“The note said:
In keeping with the tradition I set for myself, I won’t offer my congratulations, but only an observation. You somehow managed to pull it off again.
“Well, it looks like ‘the next time’ has come. Martin loves to gloat, and his gloating is what put Bellamy on the case. Did Rick get into any specifics as to what Martin has to do with the crazy weather?”
“He got more than specific, Matt, he even has drilled down into the technical details. But then he hit a brick wall. I suggest that we meet with Rick Bellamy as soon as possible. The weather, as we all know, has moderated and is approaching normal. We have no idea what this means, but thanks to Bellamy, we know who to focus on.”
“I understand that the Stargazer space station was supposed to be resupplied this week, but the supply rocket blew up right after it launched. That was the only rocket that Rosetta ever lost. What does Bellamy think about that, Dee?”
“Rick thinks that Martin and his people destroyed the rocket. Matt, The Reformers have taken the gloves off. Bartholomew Martin wants to occupy this office again, and it looks like he’s ready to destroy a good part of the world to pull that off.”
“Is anybody else in on these details?”
“I think you know me better than that, Matt. I’m the only one who knows about Bellamy’s findings, and Rick wants to keep it that way.”
“Do you think he’s even kept it from his wife, Ellen? She’s sharp as hell and a patriot to boot. I wonder if she knows about all of this.”
“Although it hasn’t been made public, Rick appointed Ellen as a deputy FBI agent, with Sarah Watson’s full support. Discretion is in her DNA, Matt. If she knows something don’t expect to see it on The Ellen Bellamy Show, unless it’s an intentional hook to drag out some information from a guest. Although nobody knows it, especially the management at NBC, Ellen often uses lures that Rick gives her to get information for the government. They remind me of us—they’re a team.”
Chapter 48
August 8
“How about a road trip, hon, specifically tomorrow?” I said to Ellen.
“I’m booked solid for the next two weeks, Rick. Some heavy-hitters are scheduled to be on the show. I don’t see how I can get away. Where’s the destination, anyway?”
“The White House. President Blake specifically requested that you be with me. I’m sure the president knows that I’ve brought you in on everything that’s going on. Because you’re a deputy FBI agent, you have top-secret clearance. Besides that, you also have the blessed ‘need to know,’ the other key to unlock the secret drawer. You need to know because I need you to know. Just like Dee Blake is to Matt Blake, you’re my top advisor. I need you to know what’s going on, so you can help me figure it out. Matt once told me that you remind him of Dee. I’d take that as quite a compliment. I know that nobody can take your place, but your producers have a mile-deep list of people wanting to sit in for you, although nobody’s got a dimple as cute as yours.”
“Obviously, I can’t refuse, Rick. Is there anything new on the Stargazer issue that I should know about?”
“Yes. We just found out about this, and it’s not pleasant. It seems that the Stargazer is in a total communication blackout. Neither the Rosetta Corporation nor the United States government can connect with the station. Another major issue is that the food supply rocket that was due to launch blew up a couple of minutes after take-off. The Rosetta people tell me that the two astronauts have at most a couple of weeks of food left. Unless they can be resupplied those two will die of starvation, a pretty nasty way to go. We’re almost certain that this is an intentional act. Somebody wants the Stargazer to fail, just like somebody wants to screw with the world’s weather.”
“I suppose I shouldn’t ask this, Rick, but do we have any idea who’s behind this stuff?”
“I’ll give you a hint. He was the 46th President of the United States.”
“Bartholomew Martin?”
“The one and only.”
“Holy shit.”
“I agree, holy shit. First, he tried to turn the country into his own private kingdom, and now he wants to control the weather. Bartholomew Martin is the most dangerous man the country has ever faced, and he’s showing no signs of retiring with his wealth. A lot of people think that he’s painted a target on Matt Blake’s back. When Blake defeated him in a landslide, Martin launched a never-ending vendetta. Martin wants President Blake out, and he’s willing to destroy the world to pull it off. The only people who know that Martin is behind all this shit is you, me, the Blakes, and of course, Buster.”
“Bartholomew Martin has two big problems on his hands, Rick—you and me. Let’s nail that prick.”
“Yes, let’s nail him. I can picture him in Kurdistan now, composing the next act in his opera.”
Chapter 49
August 9
“Douglas, please give me your report on the replacement supply pod for Stargazer.”
“We’re right on schedule, Bartholomew. When the pod is within about 2,000 feet of Stargazer they will be able to communicate using shortwave radio. The launch is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.”
“Weather permitting?” Martin said, laughing.
“Two of our own astronauts will be on the mission,” Douglas said, “Mark Jackson and Jerome Laub. Because everybody involved speaks English with an American accent, I don’t expect that they will arouse any suspicions.”
“After they’re done onloading the supplies, Douglas, what will be the mission for Jackson and Laub?”
“They will take over as the Stargazer astronauts.”
“And what will become of Cranston and Mullin?”
“They will be killed, and their bodies disposed of in space. Jackson and Laub will use pistols with silencers and blunt bullets. Despite conventional wisdom, handguns work perfectly well in a weightless environment. Because of the blunt bullets and the closeness of the firing positions, we’re not worried about a round ricocheting and piercing the skin of the spacecraft.”
“Have you prepared for the likelihood that Rosetta will realize that its astronauts have been replaced?”
“When we reopen the communications, it will be by text communication only. We’ll explain that we want to use written messages to avoid mistakes. Rosetta will never know that its astronauts were terminated and, with our own men in place, we’ll be ready to command the satellites.”
“Excellent, Douglass. It will be the beginning of a new world. Alert me when the launch is about to take place. I want to be in our media room to observe it. Our mission will soon be accomplished.”
Chapter 50
August 10
“Bill, radar shows an object approaching us about five miles away, probably a spacecraft.”
“Stargazer, Stargazer, this is Food Truck One, come in please,” came the voice over the shortwave radio.
Bill Cranston was about to reply when Nancy Mullin grabbed his hand and shook her head.