Hostage

HOSTAGE!


















KELLY CHANCE BECKMAN














ATHENA-THE BLONDE GODDESS

HOSTAGE!










INTRODUCTION:



KELLY CHANCE IS THE UNDERCOVER NSA OPERATIVE, WINEING AND DINING THE RICH AND POWERFUL. HE ESCORTS A BEAUTIFUL BLONDE, NAMED ATHENA, WHO HE TAKES TO THE EMBASSY BALL IN WASHINGTON D.C.

THE BAD GUYS, TERRORISTS THIS TIME ARE RUINING THE PARTY!  KELLY GETS “THUNDER AND LIGHTNING AND GOES HUNTING. HE MUST SAVE ATHENA AND A PLANE LOAD OF HOSTAGES.



























HOSTAGE! ……………BOOK 3 OF 3

----------CONTENTS---------------


3-HOSTAGE! ………………………            144

1. NSA OPERATIVE-HEADQUARTERS. 148
2. RESCUE! ……………………………….  156
3. AMERICA IS NOW A HOSTAGE ….    164







INDICES:________________________
BOOKS BY AUTHOR                    8  &    165
CAST OF CHARACTERS          14  &    166
READER’S NOTES:                                170




















CHAPTER 1-HOSTAGE!

SHE WAS MY BAD AND BEAUTIFUL TOO!


NSA HEADQUARTERS:

THE BLACK HELICOPTER LANDED ON MY REAR LAWN AT SHANGRI-LA, MY REFUGE FROM THE WAR. TWO BLACK SUITERS WALKED WITH AN MANILA ENVELOPE AND A VIDEO RECORDING. MY JOB AS AN OPERATIVE WITH THE NSA JUST GOT BUSY. IT MUST HAVE POLITICS OR BUSINESS WITH THESE GUYS!  IN EITHER CASE, TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE. WASHINGTON WANTED ANSWERS RIGHT NOW!

I FLIPPED MY ID AND THEY HANDED OVER PICTURES AND FILE FOLDERS. TOP SECRET THEY SAID.  MY JOB WAS TO FIND THEM…THE SONS OF LIBERTY, A RADICAL REVOLUTIONARY GROUP MAKING THE HEADLINES. A WAR HAD STARTED AND I WAS THROWN TO THE LIONS. THE CHIEF OF INTELLIGENCE SAID I WAS FRESH BACK FROM THE WAR AND HERE WAS ANOTHER BATCH I COULD GET MY TEETH INTO.

WHY ME?

HE POINTED HIS FINGERS BETWEEN MY EYES, PULLED HIS HAND AND SAID “POW!” THAT’S YOUR “M.O.” ISN’T IT? STONE COLD KILLER?  YOU SHOOT ‘EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES, RIGHT?”

“SHIT!…THAT WAS BACK IN THE WAR…IT WAS ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE…”

“YEAH, RIGHT! ONE ANSWERED. WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS? IT’S THEM HIPPIE CREEPS TRYING TO TAKE DOWN OUR COUNTRY, YOU KNOW… MESS UP WHAT AMERICA STANDS FOR!”

IT WAS INCREDULOUS, THESE BLACK SUITERS, DIDN’T KNOW SHIT EITHER. MY WHOLE WORLD WAS IN DENIAL. I DIDN’T ANSWER.  THEY ASSUMED, I WAS JUST BEING CRAFTY OR EDGY. THE TRUTH WAS I FELT A CERTAIN RAGE AND ANGER BEGAN TO BOIL UP. THEY EXITED. THE MORNING TURNED UGLY!

SOME JOB I HAD, GETTING INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATING CIVILIAN PROTEST GROUPS AND RADICAL MERCENARIES. THE QUIET WAS TOO SUDDEN AS I ASKED ABOUT WHAT OTHER AGENCIES WERE ALSO WORKING ON THE MEN OF POWER SIDE OF THIS EQUATION. THEIR DENIALS TOLD ME ALL I NEED TO KNOW.  A VACUUM ALWAYS LEAVES AN EMPTY SPOT.  OKAY, I SIGNED FOR THE FILES AND PUT THEM INTO MY SAFE. THE TWO MEN LEFT. THE CHOPPER FADED INTO A BLACK DOT HEADED ACROSS THE POTOMAC RIVER. I WONDERED WHY IT WAS DELIVERED SO QUICK FOR A ROUTINE MATTER FROM OUR OFFICE. WHOSE POLITICAL CLOUT WAS BEING EXERCISED HERE...MY DIRECTOR, THE CHIEF OF INTELLIGENCE OR SOMEONE HIGHER? IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THESE PROJECTS USUALLY EVOLVE OVER TIME AND NO MENTION OF A DEADLINE DATE FOR MY REPORT WAS ODD? WHO HAD THE POWER TO PULL STRINGS OVER A CABINET POSITION?

TWO NAMES RANG A BELL...THE SECRETARY AND THE PRESIDENT. NAH! COULDN’T BE, I RATIONALIZED. MAYBE IT JUST MY DIRECTOR SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS? IT WAS OBVIOUS, I WAS ON A “NEED TO KNOW” BASIS AND I KNEW VERY LITTLE!

THE HAIR ON MY NECK WENT ON ALERT. IT WAS TOO CASUAL, TOO QUICK…AND WHY HERE AT MY HOUSE. IT WAS OBVIOUS, SOMETHING WAS STILL AMISS HERE. SOMETHING MORE THAN ‘BUGS’ LISTENING TO MY CONVERSATIONS AND TO THE MUSIC, WHICH I OFTEN PLAYED. I CLOSED THE CURTAINS, NOW ALMOST DARK . I FELT FOR THE SAFE AND EMPTIED THE CONTENTS AND PLACED THEM IN THE SECRET SPOT.  A PHOTO FELL OUT. A BEAUTIFUL BUXOM BLONDE IN AN EVENING GOWN, ATHENA WAS HER NAME. SOME SAY DESTINY AND FATE ARE TWINS.  I JUST KNEW TROUBLE CAME IN DOUBLES AND SHE WAS JUST THE FIRST. SHE WAS MY BAD AND BEAUTIFUL TOO!

SHE WAS JUST BLOND, BEAUTIFUL AND WITH TROUBLE WRITTEN ALL OVER HER. SHE WAS MY DATE TO THE EMBASSY DINNER AND DANCE. A NIECE TO ONE POWERFUL CONGRESSMAN HEADING THE ARMS COMMITTEE.

MY BOSS WAS ANXIOUS TO MAKE POINTS AND GET SOME RELIEF FROM THE PRESSURE ON HIS GROUP FOR ANSWERS TO THE PROTEST MOVEMENT.  THE INTEREST GENERATED WAS GROWING WITH EACH T.V. NEWSCAST. THE SPOTLIGHT SHIFTED FROM THE POWERFUL TO THE PROTEST SIGNS AND POLICE CLASHES. THE ROCK THROWING AND FLYING TEAR GAS CANS MADE GOOD MEDIA COVERAGE. THE POLICE COULDN’T CONTAIN THE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ESCALATED INTO MOB CONTROL AND THE LOCAL POLICE WHO WERE UNDERSTAFFED CALLED THE GOVERNOR FOR HELP. EACH TIME THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS CALLED UP, A MEDIA FRENZY TOOK PLACE AND THE PODIUM BECAME A WEAPON FOR SPEAKERS OF GROUPS WITH A STORY TO TELL. EACH GROUP HAD A FOLLOWING. THESE LARGE GROUPS BOTHERED THE FBI AND CIA, WHICH SMELLED CONSPIRACY AND TREASON. THE ACTORS UPON AMERICA’S WAR PROTEST STAGE GREW AND GREW. THE MOMENTUM CAUGHT ON IN SEVERAL KEYS CITIES THROUGHOUT THE LAND. T.V. AND NEWSPAPERS FED THE FRENZY.  COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND PARADES AND CLOTHING BECAME A SIGN OF PROTEST. PROMINENT CAMPUSES LIKE BERKELEY AND KENT STATE AND CHICAGO’S GRANT PARK BECAME FUEL TO THE FIRE. BILLY CLUBS AND CRACKED SKULLS AND PICTURES OF BLOOD STREAMING DOWN BECAME FARE OVER DINNER TELEVISION. THE T.V. HAD BROUGHT THE WAR AND NOW THE WAR AT HOME INTO AMERICA’S LAST CASTLES.

