Jessica glanced at some snow-covered woods sitting at the end of the street.
“Pastor?” she asked.
Tom studied the woods. “Downing Street is back that way. We'll run into another neighborhood.”
“Good enough,” Alvin stated. He sneaked his head around the jeep and studied the snowy street. As he did, Wendy's head eased out from the SUV she was hiding behind. She spotted Alvin and quickly tucked her head back in.
“Got the shooter about eight cars down behind a red SUV,” he told Jacob in a hurried voice.
Jacob began to ease his head out when a black SUV appeared at the end of the street. Tim was driving it. The headlights of the SUV immediately illuminated Wendy's body. At first, Tim wasn't certain whose body was being exposed. But then he watched Wendy jump to her feet, spin around to stare at the SUV, and start firing. Tim quickly slammed on the brakes, lost control, and smashed into a parked KIA Sophia. Wendy aimed her gun at the damaged SUV and kept firing, emptying a full clip. Tim jumped out into the snow, crawled to the back of the SUV, and began shooting back at Wendy.
Wendy quickly moved around to the back passenger-side door, as Tim fired at her. As she did, something very strange happened. Without any warning or notice, the bitter winds suddenly stopped howling and grew very still. Then they turned extremely warm, as if an acidic tropical breeze had managed to break into the winter dome.
What followed next was a loud hissing sound that was filled with the metallic taste of strangled electricity, and then a loud Pop burst into the snowy air followed by complete silence. Wendy looked up and down the street, and watched all the brightly lit homes turn dark, one after the other, as if someone had flipped a light switch off. A thick veil of darkness dropped over her head. It was a raw, undiluted darkness that had never been invaded by man-made lights; a darkness that man was afraid of. A darkness that destroyed light.
Man-kind was accustomed to defeating the darkness of night with electric lights, but now the darkness that had dropped down from the stormy sky had once again taken control of the United States.
Far away, in Russia and China, powerful people were staring at large screens. On each of the large screens was a map of America, and how the country appeared at night, while pampered with electricity. Each screen showed the brightly lit country quickly vaporizing into a thick darkness. Cities began going black. Every major city from Miami to Boston, and from Seattle down to Los Angeles, went black. Whatever city and town was connected to an electrical grid went dark.
“EMP attack complete,” a heavy Russian voice announced in a pleased voice to the President of Russia. In China, explosive cheers erupted, as military commanders began preparing for a nuclear attack. However, the attack would not come immediately.
Russia and China both wanted their military stationed in strategic locations before the nuclear strikes began. The EMP attack over America, while a great success, did not cripple the states of Alaska and Hawaii. Further military measures would need to be carried out in order to completely cripple the Americans before carrying out a nuclear attack. For the moment, both countries agreed on allowing the American people time to destroy and kill themselves. It was time for the toughest to kill off the weakest. No more safe spaces, no more being offended at the drop of a hat, no more whining about pathetic issues that would make a clown go insane. No, it was time for reality to cover the land of America, a reality that wasn't politically correct.
“What happened?” Mandy asked, tasting the wind. “I taste...metal...and electricity?”
“Move!” Jacob whispered.
He grabbed Jessica's hand and began running toward the woods. Alvin swooped Mandy up into his arms and followed. Tom covered the rear. Once Jacob hit the woods, he kept running until he came up on the back of a dark house.
“Get down,” he told Jessica, and placed her behind a frozen tree. Alvin quickly put Mandy down next to her sister, took cover behind another tree, and waited for Tom to join the crowd.
“What happened?” Mandy begged, as tears spilled from her terrified eyes. “The air, it feels so strange. I can barely stand it. My body feels like someone has sprinkled little pieces of electricity all over it.”
Jacob knelt behind a tree and snatched out his cell phone. The cell phone was deader than a door nail.
“Alvin—”
“EMP attack,” Alvin said in a sick, weak voice.
“What?” Mandy cried.
