Redemption
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PRAISE FOR REDEMPTION
“It would be fair to assume that most literature has its genesis in verisimilitude—after all, don’t creative writing teachers always say, “Write about what you know,” and Sally Fernandez knows a lot about what’s happening today. Redemption, with its excellent analysis of our current economic situation and disastrous government policies, has all the qualities and experiences to merit the term. It “fits the bill” as the saying goes. Lively economics/political discussions among the characters are fascinating to follow and the setting is most intriguing. Once again, a work that merits the accolade, ‘A good read!’”
—Alfredo S. Vedro, Media Production Consultant, Florida
PRAISE FOR “THE SIMON TRILOGY”
The Ultimate Revenge (Book 3)
“If you love conspiracy theories, whether those that are factual or imagined… if you delight in a storyteller who mixes real-world contemporary people and events into her fictional venues… if you enjoy connecting the dots… whether you are a believer or are just fascinated by all the possibilities…then The Ultimate Revenge has to be the choice for your ‘best read’ this season. Intrigue and suspense dominate throughout this compelling final episode in “The Simon Trilogy.” A real page-turner.”
—Alfredo S. Vedro, Media Production Consultant, Florida
“A blockbuster! I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this latest in Ms. Fernandez’ interrelated novels. It is a real tour de force, suspenseful, and compelling—a page-turner. The intricacies of the plot are fascinating and Ms. Fernandez’ weaving of its elements is truly impressive. There are politics involved, as Ms. Fernandez explains very clearly in her Afterword, and I learned a lot about the international background of our own nation’s political evolution. Fascinating, to say the least. Ms. Fernandez gets better and better with each installment of her tale. I found the characters of Noble, Max, and Stanton come alive in a new and interesting way. I am hoping for more adventures in which they grow and develop. I am also waiting for Amanda to come more out of the shadows. I can’t wait for the next volume in the series.”
—R. Halpern, B.A. (Honours) Oxford University, M.A. / Ph.D. Princeton University
“Just finished reading The Ultimate Revenge. In a word—phenomenal! Having thoroughly enjoyed the first two books, Brotherhood Beyond the Yard and Noble’s Quest, I was more than anxious to read the final book of “The Simon Trilogy.” It is an incredible and fitting finale in the lives of characters created by an author who takes you into a world of intrigue where she expertly weaves a story that has the reader pondering the possibility, or perhaps I should say probability, of fiction being more real than we dare to think. A great read that I would strongly recommend!”
—Donna Post, Banking Consultant (Ret.), Florida
“You do not have to be a political junky to love this book of intrigue. The Ultimate Revenge takes you to a place that will make you question—could it happen—and if it did? The recherché and insight that has gone into this book will certainly keep you wondering for a long time.”
—Ann E. Howells, Wine Consultant, Florida
“The line between reality and fiction is totally blurred in this well written, well researched novel. I just finished reading The Ultimate Revenge. My head is spinning… as Fernandez did an amazing job weaving fact and fiction! More than a few times, I had to stop reading and check the copyright date. Did she write the story before it was revealed in the news? Did she write the “facts” before it happened in real time? What was/is “real”? What was/is “fiction”? I consider myself fairly knowledgeable when it comes to political news in our country. After reading this book, I am very confused. My confusion, I feel, stems from Fernandez’ incredible research…and her imagination—all based in reality. Well done!”
—Beth Littman Quinn, Vice President at Marketburst, Massachusetts
Noble’s Quest (Book 2)
“A captivating second addition to “The Simon Trilogy.” Intense rhythmic development woven brilliantly—at times haunting and foreboding—at others a palpable sensation of an unerring power, leaving you to confront your own views of contemporary events. The modern political thriller has a strong advocate in Fernandez.”
