Novel Excerpts–The Boaz Stenographer, Chapter 57

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 57

As had become our custom, Felicia and I stayed after class and talked a while.  I shared with her what I had learned about transgenderism in children, that it was not as rare as we had thought, and that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the leading voice on the wellbeing of all children in the U.S., said the number one thing was for the child’s family and community to support, nurture, and care for the child.  I told Felicia that the absolute wrong thing to do was to shame the child based on their gender identity or expression.  This was harmful to the child’s emotional health and would likely have lifelong consequences.  I warned her that the Academy’s position was directly opposite of most conservatives including the Christian church.  Felicia seemed pleased that I had remembered to research this for her.

After I left the College, I pulled through MacDonald’s drive through for a cup of coffee.  As I was waiting in line my phone vibrated.  It was Ginger Crumbley.

“Hello Ginger.”

“Hey Walt.  Did I catch you at a bad time?” “No, not at all.”  I said.

“I have a job for you.  If you will take it.  It’s a little different than what you’ve been doing.”

“Okay.  I’m all ears.”

“It’s what we call a semi-permanent assignment.  It’s with the Marshall County court system, court reporter for Judge Broadside.”

“I don’t really like the sound of that.  Sounds too, permanent, too, day-by-day.”  I said reminding myself that I took the position with Rains & Associates to have some extra income, and to keep my stenographic skills sharp, but not to be tied down to an 8:00 to 5:00 routine.

“I knew you would say that but to be fully open, this is truly necessary as part of your undercover work.  Zell and I need you in this position.”  Ginger said.

“You’ve lost me.  I don’t see what you’re getting at.”

“We certainly didn’t see this opportunity coming but the happening of two things has opened this door.”

“Okay, I’m still listening and still confused.”  I said paying for my coffee and pulling to the pick-up window.

“Vickie Harbison was killed yesterday morning in an auto accident.  She was Judge Broadside’s long-time court reporter.  This alone triggered the emergency need for someone to fill her position.  But, and this will no doubt shock you, the arrest of Professor Anton Romanov for the murder of Kip Brewer has given the Foundation a big opportunity to advance our mission.”  

“I hate that about Vickie.  She was such a sweet lady and a talented stenographer.”  I said reaching for my cup of coffee. 

“She was about to retire.  I think she had scheduled her last day to be a week before Christmas.  I had already been working on her replacement, someone to fill her position permanently.”

“I suspect you think I will learn some inside scoop about the Professor’s case if I am in the courtroom during his legal proceedings.  Correct?”  I said pulling into a parking spot not wanting to risk spilling hot coffee on me while trying to talk with Ginger.

“That’s exactly right.  There is no other way that the Foundation can effectively learn these things.  We understand that a lot of hearings and meetings are recorded but are not added to the court file until the case is over.”

“Is this job a five day per week affair?”  I said.

“Not necessarily.  Since it is such short notice I think we can work out with Judge Broadside that you be there when he needs you, mainly on preset days for court.  But, I cannot promise exactly how much you will work.”

“Couldn’t you get someone else to do this?”  I said.

“We could but it is too risky.  Bringing someone in that we don’t know could backfire and expose us to the public.  This would be catastrophic.  The bottom line is, we know you are the perfect man for the job.  You share the same motivation we do.” “Which is what?”  I ask.

“To destroy President Kane, at least to keep him from being reelected.”

“And you think the Professor can help us do that?”

“We’re hoping a capital murder charge is going to be powerful enough motivation for him to chirp like a bird.  Hopefully, he will disclose things that incriminate the President, at least enough evidence for millions of voters to doubt whether Kane is trust-worthy.”

“They should already know that he is as dishonest as they come.”  I said.

“Add a little Russian love into the mix and it tends to wake people up to the potential danger from the man in the White House.  At least, this is what we are hoping.”  

“Alright.  I’ll give it a shot.  But, I’m not promising I will do this for an extended period.”

“By the way, we are going to match the salary you receive from the State of Alabama.”

“Thanks a bunch.  Money in the bank since I won’t have time to spend it.”

“Walt, be patient.  All of this is on a strict timetable.  Come November 3, 2020, the game is over.”

“That’s nearly two years.  Please hear me.  I do not intend to keep your ‘semi-permanent’ job that long.”  I said.

“I hear you loud and clear.  I’m sure that won’t be a problem.  Sorry to keep you this long.  I’ll call you tomorrow with the details.  I suspect you will be needed soon.  Bye for now.”  Ginger said.

The call ended, and I just sat sipping my coffee and feeling my life had just taken a major turn for the worse.

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 Help a starving artist.