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WAS DISMAYED AND EVEN AMBIVALENT, GRADUALLY CLOSING DOWN  AND BECOMING THE SILENT MAJORITY.  THEY LOST THEIR VOICE TO REASON AND MORPHED INTO SILENCE. A FEW JOINED THE CRUSADE.

UNDERGROUND NEWSPAPERS SPREAD A DIFFERENT GOSPEL. FREE SPEECH BECAME CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.  QUESTIONS WERE BEING ASKED...WHO WAS IN CONTROL...WHY WERE RIOTS AND CAMPUS DEMONSTRATIONS GAINING SUPPORT AND SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE?  WHERE WAS THE GOVERNMENT? WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS?  QUESTIONS LIKE THESE SPREAD THE PANIC IN STATES CAPITALS AND IN WASHINGTON. FBI AND CIA WAS AT ODDS AS TO WHO HAD CHARGE OF THIS MESS. FINGER POINTING AND COMMITTEE SUBPOENA’S WERE RAISING HACKLES.  SOME TRIED ‘RAZZLE–DAZZLE’ OTHERS SIMPLY WERE IN DENIAL AND TRIED TO STONEWALL THE PROCESS. THE ANSWERS SOUGHT WERE NOT JUST TWO SIDES AGAINST EACH OTHER, AN AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS GOING ON. NEVER SINCE WORLD WAR TWO HAD A UNITED COUNTRY FELT DIVIDED. IT ESCALATED INTO TWO GENERATIONS AT ODDS, ONE PATRIOTIC AND ONE PROTESTING FOR PEACE. THE VIETNAM WAR WAS JUST ONE OF MANY CATALYSTS WORKING. THERE WERE MANY CAUSES: RACISM, DIFFERENT FACTIONS WITH DIFFERENT AGENDAS, YOUNG VERSUS OLDER, HAWK AGAINST DOVE, BLACK AGAINST WHITE. THE MIRROR HAD SHATTERED WHEN JACK KENNEDY, THE PRESIDENT DIED. THE PEOPLE “DOUBTED” THE GOVERNMENT COULD PROTECT THEM AND WONDERED IF THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES WERE TRUE? THE YOUNGER GENERATION SAID: “NO MORE WAR!” THE OTHER SAID: “AMERICA RIGHT OR WRONG, WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!” FOR THE FIRST TIME, BOTH SIDES AGREED THAT GOVERNMENT WAS NOT IN CONTROL NOR DID THEY LIKE WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE OF IT. THE LIES, COVER-UPS AND POLITICAL AGENDAS MATTERED MORE THAN THE “GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE.”

AMERICA WAS DETERMINED TO EVOLVE. IT’S AN HISTORIC TIME WHEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE “WOKE-UP” FROM ITS SLUMBER AND BEGAN EXERCISING ITS RIGHT TO VOTE AND THE RHETORIC CHANGED TO “DEMANDING ACTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT FOLLOW THE PEOPLE’S MANDATE AND NOT FOR WASHINGTON’S POLITICAL GAINS.  THE ENORMITY OF MY JOB GREW WITH THAT REALIZATION OF TWO WARS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME AND I WAS GOING TO A PARTY WITH THE RICH AND FAMOUS. I DID HAVE ONE PERK!  THE SVELTE “ JACKIE-O” HAD RETIRED AND “BLONDES” WERE HOT!

I LOOKED DOWN HER FIGURE AND UP TO HER PERT FACE…OH YEAH!… SHE WAS BLONDE AND THE MOST DANGEROUS OF ALL WOMEN. SHE WAS A CLASSY DAME! HER STYLE AND ELEGANCE WAS APPARENT BUT NOT OVERDONE IN HER CLOTHES AND WALK. THE PARIS GOWN FOLLOWED EVERY CURVE, EVERY STEP. FROM HIP TO SHAPELY SHOULDER, A HINT OF TEASE AND PERFUME WAIFED INTO THE AIR. MY MIND DREAMED FURTHER. CLASS AND STYLE WERE TWO DEADLY COMBINATIONS.  SHE WAS TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS AND I WORSHIPPED DANGER. SHE HAD DANGER WRITTEN ALL OVER HER AND I READ EVERY LINE!

I TOOK OFF MY JACKET AND SHOULDER HOLSTER, PICKED UP THE PICTURE AND TURNED ON THE LAMP. IT LIT UP THE SPARKLE IN HER EYES. IT WAS JUST A JOB I TOLD MYSELF. HOW I LOVED MY WORK…”FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!” BUT DON’T BREAK THE “GENTLEMAN’S CODE”…DON’T GET INVOLVED I TOLD MYSELF…WHAT WOULD ROSE THINK?

OKAY…DREAMIN’ TOO MUCH…I HAD ONLY TO DANCE AND HAVE DINNER, SHE HAD THE CONNECTIONS I NEEDED. IT WASN’T A ROLL IN THE HAY OR PHILANDERING THAT WAS ON THE MENU. A DINNER DATE AND A DRIVER, PAID VIA THE TAXPAYER AND I WAS ON DUTY.  BESIDES I DIDN’T WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN ROSE, OR MY JOB AND THE BLONDE HEARTBREAKER.  I WENT TO THE CLOSET AND TOOK OUT MY WHITE ARMANI DINNER JACKET AND TUX SHIRT. PERFECT!  TONIGHT WOULD BE A HOT SUMMER EVENING!  REAL HOT…I PUT THE PICTURE BACK, SMILED AND CLOSED THE WOODEN SECRET.

THE WHITE CADDY LIMO ARRIVED JUST AS ORION WAS SLIPPING INTO THE LOW SOUTHERN SKY.  STARS WERE ABOUNDING LIKE A GYPSY’S SCARF.  SHE STEPPED FROM THE GEORGIAN MANOR HOUSE. THE REAL DIAMONDS WERE HER EYES.  DAMN… EYES WERE EVERYWHERE AS SHE STOOD THEN WALKED TO THE MAIN DOOR. SHE TURNED…PICTURESQUE.  I TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND HER ARM. I WALKED AND TRIED NOT TO PEEK DOWN HER FRONT AND TRIP OVER MY TONGUE IN THE PROCESS. SHE WAS ALL WOMAN AND THE ENVY OF EVERY OTHER WOMAN AS WE DESCENDED THE BRITISH EMBASSY’S INTERIOR STEPS. I SCOPED OUT THE LAYOUT, NOTING THE EXITS AND STAIRS...OLD HABITS FROM THE WAR DIE HARD.

THE MUSIC PLAYED…THE CINDERELLA PRINCESS HAD ARRIVED. I FELT LIKE THE BUTLER AT HER BECK AND CALL.  SHE WAS SOCIALLY EXPERIENCED; THE TALK WAS SMALL AND INCONSEQUENTIAL.  THE DRINKS WERE CHAMPAGNE, DOMESTIC, 1988.  OLD ENOUGH FOR ANY PALATE AND QUITE GOOD.  CALIFORNIA IT SAID.  I SMILED.  HERE WAS ENOUGH PARIS GOWNS TO BALANCE THE TRADE DEFICIT AND THE CHAMPAGNE WAS THE STAR SO FAR. THE ORCHESTRA PLAYED SEVERAL WALTZES. WE DANCED. CHEST TO CHEST AND MY MIND WANDERED TO THE SMALL CREASES IN HER NECK AND THE SINGLE HAIR DANGLING BY THE CHANDELIER DIAMOND EARRING. 