—Maestro Debra Cheverino, Internationally Recognized Conductor, Fulbright Scholar (Florence, Italy)
“I was anxiously awaiting the publication of Noble’s Quest as I had read the prequel, Brotherhood Beyond the Yard. I was not disappointed! Noble’s Quest is everything I was hoping for and more. Along with solid characters development (Noble Bishop really comes alive), Ms. Fernandez has a tight grip on the pulse of the high stakes world we live in today. Her ability to merge political intrigue, international terrorism, and state of the art technology into a swirl of tension-filled events brings to mind the writing of John La Carre. I can’t wait for the last installment of the trilogy.”
—William Kelley, Artist, Florence, Italy and Sarasota, Florida
“Put it down? No way! Simon at his tricks with a sparkling cast! There were new unexpected developments that truly enhanced the Brotherhood. So real, it’s easy to visualize in real life. Or was it. Making us wait for number three is crazy! Bring it on Sally. I thought it merited six starts.”
—Garrett B. Vonk, President-Keiser Career College & Southeastern Institute Florida
“As the sequel it met my expectations for another exciting work of intrigue and adventure. Sally does a fantastic job of keeping three balls in the air while moving each plot along in a well thought out methodical track. Characters are fully developed so you really know them, as this is critical for the story to move along. Max is just what Noble needs to compliment who he is as an investigator and person. Simon is more sinister than ever and his control is more evident as the reader follows his devious mind. I do not want to divulge the ending, but wait! It’s not over! Well written and paced…a great read for any season!”
—Richard Cobello, Director, Information Technology, Schenectady County Government (New York)
“I’ve never been a spy nor an intelligence agent nor a villain, but I would love to be one so I could inhabit the world of Noble’s Quest, Sally Fernandez’ sequel to Brotherhood Beyond the Yard, her excellent first novel that took readers through the intricacies of maneuvering a fraud into the office of the President of the United States. Now the intrigue continues as Fernandez brings us into a world where nothing is as it seems at first—places, people, and events morph from one apparent reality to another… Fernandez’ writing style is a delightful blend of fast-moving, crisp language presented in a paradoxically unhurried pace that allows the plot to develop slowly and deliberately. We are constantly challenged to think about where she might be going; almost sparring with her to see if we can guess correctly… Finally, the ending caught me by complete surprise. Fernandez won the sparring contest. The clues were there—no obfuscations—just cleverly woven into a very entertaining and thoughtful narrative.”
—Alfredo S. Vedro, Media Production Consultant, Florida
Brotherhood Beyond the Yard (Book 1)
“Simon Hall, one of the characters in Sally Fernandez’ addictive novel, Brotherhood Beyond the Yard, is an ace puppeteer, manipulating the people he encounters, taking them and you on a thrilling political rollercoaster. Timely—could it be paralleled to the current administration?—and masterly crafted, Sally’s action prose will have you riveted right up to the last page. I impatiently anticipate a sequel to see Simon’s next strategic move.”
—Dann Dulin, Senior Editor, A&U Magazine
“Unquestionably, this is a book for the thinking reader. The book’s combination of intellect, authenticity and believability, led me on several occasions, almost to forget that I was reading fiction. The author’s use of language is quit
e exceptional…I’m still pondering the book’s serious dose of reality and am impatient to get my hands on a copy of the sequel!”
— Edwin Chadbourne, Ph.D., Human Resources Professional (Australia)
“A parable for the times in which we live. Fernandez has written a classic fable for our Age of Doubt, just as Kerouac defined the Age of Hippies. Worth reading no matter what side of the political spectrum you inhabit.”
—Aladar Gabriel, Florence, Italy
“Fascinating story, intriguing title. It certainly is thought provoking and intellectually stimulating. It easily brings to mind the power of the Pericles quote at the beginning of the book. Kudos to a new and exciting author!”
