The Man Who Knew Infinity by Mariana Martins - HTML preview
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The man who knew
infinity
All the science and technology in this book has been carefully based on reality.
Characters
Natan.
“Mr. Calculus”
The MIT PhD student in quantum
physics and differential equations
who works as a contractor for the
“department,” an agency secretly
embedded in the Department of
Defense budget.
Jack.
“Mr. Outsmart them”
The veteran of the “department”, known for his
impressive cunning. He acts as if he doesn’t know anything, until it’s too late for the bandits, who realize the moment they fall to the gallows that it was Jack the one who was providing the rope to
hang them, the whole time.
Daniel.
“Mr. Cyber Pirate”
The “department’s” prodigious hacker who
has a pet hate for his uncle, a prominent
public figure in the United States Capitol.
Slazas
“Mr. Center of Attention”
Senator and rising star of the Republican
Party. Daniel’s uncle. Full of shady business
and in cahoots with third parties in
international crime.
Charlie.
“Mr. Catch me if you can”
Professional fraudster and con artist.
Assumes any identity to commit his
scams. Attorney for Senator Jim Slazas
Jeffrey.
“Mr. Trust”
Nathan’s best friend and also a “department”
employee.
[Mariott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malasia, mai 13th 2024]
-Ok Nathan, this is the moment we've been waiting for. They've noticed your game and are going to take you to Vladimir. Two guards are coming from behind you and another one at 12 o'clock, five seconds from your table - spoke the calm voice of the experienced commander Jack Truman on Nathan Cale's communicators - Before he could react, he was grabbed by the heavy bodyguards of Vladimir Kuchnev, the boss of the blood diamond market of the Russian mafia, the Soyntskaya Bratva, and dragged to the VIP
area of the casino.
The taste of blood ran into Nathan's mouth as he stood up from the blow of the first punch.
Vladimir didn't know what upset him more: Being interrupted right in the middle of a negotiation with an important client or finding out that a boy barely out of his teens was winning every consecutive round at every consecutive table and cleaning out his casino by beating impossible odds.
The second punch broke Nathan's nose. When he stood up, the next thing he saw was Vladimir with a gun pointed at his forehead.
- I'm going to ask this once and once only: Who are you and how did you do what no one else has ever managed to do in the history of this casino? What's your cheat? I've never seen such a good cheat! I want to know! Speak up or I'll kill you!
- My name is Nathan Cale and I didn't cheat. I'm a mathematician of advanced algorithms and an assistant professor at MIT in Partial Differential Equations and Quantum Physics.
All I did was mathematically analyze patterns, perform binomial calculations of differential properties and establish probabilities based on polynomial combinations.
The Russian's face was as if he didn't understand a word.
-Run his file! - The boss shouted to one of his bodyguards. Soon after, he received a laptop with all the information about Nathan. Everything was true. It had to be. In the case of an operative like Nathan, who was a service provider for "the department" due to his specialized knowledge, there was no disguise on a mission. He was there to be noticed and to convince Vladimir with his skills, in order to gain privileged access.
- Allow me to interrupt Vladimir - said the beautiful Israeli woman who stood up from the buyer's seat and who had heard everything in the middle of the transaction - but the boy seems to me much more of an asset than a threat - she said, pushing the gun away from Vladimir with a finger.
- Mathematician with a PhD, hmm... Do you see this pile of money on the table, boy? -
She said to Nathan - It's 5 million dollars, that's how much I'm paying my seller tonight.
Tell me, mathematician, how would you multiply that money to the highest exponent?
- New York Stock Exchange - what I do is analyze patterns and develop differential equations that allow my advanced algorithms to not only predict but create in real time a singularity in the stock market that allows them to swallow the profits. And I can prove it. Give me the laptop and I'll access my stock market username so you can check my values.
The woman was Adina Marsaweh, a senior figure in the Israel Defense Forces and a former connection of Jack Truman, the commander of the "department". Everything she had asked Nathan had been arranged from the beginning so that Vladimir would let go of his suspicions. It was through her that they learned that Vladimir Kuchnev planned to sell a suitcase containing a sample of “zenox”, a revolutionary inhalable biovirus with high dissemination, manufactured in an unknown location.
The mission was to ensure that Vladimir saw him as a reliable investment advisor with potential , in order to get on the money trail without suspicion. The money trail always led to the origin of the production.
The woman went to get her laptop and after checking that everything was true right in front of Vladimir, he pushed the woman away with a sudden movement of his arm, grabbed Nathan by the shoulders and sat him down at his own laptop. This was the moment they had been waiting for. The fish had bitten the bait. In no time at all, Nathan subtly pressed the small button on his watch and the wireless connection began.
A silent infiltrated connection that bypassed the computer's RAM memory, allowing undetected browsing while copying and scanning all files to an encrypted cloud where Daniel, the team's prodigious hacker, worked, uncovering Vladimir's financial movements in real time. The money trail always leads to the source.
-Ok Nathan, complete scan, good job- Daniel said in his ear-....wait, it seems we have a problem: The facial ID of the cameras at the casino entrance has just captured Oleg Smirnov, a criminal loan shark known in the diamond black market and a creditor of Vladimir. You need to get out of there fast, he's coming with an armed escort to collect the debt!
At the same moment, the bodyguards jumped on Vladimir to protect him from the shooting that was starting outside in the casino. Adina grabbed the briefcase with the
“zenox” and Vladimir snatched the laptop from Nathan’s hands and rushed everyone into the elevator, leaving the guards to fight off Oleg, who was quickly approaching.
The private elevator was exclusive to the VIP area that led to the closed VIP floor of the hotel where Vladimir was staying in the presidential suite. Once inside, Vladimir opened the safe to remove the diamonds while he called the helicopter to land on the top of the hotel. The door to the room, however, burst open behind him.
-“Room service,” said Commander Jack Truman from behind his accurate aim, leaving Vladimir in the crosshairs as he tried to drop the diamonds and react.
Nathan kicked Vladimir from behind his legs, leaving Vladimir on his knees, and hugged his neck from behind, threatening to break it.
-Let’s talk about the “zenox” project. Where is it produced? Who are the distributors? –
Truman asked with lowered eyebrows and a fierce voice.
Vladimir let out an evil and pleased laugh
- I'm not going to tell you anything, American dog!
At that moment, without anything that could foresee it, Adina said: “You should listen to him, Jack”, then suddenly she lifted the “zenox” ampoule and threateningly held the release tab of the poisonous gasified virus.
Nathan was stupefied. “Adina, what are you doi...”
-Silence, you brat! – she shouted at Nathan. Then she turned to Jack:
-Gun on the ground! Pass it to me with your foot. Slowly!
Showing impressive calm, Jack Truman followed the instructions.
She picked up the gun with one hand and laughed maliciously for a few seconds. Then she pointed it at Nathan and pulled the trigger.
The woman's face was frozen in astonishment, trying to understand what had just happened. The gun hadn't fired! There were no bullets in the blast chamber! How could that be? Had Jack given her a purposely empty gun? Did that mean he knew from the beginning she would betray them?
-This one is loaded - Jack Truman said, pulling another gun from his back and pointing it at the woman. With his accurate aim he shot her in both hands, neutralizing her from that moment on.
Jeffrey, the remaining member of the team who was present through the communicators, quickly arrived and secured the virus in a biological restriction container planned for it and hooded Vladimir for later interrogation.
-I don't understand - Nathan said - Jack, the empty gun... how did you know?
-I knew she would betray us from the beginning... when she called me to warn me about the "zenox" transaction as a potential weapon against Israel's enemies. I knew that was a decoy. She wasn't here for the virus sample, but for the Russian's diamonds. She was the one who called Oleg to come here tonight at the same time. Such was to force Vladimir to come here to open the safe so he could escape in a hurry and steal the diamonds, and then let Oleg finish him off. As for us, she just wanted to use us to break Vladimir's barriers of trust and with that get his computer with the black market assets...
and of course leave us framed with the blame for it.
-So the cunning of the “legendary” Jack Truman lives up to the reports- she said through her teeth sarcastically, refusing to look him in the eye.
