner, and informed of the dire consequences if they did so. Nevertheless, thousands just did not listen or believe what they were told and were dead within seconds from attempting to remove the chips.

  Many new crimes appeared on the books. One such crime had legal experts scratching their heads. Corruption against humanity, which had a description and interpretation so wide it could mean anything from jaywalking, spitting on the street, making any derogatory remarks about, or criticizing the Supreme Council or any of its appointed officials, to not having a likeable face or acceptable appearance. The crime carried sentences from jail time to the death penalty, all at the discretion of the judges.

  The entire legal process was streamlined. Courts were supplied with more judges and prosecutors and were open for business 24/7. The Supreme Council’s instructions were very clear; get rid of all backlogs within six months. Trial by jury was abolished; a single judge would preside and the appeals process was abolished. Everyone who appeared in court was provided with a lawyer, appointed and paid for by the state. If a private lawyer was preferred, the accused was welcome to that, but the state would not contribute to the costs.

  Mindful that the ‘War on Drugs’ begun in the US more than fifty years before had been a complete failure, the Eligo Rarus regime took a different approach. Law enforcement agencies were instructed to summarily execute anyone involved in the drug trade, from the heads of cartels to the petty dealers on street corners – and their customers – whenever they were caught in the act (a de facto guilty plea) or reported by a credible witness and found guilty by due process of law. With their customers too frightened to buy and their distribution networks disrupted by the deaths of key personnel, the drug cartels soon folded.

  After the initial six months of clearing the backlog, a rule was introduced that cases had to be brought to court and finalized within no more than seven days from being charged. The process of charging suspected offenders, however, could take as long as the police decided to investigate. No bail was granted to anyone. All accused remained in custody until trial.

  Soon the comprehensive law enforcement reform initiative, the media was happy to report that the new world had become the safest society in the history of humankind.

  James Gordon followed the entire process of law enforcement and the pleasing results of chipping with intense interest. He wondered if he would sleep better if he issued an order that all of his and Anastasia’s superstars who resisted his proposals would be chipped. Those people were a source of constant worry for him. It would be good for their security and protection and, of course, would give him much better control over them. It was something he had to think about, and maybe he would give it a little more time to see how things worked out with those that were already chipped.

  If he could only hear what they were saying

  Sam and Susan were not allowed to stop and talk to anyone in the park at all. They knew all the faces in the park - it was a favorite place in their neighborhood. That morning they noticed two unfamiliar faces, one old and one young, on a bench as they smiled and said hello when they walked past. That was as much as their security guards would allow them to speak to anyone before they would step in. When Sam saw how the old woman’s face was deformed, his first thought was that she must have had a stroke and that the younger woman was probably her granddaughter or caretaker.

  Like the Harpers, the Lewises also found the morning and afternoon walk in the park across from their house very relaxing and liberating. It was the only time when they could have a private conversation without fear of being overheard and recorded, as long as they kept their voices down.

  Neither Sam nor Susan noticed when two flies landed on her baseball cap, shortly after they passed the women on the bench.

  “Sam, I just remembered you were still going to tell me about your friend,” Susan said.

  “I don’t have many of those anymore. Even James Gordon knows that,” Sam quipped.

  Susan smiled, “There must be at least two then, I am one of them and the other you mentioned when we walked out of the Oval Office after that interview. I can’t remember exactly, but I think you said his name
was Luke.”

  Sam was serious now, “Yes, his name is Luke Clarke. He’s an old friend from the CIA, and the best friend I ever had. He retired a few years before me and moved to Boulder where he lived on a small farm until recently.”

  “He isn’t there anymore?” Susan wanted to know.

  Sam explained. “Well, that’s what I don’t know. He worked for the Rossler Foundation as their head of security until a year or so ago and handed the reigns to Salome James, an ex-FBI special agent. He’s the uncle of Daniel Rossler’s wife, Sarah. He and his wife, Sally, were part of the group of people associated with the Rossler Foundation who disappeared a few weeks ago. You remember all those reports in the news about the Rosslers?”

