The Prometheus Effect (27 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

January 3
^rd
2021

Joshua awoke the next morning and had already turned on his television before the sleep was rubbed out of his eyes. He was intrigued to see how the state were going to play down the extraordinary events of the previous evening. An innocent but angry man was possibly gunned down on live television, unarmed. Somehow, Joshua knew that the shocking episode would be clouded with more lies.

“
Who is James Stock? A solitary man, a social outcast and according to psychological reports filed last year, a 'dangerously deluded individual and a potential danger to the public'. How Stock escaped the net is a matter for discussion but it is not only his mental health issues which have been unearthed in the quest to find out more about this crazed gunman and would be assassin.”

Joshua was greeted by the expected attempt to dishonour and discredit Jimmy. What would they unearth that was so abhorrent, so repellent that it would regain the absolute trust that the government seemed to have previously engendered.

“
Sources in the Kremlin have revealed that James Stock was in fact born Konstantin Pavlov, a Russian national and former KGB agent. The Prime minister today thanked the Russian President for the 'timely response' to information requests regarding Pavlov and his transparency in the revealing of details regarding former hit-man. Speculation exists over the true meaning of the assassination attempt, but many believe Pavlov was opposed to the Prime Minister's leading role in the repelling of the alien threat and the attempted hit was purely an act of envious patriotism. Further to earlier updates on the Prime Minister's condition, it is believed that a gunshot wound, previously thought to be serious is now known to be superficial and doctors expect a full recovery. The Prime minister was unable to comment at this time and is recovering at home. An MI5 officer who has yet to be formally named was reported to be shot dead by Pavlov who himself died of his injuries later last night. The officer bravely used his body as a human shield in an attempt to save the Prime minister's life. His family have been informed.”

Joshua shook his head in dejection as he lay in bed, the sun beginning to rise outside turning his wallpaper pink with its morning rays. He knew that the government would think of something to besmirch Jimmy's good name but to present him as a KGB hit-man was almost laughable. He supposed however, that being such a solitary man, it was not as if many others would come forward and denounce the lies. It also angered Joshua that it was very clear that the first shots were fired not by Jimmy who was at no point even seen with a weapon. He very much hoped that the public would believe what they saw with their own eyes rather than the fairytale that the government had conjured. Somehow, Joshua knew that Jimmy's last stand would live short in the memory and the alternative history of his life would no doubt be backed up by falsified records and testimony.

Lifting his collar to put on his tie, Joshua prepared for work as if it were any other day, but somehow with the new editors in place and submissions for the first edition of the year to be put forward for scrutiny, he could feel that this was going to be no ordinary shift.

There was an unfamiliar chime, it was Joshua's newly installed land-line telephone. Believing the call to be from the telecoms service as no-one as yet knew his number, he was preparing to give them an earful for calling at such an early hour whether he was out of bed already or not.

“
Hello Joshua, you're an easy man to track down.”

It was clearly the voice of Coffey and the crackly line reinforced the fact.

“
How the bloody hell did you get this number?” Joshua asked, incredulous.

“
Oh, you're underestimating the powers of my friends. I knew you were moving so we just looked up the records for new subscriptions in the London area and found your details.”

“
You make it sound easy.”

“
Well, like I said, I have some competent friends. I also hear that there was some drama on TV last night?”

“
You're so clued up I'm surprised you haven’t figured out how to sort this whole mess out yet?”

“
Well, it's a digital world these days. We get bored with local television. Exciting though wasn't it?”

“
Before you stick your foot in it any more Roger I should tell you that I knew Jimmy Stock well and I'm devastated. It's all bullshit, you know that?”

“
Well I knew the bullshit part. Sorry for being so crass, I didn’t know. What's the link?”

“
I met him by chance but used him for my research. He was a genuinely down to earth guy who had an awful experience. I saw him at Christmas and convinced him that it was a fraud. I never expected anything like this.”

“
Don't be too hard on yourself, I know you think that your somehow to blame but in a way Stock's death has caused a tiny ripple in a large pond. The ripple gets bigger and you don't know yet how far it will go.”

“
Assuming this line is secure as it can be, any news?”

“
We're working on a number of things. We're building bridges internationally, finding out what's out there to work with. There's a fair amount of hysteria in the less developed countries. It seems the level of control across the globe isn’t that of the U.S. or the U.K. I guess the red sky really put wind up the natives. Unfortunately any country with the power to inflict change and the means to do so are thoroughly embroiled in the whole affair. International flights are still grounded as I’m sure you know so don't pack your bags yet. If things get too hot for you there I'd get hold of a boat and paddle to Spain, we hear the government are ready to collapse there.”

“
That's a comfort. I have a few avenues to explore here but they are risky. There might be someone who can help me put something in place but it would a 'Hail Mary' pass as you Yanks would say. Once it's done it's done and I'm as good as done. Anyway, don't get your hopes up, it's still a long shot and not sure if it's feasible.”