Bursts of gunfire suddenly rang out in the hallway.
-Oleg!- Nathan exclaimed
He was here with his henchmen to claim his debt for blood diamonds.
The commander touched the ear communicators and learned from Daniel that there were six of them in total coming from the east wing with heavy weapons, so he ordered Daniel to access the hotel's electrical network and take it down. Having antecipated Adinaś movements he had foreseen the moment to take down the lights and brought with him nightvision googles.
In the dark, he waited for the first one to feel his way to the front door and, without giving him time to react, he slit his throat with his knife. He grabbed his weapons and,
with Jeffrey's help, embusched everyone who came through the door. In a short time, he had done justice to his legendary military career and the area was secure.
As soon as the light was established, he grabbed Vladimir by the collar like a dog that is dragegd on a leash thatś too short and with a kick, he pushed him down the stairs without worrying about who was watching and threw him into the van along with Adina, who Jeffrey and Nathan were right behind.
-The "Zenox" Project... - Jack began impatiently, sharpening his knife threateningly -
Where?
- I'm not going to tell you anything, you American bastard!
- Really? - Jack laughed, passing the knife to Nathan's hands.
- Nathan, cut his belt.
- What do you mean? - Nathan gasped, realizing what he was going to do.
- I don't have time to waste. I'll make this dog talk in no time – Truman assured, retrieving the knife and pressing it hard right there.
-The laboratory... Where? – he asked without waiting for an answer, starting to bury the knife.
Nathan had never seen a face as terrified as Vladimir's
-Smirna! Smirna! Petroch neighborhood! Oh for the love of God, stop!
In no time at all had Jack Truman made Vladimir sing harmoniously each do re mi of the song he was interested in and passed the information to Daniel, who immediately informed him about the satisfactory progress.
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[MIT, Massachusetts, USA, May 13th, 2024]
The German Dr. Carl Schoeimer could not remember such a chaotic day in decades of teaching at MIT. Finally the masses of journalists had left and he could rest a little... but he did not understand why Nathan had not come for such an important occasion in his academic career. It was his nomination for a Nobel Prize in Physics! What could be more important?! Any young scientist in his position would have his priorities clearly defined, but Nathan had been appointed assistant professor, he had been the author of the theory, the main developer of the project and from time to time he disappeared without giving any explanation?!?
The professor tried for the hundredth time to call Nathan's cell phone but it went to voicemail.
He decided to give up. He drove home thinking that this young man and himself had just broken barriers in the quantum physics of space-time and Nathan seemed to be oblivious to the world.
On the way he stopped by Nathan's house to see if he was there and, unsurprisingly, the place was inundated with journalists at the door, who once again blocked his way to obtain information:
- Dr. Schoeimer! Can you tell us more about the theory presented, which led to the appointment for Nobel of your assistant?
- Sure thing. The quantum realm as we know it today, with its perplexing phenomena such as entanglement and superposition, may hold the key to understanding the true space-time fabric of the cosmos. The possibility that space and time may have a granular, quantum structure at the smallest scales disrupts our conventional understanding of the universe. This implies that the smooth space-time continuum we experience may be just an emergent property arising from a more fundamental quantum layer. Analyzing this quantum layer and revealing its underlying mechanics was the aim of this novel theory that has broken new ground in the quantum physics of the structure and dynamics of the universe itself.
Dr Schoeimer continued:
-We focus on a paradigm that deals with first-order linear Hamiltonian and momentum constraints that lead to emergent features of temporal and spatial translations. Contrary to the conventional treatment, we show that the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations in relativistic quantum mechanics can be unified in our paradigm by applying relativistic dispersion relations to eigenvalues rather than treating them as operator-valued equations. With time and space being treated as equal in Hilbert space, we show symmetry transformations to be implemented by unitary basis changes. Our work therefore shows a realistic experimental route for a first test of quantum theory in curved spacetime, opening up new scientific opportunities for quantum networks.
The journalist clearly did not understand a word. So she continued with the interview:
-Dr Schoeimer! Can you tell us where your assistant professor, who is responsible for this theory, is?
-I would love to know, madam! - he replied, breaking through the wall of reporters to return to his car.
- There you are, Nathan! Everyone in this city is looking for you! Congratulations, my dear. I was ecstatic when I saw your name in the footnotes on TV!!! I knew you could do it!!!
A strong hug came over Nathan Cale, as if his longtime therapist were taking the place of his deceased mother, who, if she were alive, would be drooling with pride at a moment like this. The footnote that Dr. Seraina Schoeimer was referring to was of corse Nathan's nomination for the Nobel Prize in Physics that year for the project he had been developing over the last few years at MIT, assisted by Professor Dr. Carl Schoeimer, who from the beginning gave his full support to the most brilliant young mathematician in his class and appointed him an assistant professor.
The similarity in names had a reason: Professor Schoeimer was married to the renowned psychiatrist and had recommended her to his student at the time when he began to show the need for professional relief due to the enormous stress that his academic performance required of him.
That was the explanation he gave to his professor at least. The truth was... somewhat different.
Working for "the department" was physically and mentally exhausting, leading Nathan to seek out Dr. Seraina as a release valve from so much pressure.
Since that time, Nathan had been providing services in the field of highly classified advanced mathematics and physics for a classified organization secretly embedded in the budget of the United States Department of Defense. And that was the real reason for so much pressure and stress. The missions in which he provided services for "the department" were almost all extremely classified and incredibly challenging, but he was lucky to have Jack by his side at all times. The experienced CIA veteran with a legendary military career in all types of highly classified global operations and being the owner of unparalleled cunning and foresight, Jack Truman was on every modern criminal's "don't f#ck with" list.
Truman had met Nathan by a stroke of fate, when for a certain mission in which extremely precise knowledge of applied quantum physics would be required to defeat dangerous AI nanobots created by an international terrorist organization. At that time, Jeffrey, who was already an employee of the “department” but who had always been Nathan’s best friend since school, suggested his name to Truman and in that day Jack was so pleased that, what was supposed to be a one-time servisse, quickly changed to a formal confidentiality contract.
Due to his non-existent military career, Nathan had to undergo specific training to at least know how to handle a weapon and be part of Truman’s team whenever his expertise was requested.
At first he was seen as an outsider, someone who They didn’t understand why he was there and didn’t fit in, but just like in school, Jeffrey defended him and this time he wasn’t alone: Truman had made it clear that anyone who wasn’t friendly with the new guy would have to deal with him and that would solved the issue because no one wanted problems with the legendary and most respected veteran around. Nathan soon learned that his word was law in the “department”
and luckily for him, for some unknown reason, he had fallen into Jack Truman’s good graces and a good friendship grew ever since.
From that time on, Nathan would describe him as a man of cunning and anticipation, who acted as if he knew nothing, until it was too late for the bandits, who realized at the moment the rope hung them by surprise by the neck, that it was Jack who had been providing the rope to hang them the whole time.
By this time, his entire team - Jack, Jeffrey and Daniel - had already seen the news and Nathan's phone kept vibrating, not to mention Sarah, of course, the daughter of Carl and Seraina Schoeimer, who Nathan had been dating for a year.
-Nathan, come with me. I have a surprise waiting for you - Dr. Seraina revealed with suspense.
Opening the door to her office, Sarah came out with a bouquet of flowers in her hand and the two hugged.
-You were the surprise? - He asked smiling.
-Congratulations, love. I saw the news... I mean, my father told me... I mean... I'm so happy for you! Nobel Prize?
-I didn't win the Nobel Prize, it was just a nomination - Nathan dodged.
-Well, do you know what you won? - Dr. Seraina said - A free afternoon with my daughter. We won't have a session today because Sarah will take the hour.
Nathan looked at Sarah.
-Nathan Honey, you spend very little time with me, and yesterday was our one-year anniversary and no one could find you anywhere. Sometimes you disappear from the map and I don't know if I can find a way to get used to your ways. Where were you yesterday?
Nathan felt uncomfortable for a moment. His confidentiality contract required him to keep professional secrecy, but that was never easy when it came to the people he loved.