HER LAUGHTER AND CONVERSATIONS WERE NATURAL. WE MET SEVERAL OF THE RICH AND POWERFUL. SHE WAS SCHOOLED IN PARIS AT THE SORBONNE’.  SHE SPOKE SEVERAL LANGUAGES AND MOVED WITH EASE INTO THE SOCIAL CIRCLES OF THIS EMBASSY.  SHE WAS BRIGHT, WELL-EDUCATED AND THE BRIGHTEST STAR OF THE NIGHT. 

SHE ASKED IF I WAS IN THE SECRET SERVICE AS SHE FELT THE H & K 9MM  M-5 PISTOL UNDER MY JACKET. I SAID: “NO, IT WAS JUST FOR PROTECTION. I WAS HER BODY GUARD AND ESCORT.”  SHE SMILED A WHIMSICAL SMILE AND SAID, “DOES MY BODY NEED PROTECTION?”

“YES, OF COURSE. AREN’T YOU THE FAIRY PRINCESS?”

SHE LAUGHED, HER WHITE TEETH AND RED LIPS BEGGED FOR KISSING. THE ATTRACTION WAS OBVIOUS.  WE SMILED AND LAUGHED INTO THE NIGHT.  WE WALKED TO THE LARGE MARBLE AND MIRRORED BAR IN AN ALCOVE, ANOTHER GLASS OF BUBBLY ANOTHER TOAST, ‘SALUTE’
WE BEGAN TALKING OF HER FAMILY WHEN A SHOT RANG OUT. THEN SEVERAL MORE! WE DUCKED BEHIND THE BAR.

I SAID, “STAY HERE, I WILL SEE WHAT’S GOING ON!”

“BE CAREFUL!” SHE SAID.  I NODDED AND SMILED.

“DON’T WORRY TONIGHT  I’M YOUR PRINCE IN SHINING ARMOR.”

SHE LAUGHED. NOT AFRAID.  SLIGHTLY WORRIED AS A CREASE CREPT INTO HER BROW.

“STAY HERE AND SAFE, I WILL RETURN” AS I REACHED FOR MY SERVICE PISTOL.

SEVERAL MEN AND WOMEN WERE DRESSED IN ALL BLACK AND FIRED AK-47 RIFLES AND HELD HAND GUNS.  ONE WAS DIRECTING MEN TO COVER THE EXITS. PANDEMONIUM AND SHOUTS AND TEARS WERE INTERRUPTED WITH GUN FIRE INTO THE CEILING THREE STORIES ABOVE. THEY MOVED FROM THE LARGE FRONT DOORS, PASSED THE CROSSING HALLWAY TO THE CLOAK ROOMS AND RESTROOMS, TO THE MAIN STAIRCASE HOLDING IT FOR RANSOM. BLACK STOCKINGS HELD FACES INCOGNITO AND EARPHONES AND RADIOS DIRECTED THEIR POSITIONS AND MOVEMENTS.  THE LEADER STOOD WITH THREE ARMED MEN AND ONE WOMAN BARKING ORDERS. “EVERYONE STAY DOWN, DO NOT MOVE, WE WILL ONLY BE HERE A SHORT WHILE, THEN YOU CAN GO ON WITH YOUR PATHETIC LIVES.”  ONE EMBASSY SECURITY MAN BEGAN TO TAKE AIM WITH HIS PISTOL ONLY TO BE SHOT FIRST AND HE FELL SPREAD EAGLE ON THE SHINY DANCE FLOOR, BLOOD OOZING OUT WHERE MOMENTS BEFORE WE WERE DANCING.

ONE WALKED TO THE BODY TOOK THE PISTOL AND KICKED HIM, THEN CHECKING FOR A RADIO OR ANY OTHER WEAPON. THE MAN HELD UP THE RADIO, OBVIOUSLY HELP WAS ON THE WAY.

THE LEADER WAS FUMING! SHOUTING … “STAY DOWN. THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN! STAY WHERE YOU ARE.  WE WILL NOT BE HERE VERY LONG!”

I CRAWLED FROM ONE END OF THE BAR AND LOOKED INTO THE SIDE ALCOVE, A SECURITY AGENT, ANOTHER BODY, BUT NO BLOOD, KNOCKED OUT OR DRUGGED. PREPOSTEROUS, I THOUGHT, WHAT DID THEY WANT? WERE THEY TERRORISTS OR FORTUNE HUNTERS? WERE THEY AFTER JEWELS OR MONEY OR WAS THIS A POLITICAL KIDNAPPING. THEY WERE ADVERSE TO DRASTIC ACTION, LIKE KILLING, BUT SOMEONE LOST HIS KOOL. BUT WHAT DID THEY WANT?

THE WINDOW GAVE LITTLE COMFORT AS I SAW SEVERAL MORE PACING OUTSIDE. THE EMBASSY WAS AT THE NORTHERN END OF MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE AND SURROUNDED BY A LARGE GARDEN. THE OUTSIDE WORLD WASN’T ALARMED AS FAR AS I COULD TELL. NO FLOOD OF SIRENS OR FLASHING LIGHTS.  THE EMBASSY’S SECURITY TEAM WAS GROUPED AND BOUND IN ONE ALCOVE. LIMO DRIVERS WERE HUDDLED TOGETHER AND UNDER GUARD. SEVERAL TUX’S WERE BEING RUINED.  I LOOKED FOR A LONE TARGET.  I CREPT UP THE BACK STAIRS, TO THE EMBASSY’S OFFICE AREA. QUIET AND DESERTED. I MOVED ABOUT WITHOUT CONCERN.

THE LEADER CALLED OUT SEVERAL NAMES.  THE PEOPLE CALLED WERE BEING ROUNDED UP AND TAKEN TO THE CENTER OF THE DANCE FLOOR. ONE WAS CLUBBED AS HE TRIED TO RESIST. ONE KIDNAPPER HELD PHOTOS. THEY OBVIOUSLY KNEW WHO THEY WANTED. SEVERAL NAMES WERE BEING CALLED, NO PATTERN COULD BE DISCERNED AS I LOOKED OVER THE BALCONY. SOME CAME WILLING; ONE WAS DRAGGED ACROSS THE FLOOR, AN OBVIOUS EXAMPLE TO THE OTHERS. HANDS WERE TIED BEHIND WITH PLASTIC RESTRAINTS. WORRIED LOOKS REPLACED THE DEFIANT FACES OF BEFORE.  THE BODY WAS PLACED INTO A PLASTIC BODY BAG AND MOVED OUTSIDE. 

ODD I THOUGHT, WHY TAKE A BODY…I KNEW WITH NO BODY, NO CRIME COULD BE PROVED, EVEN WITH WITNESSES.  A SHRED OF REASONABLE DOUBT REMAINED. ONE HEAVY CHOP OF MY HAND AND MY VICTIM WENT DOWN LIKE A SACK OF POTATOES. NO ID, NO MARKS, BLONDE BUT NOTHING ELSE. THEY WERE WELL TRAINED AND FOLLOWED THE LEADER’S COMMANDS TO THE “T.”  NO NAMES OR GROUP WERE IDENTIFIED. THEY WANTED SOME VICTIMS FOR RANSOM OR MAYBE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE EMBASSY OR WASHINGTON. SOMETHING WAS NOT KOSHER! I TOOK HIS RADIO AND MOVED INTO THE SHADOWS ACROSS THE BALCONY, SOMEONE WOULD COME ALONG SOON TO FIND OUT WHY HE DID NOT ANSWER HIS RADIO. DOWN INTO THE ATRIUM, I COULD SEE FIVE HOSTAGES AND THE LEADER WAS BARKING ORDERS: “ONE IS STILL MISSING” FIND HER!

UT OH!  MY GUT TOLD ME I KNEW WHO THE “SHE” WAS...ATHENA, NAMED AFTER A GREEK GODDESS, WAS NOW TO BE ONE OF THE HOSTAGES. THE PROBLEM WAS WHY?