Jessica took Mandy's shaking hands and studied the impossible darkness. Somehow, she knew that Wendy Cratterson was out in the darkness, and that it was Wendy Cratterson who had been hiding behind the red SUV.
“Stay calm,” she begged.
Jacob put his cell phone down, crawled over to Tom, and put his hand on the pastor's shoulder. “Get us to your church.”
Tom slowly stood to his feet and looked into the darkness. “What happens now?” he asked in a weak voice, tasting the metallic, icy air. “Jacob, what now, son?”
“What will follow will most likely be a nuclear strike,” Jacob confessed. “Right now, every major city has been turned dark, every vehicle is now nothing more than a hunk of junk sitting on the road. Trains, planes, buses, anything that is electrical. Airports are dark. I can't imagine how many plane crashes are happening right now.” Jacob lifted his left hand and rubbed his face. “Hospitals...generators are no good...nursing homes...”
“This can't be happening,” Mandy cried. Alvin left his tree, walked over to Mandy, and took the crying woman into his arms. “This can't be happening.”
“How long before the electricity comes back?” Tom dared to ask, as the heavy snow struck his frightened face.
“Never,” Jacob answered in a voice that terrified Jessica. “America is dead. We lost.” Jacob raised his eyes and found Jessica in the darkness. Was there still hope? Could he somehow use the virus to bring America back to life? Jacob wasn't sure.
“Pastor, we're all on a level playing field now,” he explained. “Get us to your church.”
Tom nodded his head and found his way to Jessica. He took the woman's shaky hand and walked off into the dark snow, leaving Wendy and Tim alone to fight it out. Only Wendy had no desire to fight it out with Tim. She used the darkness to escape, slithering off into the night to make her way back to the black SUV Lionel had parked in front of Hope Springs Baptist Church. Lionel was waiting for her.
“EMP attack,” Lionel announced in a voice that didn't set well with Wendy. Wendy looked at the church, saw the light of candles appear, and hissed.
“What?” Lionel demanded.
“I ran into one of Alden's people,” Wendy growled, staring at the church. “Whoever is back there in the dark will certainly investigate this church.”
Lionel studied the church, the glowing light of candles, and felt a strange sensation wash through his heart. At that very moment, America was falling into chaos, but the church represented a peace, a peace that Lionel could not understand.
“Let's get inside the church,” he ordered.
Wendy hesitated and then agreed without informing Lionel that she had seen Jessica Mayes. No, she thought, walking up to the church beside Lionel, she would wait inside for Jessica Mayes to appear and then kill the woman along with whoever else dared interfere with her hunger for revenge.
“You're dead, Jessica Mayes. Do you hear me? You're dead,” she hissed under her breath, as Jessica began making her way back to the church with Mandy, Tom, Jacob and Alvin.
Chapter 8
War
President Green was situated in a deep bunker that survived the EMP attack. Russia and China both were aware that such deep underground bunkers existed.
“Incoming call, Sir,” an Army Colonel announced, sitting in front of a large flat screen attached to a rock wall. President Green stood up from behind a wooden desk that was situated in the middle of a large rock room and placed his hands behind his back.
“Now?” the Colonel as
ked. President Green nodded his head.
“Edwin,” a Russian voice announced in a stern but friendly tone, “the attack went very well. Are you pleased?”
President Green looked into the face of a cruel Russian man who had not only operated the KGB in his younger years, but had created a secret Russian Military Special Operations Force that operated around the world. The Russian that President Green was staring at was the man who was the current President of Russia.
“You helped save my country,” he spoke in a calm voice.
Nikolai Laskin stood up from behind a nice desk, wearing a Russian suit that made him appear dangerous and fierce.
“The nuclear strike is inevitable, Edwin. You must understand that. We must take out New York and Los Angeles. We must squash the enemy before they can rise up.”
“I understand,” President Green nodded his head without any hesitation.
The military officials residing in the deep underground room also understood. They were men of valor, who had been forced to take a desperate stand against men such as Roger Alden.
