Novel Excerpts–The Boaz Stenographer, Chapter 48

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Stenographer, written in 2018, is my fourth novel. I'll post a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Book Blurb

Walt Shepherd, a 35 year veteran of the White House’s stenographic team, is fired by President Andrew Kane for refusing to lie.

Walt returns to his hometown of Boaz, Alabama and renews his relationship with Regina Gillan, his high school sweetheart, who he had ditched right before graduation to marry the daughter of a prominent local businessman.  Regina has recently moved back to Boaz after forty years in Chicago working at the Tribune.  She is now editor of the Sand Mountain Reporter, a local newspaper.

Walt and Regina’s relationship transforms into a once in life love at the same time they are being immersed in a growing local and national divide between Democrats and traditional Republicans, and extremist Republicans (known as Kanites) who are becoming more dogmatic about the revolution that began during President Kanes campaign.

Walt accepts two part-time jobs.  One as a stenography instructor at Snead State Community College in Boaz, and one as an itinerant stenographer with Rains & Associates out of Birmingham.

Walt later learns the owner of Rains & Associates  is also one of five men who created the Constitution Foundation and is involved in a sinister plot to destroy President Kane, but is using an unorthodox method to achieve its objective.  The Foundation is doing everything it can to prevent President Kane from being reelected in 2020, and is scheming to initiate a civil war that will hopefully restore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.

While Walt is writing a book, The Coming Civil War, he is, unwittingly, gathering key information for the Constitution Foundation.

Will Walt discover a connection between the Foundation  and the deaths of three U.S. Congressmen in time to save his relationship with Regina, prevent President Kane from being reelected as the defacto head of a Christian theocracy, and the eruption of a civil war that could destroy the Nation ?

Chapter 48

I had just returned from taking Sandi for a walk when Zel called.  Vann, his wife, and their two nephews, left before my walk.  Regina was upstairs still contemplating ideas for the best furniture arrangement.

“Hello Zel.”  

“I’m honored to be one of your formal contacts.”

“What, oh, I see.  I like knowing who’s calling.  What’s up?”  I said pouring Sandi a cup full of dog food into her bowl in the kitchen.

“I just wanted to say thanks again for taking that assignment in

Tifton.  Did you and Regina enjoy a little down time?”

“Yes, we did.  Even considering the trip being one of my most expensive ones.”

“Why is that?”  Zel asked.

“Regina talked me into buying an expensive bedroom suite.  We wound up renting a U-Haul trailer to bring it back in.”

“Women do sometimes have rich tastes.”

“This was an aberration for Regina.  She’s normally low needs.”

“Listen, I just wanted to give you an update and encourage you to keep your eyes open.  The Foundation has recently learned the FBI found a Red Star at the sight the killer likely used to shoot and kill Representative Kyle Turner and his brother-in-law.  Sorry, I assume you have heard of what happened while you were in Tifton?”

“I have.  Regina and I learned about it on our way back yesterday morning.  She saw it in the Atlanta Constitution.”  I said.

“It’s definitely looking like Russia is involved.  Probably a Russian assassin.”  

“Funny you say that.  Let me update you.  First, I’m now an associate of sorts with Pastor Warren Tillman.  You know I’ve told you how connected he is to President Kane.  Tillman is the perfect representative of Kane Tribe.”

“The Foundation is aware of Tillman and Club Eden.  It is a powerful organization.  I’m sure you know its criminal background.”

“Somewhat.  My knowledge lies at the feet of the Flaming Five, my high school classmates, their fathers, and other forebears.”

“You’re partially correct.  The Foundation continues to gather information on exactly what the current five families are up to.  We suspect they are not lily white.”

“Something else I want to report.  Late this afternoon Vann and I met with Pastor Tillman.  The fourth person present was a man named Romanoff, Anton Romanoff.  He hails from Russia.”  I said.

“Wait, it can’t be.  Do you know if this man is a teacher, a professor?”  Zel asked.

“Yes, Pastor kept referring to him as the Professor.  He teaches at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.  I think he has a PhD in Political Science.”

“The Foundation knows the man well.  Not personally of course. 

Romanoff, the Professor, has ties to Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President. 

Get this.  They both were born in Leningrad, then part of the Soviet Union, and they both studied law at Saint Petersburg State University, graduating in 1975.”

“That seems a little odd.  I think the Professor is younger than that, more mid-forties or so.”  I said.

“Try to send me a photo, get a snapshot if you can.  I have seen him on the news and he does look young for his age.  I would bet it is the same person.”

“I’ll do what I can.  It appears I will be having some interaction with him.  He is now part of Club Eden’s team.  Since you, the Foundation, knows so much, I suppose you know that Pastor Tillman and Justin Adams, and the rest of Club Eden most likely, have one goal, and that is to see that President Kane is re-elected in 2020.”  I said.

“Unfortunately, you are correct.  That’s why we asked you to do some snooping around.  Again, you are in the best position to feed us information that we can use to hopefully make sure Kane is destroyed.” “Do you think the Professor is still connected someway to Putin?” 

“No doubt about that.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  It’s not publicly known but, in secret, he and his college mate are still fast friends.  There are some strong rumors that the Professor was instrumental in hijacking the 2016 election.  It seems he has a brother or a cousin or some other family member that is a computer genius.  The Foundation suspects he, the Professor, played a significant role in designing the plan that altered the Presidential election outcome.  In other words, without the Professor, President Kane would not have been elected.  One thing for sure that was and is publicly known is President Putin did not want Hillary Clinton to be elected President of the United States.”  Zel said. “This is getting a little too close to home.”

“Exactly.  Exactly what we want.  Therefore, the Foundation needs you more than ever to infiltrate Club Eden and learn what they’re planning and doing.  Walt, America’s future may depend on how well you do your job.”  Zel said.

“Thanks for reminding me of one job I wished I didn’t have.”

“Here’s food for thought.  Just remind yourself that you are earning big money, enough money to satisfy that beautiful and sweet girlfriend of yours.”

“Thanks.  That makes it all better.”  I said.

“By the way, I just today wired your $50,000 signing bonus to an account the Foundation set up for you in Grand Cayman.  Next time I see you I will give you the account details.”  Zel said.

“Signing bonus.  We haven’t talked about that.  All I knew about was the $1,000 per week, plus expenses.”

“No worries.  It’s just a little token of our appreciation.”

“Sounds like you are expecting quite a bit from me?”

“You are correct.  But again, if you do your job at the level we believe you are capable, there will be a nice bonus at the end.”  Zel said.

“I assume you are referring to 2020, November, after the election.”  

“Exactly.”  

“I’m glad you are so sure of things, exactly.”  I said.

“Walt, I have to run.  Please keep Ginger and me up-to-date on what’s going on.”

“Talk later.”  I said.

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 Help a starving artist.