by R. D. Brady
Her uncle was right though: life was short, and she knew how she felt. And now she knew how he felt as well.
“Do you want to know what I think?”
Laney cringed. “I’m not sure.”
Patrick chuckled. “Well, I’m going to tell you anyway. You have all this responsibility on your shoulders. And I know you can handle it. But I like the idea of someone who’s rather difficult to kill sharing that burden—and even sometimes protecting you from it. And… he makes you smile.”
“Yes.”
“So, Delaney McPhearson, you need to embrace the good in your life. Don’t deny yourself happiness for duty, especially if there’s someone out there who has no problem sharing you with that duty.”
He squeezed her hand before walking down the steps to join Cain and Victoria.
Laney watched them, but her mind was on Patrick’s words. Was it possible? Could she have both? A love and a duty?
Drake appeared at the end of the porch.
“Everything okay?” Laney asked.
He joined her at the railing. “The men seem all right. I mean, they’re not Spartan-trained, but what can you do?”
Laney chuckled. “Well, so few are these days.”
“Did you speak with your brother?”
Laney smiled. “Yeah.”
“Will you be going to see him?”
“Not yet. But Henry has the legal department working overtime trying to get the charges dropped. And they’re hopeful now, especially after people started coming forward.”
The nannies had been interviewed, and a few of the families had identified some of the Fallen in Elisabeta’s employ. The net around her was tightening. It wouldn’t be long until she was recognized for what she was.
“It won’t stop her,” Drake said.
“No, it won’t. But hopefully, it will at least mean that law enforcement won’t get in our way when we fight her.”
“We’re going to fight her?”
“It’s always been heading to this. I just never realized it. When I’m called, it means war. So we fight.”
“You said ‘we.’”
“And I meant it. I can’t win this without help. Everybody’s help. Especially yours.”
“Having an archangel on your side—”
“Not as an archangel. I need you on my side.”
He tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes. “And you have me—however you need me.”
CHAPTER 120
WASHINGTON, DC
When the video of Elisabeta and the children hit the airwaves, the effect was explosive. Every news outlet covered it—constantly. It seemed as though every person who had ever known Elisabeta in any way was interviewed. And the nannies had been able to direct authorities to the house in Colorado.
But the question remained: If Elisabeta was the bad guy, who was Delaney McPhearson?
Nancy Harrigan turned off the TV in her office and just stared at the blank screen, knowing her opinion was going to be called for. She had been preparing for this moment.
Her door opened, and she looked up, expecting to see her aide. But it wasn’t Melanie.
She rose quickly to her feet. “Madam President.”
Margaret Rigley waved her back down. “Sit, sit. I have a feeling we’re going to be run ragged today, so take advantage when you can.”
Nancy smiled and sat down. “How can I help you, Madam President?”
The president took a seat next to her and raised an eyebrow. “I think you’ve known me long enough to know exactly why I’m here.”
Nancy studied the president. She respected her. She was a political animal, but also a good person. A combination not often found in politicians. “You want to know about Delaney McPhearson and Elisabeta Roccorio.”
“It’s a goddamn mess. McPhearson was supposed to be the bad guy. What the hell happened? And what the hell is a Fallen?”
“Madam President, I think we, along with the rest of the world, made a mistake when it came to Delaney McPhearson. She’s not the one we should going after.”
“It’s Roccorio.”
“Yes.”
“I assume you have a file for me?”
Nancy pulled a thick manila folder off the table and handed it to her.
The president raised an eyebrow, and Nancy smiled in return. “I had a feeling you might be stopping by. I was about to order some breakfast.”
The president opened the file. “I’ll have whatever you’re having. And make sure they send lots of really strong coffee. I think we’re going to need it.”
Nancy grabbed her phone to make the call. I have no doubt.
CHAPTER 121
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
The penthouse overlooked the lake. Huge cathedral ceilings rose thirty feet in the air, and one whole wall was glass. When Elisabeta had bought it, it had been three apartments. But she’d combined them all, creating a single twelve-thousand-foot apartment encompassing three floors.
She pulled the belt of her silk robe tight as she took a seat at the dining table by the windows. The sky was overcast, and rain was expected. Already a strong wind was blowing, and every once in a while the windows would whistle as the wind rattled them.
The weather perfectly matched Elisabeta’s mood.
She pushed the newspaper away in disgust. The headlines were about the Chandler Group’s rescue of the children.
The front door opened. Elisabeta’s head whipped around as Hilda hurried across the room.
“What are you doing? Get out. I told you I don’t want any—”
“I’ve been calling you all morning.” Hilda picked up the TV remote and turned to a twenty-four-hour news station. “There’s something you need to see.”