“Roger Alden created this mess, Nikolai. He used a simple method, a simple lie, to burn America to the ground.” President Green approached the large screen, walking with his hands tucked behind his back. “Stand back for now, Nikolai. Let the people turn on each other. Let my enemies destroy each other. In the end, we will clean up the mess and restore order in the years that lie ahead.”
Nikolai nodded his head. “You are a smart man, Edwin. You were smart to confide in me and ask for my assistance. The Chinese were reluctant to assist, at first, but I convinced them to agree.” Nikolai placed a very rare cigar into his mouth, tasted the delicious tobacco, and then removed it. “You deceived everyone, Edwin. I'm impressed.”
“It was the only way,” President Green replied in a heavy voice. “Roger Alden had to be stopped.”
“And we have stopped the rat, yes?” Nikolai asked in a pleased voice. “Roger Alden was going to use the artificial intelligence virus to create a nuclear nightmare.” Nikolai studied President Green's face. “Edwin, you must relinquish the virus to my control. That is part of our deal.”
“If my son locates the virus,” President Green answered in a calm tone. “Nikolai, it isn't certain that the virus will be found. I made no guarantees.”
“Yes, that is true,” Nikolai agreed. “You made no guarantees, Edwin.” Nikolai studied the cigar in his hand, as heavy snow fell outside of his office. “You are having your military believe the North Koreans carried out the attack, as promised?”
“Yes.”
Nikolai nodded his head. “When should I expect an attack?”
“Within the hour. Our military is converging on the Demilitarized Zone. Our Naval power is converging on the east coast lines, preparing for air strikes. All ships that were in the Persian Gulf have been called to North Korea.”
“Very good, Edwin,” Nikolai smiled. “Now, I will be able to send the oil to Russia without interruption. We will attack Iran by morning, and take over the oil fields. The Iranians have become a problem to the entire world, Edwin. It is time we dissolved the Iranian government.”
Edwin didn't have a problem with Russia stabbing Iran in the back. What concerned Edwin was Russia taking control of the Hormuz Strait. There was nothing he could do. Russia and China had both helped to destroy Roger Alden and save America. Save America? Was that the correct term? Edwin wasn't certain. His mind was exhausted. All the man clearly knew was that, after New York and Los Angeles were destroyed by nuclear weapons, Nikolai was going to accept the surrender of America through President Green, and agree to help reestablish the country under President Green's control; just as long as Russia became the new world power. While President Green worried about Nikolai's thirst for power, his mind was more focused on rebuilding America from the ground up. Rebuilding a great nation that would someday shine again.
“Nikolai, my desire is to return America back to—”
“The 1940s. Yes, I know, Edwin,” Nikolai laughed. “You are a very conservative man. I respect that.” Nikolai walked back behind his desk and sat down. “What is your saying? If it isn't broken, don't try to fix it?”
“Yes.”
Nikolai laughed again. “You want to take America back to the days of I Love Lucy, Edwin. Simple times that were filled with freedom, baseball games, hot dogs and fireworks.”
“Simple times, Nikolai,” President Green nodded his head. “Times that were not polluted with social media outlets or corporations that destroy American values, public schools that were full of prayers instead of treason, decent family programming, no cell phones; a time when families sat down at the dinner table and ate dinner together.”
Nikolai listened to President Green talk and then sighed. “Edwin, you are a dreamer. People have changed, my friend. People desire evil, not good. Even if you rebuild your country with your proud beliefs raised as a war flag—and you will, my friend—the days of I Love Lucy are gone. People will demand what we have destroyed. In less than a hundred years, your country will transform into the very rats nest we have destroyed this very night.”
“I can't give up, Nikolai,” President Green insisted, and then bowed his head: “Is your military—”
“No one is aware of our agreement, Edwin. My Generals believe what I tell them.”