-Um...there was an emergency on Jeffrey's farm. Some fences broke and the herds ran away. He asked for my help to get the cows back.
At least that way he felt like he wasn't lying so much. Jeffrey's family did have a farm, and Nathan had helped out from time to time since the time he was in school.
-Honey, there's something wrong with your nose...
-I fell off the horse and broke my nose. - he explained.
-My God, are you okay?
-Yes, I've already checked, it's nothing.
-One more thing... you don't smell like a horse or a cow.
-Sarah! - his mother scolded
-I took a shower and changed my clothes, of course!
-Of course...shall we go?
-Have a good trip, youth - Dr. Schoeimer said goodbye Nathan opened the car door for his princess, but she didn't seem to like it:
-I can't believe you're so attached to this old car. Nathan, you invest in the stock market with absolutely enviable success. How about spending some money on a decent car?!
-The only thing wrong with this car is that it's old, but it works perfectly. You know me, I'm not the materialistic or vain type. The money I earn goes to social projects and to Doctors Without Borders. Someone has to make the world a better place.
-And how about that someone be someone else?!? I'm tired of being seen in this old dump and attending social foundations. I want, no, I demand that you give me the life of a princess like I deserve!
Nathan had no idea if she was serious about that.
-Sarah, the wealth we truly possess is in the spirit, not in...
-I don't care! - she interrupted
-I already said that from today on I want the life of a princess like I deserve! What are you waiting for? Take me shopping!
Nathan raised his hands as if surrendering to her mood and started the car.
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[Novi Sad, Serbia, May 14th, 2024]
Dobroslav Milenkovic was pulling back the curtains on the window of his privileged apartment overlooking the Liberty Bridge when the phone vibrated in his pocket. He looked at the screen.
He knew perfectly well who the sender was and that he could not disappoint him. He had many names and many identities, but everyone who operated under his global network fearfully called him “the specialist.” He answered on the third ring, as was protocol.
“Is the product ready?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Come in 48 hours. The contact at the border with Bulgaria will provide new passports, driver’s licenses and everything else necessary. No delays. No mistakes.”
“Yes, “specialist,” that’s what it will be.”
The call ended and Dobroslav packed his bags, struck by a sense of duty, a sense of belonging to a greater cause. In very little time the “specialist”would put into action the best orchestrated, best coordinated plan to remove the United States from the international arena once and for all, and he was going to be part of it.
[Washington, U.S.A, Republican Convention,mai 15th 2024]
-Jeffrey, do you want to explain to me exactly what we do here? - Nathan asked, not at ease in a suit in such a formal social environment.
-We support Daniel, and we enjoy the party - Jeffrey replied, greeting from afar CIA director Pete Doherty, a personal friend of Commander Truman.
-Daniel is a Democrat through and through - his best friend countered.
-Exactly - Jeffrey replied with a mischievous smile.
That smile assaulted Nathan with its revelations. Nathan understood everything immediately. In a distressed gesture, he reached for his cell phone. It was irregularly hot. He hurriedly checked the settings. The battery was quickly draining, just as the abnormally high data traffic meant that they were being hacked: The personal files and protected accesses of all the devices in the room were being scanned and uploaded remotely in real time! Damn Daniel! He had always been obsessed with his party, but this was beyond all limits!
- I can't believe this, Jeffrey. You knew and you still complied?!? We're talking about a very serious federal crime! We're talking about stealing the protected access of all public figures in the Republican wing, including accounts, emails and bank credentials! We're talking about Daniel's head rolling on a silver platter and a guaranteed federal prison sentence! I'm going to find Daniel and I'm going to stop him immediately, while there's still time!
With a gesture of his arm, Jeffrey blocked his path and, putting his other arm behind his best friend's shoulders, said:
- Relax, Nathan. Relax, didn't I tell you to enjoy the party tonight? Why the drama, partner? Here, have a drink and relax. The only head that's going to roll by the endo f the night is uncle Slazas's up there on the stage - Jeffrey raised his glass as if to toast the speaker on the platform.
Of course. Jim Slazas was here tonight. Now everything made sense. Daniel's most hated political enemy had always been his own uncle. Born into a deeply Republican conservative family, Daniel had betrayed his origins and turned his back on his father's dream to make him a lawyer at his uncle Jim Slazas's firm.
After graduating with a master's degree in political science, however, Slazas's career would take a meteoric rise within the party. With his gift for oratory to captivate audiences and his strong personality in debates, he had prevailed in the political arena in recent years, except from time to time When he had to deal with the occasional scandals that Daniel created for him behind the screen of a laptop.
Jeffrey poured himself another drink that the waiter was bringing and continued:
- You need to know this nest of snakes: Do you see that dandy with the starched jacket, fatter than a pregnant woman? That's Phil Conners, the famous Chicago lobbyist. He's so fat because he spends his life feeding off the dividends of the average American taxpayer. Now do you see the lady dressed up next to the canapés? Martha Simons, the wife of the greatest banker in this country. Those shiny stones on her necklace were custom-made for the wife of a 19th-century Indian sultan, but she bought them at auction for more money than could fit in this room... And Uncle Slazas? He's nothing more than a parlor magician: He charms people on stage and then makes money disappear from public accounts and covers up the shortfall with so-called prospecting investments in areas of the world that are key to the interests of the United States.
-... finally - continued Jeffrey - Do you see the young man dressed up in the suit with the label
"investment advisor" smiling at everyone, collecting new friends and handing out cards? That's Charles Whitaker, an old ally of Daniel's. He's very useful to Daniel because he can be anyone: a lawyer, a professor, an ambassador, a diplomat, a democrat who came today to do what he does best.
- Which would it be... - Nathan asked, picking up a dessert.
- Embezzlement.
. - Nathan choked on his dessert.
- Say it again? I can't believe it! Daniel, besides pursuing a career as a criminal, is also involved with a gang?!?
- Partner, it's nothing like that. Didn't I tell you to relax? - Jeffrey put his arm around his back again - We're at the epicenter of the mud of dirty ticks that is American politics, brother. Everyone who gets involved in politics can't be honest and upright, you know that, they wouldn't fit in here. They wouldn't last. Relax, partner, politics is a constant game to see who gets the better of who, and in the middle of the slaughter, Charlie and Daniel just want everyone to get along. With them, preferably. Relax, sit back and enjoy the great slaughter of the night - Jeffrey toasted as if everything was fine and smiled at Charlie who came to greet him.
- Nice to see you, Jeffrey, how are you? – Charlie shook hands, smiling
-Charlie, let me introduce you to my friend Nathan, he's super smart and a good guy.
-Nathan...I don't think we've met yet...wait, aren't you the guy from TV? The Nobel Prize? –
Charlie stretched out his hand to greet him with a smile.
-Nobel nomination – Nathan corrected – And I don't want to meet you properly or improperly!
– he said in a gruff tone, putting his hand behind his back.- And you want to know, I'm done, I'm going after Daniel! And try to stop me, Jeffrey! – Nathan left there indignantly, running wildly.
The frantic search began. With no time to waste, Nathan ran as fast as he could, searching every floor of the building until he remembered that if he was in Daniel's place. A hacker's best friend would be free wifi: little to no security, easy access to user traffic, location capture, ID elements with little effort.... The cafeteria's wifi!
In a desperate move, he climbed down the stairwell to the lower floor until he reached where he wanted to be and came face to face with the table in the back occupied by the hooded man with sunglasses who was frantically typing on his laptop. He ran over and suddenly closed the computer, then ripped off Daniel's glasses.
-The party's over, Daniel! This time you've gone too far! - He shouted, very indignant.
Daniel reacted with a calm that challenged Nathan's nerves.
-Nathan, give me back my computer. You're making a mistake. There are things you don't know yet. It's crucial for "the department" that tonight's operation runs quick and surgical.
Nathan let out a forced laugh
-The department?!? Are you using your job to cover up your personal obsession with the party and your uncle?!? You're more out of control than I could have imagined!
-Nathan, he's telling the truth - Jeffrey said breathlessly, who had arrived at that moment - He's here on duty for the "department" tonight. There are things you don't know yet. That I haven't told you yet. That we need to keep in the strictest confidence.