HOSTAGE! A FINE DATE THIS TURNED OUT TO BE! A SENATOR’S DAUGHTER AND NIECE TO THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MAN IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HELD AGAINST HER WILL AND I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEAVING HER ALONE.

I WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO HELP ATHENA. SHE SCREAMED AND FOUGHT BUT WAS TAKEN PRISONER. THE LEADER SIGNALED HIS TEAM TO ROUND THEM UP AND TAKE THEM TO THE WAITING ALL BLACK SUBURBAN VANS. FROM MY WINDOW, I COULD JUST SEE THEM SEPARATE INTO FIVE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS OF THE CITY.  I PRESSED MY WATCH ACTIVATING THE GPS FUNCTION AND THINKING ABOUT THE MAP COORDINATES OF WASHINGTON. THIS WAS DUE EAST OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING, THE CENTER OF D.C.  I FIGURED THEY WOULD WANT ME AFTER I TOOK A WEAPON AND RADIO FROM ONE OF THEIR MEN. I GUESSED THEY WERE PREOCCUPIED WITH THE ONE BODY AND POLICE ON THE WAY! SOMEHOW I WOULD NEED A WAY TO TRACK THEM. MY WATCH! IF THEY DIDN’T TAKE ME MAYBE I COULD FIND A WAY TO TRACK THEM DOWN WITH IT.

I CREPT DOWN THE STAIRS TO PUT MY PLAN INTO ACTION.
I HANDED OVER THE WEAPON AND RADIO AS MY CAPTIVE PUSHED ME TO THE FLOOR NEAR THE HOSTAGES. ATHENA TOOK A CHANCE AND TOOK MY HAND WHERE I HANDED OVER MY WATCH UNDER THEIR EYES. 

SHE PALMED IT AND LOOKED INTO MY EYES AS THE LIGHTS WENT DIM. A BLOW TO THE HEAD PUT ME ON THE FLOOR. THEY DIDN’T WANT ME AS A HOSTAGE, JUST TO SET AN EXAMPLE. THE LEADER BARKED COMMANDS AND THE HOSTAGES WERE HERDED TOWARDS THE DOOR. I’LL NEVER FORGET ATHENA’S LOOK AS I WATCHED HER LEAVE. I NODDED MY HEAD AND SIGNED I WOULD FIND HER.

THE LEADER CALLED ON THE RADIO FOR HIS MISSING MAN THEN A SEARCH OF THE BUILDING WAS BEGUN. THE AK-47’S WERE NO MATCH FOR ME. OF COURSE,  I GAVE UP WITHOUT A FIGHT...I WANTED TO BE A PRISONER AND FIND OUT THE OTHER HOSTAGE’S LOCATIONS. MY CAPTOR’S RIGHT CROSS KNOCKED ME DOWN BUT NOT OUT. THE PLASTIC HANDCUFFS HELD ME FAST. ONE SHUFFLED ME INTO THE GROUP STAYING BEHIND. THEIR NEEDLE DID THE TRICK. HERE I WAS SLEEPING ON THE JOB, UNARMED AND HOSTAGE!  MY TUX LOOKED GOOD LYING ON THE FLOOR. I REMEMBERED, “IT IS BETTER TO LOOK GOOD THAN FEEL GOOD!”

I LAUGHED IN MY DREAMS. THEN, LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH TURNED OFF… A COLDNESS CAME OUT OF THE DARKNESS. DRUGS!…. ONE OF MY TERRORS HAD GOTTEN OUT AND ROAMED AROUND IN MY HEAD. PAYBACK WAS GOING TO BE A BITCH!

SOMEONE WAS GOING TO PAY. MY LESSONS FROM THE WAR HAD RETURNED.  THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING CIVILIZED AND PROPER WERE OVER. MY BULLETS WOULD BE MY ONLY ANSWER.    I NEEDED MORE BULLETS!
















































CHAPTER 2-HOSTAGE!




2-RESCUE
        WASHINGTON, D.C. EMBASSY ROW



THE SIRENS FINALLY ARRIVED…THE WEDDING AND FUNERAL WERE OVER. THE LOCAL BADGES WERE SCREAMING ABOUT “DISTRICT RIGHTS.” THE FED’S WEREN’T TOO HAPPY.  I FOUND A BACK DOOR TO THE SCULPTED ENGLISH GARDEN. THE SMELL OF ROSES AND IMAGES OF CARVED LEAFY OBJECTS FILLED THE SHADOWS. RUNNING, I PULLED MY TIE. THE NIGHT AND I WERE ONE AGAIN. A TAXI TOOK ME HOME.  I NEEDED MY PISTOLS.

TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE! A LITTLE BLACK GPS BOX AND MY BLACK HEART WENT TO WORK. 38 DEGREES, 55 MINUTES AND ELEVEN DEGREES NORTH, BY 77 DEGREES, THREE MINUTES, 40 SECONDS WEST. THE HEART OF WASHINGTON.

IN 30 MINUTES, I ROUNDED UP MY EQUIPMENT FOR WET-WORK. MY BLACK CAMO, AND THIN KNIFE, AND BELAYING ROPE AND SEVERAL STUN AND SMOKE GRENADES, THE GPS TRACKER. MY TWO PISTOLS: “THUNDER AND LIGHTNING!” WERE EXTENSIONS OF MY FISTS. THE THIN, ALL BLACK SUIT AND CLIMBING BOOTS AND HOOD WOULD MAKE ME INVISIBLE IN THE NIGHT. I TOOK ONE OTHER EQUIPMENT PACK AND SLOWLY CLOSED THE TRUNK LID. THE ‘63 VETTE WAS FAST ENOUGH BUT I NEEDED MORE HORSEPOWER. THE NITROUS EARNED HER NAME AS THE “LITTLE RED DRAGON.”  I WAS IN A HURRY...AIR DEPARTURE TIME WAS TWO HOURS FROM LEAVING THE EMBASSY. FLAMES AND TAILLIGHTS WERE ALL YOU SAW IN THE PITCH BLACK, THE DARK AND THE DEVIL YOU SAY!  I SAY, THE BLACK KNIGHT TO THE RESCUE.

THE ADRENALIN RUSH FELT GOOD!

THE BUILDING WAS A CAVERNOUS QUONSET HUT NEAR THE AIRPORT. TWO OF THE VANS WERE UNLOADING HOSTAGES, ANOTHER WAS CROSSING THE TARMAC. THIS WAS WELL ORGANIZED AND BIG STAKES WERE AT PLAY. I RAISED THE ANTE, GRABBED THE EQUIPMENT PACK AND CREPT TOWARDS THE DARK SIDE. I PLAYED THE SHADOWS LIKE POKER, BLUFFING FROM ONE TO ANOTHER AND HIDING MY FACE. I WANTED TO TAKE EACH ONE DOWN AND PLACE THE ACE OF SPADES ON THEIR CHEST…JUST LIKE ‘NAM.

“REMEMBER ME…SOMABITCH…THE DEATH CARD!”

THE GPS POINTED TO THE RIGHT PLACE.  MY TINY RECORDER RECORDED THE EVENTS…NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING TO “CHANCE!” MY MOMMA WOULD SAY.  MY DAD WOULD SAY A RIGHT CROSS TRUMPS ANYTHING!  I SAID, “GIVE PEACE A CHANCE, NOW REST IN PEACE!”  TIME FOR MY KIND OF WORK…THE PLANE WAS A 50 PASSENGER JET, THE TURBINES WERE WINDING UP, CHARGING THE BATTERIES. THIS TEAM WAS DEFINITELY HERDING HOSTAGES TO SOMEWHERE. I WAS GOING TOO, “COME HELL OR HIGH WATER!” GOSH, MY PARENTS TALKED WITH A LOT OF CLICHÉS’. 