—Dr. Patricia Ames, Fulbright Scholar, Maine
“Two thumbs up! Brotherhood Beyond the Yard is a gripping story of intrigue from beginning to end. The reader is captured by the ingenuity and daring of the Brotherhood and their unprecedented impact (one hopes) on the political and economic future of our country and the world. In its daring exploitation of the national political process with worldwide implications, the reader is left to ponder the possibility of reality and its consequences. Truly a mystery one is left pondering could it really happen. Can’t wait for the sequel.”
—Philip Ames, Marketing Director, General Electric (Ret.), Florida
“Excellent read in these interesting times…well-crafted and contemporary with intelligent twists and turns! Had me missing a few nights of sleep…”
—Roland Marcz, Owner, Shanghai Malong Construction (Shanghai, China)
“I have finished reading Brotherhood Beyond the Yard. I commend the author for her imagination and for her use of her expertise and knowledge of politics, finance, academe, and electronics. The plot is a natural for a Hollywood film: I can see George Clooney in several of the roles. Complimenti!! I eagerly await the sequel.”
—Horace W. Gibson, Co-Founder of the International School of Florence, Italy
“Amazed and Amused. Brotherhood Beyond the Yard far exceeded my expectations from a new writer on the scene. I was pleasantly drawn into the plot, and as it developed, I was often amazed and amused at how well the author manipulated my curiosity and intrigue regarding the characters as they intertwined their lives in order to devise and undertake a ‘master’ plan. Now I am left wanting to read more of what I hope will the first part of an epic story to come. Did someone say the future is now…?”
—Philip Claypool, Acclaimed Country Western Singer/Songwriter
“The Brotherhood Beyond the Yard is a wonderful story—compelling and all too believable. It is masterfully plotted, with every episode revealing an increasingly tangled but utterly plausible scheme in which fundamentally decent people perpetrate a despicable fraud, manipulated by a master puppeteer. The fast-paced denouement satisfies all the expectations of a political thriller and yet leaves just enough unfinished business to leave readers anxiously awaiting the next installment…This is a story that unfolds both psychologically and visually, almost begging for a cinematic rendering, and I found myself visualizing many of the individual chapters as scenes in a movie…”
—Linda Cabe Halpern, Dean of University Studies, James Madison University
“…I strongly recommend Brotherhood Beyond the Yard for those looking for an exciting, pithy read. As you near the conclusion of, I hope, this first book, the pages will jump out of your hands. A great read for either the beach or the fire.”
—John Pearl, Partner, Pearl Associates (Greenwich, Connecticut)
“I highly recommend this book. Mystery thrillers, detective thrillers, even vampire thrillers are really enjoyable read. Brotherhood Beyond the Yard is just that…an international political thriller that’s timely and provocative, and contains extremely believable characters placed in well researched locations and situations.”
—Baroness Suzanne Pitcher Flaccomio, Founder and Director of Pitcher & Flaccomio (Florence, Italy)
“You’ll want to fasten your seat belt to navigate the twists and turns of this global political thriller. Fernandez combines knowledge of banking, technology, and politics to offer a ‘back to the future’ reading adventure. And, the author’s intimate familiarity of Florentine life makes one want to buy a one-way ticket.”
—Donna Davidson, Davidson Associates (San Francisco, California)
“Great read! Unfortunately, all the clichés in English are true and have become so firmly entrenched in our vocabulary that few or no fresh phrases have entered the language. So, when we want to give praise we are stuck with the all-too-familiar ‘compelling,’ ‘page-turner,’ ‘riveting,’ and the like—all appropriate for Brotherhood, but I lack the talent to come up with anything more complimentary. So, I hope readers will accept my very simple wow! I thoroughly enjoyed Brotherhood—plot, characters, setting, and the many subtle little cleverness’s and clues the author drops in as the plot progresses—that I can’t quote here for fear of giving it away.”
