BRAINRUSH 02 - The Enemy of My Enemy (46 page)

It had been a difficult week for all of them. In the end, it was Doc’s intervention that got them off the hook. The man had some serious connections. Of course, they’d had a lot of explaining to do. After the debriefing, they’d been forced to sign strict nondisclosure agreements. The terms were simple: Reveal the truth, go to prison.

Afterward, a lot of lies had been thrown at the press, sprinkled with enough truth to make them plausible. Doc had also used his influence to pay a debt owed to Papa. The former soldier was given a military burial with full honors and benefits. In addition to a nomination for a posthumous medal and folded American flag, his wife, Carmen, had been granted a full pension. That had been a nice touch, Tony thought. And well-deserved.

Jake’s service had been more subdued. No body. No ashes. No fanfare. Just the way he would have liked it.

Tony held his mug in the air. “To the best man I’ve ever known,” he said. “To Jake!”

The others clinked their mugs and glasses against his. “To Jake.”

Epilogue

FOX News:
LOS ANGELES (AP)
—
Health officials discounted the recent rumors regarding contaminates in the Los Angles water supply as a publicity hoax by a Mexican bottled water company. Its products have been banned in the States, and the local water has been declared safe to drink.

Area 52

T
he world was in fog. An ever-changing kaleidoscope of memories flashed across Jake’s consciousness. He grasped at one. It slipped away, replaced by another, and then another. His limbs were lead. His fingers, toes, and eyelids wouldn’t respond to his commands. Was he paralyzed? Or was this death? If so, the priests had been right after all. There was a hell.

He felt detached sensations of pain radiating from his left shoulder and right leg. There was tightness in his chest. Signs of life. He wondered if he should welcome them or shove them aside.

“How’s he doing?” someone said.

The voice was familiar. The swirl of images in Jake’s mind settled on that of a man holding a meerschaum pipe.

Doc…

Jake tried to speak, but his lips wouldn’t move. His mind cried out. He needed to tell Doc what he’d learned from the obelisk.

“Vitals are steady,” another voice said. “I’ve noticed a slight increase in brain activity.”

“According to the medical team, that’s to be expected,” Doc said. “Residual activity can continue for quite a while in cases like this.”

“So there’s really no hope?”

“Not unless you believe in miracles, son. But don’t blame yourself. You did an outstanding job of keeping his body alive when you picked him up. And we gave him a new heart because we owed him that much. But a body—a brain—can only take so much.”

The hell with that!
Jake shouted in his mind.
I’m right here, damn it.

 “You sure he didn’t say anything else when you found him?” Doc asked.

 “Sorry, sir,” the man replied. “After we defibbed him, he was only conscious for a few minutes. He told us about the chemical at the Silver Lake Reservoir and that the antidote had been injected into Ms. Fellini. It was nonsensical mumbles after that, right up until he went comatose.”

Jake remembered. He’d awakened in a V-22. A medic had revived him.

“Just mumbles?” Doc asked. “Nothing specific?”

“Well, there
was
one thing,” the medic said. “But I’m sure it was nothing.”

“Spit it out, son.” Doc sounded anxious. “What did he say?”

“He kept repeating, ‘They’re here, they’re here
…
’”

###

I hope you enjoyed following Jake’s story as much as I did writing it. If so, please take a moment to leave a comment on Amazon. I’d love to hear from you!

Richard

(Continued on next page)

As a young Air Force pilot, Richard was diagnosed with cancer and learned that he had only a few months to live. Thirty-six years later he’s still going strong. He earned a management degree from the University of Notre Dame, and after leaving the Air Force, he ran three successful companies involving advanced security products and high-tech displays used by US embassies and government facilities worldwide. He was an active member of the California Crime Prevention Officers’ Association and has been published with cover stories in
Security
magazine and ASIS
Security Management
magazine. When asked what he hopes to achieve as a writer, he said, “
The dream for me is to be walking through an airport and notice someone with her head buried in the book. Many readers have said they found it impossible to put down. For me, that's the ultimate compliment.”
Bard currently resides with his wonderful wife in Redondo Beach, California, where he remains in excellent health. Book III of the series is scheduled for release in Fall/Winter 2012.

Connect With Richard Online:

Website: 
http://RichardBard.com

Twitter: 
http://twitter.com/Richard_Bard

Facebook Fan Page: 
http://www.facebook.com/BRAINRUSHthebook

Facebook Author Page:  
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorRichardBard

Acknowledgments

Writing is done in solitude. But a good story is created with the support of many. I offer my sincere gratitude to:

My family and friends, whose encouragement kept me motivated. Thanks, Mom, for always insisting that I can do anything I set my mind to.

To the “Feel the Rush” team—my daughter, Danielle, and her boyfriend, David, who manage the promotions, newsletters, and so much more. I could never have done it without you.

To the accomplished team of instructors at UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, including Lisa Cron, Linda Palmer, and Claire Carmichael. Your insight transformed me from a “wannabe” to a “maybe” author. Special thanks to instructor and
USA Today
bestselling author Rebecca Forster, who steered me to the best writing-hole coffee shop at the beach and has since become my favorite sounding board.

To my editor, Elyse Dinh-McCrillis. The depth of your research and attention to detail never cease to amaze me. Editing is a mysterious and crucial art that only a few can master. Now I know why you are known as the “Edit Ninja.”

To my agent, Scott Miller, and the entire team at Trident Media Group. Thanks for taking a chance with a new kid on the block. The best is yet to come.

I’m also thankful for the active imaginations of all the readers who enjoyed Jake’s first adventure. Writing is a collaborative effort. I create the weave, but you fill in the blanks. You paint the scenes with your mind and bring the characters to life. And it’s your willingness to suspend belief that breathes life into the story. Thank you very much for your many encouraging emails and reviews. They mean the world to this new author.

And finally, to my amazing wife, Milan. It’s all meaningless without you. All my heart, all my love, all my life...