Chapter Excerpt from The Sequel

 Chapter Excerpt

(c) Copyright Mary F Carruthers

"Mr. Vincennes was being packed up and hauled in a stretcher into a waiting van that emblazoned the Sycamore Hills Rest Home on its side when the officials from the State Department arrived.  The van went off and turned the corner into the busy street and Mr. Vincennes was sleeping like a baby ensconced in a flannel blanket and his hands folded over his chest.

     The receiving clerk at the front of the hospital lobby looked up at the three men who came through the door.  One of the men had an earpiece and the other one next to him looked around with apprehension in his eyes.  The third man was more focused on talking to the clerk.  As they approached, she drew back instinctively. 

     "We're looking for Oscar Vincennes' room.  Do you have that information?"'

The Sequel, Chapter Excerpt

 All rights reserved. (c) Mary F Carruthers

"The Hebrides, Winter

 

The shores of the Hebrides were stormy, turbulent and threatening.  The skies were battle-grey and thick black roiling clouds obliterated the skies.  What skies were visible were a dark Gray, almost fading into blackness.  Yet, it was only after noon, Greenwich time.

From the distance there was a lone figure, clad in thick wool, oiled, and all in a blackish green overcoat like the Black Watch plaid.  It was de rigeur to wear that these days in the Hebrides.  Despite the cold blustering blowing wind and snow, the man walked straight as a rod, and strode without fail towards the edifice twenty yards beyond the water's edge.  It was a building - no, a castle, which rose in majesty but had no real outline.  It seemed to be a surreal structure.  It seemed to have turrets and there were men atop the ramparts who came and went out of view.  They, too, were clad in Black Watch and held on to what looked like sleek machines that resembled machine guns of a sort that had never been seen before.

Finally, the lone figure stood before the edifice and looked up.  His lean features were stained with frozen snow that clung to his day old beard and obscured his brows.  There was a flinty look to his eyes - grey and without blinking - as they surveyed the castle.

For it was a castle.  The castle that has never been catalogued in the maps of the Hebrides.  This castle was where Heaven met the earth."

Chapter Excerpt from The Last One: JFK Returns, The Sequel

 

(c) Copyright Mary F. Carruthers 2021

"As Mr.  Dolman made his way through the crowd, people came up to him and shook hands.  As he went through the place, he saw a glimpse of Jack Cruikshank, and his blood ran cold. Oh my God, that's not him is it?  That thought went through his head.  I thought Mandel took care of everything!  The revelation that JFK might still be alive made him shudder uncontrollably.

His wife noticed something was amiss but she couldn't tell what it was.  "Is everything alright, Bob?"

"No - I mean,"  Bob stammered, "I'm fine.  Let's get on with this show."

 Michael observed this momentous occasion and smiled to himself.  His job was fun he thought.  Now for the rest of the evening where everyone would be so oblivious and clueless, except for some people.

Albie went to dance with Roswald.  Michael rounded up with Jack Cruikshank and introduced him to the people who mattered in Washington, DC.

"I'm not sure I'm up to this, to be frank,"  Jack said.

"Just hold on to your champagne glass and it'll be fine,"

"At least I don't think I'll be getting myself in trouble in this crowd."

"No, that won't happen,"  Michael smiled again at someone whom he didn't really know.  That made that woman feel good and she turned to her friend and said something.  Michael realized that he was the object of a few stares and decided not to worry about it.  It would be good if the stares would also include Jack, who had more of a reason to be noticed than Michael.

The President went through the crowds who milled around him and his wife. While he shook hands and clapped people's backs with his open hand, he looked for someone in particular.  He found that person and caught his eye.  The man saw his signal and went to his direction, still smiling and keeping his eyes on everyone around the president.

When the crowds started to wane after greeting the President, Dolman went off to a side corner of the hall and spoke to the man who followed him.  "Look, this guy, Cruikshank,  He's still alive." He said in an urgent undertone.

"No way!  He was supposed to have gone.  In the California fire remember?"

"He - He's here, dammit."

"I'll tell the guys to talk to our people and see whether we can follow him."

"I'm sure you can figure out what to do with him," Dolman said impatiently.

"No, you really can't be involved."  His man said with a depressed tone.  "You're going to have a second term remember? It will have to be handled by another group.  Let me handle it,"

"Handle it, then!"  Barked the president and walked away.  Then, he came back and said with a tense look on his face.  "I want to have no idea about what this operation will do or what the outcome is, but I want this man taken out of my life."

"Got it," replied the man."

 

Chapter Excerpt from The Last One: JFK Returns The Sequel

 Chapter Excerpt from The Last One:  JFK Returns The Sequel

Copyright Mary F Carruthers 2021

"Roz, this is Bob Dolman, I heard Vincennes was in a California hospital."  The voice of the President came on the line.

"Mr. President,"  Roz Mosser swallowed hard.  Her nerves were shot.  It was too soon to get a call from the President.

"No, call me Bob.  We've been friends for these last four years."

"Sir, I can't understand how Mr. Vincennes got to the hospital.  We're sending one of the Secret Service to see him and take him away."

"Good.  I want to know what happened.  I want you to come to my office and tell me what on God's earth happened to my Secretary of State.  Damn, didn't we vet this guy over and over again?  What the hell!"

"Mr. President I assure you, this is highly irregular."

"Damn, that's right. Highly irregular."

"I'm - "

"Look, you go out there and take him home here.  I want to know what he's been telling to some jackass out there in California-ay."

"I will - I will."  Roz calculated how she was going to find a flight to California.

"And then find out whether any secret information has been divulged.  I'm not liking that he did this when I was negotiating with the Chinese!"

"Ok, sir.  Will do.  I don't think the Secretary had any appointments in the last few days.  It was his vacation - a few days off.  He wasn't sleeping well.  I think he wanted to see a doctor."

"A doctor?  In California?"

"Well, he does have a house there."

"Damn."

"I - I - "

"Look here, Roz,"  the President's voice was calm and deadly.  "I want this guy put back here where we can work on him.  Understood?"

"Yes, understood."

 

The Last One Sequel

 My publisher and I agree that this novel is not quite up to snuff so I will be revising it and then I will be publishing the novel here.

UPDATE:  The novel is now in the publishing stages and should be available soon for purchase.