-Like what?! – Nathan snapped impatiently
- First, take the oath. – Jeffrey demanded
-The oath?! Be serious!
-I am!
- Right! "I swear under the Constitution of the United States to keep confidential all professional information entrusted to me in the performance of my duties" – Nathan repeated the formal words
- Now tell me what I don't know? What is so crucial?
Daniel retrieved the computer, opened it and showed Nathan something he had found during the sweep of the computer of Vladimir, the boss of the Russian blood diamond mafia. They were financial transactions, all related to the purchase of mares. Jeffrey pointed to the screen and said: Always mares. Always females. I come from a family of traders in this cattle, Nathan, I know the market prices. This is absurd. These animals are, without exception, always bought and sold for a price far above that of any horse, even the most beautiful thoroughbred racehorses.
- So the Russian was in the business of buying and selling luxury horses, so what does that have to do with it?
- It wasn't the mares he was trading. It was what they had inside them. A mare's uterus is about the size of a soccer ball. It's a masterstroke to transport stolen diamonds across any border in the world without being tracked. Airports are fortresses for checking people, but no one checks animals. Specialized companies take care of the international transport of these animals, including customs paperwork. That's why the exorbitant prices of the mares. He wasn't selling them, but the diamonds... And look at how many transactions he has connected to this bank account in Zurich - Jeffrey pointed with his finger once more.
- Yes, he has repeatedly traded with the holder of this account... but who is it?
- It's my uncle - Daniel replied. I immediately recognized the bank, bank ID and deposit number.
My uncle has been using this account for decades, ever since my father sent me to study in Europe. He lent it to me so that I could make regular withdrawals from it.
-Daniel, are you sure?
-Then why didn't you report it to our superiors immediately?
-It's not that simple – Jeffrey said – He has a long history of enmity with his uncle and it's well known that Daniel was behind the scandals that have come out involving Slazas' name in recent years. And considering his prodigious hacking skills, they wouldn't believe him. They'd say it was just another setup designed to create another scandal to bring down his uncle.
-So – Jeffrey continued – and because diamonds are untraceable assets, we don't know what payments Slazas makes with them, the trail goes dry there. If we want to find out how deep the pit goes, we have to gather evidence on our own, which, when dealing with a career corrupt senador like Jim Slazas, leads us to a multitude of ventures with the Chinese that he uses to launder money. Ventures shared with prominent figures in the party. And that's why we wanted to hack everyone's devices at the Republican convention. So far, based on encrypted wiretaps, we are certain of a specific contact with Tian Kuo Wang, a high-ranking official in the Chinese Ministry of Defense who works in the secret projects division.
-Wait secret projects? From the Chinese government? What does Jim Slazas have to do with that?
-We're not sure yet. The conversation we intercepted was about a certain "scalar waves"
technology. We still don't know for sure what that is.
Nathan froze and his heart skipped a beat. The two friends noticed it immediately.
-Nathan! Nathan! Are you okay?! What happened?
-Oh no, scalar waves... - he stammered - Then he looked at Jeffrey - Ane Marie... that's what she was trying to tell me yesterday...
Daniel looked at Jeffrey in confusion. Who was this Ane Marie? And how did she know about this?
Jeffrey, however, didn't answer. He was Nathan's best friend since school days and they kept each other's biggest secrets safe. The truth is that Ane Marie was a disembodied spirit that appeared to Nathan whenever he meditated. A highly evolved spirit from the class of “Masters”, spirits sublime in wisdom and moral elevation who guided chosen people ready to receive light and superior knowledge. Nathan had received countless advanced mathematical equations and formulas for theoretical fields that broke barriers when he meditated and his spirit rose to the world of Ane Marie. Including the inspiration for the theory that earned him the Nobel Prize nomination. Everything flowed from the infinite world of master spirits. It was Nathan's greatest secret and one that only Jeffrey knew. No one in the scientific community would accept Nathan's theories anymore if they knew that he drew inspiration from the world of “superior spirits”. In science, everything had to be exact and have proof. His entire academic career would collapse if it became known about his encounters with Ane Marie. Last night during meditation Ane Marie had tried to warn him about a great danger that was lurking in which he would need to intervene with all his advanced knowledge of quantum physics of the space-time fabric.
-Guys - Nathan said with an extremely serious tone of voice - Trust me, I'm a physicist. Scalar waves are terribly dangerous, terribly destructive. If the Chinese are in possession of scalar technology we will have to bring this to the attention of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as soon as possible.
[Arlington, Virginia, USA, Pentagon, May 16th, 2024]
-The Secretary of Defense is waiting for you, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is in a meeting and will see you shortly – the Pentagon's assistant secretary informed, placing badges on the chests of Jack Truman and Nathan Cale.
-Jack, it's good to see you – the Secretary of Defense came to meet him with a handshake.
-Good to see you too, Tom. I wish the circumstances were different.
-Well, I confess that I'm curious to know what led you to call a meeting of the highest level of ranks in such a hurry.
At that moment, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff opened the door to his office to join them. He hurriedly said goodbye to the person he had met with earlier, so he could join them.
-How are you? Sorry I'm late, I was in a meeting with an auditor who came from the Capitol.
These days, the congressional budget is so tight that they rip our balls off if they find redundancies!
It was at that moment that Nathan could clearly see the face of this individual with the neatly combed hair who was leaving the office of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff... Charlie! It couldn't be! How had he gotten in here?! ? The Pentagon was a real fortress. Was this man a master at impersonating anyone, as Jeffrey had told him?! ?
He tried to say something about it but was quickly pulled into the room for the urgent meeting.
-Mr. Secretary, Mr. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I'm afraid I didn't call this hasty meeting out of courtesy - Truman spoke urgently - The matter I bring to you requires your immediate attention. I ask that you take your seats.
-Yesterday, members of my staff made a disturbing discovery that is contained in the summary reports presented in the folders in front of you. According to this disconcerting discovery, the Chinese government is in possession of a revolutionary technology called “scalar waves”
capable of causing the true biblical Armageddon. To elucidate the physics and power of scalar waves, I brought our collaborator Dr. Nathan Cale from MIT, who will provide the necessary scientific explanations.
-What are your credentials, young man? – asked the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, suspicious of such a young person.
-I am a doctoral student and assistant professor at MIT in partial differential equations and advanced quantum physics. My degree of specialization is in the hyperdimensional fabric of space-time. I provide services as a consultant to the government agency represented here today.
-Excuse me, aren't you the guy from the news... the one with the Nobel Prize? – intervened the secretary of defense.
-Nobel nomination, Mr. Secretary– Nathan corrected, then cleared his voice– um, starting... the famous scientist Nicolai Tesla discovered, while experimenting with violently abrupt direct current electrical charges, that a new form of energy – scalar – had emerged which…
-This is an outrage! – The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff interrupted, slamming his fist on the table as he read his briefcase – How dare you indict Senator Jim Slazas for conspiring with the Chinese! I know Slazas personally, he is a patriot and he…
-Sir! – Jack Truman cut in with a voice like thunder – Senator Slazas is not being indicted or prosecuted. We have merely had access, through the means guaranteed to this agency, to an encrypted conversation on his cell phone. We will do nothing but observe and as you well know, Mr. Chairman, due to the highly classified nature of this meeting, neither you nor anyone else here will form an opinion about Senator Slazas when you leave this room.
“Go ahead, go ahead,” the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff replied with a wave of his hand.
Nathan straightened his tie and continued:
“As I was going to say, moving on to the scientific explanation, scalar waves belong to the space-time in which antimatter or hyperspace exists. Time flows like a wave-shaped river in hyperspace in a grid pattern. This consists of large interconnected circles that circle the poles.
When the scalar wave beams pass through hyperspace, these “rivers of time” are blocked and temporarily redirected.
-Matter is just a wave of a pulse comprising a positive cycle, while the negative cycle manifests as "antimatter." The pulse of "matter" brings something "into" physical visibility, then momentarily disappears and returns. But the pulses are so fast that we do not see something as unmanifest while it temporarily dematerializes. If the frequencies that govern the time between a pulse of matter and a pulse of antimatter are shortened or lengthened with scalar technology, time will pass faster or slower in the surrounding space or in what it affects.