—Alfredo S. Vedro, Media Production Consultant, Florida
Redemption
Redemption
Aftermath of The Simon Trilogy
A Novel
Sally Fernandez
Redemption
Aftermath of The Simon Trilogy
Copyright © 2015 by Sally Fernandez.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, scanning, or otherwise—without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. For information on licensing or special sales, please email
Dunham Books at
info@dunhamgroupinc.com
www.dunhamgroupinc.com
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1939447654
Ebook ISBN: 978-1939447661
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015931334
Printed in the United States of America
It seemed more than befitting to dedicate the last novel in this series to Joe Fernandez, my incredible editor, greatest supporter, and loving husband. Without him, I never would have been able to persevere through the intense writing and research involved to turn “The Simon Trilogy” into a tetralogy.
Ti Amo
“The government’s view of the economy can be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
– Ronald Reagan
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
1.HAIL TO THE CHIEF
2.CALL TO ARMS
3.STRANGER IN THE NIGHT
4.RECOVERER’S REMORSE
5.AN OFFER THAT CAN’T BE REFUSED
6.THE SABBATICAL
7.LA DOLCE VITA
8.A MYSTERY TOUR
9.MAXIMUM RESTRAINT
10.BAD TIMING
11.PLAYING BIG BROTHER
12.THE ASSIGNMENT
13.RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
14.THE NIGHT OWLS
15.THE BROTHERHOOD’S GAME PLAN
16.BEAUTY ABOUNDS
17.BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?
18.TRUTH IN JOB NUMBERS
19.UNEMPLOYMENT ABYSS
20.AN INQUIRING MIND
21.CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER
22.HUDDLED MASSES
23.WAGING THE WAGE DEBATE
24.THE PRESIDENTIAL UPDATE
25.A CALL FROM NOWHERE
26.HOODIE BEWARE
27.IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
28.THE TRUTH BE TOLD
29.THE GREEN DEVIL
30.A TAXING DEBATE
31.BOYS’ NIGHT OUT
32.THE SELF-STIMULUS
33.WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
34.THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
35.UP IN SMOKE
36.BEYOND THE GRAVE
37.MEET THE SPENDTHRIFTS
38.THE AUTOPSY
39.WHO IS JOHN DOE?
40.THE FINAL SOLUTION
41.COUNTDOWN
42.T
HE ART OF FUGUE
43.A MESSAGE FROM THE GRAVE
44.THE KILLSHOT
45.THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PROLOGUE
Simon Hall, a notorious terrorist, also known as Mohammed al-Fadl, jumped to his death off the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, New York on April 3, 2017.
A national disaster of gargantuan proportions had been averted.
Twenty-two years earlier, Simon filled a different role as the self-appointed leader of a group of Harvard scholars calling themselves La Fratellanza or The Brotherhood. These extraordinarily brilliant men had devised a thesis that began as an intellectual game. Later it morphed into a real-life experience with the presidential election of Abner Baari. Then, five months before the end of his second term, Baari resigned in disgrace and fled the country. No one could have foreseen the consequences or its ramifications, especially this group of literati.
The death of Simon brought no closure—for another crisis loomed with the U.S. government reporting the national debt at a staggering $22 trillion. Although, several economists believed that number to be a gross miscalculation by leaving out certain unfunded liabilities. By factoring in government loan guarantees, deposit insurance, and actions taken by the Federal Reserve, as well as the cost of other government trust funds, the total amount the government owed was, more likely, a staggering $70 trillion. Now, with entitlement programs on the verge of becoming insolvent, foreclosures again on the rise, and social unrest continuing to permeate the airwaves, the U.S. braced herself once again. At the same time, a crisis of confidence in the newly elected president had become problematic; the stagnant unemployment rate and massive debt were about to become unsustainable; the threat of an economic collapse was imminent.
1
HAIL TO THE CHIEF
A dark cloud cast a shadow over Washington, D.C., but it was insignificant when viewed against the massive gray sky that loomed over the country. With April temperatures fluctuating between 85 degrees one day and 50 degrees the next, coupled with torrential downpours, a state of gloom and malaise seized the American public.