“Thank you, Nikolai,” President Green responded, in a deep, grateful voice. “I... millions upon millions of innocent people will perish, but so will the great evil that has destroyed this nation.” President Green lifted his eyes to the large screen. “Destroy New York. Destroy Los Angeles. Those two cities are two cobra heads joined together, but please leave the rest of our cities intact.”
“I intend to kill the head of the snake, Edwin, and that is all,” Nikolai informed President Green. “The Federal Reserve Bank, Wall Street, the IRS, Hollywood. No, Edwin, these entities must be destroyed. As I want my people to be free, I desire for your people to be free.” Nikolai put his cigar down. “I'm a man of war, Edwin. You clearly understand this. I am a man that thirsts for power, as well. But I'm not a cruel man. All I want is for my people and my country to be free. Yes, I rule with a hard hand but, as you can see, my method works. Russia has not become America. And you, Edwin, when the time arrives to start rebuilding your country, you must rule with a hard hand, as well. If you do, our countries will live in peace together. If you fail, I will be forced to destroy what will eventually become a new threat.”
“Nikolai,” President Green spoke in a powerful voice that made every man standing in the room with him proud, “when I rebuild America, yes, we will return to the days of I Love Lucy, whether people like it or not. I will not tolerate, nor allow, social media outlets, cell phones, cable. I will control the media and ensure they report honest news. Only men who honor the American constitution will hold office. There will be no abortions, no homosexuals, prayer will be placed back into the schools, all illegal immigration will end, the elderly will be respected again, and our children will have a chance at life. Colleges will be turned back into institutions of learning, instead of indoctrination centers. A man or woman will be able to begin a business, without having a Wal-Mart move in like locusts and destroy their town. Yes, Nikolai, the days of I Love Lucy will return to America. Tell Richie, Potsy and Mouth to get ready.”
Nikolai let out a heavy sigh. “Edwin, you are an impossible dreamer, but I admire your determination. You will have my full support.”
“And our countries will live in harmony, Nikolai,” President Green promised. “Russia will take the place of America as the global super power. All I want is for my country to live according to the Bible; to live in peace and freedom.”
Nikolai stared at President Green for a very long time. The man was not a threat. He never had been a threat, and would never be a threat. No, Edwin Green was a simple man who desired baseball games, mingled in with the smell of hot dogs on hot summer nights, fami
ly Thanksgivings on crisp autumn days, and children praying in schools on rainy school mornings. Yes, all the President of the United States wanted was to return back to a decade when America mattered. Nikolai not only respected President Green's ambitions, but deep down, knew he would do everything within his power to help his friend achieve the dream. But first, work had to be carried out. Serious work.
“I will give the people of your country time to kill each other, Edwin, while I weaken the states of Alaska and Hawaii, and take full control of the Security Council. I want you to order the military in the states I have mentioned to stand down and surrender to my people. I will handle Alaska, and the Chinese will handle Hawaii. We will secure the military bases without any harm to your people, if they stand down.”
“My people will stand down, Nikolai. Our battle will be with North Korea only.”
“The North Koreans will fight hard, Edwin, but I will step into the battle when you need me. Taking the Iranians and the North Koreans out of the picture will be a pleasure,” Nikolai assured President Green. “Now, we are both very busy men. I will be in contact with you in eight hours.”
“Eight hours,” President Green agreed. Nikolai waved goodbye to his friend. The large flat screen went black. President Green closed his eyes for a minute, steadied his thoughts, and then said, “Men, you all heard the conversation I just had with Nikolai. If anyone standing in this room considers me a traitor, then take out your gun and shoot me right now.”
The Colonel who had accepted Nikolai's transmission stood up, approached President Green, and placed a firm hand on the man's shoulder. “Sir, every man in this room, including myself, stands at your side. We know who the real enemy is, Sir. We know what must be done in order to restore America for the future of our children.”
President Green felt tears begin to fall from his eyes. “John,” he said in a shaky voice, “have I done the right thing? Did I betray my country?”
Green File Crime Thrillers Box Set Page 37