Read Online Sky Zone: A Novel (The Crittendon Files) by Creston Mapes - Free Book Online
Authors: Creston Mapes
Tags: Suspense, Reporter, Christian fiction, Homeland Security, Inspirational Thriller, Terrorist Threat
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threats. I’m not afraid.” He shook his head. “I’ve never been afraid to die, especially not for my country.”
“You never had your own security detail before …”
“I’ve had to hire my own! You wouldn’t believe the threats. But that’s a story for another day. I’ve got to get busy.” Sterling opened the office door and stepped out. “Needless to say, I’m becoming close friends with old Parker out here.” Parker, the hefty security guard, nodded while staring straight ahead.
Derrick smiled and headed out. “I’ll see you back in Ohio, sir.”
“What was it the chaplain said at the prayer breakfast this morning?” Sterling said. “Don’t say, ‘Today or tomorrow I’ll go to this city or that—for you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow.’”
That was odd, Derrick thought. He never knew Sterling to be a religious man. In fact, behind closed doors with his cronies, the senator’s language could be vividly R-rated. But then again, when you had enemies like he did, foxhole religion might not be so out of the question.
11
Festival Arena, October 6
Shakespeare stood with his hands clasped behind his back in the far corner of the buzzing room, glad to be able to hear firsthand what was going on with the arena brain trust. All the key players were there, from Martin Sterling and Everett Lester to Reese Jenkins, Clarissa Dracone, and the head of the SWAT team.
Jenkins straightened his tie, took a swig of water, and raised a hand with a thick gold ring on his finger. “Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.”
The room immediately went silent, and all eyes turned to the arena CEO.
“By now we’ve all been made aware of the threat,” Jenkins said. “The very latest intel from Homeland mentions fifteen insurgents planning some kind of attack or takeover here tonight. Senator Sterling has been mentioned as a target.”
Sterling cleared his throat and held his head high.
“From what I am told, there is a 38.8 percent chance this could really happen.” Jenkins nodded to a husky, sour-faced man, fully armed and shielded from head to toe in navy fatigues and combat gear. “Lieutenant Wolfski here has a top-notch SWAT crew spread out across the arena. Columbus PD will be here shortly with at least twenty more officers with shields and combat gear.” Jenkins put his hands on his waist and strolled several steps. “Senator Sterling wants the show to go on. Mr. Lester, I believe, is awaiting a consensus from all of us—”
“Can I just say a few words?” Sterling gripped Jenkins’s shoulder.
“Please.” Jenkins swept a hand toward the others. “Go right ahead.”
The senator slowly ran a thumb across his lips before speaking. “Folks, since I began my campaign, we have had threats—all kinds of threats.” He paused. “Why is this happening almost everywhere we go? Why?”
Sterling walked several steps, intently examining each face in the room. Then he spoke almost in a whisper. “Freedom. It’s why we’re here tonight. I can guarantee you that the thousands of people lined up outside this building want this event to go on.” His volume increased with each word. “That’s why they’re here. That’s what our ticket is about—stopping these evil lunatics from scaring us to death, from threatening our liberties and stealing our American way of life.”
Jenny King’s broad shoulders straightened, and her chin went up proudly.
Static blurted in Shakespeare’s earpiece. “This is Steve Basheer to base, over.”
Clarissa blinked, looked down at her radio, and adjusted the dials.
“Go ahead, Steve,” Tab said from base.
“I’m just getting up to the Sky Zone …”
There was a clattering sound. Clarissa’s head jerked up, and her eyes burned into Shakespeare’s.
“Steve?” Tab said. “Steve Basheer, go ahead from the Sky Zone.”
Nothing.
That was it.
Something was wrong up there.
Clarissa turned her back on the group in the room and
“You never had your own security detail before …”
“I’ve had to hire my own! You wouldn’t believe the threats. But that’s a story for another day. I’ve got to get busy.” Sterling opened the office door and stepped out. “Needless to say, I’m becoming close friends with old Parker out here.” Parker, the hefty security guard, nodded while staring straight ahead.
Derrick smiled and headed out. “I’ll see you back in Ohio, sir.”
“What was it the chaplain said at the prayer breakfast this morning?” Sterling said. “Don’t say, ‘Today or tomorrow I’ll go to this city or that—for you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow.’”
That was odd, Derrick thought. He never knew Sterling to be a religious man. In fact, behind closed doors with his cronies, the senator’s language could be vividly R-rated. But then again, when you had enemies like he did, foxhole religion might not be so out of the question.
11
Festival Arena, October 6
Shakespeare stood with his hands clasped behind his back in the far corner of the buzzing room, glad to be able to hear firsthand what was going on with the arena brain trust. All the key players were there, from Martin Sterling and Everett Lester to Reese Jenkins, Clarissa Dracone, and the head of the SWAT team.
Jenkins straightened his tie, took a swig of water, and raised a hand with a thick gold ring on his finger. “Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.”
The room immediately went silent, and all eyes turned to the arena CEO.
“By now we’ve all been made aware of the threat,” Jenkins said. “The very latest intel from Homeland mentions fifteen insurgents planning some kind of attack or takeover here tonight. Senator Sterling has been mentioned as a target.”
Sterling cleared his throat and held his head high.
“From what I am told, there is a 38.8 percent chance this could really happen.” Jenkins nodded to a husky, sour-faced man, fully armed and shielded from head to toe in navy fatigues and combat gear. “Lieutenant Wolfski here has a top-notch SWAT crew spread out across the arena. Columbus PD will be here shortly with at least twenty more officers with shields and combat gear.” Jenkins put his hands on his waist and strolled several steps. “Senator Sterling wants the show to go on. Mr. Lester, I believe, is awaiting a consensus from all of us—”
“Can I just say a few words?” Sterling gripped Jenkins’s shoulder.
“Please.” Jenkins swept a hand toward the others. “Go right ahead.”
The senator slowly ran a thumb across his lips before speaking. “Folks, since I began my campaign, we have had threats—all kinds of threats.” He paused. “Why is this happening almost everywhere we go? Why?”
Sterling walked several steps, intently examining each face in the room. Then he spoke almost in a whisper. “Freedom. It’s why we’re here tonight. I can guarantee you that the thousands of people lined up outside this building want this event to go on.” His volume increased with each word. “That’s why they’re here. That’s what our ticket is about—stopping these evil lunatics from scaring us to death, from threatening our liberties and stealing our American way of life.”
Jenny King’s broad shoulders straightened, and her chin went up proudly.
Static blurted in Shakespeare’s earpiece. “This is Steve Basheer to base, over.”
Clarissa blinked, looked down at her radio, and adjusted the dials.
“Go ahead, Steve,” Tab said from base.
“I’m just getting up to the Sky Zone …”
There was a clattering sound. Clarissa’s head jerked up, and her eyes burned into Shakespeare’s.
“Steve?” Tab said. “Steve Basheer, go ahead from the Sky Zone.”
Nothing.
That was it.
Something was wrong up there.
Clarissa turned her back on the group in the room and
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