I LOOKED ACROSS FOR A WEAKNESS. SEVERAL STOOD WITH BLACK WEAPONS, AK-47’S THE WEAPON OF CHOICE NOW DAYS.  I CHOSE THE “SMOKER”… FILTHY HABIT I SAID AS HE CRUMPLED TO THE CONCRETE. I TOOK HIS HOOD, RIFLE AND RADIO, ANSWERING THE CALL” TIME TO GO!” WITH A GRUFF “OKAY!” I WALKED QUICKLY TO THE WHEELS UNDER THE NEAREST WING AND LEFT A PRESENT. ALL THE GUARDS WERE MOTIONED TO BOARD THE PLANE. THE CABIN LIGHTS WERE ON DIM, AS THE ENGINES WERE SPOOLING UP. “KEEP THEM QUIET” WAS THE COMMAND AS I MOVED AMONG THE PASSENGERS, MANY PROTESTING MOUTHS WERE BEING TAPED SHUT, SOME VICTIMS WORE HOODS LIKE THE KIDNAPPERS.  “SOON WE WOULD BE IN VENEZUELA,” ONE SAID IN BROKEN SPANISH. THE OTHER KIDNAPPERS WERE QUIET. ALL OF THEIR BLACK HOODS IN PLACE, EYES GLANCING SIDE TO SIDE, AS THEY PACED THE TWO AISLES.  TRAINED MERCENARIES, I GUESSED.

I WAS WORKING ON A BACKUP PLAN.  SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

I HAD TO GET THE PLANE TO LAND BEFORE WE LEFT U.S. AIR SPACE, BUT HOW?  I SET THE SMOKE AND STUN GRENADES UNDER THE SEAT WITHOUT ANYONE SEEING. I DROPPED MORE SMOKE GRENADES INTO THE LUGGAGE AREA UNDERNEATH THE RECESSED LID NEAR THE GALLEY. SOON SMOKE WOULD BILLOW UP. WHAT I REALLY NEEDED WAS A SMOKE OR FIRE ALARM SETTING OFF TO CAUSE THE KIDNAPPERS TO PANIC. SLOWLY I WORKED MY WAY PAST THE GALLEY. PERHAPS SOME HOT COFFEE?

I PLACED ONE STUN GRENADE INTO THE MICROWAVE AND HIT THE HIGH TEMPERATURE BUTTON. THE MAN IN THE RESTROOM WOULD GET A SURPRISE AS I DROPPED A GRENADE AND LOCKED THE DOOR.  THEN ONE-TWO-THREE ALL WENT OFF ONE AFTER ANOTHER. SMOKE—BARKED COMMANDS AND MORE CONFUSION REINED. THE LEADER  BEGAN ISSUING COMMANDS...SOMEONE WAS A TRAITOR! HE SCREAMED. “FIND HIM AND BRING HIM TO ME!”

I STROLLED TO THE VICTIMS AND WINKED AT ATHENA. SHE COULDN’T SAY ANYTHING, THEIR MOUTHS WERE GAGGED. HER EYES AND WORRY CREASE TOLD ME ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW. THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE UNKNOWN.

I NEEDED TIME TO DISABLE THE AIRCRAFT. THE SMOKE WOULD SOON BLOW AWAY AND MY DIVERSION WOULD ONLY BUY A LITTLE TIME. I WORKED MY WAY TO THE TRAP DOOR TO THE LUGGAGE AND AVIONICS AREA. I NEEDED TO DUMP FUEL OR CAUSE THE PLANE TO MALFUNCTION. I HOPED MY BACKUP PLAN WORKED BEFORE WE TOOK OFF, OTHERWISE WE WOULD PROBABLY CRASH.

THE LEADER BARKED COMMANDS IN SPANISH, AS I MOVED AWAY FROM THE TRAP DOOR; SMOKE GRENADES WOULD DO LITTLE TO STOP THE PLANE. THERE WAS NO TIME TO GO THROUGH THE ACCESS PANEL TO BELOW. WE STARTED ROLLING AND HEADED FOR THE TAXI-WAY.  THE LEADER WAS PISSED; HE BEGAN PULLING OFF HOODS TO CHECK HIS TEAM. HIS COHORT KEPT AN AK-47 RIFLE POINTED AT EACH SUSPECT.  I WAS NEXT.

“WHO ARE YOU? WHERE IS MY MAN? TAKE HIM AND BIND HIM UP.  HE WILL BE MY FIRST CARGO DROP...WITHOUT A PARACHUTE!”

THE PLANS OF MICE AND MEN WERE NOT TO BE!  IN HIS CASE, I HAD A RAT. I YELLED “WHO ARE YOU AND WHY DO YOU WANT THESE PEOPLE?”

THE BLACK HOODED FACE SPOKE: “THEY ARE BUT PAWNS BETWEEN YOUR GOVERNMENT AND OURS.  WE DO NOT AGREE WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT’S STAND AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST US. WE WANT TO SET AN EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD. AMERICA HAS BECOME ROTTEN. AMERICA HAS BECOME A BULLY! AMERICA IS TO BLAME FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS IN VENEZUELA. WE ARE THE “THE BLACK HAND!” WE ARE FREEDOM FIGHTERS.  WE TOOK TEN PEOPLE AS HOSTAGES AS EXAMPLES TO AMERICA AND BRITAIN, YOUR LAP-DOG PARTNER IN CRIME.  THEY ARE BARGAINING CHIPS IN A WORLD WIDE GAME OF ONE UPMANSHIP.  THESE ATTACKS ARE THE FIRST OF MANY, WHICH ARE COMING TO AMERICA. PTUTEY! I SPIT ON AMERICA. I SPIT ON YOU...”

I WAS CONFUSED. CUBAN SPANISH OR VENEZUELA’S SPANISH/PORTUGUESE? I BELIEVED CUBAN. WERE THEY MERCENARIES OR MAKING A POLITICAL STATEMENT FOR CUBA OR FOR VENEZUELA? I SURMISED THEY WERE PAWNS IN A BIGGER GAME OF POLITICS OR ECONOMICS.

MY “PRESENT” AND TIMER WORKED. THE GRENADE BLEW THE TWO AIRCRAFT TIRES ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND WE WENT INTO A SPIN SKEWING OFF THE TAXI WAY.
EVERYONE WAS THROWN RIGHT THEN UP AND DOWN AS WE HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER TO THE MAIN RUNWAY. SPARKS WERE FLYING; AS THE MAGNESIUM AND ALUMINUM WHEELS GROUND IN. MY FEET AND FISTS WERE FLYING TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SURPRISE. MY PISTOL, THUNDER, BARKED ONCE...AN ACE OF SPADES COMING UP!

THE LEADER GRABBED FOR MY PISTOL AND A SUDDEN JOLT BOUNCED US OFF THE CABIN WALLS, THE PISTOL FLEW SLIDING IN THE DIRECTION OF OUR MOMENTUM.  HIS PISTOL CAME OUT OF NO-WHERE AND AIMED AT MY HEART. TOO LATE! LIGHTENING WAS FASTER, A NEAT HOLE APPEARED. HIS FACE APPEARED SURPRISED AS HIS EYES ROLLED BACK AND AS IF IN SLOW MOTION, HE CRASHED TO THE FLOOR. THE BARKING PISTOLS BROUGHT THE OTHER GUARDS TO ATTENTION AND HOLES APPEARED IN THE FUSELAGE. WINDOWS CRACKED. SCREAMS GREW INTO PANIC VOLUME. BODIES BEGAN FALLING. SIRENS WAILED CLOSER. IT WAS DO OR DIE TIME! I NEEDED A CLEAR SHOOTING RANGE.

AK-47’S RATTLED IT VIPEROUS VOLUME AS IT SPIT ITS LOAD. TIME STOOD STILL FOR SECONDS. LONG ENOUGH!  THUNDER AND LIGHTENING RAISED A SHIT STORM.  BULLETS FOUND FEET, TORSOS AND HOODS. IT WAS A MACABRE SIGHT! BULLETS FLEW MY WAY...MY ANGELS IN A PANIC...DEATH WAS CLOSE...BUT NO CELEBRATION, YET. A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAR HAD RETURNED. THEY FORGOT I WAS THE SON OF MARS AND WAR WAS MY DESTINY! RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS MY SHIELD. THE DEVIL WOULD GET HIS PAYMENT DUE. ONLY ONE QUESTION REMAINED...WHO WOULD REMAIN ALIVE, AFTERWARDS?