-Wait. That means...
-It means that time can be altered by scalar waves controlled and directed by this technology because they disrupt the pulse of matter and antimatter and thus the rate at which something normally passes through time with its usual smoothness. Various versions of the timeline in the hyperspace corridors can be manipulated with scalar technology. The thing that determines an object’s natural pulse of matter and antimatter cycle can be stressed when hit by scalar waves, because they are almost always absorbed by an atom’s nucleus, not by orbiting electrons.
Hyperspace can be temporarily distorted, and people can travel through time, enter parallel universes, or suck objects of any size from their position in spacetime. But I haven’t gotten to the really bad part yet…
-…If the Chinese government weaponizes scalar waves, there will be nothing and no one in the world that can stop them. Because scalar waves are finer than gamma waves, they can pass
through any physical substance without being detected. However, the damage they inflict can be so powerful that it can dislodge an object from time and space and cause it to temporarily disappear from its normal motion in time. Because this energy has bypassed physical space, it can suddenly appear faster than the speed of light and destroy something without warning.
Anything of any size. Even this building. It is just like an artificial locked potential that is a "river of force" directed into hyperspace and is totally undetectable with conventional scientific equipment, which is where the danger lies. No one can know what the enemy is planning or who their enemies are and because it never gets any press, normal military personnel without this knowledge would never know what hit them...
-...This energy 'bottle' can be detonated inside the Earth to create an earthquake or in a building to make a 'nuclear-type' explosion. This 'bottle' can be moved to or through the planet and made to any size. That's not all: using scalar wave technology the Chinese government can wirelessly connect to any computer in the US and read the contents and I believe this is already happening right now as the Chinese government wants to ensure its supremacy in the current economic war with the US at all costs.
Those present in the room fell silent, exchanging worried glances, and immediately decided to carry out a reconnaissance operation on Chinese territory to assess the current state of development of the Chinese and destroy everything if necessary.
- Good afternoon my dear, welcome to the session - Dr. Seraina Schoeimer greeted him with a big hug. - You can come in. I was waiting for you. Actually, I tried to call you to come earlier. I had some free time.
- My phone ran out of battery, sorry, Seraina. The last call he had received was from Jeffrey, who had called him earlier to say that he wanted to meet at MIT. But he never showed up and Nathan, tired of waiting, had gone to the psychiatric appointment.
- Ok. So, tell me what you've been up to this week?
- Well, I've been testing my theory with algorithms of the known cosmic variables on a quantum computer at MIT. The field of quantum computing contains a range of disciplines, including quantum algorithms. By taking advantage of quantum physics, fully quantum computers will be able to process massively complicated problems orders of magnitude faster than modern machines. For a quantum computer, challenges that could take thousands of years for a classical computer to complete can be reduced to a matter of minutes.
-Wow, I'm impressed! – exclaimed the Psychiatrist – I confess that my husband never talks about work like you do, Nathan.
-He doesn't?
-No, he's very reserved and is always traveling to some conference... well, that's not what we're here to talk about. So lie down on the couch and tell me about your emotions this week.
-Unfortunately, I don't have anything good to report, Seraina. I've been a bundle of stress at work, but that's not the worst of it... this morning I went back to searching for my father, which left me as a baby and it was all a huge frustration. I drove to an apartment complex where he supposedly lived and asked all the neighbors I could find, but no one could tell me where he had gone. I also asked a colleague of mine who is an IT specialist to look at the records of the hospital where I was born for me. I feel frustrated, tired of searching in vain, most of the time I feel like an idiot for chasing after a person who abandoned me and never came back.
If only he could see you now - Dr. Seraina thought but didn't say it, remaining professional.
-All these feelings are normal, Nathan. Lie down, relax your shoulders and let's learn some techniques to deal with them.
At that moment he let himself relax deeply, listening to Dr. Seraina's voice when a familiar sensation of goosebumps on the back of his neck made him open his eyes. The familiar master spirit of wisdom and moral elevation infinitely superior to the human world was there. Ane Marie was there.
Nathan remained silent. He didn't want to give Dr. Seraina the impression that another entity was participating in the session. But this time Ane Marie didn't say a word to him, she showed him a light and another spirit passed through that light. Nathan immediately recognized who it was. It was Jeffrey!
His heart skipped a beat. Oh my God, was Ane Marie showing him what he was thinking?!? No! Oh my God, no! Please no!
The vision disappeared, but the anguish in Nathan's heart did not. He politely asked Dr.
Seraina to stop the session, saying that he was not feeling very well, got up and left, determined to go look for Jeffrey.
He got in his car and drove as fast as he could to "the department". Arriving at the entrance, he swiped his ID card through the reader as usual, but he had a huge surprise: Instead of the usual green light, it showed a red light with the label "authorization revoked".
-What?!? Had the authorization been revoked? Who had done that? Why?
Still lost in the middle of his questions, he saw two security guards from the building who were making their rounds and decided to call them. Surely everything would be cleared up in a couple of minutes.
The security guards ran towards him unusually quickly, which made him feel strange again.
- Hands up! On your knees! - shouted the two security guards, pointing their guns at Nathan.
- Excuse me? ? ? What's up?! ? I work here, you know me!
Without wasting any time, one of the security guards knocked Nathan to the ground and handcuffed him behind his back. Then he picked up his walkie-talkie and spoke disturbing words:
- I have secured the man with the arrest warrant.
The monochromatic artificial light was the only thing hanging from the ceiling of the cold concrete room. Sitting in an uncomfortable steel chair and handcuffed to the table, Nathan was incredibly confused and angry about what they were doing to him.
The door opened and finally someone came in. It wasn't just someone. It was Jack Truman.
-Finally, commander! Are you going to explain to me now what the hell this is?!?
Jack Truman, however, only responded by throwing a folder of documents onto the table for him to look at.
-I was waiting for you, Nathan, to explain to me first what the hell this is. - said the veteran commander, sitting down and crossing his arms.
Nathan opened the folder. It contained information about an attack that had just happened at the Pentagon that morning, which had stolen access and activation/deactivation codes from the highest ranks, the origin of which was traced back to one of the few super quantum computers in the world: the one at MIT.
Nathan was in disbelief.
-Jack, you seriously don't believe I did this?! Just because I worked this morning with MIT's quantum computer, yes, I won't deny it, but that has nothing to do with it. I was testing algorithms for my theory and I have witnesses. You can call my professor, Dr. Schoeimer. He was there with me. He'll tell you what I did all morning!
-We already called your professor, Nathan. He said he left you alone to operate the super quantum computer and also explained to us very well everything that such a computer can do.
He said that for a quantum computer, challenges that could take thousands of years for a classical computer to complete can be reduced to a matter of minutes. When we asked if it could be used to defeat advanced security systems, guess what he answered: That with the right input, quantum computers are capable of breaking the most advanced security protocols in the world!
-No! That's a lie. He was there with me! I don't know why he lied, but the truth is that we only separated when I went out to the garden to wait for Jeffrey, who called me early, but he never came, so I left for my appointment with Dr. Seraina!
-Jeffrey? That version of events is very interesting, because Jeffrey was found dead a few hours ago in your assistant professor's office.
Nathan's heart skipped a beat and his lungs felt like they were going to burst through his mouth. He immediately remembered the vision that Ane Marie had shown him few moments ago.
-Jeffrey is dead?!?- He stood up with tears in his eyes. - How? Who did this?!? - he shouted, visibly upset.
-That's what we're trying to find out. Calm down. We all feel the pain of losing him, but yelling won't bring him back.
-Don't tell me to calm down! This is Jeffrey we're talking about!
-I know that and each of us is determined to find out what happened to him and who was responsible. Truman took the folder and opened it to the second page, pointing with his finger so that Nathan could see something. They were intelligence records. For months, the
“department” had been on the trail of an international criminal who camouflaged himself with many identities codenamed “the expert” but without much to work with. Until a very significant breakthrough came with the invasion of the Pentagon. The record that Truman pointed to showed the IP trail of the computer that had received the stolen information traffic.
