The Night Gods II- Chapter XX: A Dangerous Man Part 1
Artwork by @marty-art on Steemit... With many thanks
Although Denning was satisfied for the most part with Wade's diversion, he was afraid it may not be enough. That damned Shoemaker and that bitch girlfriend of his had to get the Womacks involved... just when the whole thing had begun to die down. He paced the private quarters in the West Wing wanting to call Przybysz for a diversion of another kind, but didn't want to risk it. He needed Przybysz' talents- but talents of a different kind... it would also serve to test his loyalty. Przybysz showed up expecting to be sent on one of Denning's perverse errands...
"Przybysz," Denning began, "I have an assignment... a very important one."
"How old this time?" Przybysz asked in a tired voice.
"Not this time," Denning replied, to Przybysz' relief. "I have something more in line with your other skills- something that should prove more to your liking."
"What is it?" Przybysz asked.
"I need to know something first," Denning said. "How much can I trust you... How much can Lockhart trust you?"
"What's this about?" Przybysz asked, his curiosity growing.
"Shoemaker," Denning said. "He's out to take us down... All of us. Do you think he'll be satisfied with just me? He won't stop until he gets us all... me, you, Lockhart, all of us... And if I go down, we all go down."
"What do you want me to do?" Przybysz asked trying his best to sound sincere.
"Take him out," Denning said bluntly. "I don't care how you do it... I just want him gone."
"And the girl?"
"I don't care," Denning shrugged.
"If something happens to him, she won't let up until..." Przybysz didn't get a chance to finish.
"Better get her too then," Denning said.
"What about the Womacks?" Przybysz was fishing.
"Jesus Christ, Przybysz," Denning laughed. "You can't kill everybody."
"I just wanted to know how far you wanted me to go with this," Przybysz told him.
"Only as far as you have to... you're supposed to be the expert."
"All right," Przybysz got up to leave.
"All right, what?" Denning asked crossly.
"What do you mean?" Przybysz knew exactly what he meant.
"I'm the fucking President," Denning shouted. "Show some respect for the office- if not for me."
"Ok," Przybysz replied. He turned as he got to the door: Mr. fucking President."
"Insolent prick," Denning spat when he had gone. he picked up his phone and called Duke Wade.
"Duke, I want you to check with NSA... I want you to trace every call that comes or goes from Przybysz' phones for the next couple hours," he said.
"Yes, Sir," Wade replied. "Anything in particular you're looking for?"
"No," Denning said back. "I just want a record of all calls, cell, home, office... everything- incoming and outgoing."
"Very well, Sir," Wade said. "I'll be in touch in a couple of hours, Mr. President."
Denning hung up thinking; 'Przybysz could learn a thing or two about respect from that guy.'
When he was safely away, Przybysz took out his secure phone and made a call...
"Dick, Prz," he said, "I've got something for you."
"What's up buddy?" Dick asked.
"I just came from a meeting with Denning." Przybysz went on hurriedly, "It's Bret Shoemaker- Denning wants him gone."
"Gone?" Dick asked.
"You know what I'm talking about," Przybysz responded. "The girl too, Lena... he wants this over- whatever it takes."
"You know this isn't going to go away," Dick said back. "It's gone way too far."
"I didn't expect it would," Przybysz said. "Is there somewhere we can meet?"
"Can you make it here without being tailed?" Dick asked.
"Yeah, of course," Przybysz said.
Dick gave him directions to the townhouse and then called the Crew together along with Bret, Lena and the Senator. He had told them about his meeting with Przybysz but not of the substance... he read them in so there wouldn't be any surprises when Przybysz showed up. The Womacks were there too.
At the White House, Denning got the call he was waiting for...
"Mr. President," it was SecDef, Duke Wade.
"Yes Duke," Denning replied, "do you have what I asked for?"
"Yes Sir," Wade said. "There was only one call- from Victor Lockhart. He wants Przybysz to fly to New York for a meeting tomorrow."
"That's it?" Denning pressed the SecDef for more. "No one else?"
"No Sir," Wade responded, "no one."
"Ok, Duke, thanks," Denning said.
"Yes, Sir. Is there anything else?" Wade asked.
"No, Duke, that's it for now," Denning said. "Thanks again."
In Georgetown, Przybysz showed up at Dick's townhouse to find the Crew anxiously waiting.
"Prz," Dick said when they were all seated in the living room, "this is Bret Shoemaker, his fiancee Lena Cedeno, Senator Ashby's aide. The Senator I'm sure you recognize, Jim, Ann and Ann's brother David- my family."
After introductions Przybysz approached Bret: "So, you're Bret Shoemaker, nice to meet you. I'm the guy that's supposed to kill you," he said with a laugh.
Bret was a little taken aback: "Nice to meet you too- it's not every day you get to meet your own assassin."
"Look," Przybysz said seriously. "We've got to do something to keep these kids safe. Denning won't stop until Bret's dead... Lena too."
"Any ideas, Prx?" Dick asked.
"I've got to fly to New York tomorrow for a meeting with Lockhart- that'll buy a little time. When I get back, Denning will expect me to make the hit."