“For those just joining us, there’s been a remarkable development in the Delaney McPhearson mystery. Early this morning, a recording was received by this station that seems to show Delaney McPhearson coming to the aid of two small children. However, most startling is the revelation that world-renowned philanthropist Elisabeta Roccorio may be the mastermind behind the children’s kidnapping, along with a series of other crimes. Personally, I am still stunned by the potential ramifications of these recordings. The tapes are still being authenticated, but I’ll let you be the judge.”
Elisabeta’s face appeared on the screen, inside a TV. Elisabeta watched as the conversation between Laney and herself in the nursery was played for the world to hear.
“That bitch! She was recording me.”
Hilda muted the TV. “That’s not all. Apparently McPhearson was wearing a recording device nonstop, beginning in Arizona. She’s provided all of the recording to multiple stations, and the news channels have been playing them nonstop since seven a.m. We’re being besieged with requests for interviews and comments. I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I turned off my phone.” Elisabeta stared out the window. “What exactly is the spin on this?”
Hilda took a breath. “They’re not sure, but they seem to be beginning to understand that there are some humans with increased abilities.”
That wasn’t too bad. It was going to come out at some point.
“But they also strongly suggest that you are using those people to fulfill your own goals.”
Elisabeta shook her head. “We’ll simply make it clear that I was protecting myself from Delaney, and that she’s casting—”
“I don’t think it will be that simple. On this tape, you are heard threatening the lives of the two children she’s trying to save. You also admitted that you had trumped up the charges against her. I’m not sure how to spin that in your favor.”
Hilda’s phone buzzed, and she looked down at it. When she looked back up, her face was pale. “The FBI is downstairs. They want to speak with you.”
Elisabeta looked back at the TV. It was still muted but the closed captioning was working. Drake’s face filled the screen, but it was Delaney’s words that were scrolling across the bottom: They come first. And you ar
e their best chance of getting out of this alive. Cleo and I can keep them busy while you run. It’s the only chance they have.
Elisabeta struggled not to gag. God, the woman was so dramatic. Always offering to sacrifice herself for the greater good. It was sickening.
“Elisabeta?”
Elisabeta turned from the screen. “My chopper’s still on the roof?”
“Yes. And I contacted the pilot. He should be warming it up.”
A loud knocking sounded at the door. “Elisabeta Roccorio, this is the FBI. Open the door.”
“What do you want me to do?” Hilda asked.
“Stay here. Deal with them. You know nothing.”
“Yes, ma’am. And what about you?”
Elisabeta smiled. “They think they’ve found their villain? They haven’t seen anything yet.”
FACT OR FICTION?
I know, I know. The Belial Plan did not have the same number of unusual archaeology and history that I usually sprinkle throughout a Belial novel. I promise The Belial War will more than make up for that. But for now, on to the facts (or the fiction)!
The Witch Trials in England. I was surprised to learn that the witch trials had actually been going on in Europe for almost three hundred years prior to them beginning in the United States. When I was in graduate school, we discussed demonology - the belief that someone commits a criminal act because they are possessed by an evil spirit. During the witch trials both in the U.S. and abroad, that was the most accepted reasoning for why someone engaged in criminal behavior. When researching the English trials, there was one case where over forty people were killed in one day.
The Salem Witch Trials. Of course, the Salem Witch Trials occurred. As mentioned in The Belial Plan, Rebecca Nurse was one of the women who was hung as a witch and the details of her life are accurate: she was in her seventies, partially deaf, and was originally found not guilty before some girls had 'fits' in the courtroom. Following the girls' outbursts, the judge asked her a question and she didn't answer it. As a result, she was found guilty. Her family's farm is now a tourism site and the grave of George Jacobs, another witch trial victim, was also moved there when developers took over his family's farm in the 1990s.
PATRIOT Act Abuses. The information on the PATRIOT Act abuses is sadly true. I remember my criminologist friends and I were concerned with the increased latitude provided to law enforcement included because history has shown that while a law's original intent may be focused, its application often becomes much broader after a few years. My first exposure to the abuses actually came to me through a student. Back when I was teaching college, one of my students told me how a no-knock warrant had been executed on his apartment. This was about five years after the PATRIOT act had been made into law.
So I did a little research and found that people were trying to tie the war on Drugs to the War on Terror. It's not completely separate-drug manufacturing does support some aspects of terrorism. But that is a far cry from college students with a dime bag of marijuana. And so yes, the PATRIOT Act is now used more for non-terrorism related crimes than terrorism related crimes.
Mummy Cave Ruin. The Mummy Cave Ruin is a real place in the Canyon de Chelly National Monument. When I first saw a picture of the sight, I though it looked like two eyes in a rock face. And I thought Elisabeta would like the drama of that idea. All the details of the Canyon de Chelly Monument are accurate to the best of my ability. If you'd like to learn more about the site, you can do so here.
