The Phoney War; One Death too far.

This post is part of a series of sharing short passages of writing from my published political crime thriller, ‘The Corleone Christ’; showing you some short narratives and introducing some key characters.

If you saw the previous post you’ll have heard a conversation between two FBI officers at the start of an investigation. At this stage, they have an early awareness of an embedded ‘mole’ and a conspiracy. John Green, appointed as lead investigator, warns his senior colleague that he doesn’t need to attend a meeting at the Lincoln Memorial the next day. George Stanhope, wasn’t listening.

John Green, who has travelled to Oklahoma, wakes up the next day and phones his Deputy, Phoenix Shultz………..

‘Phoenix picked up immediately.

“Hi Phoenix, hope you’re, OK? Sorry to bother you. Look, I spoke to George yesterday evening. I’ve just been trying to ring him since 7.30 a.m.; last night he and I agreed I would call him around 10.00 a.m. but there’s been no reply.”

“Ever since I woke and opened my eyes, I’ve been ghosted by the feeling that I must do everything I can and stop him going to the Lincoln Memorial. I spoke to him last night and told him there was no need to go to his meeting with Tranter.”

There was a long pause on the line.

“Hi Phoenix, are you still there?”

Phoenix voice came back, low and slow.

“Hi, John. You gotta brace yourself! There is no easy way for me to say this. I’ve just got to say it. Right?”

“Com’n Phoenix, let it go!”

“We’ve just heard from Anna; George died this morning on his way back from the Lincoln Memorial. We don’t know all the details yet. He did make that journey to the Lincoln Memorial by Metro well before his 9.30 a.m. meeting was due. You’ll know how fastidious he was about being punctual. We’ve confirmed with someone called Suzanne Woodman, a Team Leader in Tranter’s office, that the meeting did happen.”

“Anyway, on the face of it, the story is that George seems to have tripped and fallen off the platform and gone under a Metro train at Foggy Bottom, making his return journey.”

“It’s been one of those stormy, wet November, DC days. We’ve immediately accessed CCTV on the platform and, on the face of it, it does look like George just tripped accidentally.”

“So, given our thoughts on ‘conspiracy’, I’ve asked Esteban Jackson to analyse the footage in more depth from the Lincoln Memorial to the Metro. The platform was incredibly packed and chaotic; I’m banking on him finding an angle for us.”

If you are intrigued and want to know more you can access my website @: gjmann.org. I am also attaching three online purchasing buttons below for your convenience should you want to buy a book. (See Below)