The computer belonged to the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
Immediately after, Jack Truman slid his finger further down to highlight something else: Phone records that showed calls made from disposable cell phones that always mentioned “the expert” to Tian Kuo Wang, the employee of the Chinese Ministry of Defense where the scalar weapons were being developed. Daniel had managed to triangulate the GPS position of these calls. All of them were on the MIT campus. That was not all. Daniel's unstoppable skills had managed to get to the surveillance video from the day the cell phones were purchased: Always a man in a hood and always paying by credit card. The registered holder of the credit card...Nathan Cale.
-No! It can't be! I didn't do any of this! I'm being framed by whoever did! - Nathan protested in distress.
Jack Truman was silent for a moment. Then he spoke:
-The evidence is very compelling...however...I have a very long career of interrogations in the CIA and in special operations. I know when I'm being lied to...and you're not. I can see through that you're telling the truth. Which leaves me in a dilemma of ignoring what the paperwork says and following my instinct - He said, taking the keys to unlock the handcuffs.
-Jack, look! – Nathan pointed to the surveillance photos – The time says 12:30, but look at the position of the shadows. And look here! In this photo, there is a reflection in the glass on the side, and in this photo taken at the same time, it doesn't appear. But here, in the glass on the other side of the other window, look, the reflection appears again. You can see the face of the man in the hood. Can we improve the image?
-We definitely can. I'll get Daniel to do it right now. Just wait here.
In a few moments, Jack was back with the same improved, enlarged image and said:
-Daniel was so scared he fell backwards with this – said Truman As soon as he looked at the face in the image, Nathan immediately realized why.
-Charlie! I knew that fraudster was not trustworthy! He was the one who pretended to be me. I imagine he also cloned my card.
-Who is Charlie? –Truman asked
-He's a con artist, a embezzler who assumes several identities in different contexts. Daniel is the one who knows him very well. For reasons unknown to me, they are good compatriots in the Democratic Party. But I saw Charlie yesterday when we arrived at the Pentagon. He was the one who was in a meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff previously, posing as a congressional auditor.
-Why didn't you say anything?
-I tried, but you guys kept pushing me into our meeting at full speed.
-Since he got access to bypass the Pentagon's security measures, you must assume that he also had privileged access once inside...
-That's what I would assume, but how I have no idea. He can't be acting alone, he has to have someone high-ranking to cover for him.
-Now you're making a serious insinuation.
-What's serious, Jack, is that I'm being prosecuted here in place of these people.
-You're right. Come on - he said, I'll find a way to get you out of here.
-I'll help - A voice rushed through the door. Behind his laptop, Daniel began typing – I'm going to disable all security levels and all cameras from here to the basement. Once outside, since you're now such a man on the run, I'm going to leave you with a couple of government-paid gadgets that will keep you out of the government's reach.
Daniel then took a small solenoid-shaped object out of his pocket that Nathan recognized immediately. It was an electromagnetic pulse generator. When the button was pressed, everything electronic, all computers, surveillance circuits, car ignition engines, everything would "fry".
-Jack will give you new passports and driver's licenses. Everything will be fine, we'll find the culprits of this plot and we'll bring justice for Jeffrey's death.
The doorbell rang frantically at the Schoeimer residence around dinner time.
-Hi Nathan, what a pleasure – Mrs. Seraina greeted him – have you come to court Sarah?
– She smiled from ear to ear, however she soon realized from his face that something was terribly wrong.
-I came because I need to speak to your husband. Immediately.
-Well, he's packing his bags to speak at a new conference in Seoul, but don't worry, I'll call him.
Damn! The Seoul conference! Months ago I promised to go and give a talk with him!
With so much going on, I forgot!
Sarah came running when she heard Nathan's voice.
-Honey! You came to see me! – she hugged herself immensely happy... however his lack of reaction told her that something was very wrong.
-Nathan? Is everything okay? What happened? Why are you so tense?
Dr. Schoeimer finally came down the last piece of stairs.
-Nathan, I'm glad you're here. Stay for dinner with us - he invited.
-Professor, my best friend was murdered in my own office this morning when I wasn't there. Did you see anything? Do you know who did it?
-Oh yes, this tragedy, yes, the forensic police were there all afternoon because of a body that was found in the offices, but I can't give any more information. Unfortunately, I didn't see anything. I was at the quantum computer all morning.
-So why didn't you tell the authorities that when they questioned you? - Nathan asked, not at all satisfied.
The atmosphere became uncomfortable for a moment and Dr. Schoeimer, changing his expression, resumed the invitations:
-Well, Nathan, it turns out that you arrived at a good time. I was getting ready to leave for the conference in Seoul where we're going to give a lecture. And I was wondering if you had your bag packed yet? I insist that you come with me on the same plane!
-Look, professor, unfortunately I won't be able to go. I want to be here for my friend's funeral.
-Well, I'm sorry for your loss, my condolences. But I still insist that you come. You don't have to worry about the funeral. I've rented a private plane in order to get to Seoul on time. The body will still go to the coroner's office to perform an autopsy and determine the cause of death. It always takes a few days to release it. You and I will return by private plane in less than that.
-A private plane? Who does that?
-Well, my father - Sarah replied.
-I don't know, professor. I don't feel like it's the right time to travel...
-Nonsense, Nathan. You've just been nominated for a Nobel Prize. You have to show yourself to the world. You have to shine. - He stretched out his arm to her shoulder, letting his shirt slip back and showing some scratches.
-But I don't want to shine. I want to grieve.
-There will be time for that, my son. Time heals all wounds.
-Speaking of wounds, what are those scratches?
-Oh, this... It's nothing. I went to feed the neighbor's cat and she's super protective of her kittens. -Shall we have dinner? – Offered the host
- I'm not hungry. I can't eat, sorry.
- Okay, but you stay here with us and I'll send Sarah to pick up your bag.. We leave Early in the morning
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The old, abandoned tennis court, poorly lit on that cold night, was the perfect place for the discretion that the meeting required. The men, both dressed in overcoats, approached and shook hands.
-It's done, just as you asked, senator.
-Did you seal the deal hermetically? Does anyone suspect me? Or you?
-It's still too early to say, but your nephew is leading the investigation. And he's good.
-Not as good as me! - the senator retorted haughtily.
-Your nephew trusts me a lot. I'll keep him informed.
-I hope so. The Chinese are not messing around.
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The flight finally began its downward trajectory after a long journey. Nathan had taken the opportunity to take a nap, but the flight still seemed incredibly long.
As they made their final approach, Nathan looked out the window. Something didn't seem right. All those red flags with gold stars all over the airport. They weren't in Seoul, they were in China!
-He ran to the cockpit but it was locked. He knocked but no one answered.
-Calm down Nathan, everything's fine - Dr. Schoeimer said
-No, everything's not fine, we landed in China instead of Seoul!
-Oh, don't worry about it - the professor replied mockingly
-Escuse me?!? Are you out of your mind?!
-The plane finally stopped and a flight attendant got out.
-Excuse me, miss, go tell the pilot that we landed at the wrong airport, so he can turn around and take us to Seoul!
-No sir, I'm sorry but the location of the requested flight plan is correct. We've arrived in Beijing.
Nathan couldn't believe it.
-Did you know that, professor? You were the one who requested the flight. Did you know that?
-Of course you did. Relax, Nathan, you still have a lot to get to know today. Come on down, - he pulled him by the arm towards the plane’s stairs.
A limousine with the Chinese government’s crest was waiting outside. The back door opened and Tian Kuo Wang came out to greet him.
“It’s an honor to finally meet you in person, “expert.”
Nathan froze. No. It couldn’t be. They couldn’t possibly be talking about that “expert.”
The evidence presented in Truman’s folder came to his mind. Phone records that showed calls where the name “expert” was always mentioned for Tian Kuo Wang. Daniel had managed to triangulate the GPS position of those calls. All on the MIT campus. The IP
address of the computer that had received the traffic of information stolen from the Pentagon. The computer belonged to the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
Nathan couldn’t believe he hadn’t even thought of connecting one thing to the other before. It was too horrible to think that his professor of so many years was living a double life as a high-ranking international criminal.