  “Yes, I remember, but I don’t remember hearing Luke Clarke’s name,” Susan replied.

  Sam continued, “Yes, their names weren’t mentioned, if I remember correctly. There were seven men and their wives named on the news. My contact in the CIA said an additional forty or so disappeared at the same time, and it was actually around sixty of them who got away. The problem is, as you know, after that first contact I had with my informant, all communications to everyone I know had been blocked. That was something I couldn’t understand at the time, but it all makes sense now.”

  “You have no idea where they could have gone?” Susan wanted to know.

  “I don’t have a clue. President Harper asked me the same question when we saw him at the White House. I told him my theory is they somehow knew what was going to happen and got themselves out of the way and took that 10th Cycle Library with them, hence the authorities’ eagerness to get hold of them. Both President Harper and I believe that the Rossler group, with that 10th Cycle Library in their hands, might be the one and only hope of deliverance for the world.”

  “One day you’ll have to tell me more about that 10th Cycle Library. However, something’s bothering me. I remember when we walked out of the Oval Office you were saying something like, ‘Don’t make me wait too long’. Do you expect Luke or any of the Rosslers to try to contact you? If so, won’t that put all of us and them in a lot of danger?”

  “Don’t worry Susie, Luke is an old hand in the spy business, and I can assure you he will not put any of us or his people in any danger. I’m sure Luke will want to get in touch with me at some stage, which is the main reason I didn’t tell Gordon to go jump in a lake and drown himself. I’d like to stay alive and out of jail, so I’m available and ready when Luke shows himself.”

  “Sam Lewis, promise me you are not going to walk out on me again! I’m going with you wherever you go, even if it is to hell and back. I’m staying with you.”

  “Susie my dear, I’ve learned a few things during my time in the spy game. One of them was that sometimes you have to just sit back and wait; an opportunity will present itself at some point. And yes, I promise I won’t go anywhere without you.” Sam took her hand and squeezed it gently to calm her.

  “I hope and pray that you’re right, and we’ll soon hear from him. I just don’t know how he’s going to get past all these security guards. You must have said something that day in the Oval Office that got Gordon worried so much that he’s doubled our guards,” Susan said with the concern clearly audible in her voice.

  “’Where there is a will, there is a way’, my mother always said. Luke will find a way if there is one,” Sam replied.

  “Let’s go back home and have a nice cup of coffee and breakfast,” Sue suggested.

  As they walked back to the gate of the park towards their house, they passed the couple on the bench again. The old woman smiled at them as the younger one said, “Have a nice day.” The entourage of security guards following about ten yards behind them did not even look in the direction of the people on the bench.

  When Sam and Susan walked into their house, the two flies still on her cap took off in different directions; one to the kitchen and one to the living room.

  Sam noticed through the window of the kitchen that the old lady was helped up by her companion, who assisted her while they walked down the road past their house. The thought crossed his mind that walking was good exercise for someone who’d had a stroke.

  Sam would have been dumbstruck if he could only hear what they were saying to each other.

  The fifth musketeer

  There was one thing that the musketeers were not successful at, and that was the fact that they were still unable to lure John Mendenhall into their group. They tried to invite him to happy hour and on their fishing trips, but he was not interested. He once went fishing with Ben, but that was just because Ben kept on asking. The trip turned out to be a bit of a social disaster as John just sat there and did not talk or respond much to Ben’s conversation.

  Rebecca and Cindi, who saw with growing concern how their parents were falling deeper and deeper into depression, spoke to Sarah, JR and Daniel. Daniel asked that they leave the matter to him and JR to see what they could do. By the time this conversation took place, the musketeers had just tasted the fruits of the second harvest from their still. This time they’d used honey, which they very appropriately called ‘honeyshine'.

  One afternoon, shortly after Luke left on the Boise mission, at the usual time of the older men’s happy hour, Daniel took two tin mugs, got hold of JR and went up to the top floor. Daniel knew about the still and everything going on because some of the women had told him about the ‘secret’ meeting place and the activities of the four friends. Telling Daniel was just an FYI. They wanted him to know about it, but asked him to let them be as it was entirely harmless, and it was also good for them.