THE PLANE LURCHED TO A STOP. THE SOUND OF RICOCHETS AND THE SMELL OF BURNT GUNPOWDER TRUMPETED THE GROWING HAZE IN THE CABIN. ONE  MERC’ TOOK AIM TO KILL A MALE HOSTAGE, BUT CRUMPLED AS MY ROUND PUNCHED HIS LIGHTS OUT.

I MUST BE SLIPPING, SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER!

TOO LATE, ANOTHER PASSENGER GOT SHOT, BLOOD BEGAN TO FLOW, THE LOOK OF DISBELIEF AND RISING PANIC OVERTOOK HIS FACE OF FEAR. TIME WAS NOT A LUXURY AS I WORKED MY WAY FORWARD TO THE CABIN. I HAD TWO PILOTS TO SUBDUE. TOO LATE! THE DOOR CRASHED OPEN AS ONE STUMBLED OUT AND FELL TO THE FLOOR, A BUSTED NOSE AND PLASTIC SHARDS OPENED A BLOODY RIVER. HE PASSED OUT OR DIED, I CARED NOT!  I MOVED STEALTHILY TO THE DOOR FRAME TO CHECK THE OTHER PILOT. THE SHREDDED FACE WAS POURING OUT AND THE PISTOL SLOWLY CAME DOWN TO MY HEART. MICRO-SECONDS!

OUR BULLETS MUST HAVE PASSED ON THE AIR FREEWAY. AUTOMATICALLY, I MOVED BUT NOT FAST ENOUGH. HELL WAS ABOUT TO HAVE ANOTHER CUSTOMER. HEAVEN ONLY WAITED! BREATHING...HEART BEATING...OH SHIT! RACING PULSE, BRAIN ON OVERTIME...SOMETHING LEAKING...THEN, IT WAS OVER. SCREAMS AND SOBBING BEGAN. ALL THE CAPTORS WERE DEAD OR VERY NEAR DEATH.

I COULD HEAR SIRENS COMING, POLICE AND FIRE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING...SOMEONE WAS COMING TO THE RESCUE. TOO LATE...NO MOVIE TICKET, NO POPCORN; BUT ALL ACTION. MAN THAT FELT GOOD!... BEING ALIVE FELT EVEN BETTER.  I TOOK MY BELT OFF.  TOURNIQUET. STOP THE BLOOD. CALM DOWN...I BEGAN TO SWEAT. SHOCK. I STRUGGLED DOWN THE AISLE. PULLING TAPE AND HOODS AS I WENT. I REACHED HER SEAT, SHE WAS SLUMPED OVER... “NO!” I SCREAMED... “CAN’T BE!”

PHEW! SHE HAD FAINTED!

IT WAS MY TURN, WHOOSEY. SLEEPY TIME!
LATER, I AWOKE. SHE CRADLED MY HEAD. KISSING MY FACE, TEARS STREAMING DOWN. A HERO GETS HIS TRIBUTE!

HALLELUJAH! ANGELS BE PRAISED. THE CONQUERING HERO RETURNS TO LIFE. SHOCK AND EXHAUSTION. COINS OF THE REALM OF THE PRINCE.  FALSE PRIDE LASTS ONLY A MINUTE. A SUDDEN DREAM…A NIGHTMARE RETURNS. 

WAIT! SOMETHING ELSE...SOMETHING NOT QUITE RIGHT...I MENTALLY CHECKED OFF EACH TERRORISTS...MISSING? MARTYRS?

“GET THEM OFF THE PLANE, I SHOUT…GET AWAY”. OTHER PLANS WERE ABOUT TO BLOW UP. MARTYRS TO A CAUSE. PANIC ENSUED. DOORWAYS AND STAIRS CROWDED.

THE PLANE EMPTIED FAST. A FEW GUARDS, GROWING COLD UPON THE CABIN FLOOR…EVIDENCE.  A SMALL FIREBALL ERUPTED FROM THE PILOTS CABIN. THE SHOCK TURNED TO STARES. COULD IT BE IT WAS A ONE WAY MISSION. WHAT NEFARIOUS PLANS DID THEY ENVISION? A STRIKE TO THE HEART WAS HIS LAST WORDS. HAD I WAITED FIVE SECONDS MORE BEFORE THE SECOND BULLET…MAYBE?

CAPTAIN…GET YOUR MEN AWAY...NOW, I BARKED, FLIPPING MY BADGE, NATIONAL SECURITY…
HIS RADIO BARKED ORDERS. TOO LATE. BODIES FLEW. METAL SAILED INTO TO THE BLUE. I KISSED THE CONCRETE AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. THEN A MEGA-BLAST! DEADLY HURRICANE. NO SMOKE. FIREBALL TO HEAVEN. DUST AND FIREWORKS RAINED DOWN. MY BODY AGAIN ROLLED OVER AND OVER. TOO CLOSE. MY BLACK SHIRT AND PANTS RIPPED TO SHREDS. BLOOD POURING DOWN MY ARM. TOURNIQUET BELT  DANGLING.  BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS! DEATH AND DYING ESCAPED. MIND RACING. NO CLUES. NO FORTUNE TELLER. NO GYPSY SAYING I TOLD YOU SO! MAGIC TRICKS. LOOK HERE, THEN LOOK THERE. SLIGHT OF HAND.  MY LUCK PREDESTINED.

HOW COULD I BE SO STUPID?  THE MAN IN THE BATHROOM…DURING TAKEOFF. HE WAS THE MARTYR, THE BOMB WATCHER. A FLYING BOMB AIMED AT THE HEART OF AMERICA. AIMED? WHERE?  CUT THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE…THE CAPITOL BUILDING. CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT WERE MEETING THERE. MIS-DIRECTED HATE…BAD EXAMPLES. WHAT DID THEY GAIN?  SURELY WE WOULD REACT. IF NOT CUBA OR VENEZUELA THEN WHO? THE LIST WAS TOO LONG, ENEMIES CLOSE TO THE HEART. ENEMIES WITHIN.  ACLU, SDS, MARTIN LUTHER, JOHN & BOBBY’S KILLERS, WHITE POWER, STUDENT PROTESTERS, SONS OF LIBERTY. THEN THE WORLD OFFERED UP MORE, RADICALS, MUSLIMS, COLD WAR, RUSSIANS, POST WAR NAZIS IN ARGENTINA. THE MAP WAS AFLAME WITH SUSPECTS. ONE THOUSAND GUERILLA WARS AIMED AT US.

TOO BAD. WE BELIEVED THE LIES, THE T.V., THE RADIO, AND THE NEWS. THE LITTLE THINGS ADDED UP. GEE! WE WERE SO BLINDED. SPIN-SPIN AND MORE SPIN. WHO KNEW THE TRUTH? WHO EVEN KNEW THE LIES? THE WASHING MACHINE WENT ROUND, THE TRUTH FADED, BLEACHED BY SELF-INTEREST AND POWER. POWER WAS A POWERFUL WEAPON IN WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON KNEW SPIN AND POWER. SLIGHT OF HAND, CARD TRICKS, LIES AND DECEIT. WASHINGTON BROUGHT THE CIRCUS TO TOWN. THEY HAD THEIR OWN HEROES AND SCAPEGOATS. WATCH OUT FOR THE BEARDED LADY. THE NEXT TENT HELD THE REAL CIRCUS. LOOK TO THE WEST. LOOK AWAY. THE EAST WAS THE PRIZE. SHE OFFERED ONLY RICE, WHAT DID WE NEED HER FOR? A TOE IN THE WATER FOR BIGGER WAR PLANS? LOOK WITHIN. WASHINGTON WAS NOT PURE AT HEART. LOOK AWAY. THE WORLD WAS TROUBLED. OUR GOVERNMENT WITH FLAWS, YET SUSTAINED. AMERICA DOZED, WHO TO BELIEVE?