-Wait, professor, are you the “expert”? – Nathan realized with a horrified expression.
-I told you that you would get to know a lot of things today.
-And this is the boy you promised would help us? – smiled Tian Kuo Wang.
Nathan took two steps back
-Help with what?!? Me? No!
Tian Kuo Wang continued to smile mischievously, took a pair of handcuffs from his belt and after much resistance managed to handcuff Nathan, pushing him into the car with a kick.
The feeling of being dragged handcuffed and hooded through seemingly endless corridors was frightening. When they finally stopped and removed his hood, he realized he was in a room full of panels, screens and electronic controls, with a single central computer, where the professor was.
-Nathan, I'm glad you're here. You came just in time to help us with some final adjustments -
the professor said happily.
-I'm not going to help you with anything - Nathan grunted through his teeth.
The professor smiled and, without hearing what he said, continued:
- As you well know, time can be altered by scalar waves controlled and directed by our technology because they interrupt the pulse of matter and antimatter and, therefore, the rate at which something normally passes through time with its usual smoothness. Several versions of the timeline in the hyperspace corridors can be manipulated, and people can now finally travel through time, imagine the possibilities.
-But you have a small problem - Nathan guessed
- Yes. Unfortunately, yes. The possibility that space and time may have a granular, quantum structure at the smallest scales disrupts our conventional understanding of the universe. It implies that the smooth space-time continuum we experience may be just an emergent property arising from a more fundamental quantum layer. Understanding this quantum layer and revealing its underlying mechanics was the object of your groundbreaking theory that allowed us to break barriers in the quantum physics of the structure and dynamics of the universe itself. Only you can help us fine-tune the fine mechanisms that ensure this granular, quantum stability at the smallest scales.
-I will never help you! You are crazy! - Nathan shouted, trying to free himself.
-Crazy? Today you are going to witness something historic. An event that will forever redefine the history of humanity – said the professor with a satisfied smile – and continued:
- After several very successful tests with scalar technology to dislodge objects from any dimension of their movement in time and space, we finally realized the adaptations we had to make to make the hyperspace of this object distort not only temporarily but permanently.
Make it disappear into another dimension...
-...Imagine, Nathan, the redefinition that would occur in the world if the Capitol and the main public institutions of the United States disappeared without a trace.
- I will never let you do that to my country! He stood up in fury, but while handcuffed to the chair, he was quickly restrained by the Chinese.
- China could finally position itself as the only legitimate superpower and the North American continent would quickly return to the Middle Ages with a single man loyal to Chinese interests prepared to assume power.
- That would be Jim Slazas?!? – Nathan growled.
-I see you're getting good at connecting the dots. Now, I never told you, but I thought your theoretical presentation at the Pentagon was magnificent, by the way... but I'm afraid we need to move on to the practical lesson. I've just entered the coordinates of the Capitol and there's nothing you can do, neither you nor that... what do you call him, "legendary" Commander Truman - The professor laughed with an evil laugh, but was interrupted by the elevator that suddenly opened.
-Wrong mother f#cker - Jack Truman's booming voice rang out, giving the Chinese guards no time to react, neutralizing each one of them in no time. He then turned to the professor who was at the controls, putting him in the crosshairs and yelling at him to get away from the computer.
-You're too late, commander, I've already entered the coordinates and my finger is positioned on the "enter" button. Even if you shoot and kill me, the weight of my body will fall on this finger. I'm going to give you five seconds to make a decision, whatever it may be, that will result in your defeat. I'm face to face with the man of legendary cunning, the man who has no defeats. I want to see that cunning, now I want to see what you do with five seconds and an impossible decision. Five...four...three...two...one - he finished the countdown, satisfied, pressing the "enter" button.
The professor pressed the button repeatedly without understanding what had just happened. The screen had gone black and everything had turned off at the last second!
- It is two things, professor – Nathan said, breaking the silence of the devices that had turned off – It is two things that made my commander famous. You mentioned cunning...
but you forgot about the ability to anticipate – Nathan smiled as he saw Jack Truman take the electromagnetic pulse device he had just used out of his pocket.
Dr Schoeimer was furious and barely had time to curse in German when he felt Truman twist his arm behind his back and handcuff him.
-Sorry, did that hurt, “expert”? - He said sarcastically, pushing him with a kick towards the elevator, right after he had released Nathan.
-Wait Jack – Nathan said – How did you know? How did you find out that the professor was the “expert”? How did you know exactly where to find us?
-Daniel planted a computer worm that caused a little hell in the state servers of the Chinese Ministry of Defense until he located the exact place where Wang swiped his access card in the last hours. He did this because we kept Jim Slazas under surveillance since you provided that clue. We discovered the use of a disposable cell phone for a call in which he addressed the “expert” and a trip with Tian Kuo Wang’s entourage, which call Daniel triangulated on the MIT campus on the same day and at the exact time that Jeffrey went to look for you. During the autopsy of the body, they found remains of the killer’s skin cells under Jeffrey’s fingernails. He must have entered your office after overhearing the conversation and was killed because of that. When he realized he was going to be shot at point-blank range, he must have made the effort to scratch the killer in his last moments to collect his DNA. – Truman pointed out the professor’s scratched arm.
-What?!? You killed Jeffrey?!? My best friend?! – Nathan threw himself at the other with a fury he never knew he had inside him, knocked him to the ground and began to punch him hard. Jack Truman did nothing to stop him.
-This is for my best friend!!! And this – he continued with the beating - ...is for my country!!!
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The rifles fired salutes of honor as the coffin covered with the American flag advanced on its way to its final resting place in the cemetery of national heroes, where all employees of the department of defense were buried. The day was slightly rainy and the raindrops mixed with the tears of everyone present.
The Saunders, Jeffrey's parents, were inconsolable. Nathan, being a friend of the family for many years, tried to offer some comfort, but he himself needed comfort. Sarah was there for him despite the great personal earthquake she had just suffered when she saw her father taken to a federal prison. According to Daniel, his uncle was now facing na impeachment and a delicate legal process and Charlie had only avoided the same path because they were friends and he had digitally deleted the entire case against him...
None of that mattered to Nathan. He had lost the person who had always been there for him, who he could always depend on in good times and bad.
Truman dedicated a few words about the dedicated servant and loyal man of character that Jeffrey was, and after the prayers and moments of silence that were dedicated, the day slowly ended and the place was abandoned. Nathan, however, refused to leave, refused to abandon Jeffrey.
He felt careful hands wrap around his shoulders. - Come Nathan, he belongs in the light and peace now - the commander comforted him, gently pulling him to the car. He took him to his house and they had dinner together. Halfway through dinner, Nathan's cell phone rang. It was Daniel.
- Hey, partner, that search you asked me to do in the files of the hospital where you were born, I was successful. I found a record that you'll want to look at. But I'm not going to send it to you. It's so disconcerting that you'll have to come see it in person.
-What Daniel?
-Come see me as soon as you can.
The call got disconnected.
Is there a problem? - Jack asked.
-No. Nothing wrong. I'm just going to go out and meet Daniel.
-Something work-related? Do you want me to come with you?
-No, it's not work. Don't worry. I'll go. Thanks for dinner.
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-So what was so important that I had to see it in person? - Nathan asked.
-Here it is. - Daniel handed him the file. This is the admission form from the day your mother arrived to give birth to you. See who signed the record as her companion.
Nathan's eyes widened and his jaw dropped at the signature. Jack H. Truman
-No! We can't be talking about our commander! It has to be someone else! It has to be!
-It's not someone else, Nathan. I ran a digital program to check the handwriting match against his current signature. The match was 100%.
Nathan was perplexed. Was it really Jack? What did that mean? Why had he never mentioned anything before?
-Was it really Jack , Daniel? – Nathan asked incredulously, asking for confirmation.