  The musketeers were more than a little gobsmacked when Daniel and then JR appeared out of nowhere in their ‘top-secret’ retreat next to the poker table inside the pub. They were completely sure that no other living soul knew about the place.

  “What the hell? Didn’t you two snot-nosed boys read the warnings outside? And can’t you knock before you walk in?” Sinclair asked in a fake angry tone. He figured the best defense was a good offense, in trying to get out of the trouble he thought they were in.

  JR replied, “Yes we saw the warning signs, and that’s why we came to see what danger you were in. It seems we were just in time to save you all from drinking yourself into a stupor.”

  Ben looked around and said, “I guess Luke should have made those warning signs to read ‘adults only’. That might have kept them away.”

  Without saying a word, Daniel and JR placed their empty mugs on the table and sat down. “Hopefully you weren’t thinking of drinking all of that on your own, were you?” Daniel asked while looking at Sinclair and pointing to the half-full bottle of honeyshine next to him on the rock table.

  JR looked at the cards and said, “Deal us in. What do we use for money here?”

  “Corn kernels. It keeps the lady over there in the corner happy and bubbling,” Ryan replied while jabbing with his thumb to the copper still in the corner.

  As relaxation ruled and Daniel and JR proffered their mugs for a second shot, Ben, who knew his two boys better than anyone else, asked, “So would you mind telling us what brought you here? It’s obvious you knew about our secret and where to find us, but you never felt the urge to join us before. There must be something bugging you now?”

  “Dad, it’s my in-laws, John and Jane, who are a bit of a worry to all of us. They’re not doing well, and nothing we’ve tried so far has improved things. We are aware and are grateful that you all have already attempted to get them out of the hole, but without success. We were hoping we could put our heads together again and see if we can come up with another strategy,” JR replied.

  A lengthy discussion followed about what they could do. The Mendenhall’s state of mind was indeed troublesome for all of them. While they were still throwing around ideas, Sinclair came up with one.

  “I think I have a plan that might just work,” he said with a smile. “I’m betting a bag of corn kernels that John’s problem can be solved with a bit of
Chateau de Grotte and honeyshine. The girls can take care of Jane, but as for John, this hooch will cure any ailment including depression, I am sure.”

  Daniel replied, “That’s your plan? You’ve invited him before, and he wouldn’t come to your happy hour. How are you going to get him here now? And even if you managed to do that, how are you going to get him to drink this stuff?”

  Sinclair had that same devious smile he had when he told his friends not to worry about running dry. “Little insignificant details boyo. Never fear when Sinclair and the musketeers are near. This time tomorrow, the problem will be something of the past. Ah, wait. You better make that the morning of the day after tomorrow. This stuff does have the side effect of making people happy and sleepy, especially the uninitiated. ”

  Ben and Ryan looked at Sinclair, very puzzled; they'd just been committed to a plan they hadn’t even heard.

  “Sinclair, would you care to share our plan and then we will also know?” Ryan inquired.

  “Yeah, well, if you insist. “ Sinclair said as he poured another shot for all of them. “Here is what I think. I'm no trick cyclist, but my take on it is that John and Jane are ex-teachers. My guess is the cause of their malady is that they are missing the children and the school environment.”

  “Brilliant idea!” Daniel said very excitedly, before Sinclair could continue. “We have fifteen children here who've had no schooling since they arrived. We have a library with lots of information and curriculums for all grades. All we have to do is to convince the two of them to set up a school for us.”

  “Yes, exactly! What do you think?” Sinclair replied.

  Ryan was a bit sceptic, “Well, I am also not a psychologist, but I know that people with depression usually don’t have the motivation to do anything that looks like it might require an effort. They lose their joy, drive and motivation, and they become almost helpless. My observation of John and Jane is that they’re at that point already. It's getting them over that hump that will be the trick.”