Red Hair and Blue Eyes. I had learned years ago about the uncommon nature of red hair and blue eyes. It is indeed the least common combination in the world with only one percent of the world's population displaying it. When I learned this I was pretty surprised for good reason: both my father and sister have red hair and blue eyes. And I also have a niece with red hair and blue eyes as well as two cousins, wait no three. I forgot about the Scottish cousins. So to me, it has always been a rather common trait. :)
Achilles's Healing Ability. There is an interesting little tidbit in history about Achilles. According to one story, the Oracle declared that anyone that Achilles harms he can also heal.
Gradley Island. Gradley Island does not exist. It is pure fiction.
The Followers of the Great Mother. The Followers of the Great Mother and the tome attributed to her are my creations. However the Great Mother is in fact a force that played a role in early human cultures. In fact, some do indeed argue that at one early point the world was more matriarchal than patriarchal as a result. The idea that the Great Mother morphed into differing goddesses across cultures across the world is also well established.
Jake. So, when I started the Belial series, I liked the idea of Laney and Jake together. But then as Laney developed I realized they weren't no longer a good romantic fit. Jake is a good man but he wants to be the hero. And standing back and letting Laney fight the fight, it's too hard for him. So I knew their romance had to be important but short-lived.
He gave her his support in the most difficult time of her life and she will always love him for that. But they were both changed through this process. Now, my editor suggested I kill Jake. I mulled it over for an hour, but could not bring myself to do it. Jake deserved better than that. Enter, Mary Jane. A strong woman, a mother, and someone Jake can take care of who will appreciate him for it. So Jake lives and he's got this normal family that thinks he's a great man. So we'll see where that takes him!
ON DECK
So, there is a lot coming up. I am in the middle of writing a new Trilogy, The Unwelcome Trilogy which will be out in the Summer of 2017. I hope you'll consider giving it a chance. Before that, I will be publishing the second book in the A.L.I.V.E. series, D.E.A.D. If you haven't had a chance to try the series yet, consider signing up for my mailing list. All those who sign up will receive a free copy of B.E.G.I.N., a short story prequel to the A.L.I.V.E. series.
I am also, of course, working on the Belial series. When I was researching The Belial Plan, I was looking for a location in the states where it would make sense for the tome of the Great Mother to be hidden. I went back and forth on different sites, but I also knew there needed to be a strong female storyline in that historical site. Then I stumbled across the Salem Witch Trials.
The more I read, the more fascinated I became by the trials themselves. The idea that this group of women could be killed with no evidence but merely the word of 'afflicted girls' was terrifying. The more I read though, the more the lives became clear in my mind. I knew I'd found my location, but I felt like I was forcing the scenes I'd seen in my head into the book. So I decided I would simply write a short story to provide more of a backstory.
Now I am not so sure that is going to work. As I'm writing, it's turning out to be a little longer. I don't think it will be a full-length novel, but it will probably be longer than a short story. Keep an eye out for its release and of course, for those on my mailing list, I will send you an email when it is available.
Once that is out the door, the next in line for the series is The Belial War. Yes, it's time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
R.D. Brady is an American writer who grew up on Long Island, NY but has made her home in both the South and Midwest before settling in upstate New York. On her way to becoming a full-time writer, R.D. received a Ph.D. in Criminology and taught for ten years at a small liberal arts college.
R.D. left the glamorous life of grading papers behind in 2013 with the publication of her first novel, the supernatural action adventure, The Belial Stone. Over a dozen novels later and hundreds of thousands of books sold, and she hasn't looked back. Her novels tap into her criminological background, her years spent studying martial arts, and the unexplained aspects of our history.
The Belial Plan is the tenth book in the popular Belial Series. If you would like to be notified about her upcoming publications, you can sign up for her mailing list. Those who sign up will receive a free e-book copy of B.E.G.I.N. You will only be notified when a book is being
released. If you'd like to know what R.D. is up to, you can check her website, desperateforagoodbook.com. Join her on her next adventure!
RDBradyBooks
rdbradybooks.com
[email protected]
BOOKS BY R.D. BRADY
The Belial Series (in order)
The Belial Stone
The Belial Library
The Belial Ring
Recruit: A Belial Series Novella
The Belial Children
The Belial Origins
The Belial Search
The Belial Guard
The Belial Warrior
The Belial Plan
Stand-Alone Books
Runs Deep
Hominid
The A.L.I.V.E. Series
B.E.G.I.N.
A.L.I.V.E.
Be sure to sign up for R.D.'s mailing list to be the first to here when she has a new release!
Copyright © 2017 by R.D. Brady
The Belial Plan
Published by Scottish Seoul Publishing, LLC, Syracuse, NY
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
Printed in the United States of America.
Created with Vellum
Table of Contents
Books By R.D. Brady
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10