The Blackfire Protocol by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 61

The summit went as well as could be expected. Some delegates left out off protest when they found they weren’t getting what they wanted. Others threatened to break long held nuclear treaties while most stayed trying to iron out the inevitable arguments between nations. The real issue was that some delegates accused others of being in possession of more warheads, while their countries possessed far fewer. One supposed it could be called an international tantrum – grown men with advanced degrees arguing over who can destroy who with what.

The flight back was as draining as the actual summit but Air Force One had been constructed with many

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comforts including a private bedroom, an office and dining area. In spite of how tiring the summit had been Frank decided that this was a good time to call his parents and possibly get things straightened out—maybe even acquire a bit of information he could use. Using the phone in the bedroom Frank dialed his parents’ number and soon heard the familiar voice of his mother.

“Hi mom,” he said. “It’s Frank.”

As angry as she was she managed to exercise enough patience to hear what he had to say. “I’m here, son,” she said.

Frank asked her how she heard about the issue of heroin smuggling and his mother was quick with an answer.

“It was on the news,” she replied. As much as he believed her his staff had still not uncovered anything on the internet or television. Something else was going on.

“Mom, listen,” he said. “We can’t find anything about this on the news—not on TV or the internet. I’m not sure what this is but it’s not coming out of the White House.”

Over the last few days the town had lost internet access leaving only television news as their only connection to the world. It was only when it mother informed him of this that Frank became suspicious, believing he knew who was behind the fictitious broadcast.

Shortly he was informed that they would be entering American air space and looking out the window Frank saw the F-16 escort fighters moving in closer.

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No matter where the presidents jet was they would always be nearby.

“Mom,” he continued. “We’re getting close to DC so I should hang up. We’ll talk later.” A moment of silent went by as Frank still fear that his parents had disowned him for something that was clearly fictional. How could anyone blame them? They had been cut off from the world except for one broadcast. Having become so emotional over it no one stopped to think about the circumstances. Now, there was a chance that his parents might tell others in town enough to get them thinking. But with the information given to him by his parents, Frank had put the pieces together. The only question was why and he believed the answer would soon be forthcoming.