THE SHELL TRICK. WHERE IS THE PEA?
HOLD-ON! KEEP OUR EYES ON THE PRIZE. DIRECT ATTACK? HARDLY. PLANNING FOR MORE? MAYBE. EXAMPLE FOR MORE? MORE MARTYRS? EXPLOSIVE STATEMENT OF POWER.  PLOTS AND SCHEMES…WAR ON A GLOBAL SCALE. TOO STUPID TO SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE. NO CRYSTAL BALL. LOST IN CONVENTIONAL THINKING. TOO LARGE TO IMAGINE. A RETURN TO THE CRUSADES…DEATH TO THE INFIDEL. THE TEMPLES AND CATHOLIC CHURCH AT WAR.  A WAR TO PUT US ASUNDER. GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION AT WAR. WAR IN THE EAST COME HOME. THE PRESIDENT, NOW KING. ABSOLUTE POWER ASTRAY. LOST IN LEGACY. LOST IN PRIDE. NOW LOST IN HISTORY. HISTORY REPEATS. ROME FALLS FROM WITHIN. POWERLESS TO STOP! ONE MAN AGAINST MILLIONS. ONE BAD IDEA, MANY LIES. A WORLD INFLAMED. I DO MY BEST. I DO WHAT I CAN BUT I NEED MORE BULLETS!

THEY SCRUBBED AND SCRAPED GLASS AND METAL FRAGMENTS. A CLEAN WOUND. SHOT CLEAR THRU. ANTISEPTIC. MANY ESCAPED WOUNDS JUST SHOCK. NO NEEDLE FOR PAIN. I COULD NOT. SECRETS TO HIDE. EVEN MORE WERE HIDDEN FROM ME. WHERE IS THE PLAN? WHO IS…?

MY ASS IS GRASS. MORE REPORTS? HOW DID I KNOW? LUCKY GUESS? I TOLD ENOUGH NOT ONE PARAGRAPH MORE. SHIT STORM. MEDIA ATTENTION. TOO PERVERSE. SHARKS AND PIRANHA ATTACKING.  HOSTAGES WENT HOME, BREATHING AND FORGETTING. 

MEDICAL LEAVE, I ASKED FOR.

MICKEY, MY WAR BUDDY, ONE BOTTLE OF JACK DANIELS AND I WENT TO REASON.  THE THREE OF US PLANNED FOR A WAR. CONGRESS WENT TO DENIAL THEN TO COMMITTEE AND SUBPOENA. THE NEWSPAPERS CASHED IN. THE WORLD WENT SPINNING ON. YET, PIMPLES APPEARED. WE THREE  WENT TO WAR. WE WENT UNDERGROUND. WE TALKED. WE SMOOZED. WE DECEIVED THE DEVIL. WE DIDN’T WANT THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE. THE HEART WAS OUR GOAL. NO HEART. NO LIFE. NO HATE. NO SPIN. NO MORE LIES. AN EVEN TRADE. I PAID FOR INFORMATION. HIGH STAKES. HIGH MONEY WAS THE WORD. LOST LAMBS AND CROOKED SHEPHERDS WERE EVERYWHERE. GREED AND CORRUPTION WAS RAMPANT. INFILTRATE, INFURIATE, INFLAME, DEATH FROM WITHIN. SECRET PLOTS AND ASSIGNATIONS. DEATH BY DECEIT. FEWER ENEMIES. FEWER TO HANG FOR TREASON.

BETRAYED BY MANY, TREASONED BY FEW. DEATH IS RARELY CHEATED!

THEY WANTED TO DECLARE WAR. BUT WHO? WHY? EXAMPLES. WARNINGS TO ALL. WHO WAS IN CHARGE? IRON FISTS CAME DOWN. PANIC AND HIDING. OTHERS WORE LOW PROFILES. BLOW OVER? STINK SMELLS. WASH OUR SINS AWAY. COVER OUR TRACKS. HEADS LOOKED OVER SHOULDERS. THE PROPAGANDA AND COVER-UPS BEGAN.

MICKEY FED THE LEAKS. TRUTH BREATHED. RESIGNATIONS FLOURISHED AND JAILS FILLED. CHANGES IN PEOPLE AND POLICIES STILL WANED. THE PUBLIC CRIED OUT. HOW COULD YOU? THE SHAME! OUR NAME RUINED. THE WORLD HELD US TO EXAMPLE. WE HAD BLOOD ON OUR HANDS. WE HAD MACHINATIONS. WE HAD STAINED THE FLAG ON WHICH WE WRAPPED OUR SOLDIERS AND LIES. WE LIED TO OURSELVES AND OTHERS. WORSE WAS THAT WE BELIEVED, AT ALL!

WE WENT BACK TO OUR ROOTS, OUR TREE HAD SOME BAD APPLES. WE HAD LOTS OF FIREWOOD. FERVOR AND PATRIOTISM WERE FERTILE GROUND. WE REMEMBERED THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. AT LEAST, WE REMEMBERED ROME. PEACE AND WAR BECAME TWINS. WE BELIEVED IN ONE, THE OTHER WAS INEVITABLE. THE LEAKS WERE MANY. LEECHES WERE FALLING. THE REAL AMERICA WAS EMERGING, DUSTING OFF. MANY VOICES RAISED. FEW WERE HEARD.

BOB DYLAN’S  SONG SAID, “SOMETHING WAS A-HAPPENING!  LISTEN…” POWER TO THE PEOPLE, STOP THE WAR, ACTIVISM HAD GROWN LEGS. WASHINGTON LOOKED LEFT, WASHINGTON LOOKED RIGHT. HA! A NEW CIRCUS HAD COME TO TOWN.  A NEW LANGUAGE SPOKEN. A NEW CIRCUS MASTER FLUNG HIS SUBPOENA WHIP. 

THE STREETS AND PARKS CAME ALIVE. THE UNDERGROUND HEAVED. SIT-INS, MARCHES, PEACE AND LOVE WAS PREACHED. STILL THE WAR WENT ON. WASHINGTON WAS SCATHED, BUT NOT DOWN.  WIN THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS. NATIONALIZE. DEMOCRACIZE. WE MUST WIN AT ANY COST! THAT WILL BE OUR CASE FOR FREEDOM. THAT WILL BE OUR SHINGLE HUNG. MARCHERS, TRAITORS BE DAMNED. GO TO CANADA YOU SOMABITCHES. DESERT IN BATTLE IF YOU MUST; BUT DON’T COME BACK. WE MUST CONTROL THE NEWS, WE MUST INVENT, AND WE MUST DECEIVE. AGAIN AND AGAIN. THEY CANNOT KNOW THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT PROTECT. SHOW POWER. THROW MONEY AT THE PROBLEM. HIDE THE TRUTH. THEN, WE WILL WIN. WE ARE IN CONTROL. CALL HOOVER, HE CAN SAVE US. HE HAS BOTH THE TRUTH AND THE LIES. CALL THE FBI. CALL THE CIA. CALL THE PENTAGON. WE NEED TROOPS. WE’VE ANOTHER WAR TO FIGHT. REVOLUTION WITHIN. CANNOT BE! COUPE DE TA. COUP DE GRÂCE!



































CHAPTER 3-HOSTAGE!

AMERICA IS NOW A HOSTAGE!


AMERICA IS NOW A HOSTAGE!
SAVE AMERICA. SAVE HER FROM ENEMIES. SAVE HER FROM THOSE WHO GOVERN. SAVE HER FROM THE LOBBYISTS. SAVE HER FROM THE MILITARY COMPLEX. AMERICA IS FOR SALE!