“
Sounds promising but don't take any unnecessary risks. We don't have to crack this in a day but in the light of recent events maybe a follow up revelation or two could be effective.”

“
Well in this case, it could be now or never anyway. I'll let you know the score next time you ring.”

“
OK my friend. If there's anything we can do here? I have a few leads that we are acting upon, maybe I can supply you with fresh intel before your last hurrah?”

“
Thanks, might be useful. I would say I'd call but...”

“
I'll ring you every evening at some point although I can't guarantee when. Sorry if I get you out of bed, you think it's early where you are? Would love you to take my call but if you're busy then don't stress.”

“
OK Roger, take care of yourself.”

“
You too, and don't take any unnecessary risks. Be patient!”

Roger's relaxed style aided Joshua no end and he wished he could take some of that unflappable suave and use it himself. Joshua was fortunate to have such an able accomplice, if anything, the conversations reinforced Joshua's fighting spirit and eased the load from his shoulders. The coming days would be telling, Joshua might not live to see the end of the week and the possibilities were tormenting the young reporter. Joshua remembered Sarah and reminiscing brought back the fire in his belly and the will to carry on.

Joshua pulled his tie on tight and wrapped his jacket around his shoulders. He had an important person to see that may or may not have the will to aid him in his quest. He had to play it right or he could lose his position and end up powerless to make the difference he yearned.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

Tampa, Florida

January 3
^rd
2021

Roger Coffey paused, waiting for Joshua to hang up.

“
OK, Roger?”

“
Thank you Bradley.” Coffey replied.

“
Are you OK to meet up at 2? Can we do meeting place number 3 today, I have to get some groceries and the wife will kill me if I forget. I can pick them up on the way back.”

“
Sure, 2 o'clock, I can make that. Anything new?” Coffey looked at his watch as he planned how much sleep he could get before the more important matters of the day.

“
Yeah, we're pretty excited by this but I won't spoil it for you.”

“
Sounds great, see you at 2 then.”

Roger hung up and disengaged the bulky mobile phone device before stuffing it in his jacket pocket.

Sporting a thick beard, shaggy hair and dark sunglasses, Coffey could easily be mistaken for a vagrant as he sat in his dilapidated vehicle, a wreck of a old Chevy. It was his home for the time being and afforded him the ability to keep on the move and provided the most modest of shelters. Parked on the summit of a hill overlooking the city, it was dark and very cold. Coffey reached back and flattened the seat as far as it would go and placed his loaded Glock pistol on the passenger seat next to him. He closed his eyes and folded his arms across his chest in an effort to retain some body heat. He envisaged himself back in his king-size bed, at home with his Bulldog, Buzz snoring and grunting loudly next to him. He even missed the globular puddle of drool as he rolled over in the morning but certainly did not miss the disturbing flatulence of the barrel shaped companion. The car was silent, almost too silent for his tastes and it was very dark under the overcast skies.

Like many others affected by the crisis, he wanted his old life back, and a time when things were still simple. His single ray of hope was the friendship he had built with his loyal comrades. They given him purpose and a reason to continue the fight.

Roger Coffey had met Bradley Vandenberg and his associate Chuck Thomas in the most delicate of circumstances. Bradley and Chuck had pursued Coffey for a number of days like many others, however their motives were purely benign. Without Bradley and Chuck, Coffey may still have been living in the Kissimmee National Park, barely surviving in the harshness of the winter period.

Bradley and Chuck were intelligence officers working for the CIA. Formerly part of a team of analysts monitoring clandestine organisations and practice amongst the better known societies such as the Masonic orders. They were positioned well to receive information which might be useful in vetting political players and monitoring the jostling for power which happened on a day to day basis both at home and abroad. Many of the orders, both historic such as the more famous Illuminati and Knights Templar and the new were often more about myth than reality. Their semi religious activities were often pompous, tradition based meetings where the ever changing hand shake or sign would gain admittance. They were exclusive hierarchical clubs, often borne out of the University scene and more often than not, although strong in their ideological beliefs, were generally harmless.

Bradley Vandenberg and Chuck Thomas were an integral part of the team which began to investigate a new, separate and highly secretive order in the spring of 2019. A distinct group of people from the elite of the world's nations were gradually being tied into an investigation which had began from the seeds sown during a financial report into the affairs of three of the world's largest oil companies. From the ashes of a lengthy investigation from which economic investigators had drawn blanks, suddenly an intriguing series of connections were beginning to flourish between discrete players across the world who had no business being connected with each other. The revelation that a then US presidential candidate was one of these few sparked a series of high level meetings and seemed the perfect spark to ignite a blaze of enlightenment. It was however, to Bradley and Chuck's amazement and outrage that within days, the team was disbanded and they were transferred to another unit tracking religious cults along the eastern seaboard. To the curious agents, this was an unprecedented move which seemed incongruous to previous agenda's. They smelled a rat and unlike others who might voice their disgust, they had agreed to keep the outrage to themselves and use their resources when possible to continue their previous work.