This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Doc never missed a meeting. If anything, he was early.
“Lets’ go ahead and start without him. Robert, can you fill us in on Echo’s departure while we wait?” asked Linda.
“Sure, no problem. As you all know, Echo and her beloved partner Borya were scheduled to board a plane last night in Atlanta, headed for Russia. And I am happy to say all went smoothly. My team reported no problems with airport security.
“Now, I know some disagreed with our decision to send her home. But Karen, Linda, and I believe it will give our voices more weight when we attend the Gathering of Chiefs in November. Where I have been told, in no short terms, the Ghosts tribe will be held accountable.”
I was stunned by Robert’s revelation. Karen had not informed me of this. How would they be held accountable? What happens if they are not? My eyes twitched as I thought of our baby and the chaos it would bring if things fell apart.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
“Karen still in bed?” asked Olivia as she poured another cup of coffee.
“Still there,” replied Christian. “I think the last few days have been a bit much for her.”
“She’s had a lot to deal with, that’s for sure.”
“Let’s not forget she’s nine weeks pregnant,” said Nicky. “Linda, I think it would be a good idea for you to step in until the baby is born.”
“That’s not going to happen anytime soon.”
“Why? She knows the consequences of too much stress. The baby has to come first.”
“Don’t worry, I made her promise to step aside if she misses one doctor’s appointment. And Christian has promised me he will put his foot down if she refuses. Isn’t that right, Christian?”
I said yes with a bit of hesitancy, knowing Karen’s determination to defeat the Ghost tribe had consumed her.
“A little slow with your answer there, Christian,” said Robert. You want to borrow a pair of my pants when you stomp that foot.”
“Funny, says the man who says how high when she says, jump.”
Alright, boys, Linda interjected, “let’s get this meeting started. Donnie, if you will, step out of the room and call Doc again, it’s not like him to be late.”
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
After a bit of silence, he continued. “Her eye’s sparkled before the drugs. She was funny, warm––caring. I couldn’t help but love her. You would have liked her, Christian.”
“I saw you standing alone in the rain as we pulled away from the funeral. That’s how I knew. Love does that to a man. Makes him stand in the rain––makes him do a lot of things he would never do for another.”
He looked up, eyes tearing; finding it hard to show emotion like most men.
“Ready to get out of here?” I said, giving him an out.
“Not yet. You go ahead.”
“You sure?”
“I just need some time to clear my head.”
“I’ll see myself out then.”
“Christian, you really would have liked her.”
I nodded and walked away.
Reaching the stairs, I pushed the up button, causing them to rise, their sound unable to silence the wailing from below.”
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
“Karen, this is Linda. Jill is nowhere to be found! Security footage shows her leaving the tunnel for home right after we all met in my office. No one has seen her since. I had Donnie search the house, and he found clothes scattered across the bed and a small suitcase left in the hallway, causing me to believe she’s fled.”
Standing slowly, with conviction, Karen turned to point at two words on the wall. “Dark Night, that’s why I brought you here; that’s why I wanted Jill to be here. To confront her. To make her squirm at the scratches of a trapped soul who tried to warn us. I think Jill used drugs to flip Kate’s loyalty toward the outliers, which led to her addiction. And she will pay for that If I ever find her. Elysians are family, and I don’t like traitors.”
“Karen, did you copy my last transmission?”
“Christian, tell her I’m going to my office and do not want to be disturbed.”
“Linda, this is Christian; she did. Thank you. She left for her office and does not want to be disturbed.”
“Okay, I’ll wait to hear from her.”
Doc looked at me for a moment, then said, “That’s must be why Karen came here last night with her camera.”
“She did tell me she was troubled by Jill’s answers during their interview yesterday, but still, she had no idea the plan was called dark night until this morning.
“Intuition, I guess. Kate and Jill became close friends after they started hanging out at a local bar. I went with them one night and hated it. She seemed distant after that, and our friendship fell apart. I tried to help her when I found out about the drugs but failed every time, just like I did in this room.”
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
She lied, saying nothing along the way, leaving us both confused. “Thanks for the update, Chief,” said Doc sarcastically as we entered the stairway.
Descended to the hidden rooms below, we stepped into Kate’s and sat quietly on the bed, waiting for the empty chair across from us to be filled until an urgent voice exploded from the radio.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
The conversation around the table took on a more serious tone as time moved forward.
“Linda, please let the women’s club know how much I appreciate their hard work.”
“I will.”
“Doc, you look tired. Should I assume things did not go as planned?”
“No, we got what we needed. Robert has the highlights. And Nicky will have a complete transcript for you by noon.”
“In that case, Robert, If you’re ready, I’m all ears.”
After taking a quick sip of coffee, he opened his notebook. “Chief, we worked Echo’s memories and placed Mitch under like you asked. Our cyber team is verifying the information as we speak but what I am about to tell you is fact as far as I’m concerned.
