New Original Historical Fiction - Common Interests: A 9/11 Novel - Chapter 6
A historical fiction narrative surrounding the crimes of 9/11. Published exclusively on Steemit at the moment! A paperback will be available in May.
Above image courtesy of wikimedia
This is a fictional narrative wrapped around the real crimes of the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 2008 financial crisis. A smattering of other real events, institutions, entities, and people have also been included.
Chapter 6
One Week Later
Booz Allen Hamilton Offices
Washington DC
Dov Zakheim thought it would be just another typical Tuesday at the office. He was happy to still be working in the private sector after so many years grinding away in the public arena of the DC megalith. He greeted everyone with kind eyes and a judicious smile as he made his way towards his plush little corner of the corporate world. He stopped at his secretary’s desk to see if there was anything urgent on the agenda. Paula stroked her brown curls, smiled, and said, “No, pretty slow day so far, sir.”
Dr. Z nodded and casually walked into his office. He set his briefcase down, stretched, yawned, and glanced at his desk. Well organized, meticulous, but wait, what’s this hand written note dead center of everything in red ink? He was curious and picked up the note which read, “Lovey Dovey, it’s been too long. Rock Creek Park. Noon. Alone. F”
“Shit,” Dr. Zakheim said under his breath as he grabbed his chest. He picked up his desk phone and rang Paula. “Paula, was anyone in my office this morning?”
She took a moment to consider, then came back with an authoritative, “No, sir. Not that I’m aware of.” A typical secretary in a typical office might ask why, but this was no typical office. Booz Allen Hamilton was one of the contractors that handled communications surveillance for Uncle Sam. Working there was a gray area, not really in the intelligence field, but not officially out, either. So questions were kept to a minimum.
Dov slammed the phone down and his cartoon face turned red and his neatly trimmed mustache twisted. He didn’t know what this impromptu meeting was about, but he knew it was something that probably led down a dark tunnel.
2 hours later
Rock Creek Park
Dov walked briskly to try and stay warm. Who the hell asks for a meeting outside in the middle of winter? Fucking Frank. After a few minutes, he decided to take a seat on a park bench. It was 12:03. He knew Mr. C would find him. Crazy spook. In spring or summer, he normally would have had a splendid view of the park, with plenty of greenery to admire. But not now. Fucking Frank.
“You’re late,” Frank said from behind. Dov got spooked and damn near jumped out of his seat. He turned around. Frank was dressed in a dark suit, as usual. Always the consummate professional.
“What the hell, Frank? Why are you always so damned creepy? Why did you break into my office? Couldn’t we just meet at the office? Or at least in a coffee shop, where it’s warm?”
Carlucci gave a snicker and said, “It’s good to see you, too, Lovey Dovey.”
“Fuck you, Frank. Tell me what this is all about so I can stop freezing my nuts off.”
The dark-suited figure took a seat next to Dr. Zakheim. “The last thing I would want is for such an esteemed character like you, Dr. Z, to freeze his family jewels off, so I’ll get right to it. I need a favor.”
Z responded, “I’m so shocked. Can you be more specific?”
Frank leaned in close and whispered, “I need a little info. Someone high up in DOD that’ll be, how shall we say, flexible. I’ll need someone high in congress, too.”
Dr. Z raised a dark eyebrow and said, “Is that all?”
“For now,” Frank said.
“Goodbye, Frank.”
“Thanks, Dovey.”
Stay tuned for more.....