"What if you don't come back from New York?" Lean asked
"I have to," Przybysz told her. "If I don't you're in bigger danger than before... besides, I'm as dedicated to taking this bastard down as any of you."
"What's this to you, if you don't mind me asking?" It was Jim.
"I guess you might as well know it all," Przybysz responded. "You know Denning's a pervert... you know from the episode with Melissa..."
"So it was Denning behind our daughter's murder?" Larry Womack cut in.
"I can't say positively, but it has to be him... why else would he go to such lengths to thwart the investigation?"
"Mr. Przybysz," Bret asked, "you really wouldn't have...?"
Przybysz laughed heartily: "What kind of hitman would I be if I went around warning my targets?"
"Anyways," Przybysz continued, "like I was saying, Denning's a freak- a really dark one... You know what happened between him and Melissa. Now it's kids, teens... and it's not just sex and beatings... Now the guy's turned into a walking snuff film."
They all looked at him aghast. Ann spoke first: "You mean he's..."
"Yeah," Przybysz cut her off. "And I'm stuck with cleaning up his mess... So believe me- I want this over much, much more than you do."
They sat for awhile letting it all sink in. No wonder Przybysz had switched sides.
"Why don't you just turn him in?" Lena asked.
"He's the President of the United States," Senator Ashby put in. "Do you have any idea what that would do to the office itself... look at what Nixon's little escapade did to erode public trust... and that was nothing, mostly fabricated and blown up by the media. Can you imagine what something of this magnitude would do? It would destroy the country- we've got to find another way."
"Bret," Dick said turning to the journalist, "this doesn't leave this room... agreed?" Dick looked around the room- everyone nodded assent.
"I'm going up to New York in the morning. I'll be back by evening... just go on like I was never here," Przybysz told the group. "Denning won't expect anything for a few days anyway... maybe I can come up with something in between."
They said their goodbyes and Bret walked Przybysz to the door. "I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Przybysz."
"You can start by calling me Prz," he told the nervous journalist. "Don't look so worried... it will all turn out- believe me."
"Ok, Prz," they shook hands and Przybysz left.
(For links to previous chapters- go to Chapter XV)
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xv-the-boogeyman
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xvi-wars-and-rumors-of-wars
https://steemit.com/writing/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xvii-blood-of-the-innocent
https://steemit.com/writing/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xviii-connecting-the-dots
https://steemit.com/writing/@richq11/the-night-gods-ii-chapter-xix-the-night-the-lights-went-out-in-georgia
GIF by @papa-pepper
Keep the chapters coming!
After you write "The End", will this be available somehow as a book?
Sure, I'll sell you all my notebooks lol! Seriously, I haven't thought that far ahead. To tell the truth I see myself as kind of a beginner when it comes to writing.
I do everything by hand (pen & paper) I tried to write dialogue on the comp and it seemed really wooden. I find that if I write it by hand it flows better. I would love for this to be good enough to become a book... I can see some improvement in my writing, but a book...
I'd buy it.
Wow... I didn't think it was that good. Maybe I should try to do it!
Me too, hopefully i will have enough money to come over and buy the hardcopies.....😎
I had a feeling that Prz would switch sides!
Wait until part 2 ;-}
oooohhhhh
You're doing great stuff here!
Part 2 tomorrow (and it's a pip) Big surprise on the way!!! I woke up at 2:30 this morning and tried to go back to sleep but the wheels started turning. I got up, had some coffee and wrote most of this... all of part 2 and over half of Chapter XXI. When you're in the flow... Thanks, I didn't know you were even reading them lol!!!
Loving this Epic suspense, this guy Przybysz is gonna be the end of President Denning...
All my fingers crossed!
Just wait until tomorrow!!!!
Short but stunning, you're messing with our minds, @richq11
But I like that in a book :)
@ocrdu mentioned in the comments he (she?) would buy the book - I would too, and would even go as far as be willing to lay-out it - if you would ever want to, of course. Distribute it via print-on-demand, and there you go: (self)published!
If you know how to do it... it's a deal!
I know how to do that, and I would find it truly awesome, any way I can contact you via email? You can contact me via [email protected] take care!
I looked at your email and it scared the hell out of me lol! I wouldn't know what to type in... So I think maybe you ought to contact me [email protected]
I've been up all night thinking about this... we have to incorporate part one (which is basically a short story). I'm really excited!
Cool, will mail you within a couple of hours, got some errands to run first!
Mail sent!
Thanks Buddy... reply sent!
Prz surprise me in this chapter, but I'll wait the second part to understand better ^^
Dear friend, if you realize a book from this, I want a copy! I'm not an expert and I've never done, but as marty-art wrote you can use print-on-demand sites or you can publish an e-book ^^
Marty and I are going to collaborate I hope... This is going to be a lot of work. I still have to keep posting to make money. A book is a totally different format- here I have to keep things short so people will read it. In a book I have to stretch it out to include things like the scenery, weather... Also, the NG I will have to be included because it sets the concept for part II.
You will get the first copy, signed with love by me!!! You my dearest friend, have been my biggest supporter!
follow me @goga
Why?
My flag must have crossed your reply, sorry about that.