Brotherhood Beyond the Yard (The Simon Trilogy)
Page 29
“That really infuriated me. I always thought the ‘no child’, meant all children,” he spoke out. “Perhaps it would be best to leave that one alone.”
Then there were cuts to other affected school programs with 95 percent success rates, cuts to NASA, cuts in Transit Security, cuts to Medicare, and the list of worthwhile programs continued.
Hamilton warned me we shouldn’t tinker with history too much, he recalled. Maybe I wouldn’t be tinkering to any extent if I donated my largess to an institution like the Mayo Clinic, in Hamilton’s memory, specifically for the purposes of medical research.
Noble sat up in his chair, finding it an interesting exercise of wishful thinking, but in the end they weren’t choices open to him. The only acceptable course of action was to return the $51,573,298.00 Hamilton generously set aside for him—to its source—the U.S. Treasury coffers.
Noble did not hesitate to transfer the funds. He hit the enter key confidently.
Almost instantly, he felt relieved. His sense of relief was unmatched by any previous experience in his life. He leaned back in his chair once again, completely satisfied with his decision, and smiled as he recollected his time with Hamilton at the SIA and in Florence. He thought about Aldo and so many other friends he had amassed, hoping perhaps that he would reconnect with them one day. Then his ruminations brought him back to the case.
It’s unbelievable that a guy from a small town would be swept into an adventure of such enormous proportions.
I’m certainly not in Kansas anymore. He smiled.
To this day, there has never been a case so mind-boggling. Certainly, no fiction writer could spin such an intricate tale, one that defies the imagination, he envisioned in wonderment.
Noble, intoxicated by his reverie, was caught off guard when suddenly, that familiar beep from the computer signaling a message, invaded his thoughts.
He turned to view the incoming e-mail, which read,
Congratulations on doing the noble thing. Your brother, Simon
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks go to Alessandro and Massimiliano Galli, the restaurateurs of Ristorante Birreria Centrale and Antico Ristorante il Sasso di Dante, who have been great supporters; to Massimo Pivetti, for his time to conduct a private tour through the awesome Vasari Corridor and for his drawings introducing Part One and Part Two of this book; and to my friends Andrea Prestani, Moreno Chiarantini, Flavio Benvenuti, Simone Lavecchia and Sania Kaedum at Perini’s Gastronomia in the Mercato Centrale, who have always been incredibly generous. Additionally, much gratitude goes to Dottore Franco Delle Piane, David and Catherine Gardner, Tony and Laura Sasa, Suzanne Pitcher, Francesca Achenza, Maria Grazia Chiappi, and Priscilla Morss Bayard for their continued encouragement and support—all of them have helped me learn the magic of living like an Italian.
One very special thanks goes to the compassionate monk from San Miniato al Monte, who not only gave me inspiration for part of my story but also gives me inspiration every day as I sit under my favorite cypress with extraordinary views of Florence. Much of the story unfolded during my moments of contemplation on the wall at San Miniato.
A special acknowledgment goes to Nellie Newton who read my original fifty-page concept, offered thoughtful suggestions, and encouraged me to take it to fruition—and to David and Alma, dear friends and longtime residents of Florence, who generously gave of their time and volunteered to read my manuscript, help authenticate my historical references, and most important, correct my improper use of Italian.
I am eternally grateful to Cherie Eliz, for applying her own writing skills diligently to read and edit my tome, along with heartfelt thanks to Donna and Lee, and Mary V and Ray Fernandez for agreeing to proofread and critique my novel—to each of them for their undying support and for fulfilling their promise to provide honest feedback.
I cannot overlook another group of special friends who never let a conversation pass without asking with great interest about the progress of my book and for continually cheering me on: Philip Claypool, Bella Donna, Rob, David and Ginny Freeman, Alixe Lischett, Michael Peel, Lisa Schreiber, Aabi Shapoorian, and Gary Vonk.
Love and appreciation goes to Dr. Patricia Ames, not only a very special aunt, but also my high school history teacher who first turned me onto politics, and helped to shape my analytical thought process.
Lastly, I am indebted to all of my American, Italian and other friends from around the world, too numerous to mention, for all the love and support they have given me throughout this endeavor.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sally Fernandez’s career background is project management, business planning, and technology, with additional experience in technical and business writing. Her books of fiction are based on knowledge garnered from careers in banking, computer technology, and business consulting, while living in New York City, San Francisco, and Hong Kong.
Fernandez’s foray into fiction writing began in 2007 when the 2008 presidential election cycle was in full swing. The overwhelming political spin by the media compelled her to question the frightening possibilities the political scene could provoke. Fernandez, a confirmed political junkie, took to the keyboard armed with the current events and the need to unleash her story. Eighty-six-thousand words later, she had written a novel and discovered a new and exciting career. She had expertly weaved seemingly disparate events into a cohesive whole including a shocking, shattering climax. Fernandez is currently developing a sequel to her first novel “Brotherhood Beyond the Yard.”
A world traveler, the author, and her husband split time between their homes in the United States and Italy.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Author’s Note
Part One
1 The Darkest Hour
2 La Fratellanza
3 The Harvard Yard
4 Truth or Dare
5 The Sixth Brother
6 The Final Analysis
7 The Shadow Thesis
8 The Graduate Departure
9 The Real Deal
10 A Florentine Encounter
11 The Action Plan
12 The Grooming Years
13 The Making of a Senator
14 The Campaign Trail
15 A Noble Doctrine
16 Oh, Lordy
17 Manipulators in Chief
18 On the Road Again
19 The Political Unspin
20 The Final Obstacle
21 The Confessional
22 The Interrogation
23 The Discovery Phase
24 The Double Sting
25 The Presidential Awakening
Part Two
26 The Director’s Swan Song
27 The Postscript
28 The Reunion
29 Divine Intervention
30 A Noble Thing
Acknowledgments
About the Author