CONGRESS…CHANGE THEIR FOCUS, CHANGE THE BUDGET. CHANGE WHO WE ELECT. CHANGE THE SUPREME COURT. 
THROW THE BUMS OUT!
HEY CONGRESS YOU FORGOT WHO’S IN CHARGE!
WE GOT YOUR NUMBER…YEP, YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE!


THE OTHER SIDE SPEAKS:
BUT, ALAS WE ARE IN CONTROL. WE HAVE THE MONEY AND THE POWER. WHAT DOES THE ORDINARY CITIZEN KNOW?
WE WILL RAZZLE DAZZLE THEM!

TURN BACK EAST NOT HERE. POINT HERE, POINT THERE. SOON THEY WILL GROW SILENT, AS THEY ALWAYS DO. SOON QUIET WILL REIN. CALL THE NATIONAL GUARD. STATES RIGHTS MY ASS! WE FED’S ARE THE MOST POWERFUL. IN GOD WE TRUST AND WE ARE GOD! INFIDELS AND NON-BELIEVERS YOU SHALL PERISH. FIRE UP THE CANNON AND THE TEARGAS. WE ARE COMING. THE MIGHTY ARM OF THE ARMY WILL PREVAIL. WE SHALL BLOW THEM BACK TO THE STONE AGE. WHEN THE DUST SETTLES, WE WILL BE ON TOP. RUSSIA…CUBA …RADICALS, WE WILL SHOW THEM ALL. WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT NOT BY OR FOR BUT TO THE PEOPLE.

BOOM! WE WILL SHOW THEM.
BOOM! WE WILL DESTROY.
BOOM! WE WILL CREATE SOMETHING NEW.
BOOM!…BOOM!... BOOM!
WHO CAN STOP US NOW!

LOOK LEFT, LOOK RIGHT! DUCK! HIDE! OR RUN FOR COVER!

THE END




INDEX-13-AUTHOR BOOKS:
MY NOVELS-FICTION: WRITTEN AND COPYRIGHT:
01-  RED HEART RED LAND-1999
02-  AFFAIRS OF THE HEART-1999-2011
03-  BLONDES AND OTHER DANGEROUS WOMEN-
      2002-2011
04-  RED HEADS…BAD AND BEAUTIFUL! ©-2003-2011
05-  SPIES, THIEVES AND OTHER FRIENDS! -2004
06-    A NOBLE & SAVAGE HEART-2005
07A- THE BOOMERS-2007
07B-  RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES-2011
08-    SOLDIER BOY-PENDING-2011
09-    BONUS BOOK-2011
10-  HOUSE OF CARDS-LAS VEGAS MYSTERY-2005
11-  CREATIVE WRITING: KELLY STYLE-2011
13-  AUGGIE AND BANGER-2011
25-  BULLETS, BUGLES AND CANNONFIRE! -2011

21-CHILDREN’S BOOKS:
21A-DIESEL THE CAT
21B-COSMO-THE COSMOPOLITAN CAMEL
1D-OUR FURRY FAMILY
21C-BARKS & PURRS
21E-PICKLE JUICE
21F-THE DOG AND THE HAT
21G-THE CAT WITH PANT

95-SHORT STORIES/ ARTICLES:
SS-1 FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
SS-2 BOSTON TEA PARTY
SS-3 THE RED WINDOW-2004

CO-AUTHORED:
THE SPIRITUAL PATH
MEDITATION
SPIRITUAL HAPPINESS!



See web site: www.lulu.com/spotlight/kelly775












KELLY CHANCE SERIES OF BOOKS:
INDEX 4:  CAST OF CHARACTERS: BOOK # 
AF=ACTION FIGURES-CHARACTER NUMBERS.

KELLY CHANCE#1 Senior: (AF-1)
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR-1-3-4-9

KELLY CHANCE #2-(AF-21) - JUNIOR- GAU LONG- THE RED DRAGON-CHIN CHEN-CIA AGENT-BOOKS: 6

KELLY CHANCE#3 (AF-36) –III-
LA SOMBRE’-5-
SARGEANT-LIEUTENANT-7-8
SOLDIER BOY-8-NSA AGENT

PRIVATE EYE-3/4, OWNER OF KELLY’S PLACE, BAR AND RESTAURANT, PART-TIME WRITER. LOVES FAST CARS AND FASTER WOMEN. BOLD, DASHING, SHARP DRESSER AND HELPLESS (not hopeless) ROMANTIC. WINE EXPERT. SLEUTH AND AGENT FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT.
SIX FT ONE, 200 POUNDS, BLUE EYES, BLACK HAIR.
PRIVATE EYE & CONTRACT AGENT FOR GOVERNMENT
SMOKES LUCKY STRIKES, CHEWS JUICY FRUIT GUM.
LIKES ART,
WINE EXPERT-OWNS RESTAURANT “KELLY’S PLACE”-3/4
HOUSE: SHANGRI-LA-3/4
LOVES FAST CARS FAST WOMEN.
CARS: NAMES: "RED DRAGON, 1967 CORVETTE-3
CARS:  BEAUTY"-ROBOTIC T-BIRD-4.
CARS: 1936 MERCEDES 2 SEATER CONV. - P9.

BOAT: IS NAMED “EXTRAORDINARY”-3-4

HORSE: MIDNIGHT-WHITE ARABIAN PURE BRED.-BOOK: 5
BOXING, FENCING, MARTIAL ARTS
DISGUISES-ARMS DEALER-MOUSTACHE
COLOGNE: "CHANCE" & "SECOND CHANCE-SHADOW"
NICKNAME: LINDA CALLS HIM "ROCK"-LUCKY.
HE CALLED HIMSELF “PROFESSOR”
INDIAN NAME: BEAR-BOOK:1
FAVORITE PISTOLS: THUNDER & LIGHTNING-9MM-H&K
OTHER PISTOLS: H& K 9MM, BLACK ON BLACK, OR CAMO
FAVORITE DANCE: TANGO-DANCING IN THE DARK
FAVORITE DRINK: VODKA MARTINI, SHAKEN NOT STIRRED, ABSOLUT STRAIGHT UP.
SCAR: INDIAN CUT LIFELINE ON HAND
HIS GOD OF WAR-MARS
FAVORITE MUSIC: ELVIS-
CALLING CARD: JACK OF SPADES
RAISED BY BUDDHIST PRIESTS:

SYMBOLS:
SCALLOP SHELL-SHADOW TATTOO
DRAGON TATTOO
GOLD ROSE-P7-SULTAIN OF BAHARAN


QUOTES:
IN HEARTS, NOT SPADES. (2 CH)
CUSSWORD: “FROMMAGE”-FRENCH FOR CHEESE
RUBIES ALWAYS SHINE IN THE NIGHT-
I NEED MORE BULLETS!

LINDA LOU (AF-2)-BOOK: 3/4/5
ALIASES:
ROSE DARLING (AF-23)-ROSE-THE HAT-BOOK: 7/
BELINDA BELIEU-(AF-45) -BOOK: 6/

NEW LOVE IN KELLY’S LIFE. A  BEAUTIFUL RED-HEAD AND FULL OF PASSION. BALLERINA AND DANCER, ART EXPERT. HEART-MATE AND TRAVEL COMPANION. ADVENTURER AND BUSINESSWOMAN. HOPELESS ROMANTIC.
HEIGHT: 5’-4”-RED HAIR, GREEN EYES
MID FORTIES-FASHION PLATE-BALLERINA
TEACHER-MARTIAL ARTS EXPERT-ART EXPERT
COVER: BUSINESS MANAGER-AGENT OF GOVERNMENT
NICKNAME: KELLY CALLS HER "ROSE"
LUCKY CHARM: DRAGON COIN.
FATHER: RALPH DARLING
MOTHER: LOUISE SHEFFIELD DARLING-“WHEEZY”
GRANDMOTHER: BRITISH
PERFUME: GODDESS

QUOTES:
DANGER ALWAYS COMES IN THREES
LET’S ROCK & ROLL-





















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