Both Borya and Echo were isolated from other Ghost members for well over two years before coming to America. This was done to keep crucial information from being read if captured. In Borya’s case, it worked. However, Echo was a different story.”
“How so?”
“She may be a bimbo, as you said, but her skills of seduction have served her well. While Borya was training for their mission as instructed. Echo was sleeping with a Ghost security officer, who gave up money and memories with every encounter. So it is with great confidence that I tell you over half the tribal Chiefs have aligned themselves with Ghost; twenty right here in the good ole USA. Including our friends from Texas. It appears the doppelganger videos were being used as a scare tactic to get Chiefs still sitting on the fence to join. And finally, with or without the remaining tribe’s approval, “Operation Dark Night” will take place by the end of the year.”
“I have two questions. Were all tribes asked to join the outliers?”
“No”
“In that case, what criteria was used to pick the ones who were?”
“I’m not sure?”
“Linda, Robert, pick up Jill Hanson and place her in Kate’s cell. We’ll meet you there.”
“Kate’s scratches are all over the walls,” I interjected. It’s a hellish place to put someone who was friends with her.
“Christian, I am fully aware of the room’s appearance.”
“Then why do it?”
“Because I want something out of her, she will not give up anywhere else. Doc, are you ready to go?”
Looking up from a fresh plate of scrambled eggs, he said, “Sure, where to?”
“I’ll assume your lack of sleep prevented you from comprehending the conversation we just had in this room, so follow us, and I will fill you in on the ride over. Christian, you drive.”
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
A hint of bacon wafted through the air as we entered Robert’s office.
“Karen, Christian,” said Linda, “come have a seat at the table. And Robert, there will be no business discussed for the next thirty minutes; Olivia’s orders.”
Robert nodded and smiled as we took our place with the others.
“This meal is for all of us, of course, but Olivia wanted to bring special attention to Christian. The man who she said, and I quote, ‘Saved my son’s life.’ And it’s true. Had Christian not touched Borya at the dairy. Lex and Cathy may have very well been killed. So, without further ado, I give you this plate, Christian, of which I know nothing other than Olivia said you would understand.”
Removing the cover, a tear rolled down my face as I looked upon a single homemade donut with two eyes and a smile, with the words “I love you” written in chocolate beneath. “Mom used to make donuts like this. Tell Olivia the message was received.”
“I will,” she replied, wiping the tear from my cheek with her thumb.
Nothing else was said for a few seconds as everyone sat silent, most likely thinking about their own mothers. Linda finally broke the silence. “A beautiful meal for us all, don’t you think?”
Doc agreed, and our early morning breakfast continued as Karen placed her hand on mine. “I bet you were a handsome little hero in your superman cape.”
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Picking up the radio, she responded, “I am. And please tell me you have good news.”
“Afraid not, Doc and I want to meet with you as soon as possible.”
“Can it wait until after breakfast?”
“Already have that covered. Linda is on her way with a basket full of food courtesy of the Woman’s Club. And tell Christian Olivia made something special for him.”
“I will.”
“What to you think it is?” I asked.
“Your guess is as good as mine”
On our way over, I felt like a kid consumed with thoughts of an unknown gift.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Karen stayed in her office overnight, talking with tribal leaders. All claiming to be allies, never knowing, she knew better. It had become a game of wits and primal instinct at this point, with no clear winner by morning, but one thing was made clear. While the spies, one dead, one alive, would be sent back home. The same courtesy would not be extended to others, regardless of their tribal affiliation. The meeting with Jill Hanson had also proved disappointing. Skin contact revealed nothing, and her answers were troubling.
“So you believe she is hiding memories via a hypnosis technique. How is it even possible?”
“Christian, Look at it as a redacted memory, stored within her DNA.”
“Can you do it?”
“I know of the technique via my ancestral memories but have no idea how it is done. It was only in the realm of a few who used it to their advantage, just as they are today.”
“So the Chief of Ghost has a pedigree in this realm. And actively used it against us.”
“I like the way you think, but no. Denis is not pure in any way, shape, or fashion. He is a terrible excuse for a man and a pitiful chief.”
“Then how did he ever become chief?”
“How does any weak man, or woman, for that matter, become chief?”
“They––.”
“They don’t. Denis is just a puppet. The puppet masters, I do not know. Now If you don’t mind, I would like to change the subject. After all, this should be a joyful time for us, but here we are, having to deal with outliers and a possible blackout. It’s a lot to take in, and truthfully, I can’t believe you haven’t fled. You’ve only had five weeks of sporadic training in a world that’s falling apart as we speak. And I’m afraid there is nothing I can do to stop it.”
Placing my fingers over her lips, I replied as her knight in shining armor, “I’ll stop it for you, my fair lady.”
Laughter filled the room before the last syllable left my tongue. It continued as we tried to kiss without success.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Timothy French 