-Yes, Nathan, it was me – replied the commander at the door, who had followed Nathan because his cunning had told him that something was not right – I never told you, but I knew your father. We served together in the CIA many years ago. That night when your mother was about to give birth, he was assigned to a mission in Eastern Europe and I took her to the hospital for him.
-If you knew my father, why did you never say anything?!? – Nathan burst out hurt – You also knew that he abandoned me, didn't you? What happened to him? Where is he??
-Your father didn't abandon you. That's what we in the government told your family due to the highly classified nature of the operation in which he died on duty shortly after you were born, Nathan.
-How dare you not tell my family the truth! My aunts took turns raising me convinced that he was a scoundrel!
-Did we actually tell the truth to Jeffrey's family?!? We live and die under an oath where the truth is kept locked away to protect those we love! Look what the truth did to your girlfriend Sarah! I saw how she was torn apart!
-He's right, Nathan – Daniel said – We choose to honor our way of life and what we do for our country.
At that moment, without anything making it expect, Nathan felt that familiar chill on the back of his neck and in the middle of the room he clearly saw the figure of Ane Marie emerge.
What was she doing there? What had she come for?
-Excuse me, I need a moment, I'll be right back – he retreated upstairs, leaving the other two men without understanding anything.
-Ane Marie, what is it?
-Itś Daniel. He's going to need your help. The tables are about to turn for him. He's going to need you to protect him.
-Ok Ane Marie, I have no idea what you're talking about, but Daniel isn't the kind of guy who needs to be protected. He's a ruthless cybercriminal who takes down digital fortresses before breakfast and who did military training in the elite forces. Definitely not the kind of guy who needs protection.
-Protected with the truth- Ane Marie corrected – Only you will be able to uncover the truth.
-Wait a minute, what do you mean only I will be able to...
-Are you talking to yourself, Nathan? – Jack interrupted, who arrived at the same moment, looking for him.
-Um, no, I was talking to the mirror. I was practicing for the Nobel ceremony. – He disguised himself by combing his hair in the mirror. – The loud sound of sirens and blue lights, however, quickly drew his attention to the outside.
-It was the police. They had stopped on Daniel's lawn, but what were they doing there?
-Daniel answered after two loud knocks on the door.
-Are you Daniel Slazas? - asked the police officer as he entered.
-It's me.
-You're coming with us. You're the main suspect in the murder of Senator Jim Slazas.
Nathan's jaw dropped as he listened to the police officers. Had Jim Slazas been murdered? Surely this had to be the work of the "expert", who now behind bars, to prevent his connection in the Capitol from talking, had ordered him to be silenced.
-He's not going anywhere! - Commander Truman shouted - You don't have any evidence against him!
-The knife from the crime with his fingerprints is enough? - The police officer shouted in response.
-But he was at the funeral with us all afternoon! - Nathan immediately protested - Several witnesses can confirm that!
-Did anyone see where he went after the funeral? - The police officer asked, insinuating something.
-Home! - Daniel replied, handcuffed and furious.
-Did any of you accompany him home? - The police officer continued.
-Well, no, we came here later but...
-Then we're going to arrest the individual based on the evidence!
-No! He's being framed because of his history of enmity with his uncle! - Nathan protested.
-So you admit that this man is Senator Jim Slazas' nephew and that they have always been enemies? - The police officer countered.
-Take the individual into custody! - Ordered the police commander.
-You can be sure that this will not stay like this! - Truman's voice boomed loud as thunder.
The police commander intervened, stating that the investigations were ongoing and that was all he could comment on at the moment.
-Really?! - Truman laughed sarcastically - Well, I'm going to do my own investigation and find the real culprit. You just sit there and watch! And I'm going to get an excellent lawyer for Daniel!
Nathan had his hands on his head. This was what Ane Marie had come to tell him moments ago. Daniel will need to be protected with the truth. Only you will be able to uncover the truth.
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The triple border of Iguaçu between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay was an illicit paradise for all types of smuggling market for professionals who operated outside the law. Among the most talented of all was Oscar Mendes, a money changer who had successfully evaded the Federal Police of other countries for money laundering and tax evasion crimes and who now bought and sold dollars on the black market in Argentina, taking advantage of the country's terrible economic situation and the intense devaluation of the currency.
In order to avoid raising suspicions from the tax authorities, he had formed a business partnership with one of the many indebted companies in the capital and, using the company's tax identity, he would covertly transfer money abroad for clients who sought him out, usually corrupt businessmen and politicians trying to hide illicit money.
The activity of C&M Architecture offered a serious cover for a guy like him. Its team of professionals, administrators, lawyers and accountants specialized in Horizontal Property, the company worked with the objective of providing professional services to meet the characteristics of each property and the particular needs of buildings and towers of departments, offices and real estate complexes.
The solution to the crisis in the company's structural fabric had come through a huge project underway with the millionaire consortium with the United States, which Damian, Oscar's partner and founder of the company, had achieved through his strategic partnership with a Washington lawyer with strong political connections.
For Oscar, it was only good news. The company was going to rise in price on the stock exchange and he would be able to control the shares. The increased cash flow and Damian's constant trips to the United States allowed him to assume unrestricted control of the company.
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It was a strange way to invade a senator's luxurious mansion but given Commander Truman's experience with covert operations, infiltrating a police investigation at the residence of a public figure was child's play. Nathan followed behind him in the stolen forensic investigators' suits without saying a word but worried about the flood of journalists who were starting to arrive despite it being late at night.
Passing the widow who was being comforted by the police, they quickly reached the imposing living room of the mansion, richly decorated with the most valuable porcelain from the Ming dynasty, imported Italian furniture, multiple renowned paintings and several hunting trophies.
Lying on the blood-stained Persian carpet, Jim Slazas now looked no different from his many slaughtered trophies. Jack examined the body closely. Several stab wounds and finally one in the jugular that severed his throat. Near the neck was the cristal cup of tea that had never been drunk, which was spilled on the victim's body. Nathan joined Jack and they noticed that there was a note next to the corpse, which had been preserved in plastic by the forensic team.
“I KNOW WHY YOU ARE HERE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND I KNOW YOU TRUST ANE
MARIE. BUT SHE CANNOT HELP YOU AND JACK CAN´T EITHER”
-What is this? - Truman asked himself – Who is this assistant professor? Is it you, Nathan?
But who is this Ane Marie? And this Jack, am I?
Nathan was paralyzed in shock. Who the hell had left the note?! ! ? How did they know he would be there to investigate Slazas' death and especially how did they know about Ane Marie? ? ? She was the biggest secret of his entire existence. One that he had only shared with his best friend Jeffrey and now he was dead.
Had Jeffrey written that before he died? ? But why would Jeffrey write those things? And why was he now here next to the murdered corpse of Jim Slazas? Only Jeffrey knew that secret and yet it seemed that Jeffrey had risen from the grave on purpose to play a trick on him! How crazy! Nothing made sense!
-Nathan? Was this note left for you? - Asked the visibly confused commander. - Who is this Ane Marie? Is the killer someone you or she know?
- She's just an old friend - Nathan disguised - And if I knew who the killer was, I would have told you already. My strongest theory is that Professor Schoeimer in prison sent someone to do this. Slazas was a strong associate of his in the crime.
- That might be it, tomorrow I'm going to visit your professor and we'll investigate all the possibilities.
- Do you know what this note is? - asked the widow, approaching in tears, when she saw Jack holding the note.
- Unfortunately, not yet, Mrs. Slazas, the investigations are ongoing - Jack replied - In fact, we need you to tell us exactly what you saw.
- I've already told the police everything I know... - she replied, looking at her hands.
- Yes, but we are a specialized forensic team, we need the details.
- Okay, fine. But this is very difficult for me to have to relive everything – she wiped away her tears once more – I got home from the beauty salon and found it strange to see my husband's car at home so early, but I thought he might want to take refuge at home from yet another scandal – you know about this lawsuit and the impeachment he was facing…
that's when I went in and saw, horrified, his body lying in a pool of blood! My maid was also lying there, covered in blood, unconscious. The paramedics took her to the hospital but said that her chances of survival were minimal.
The woman cried again as if the house was going to collapse. Jack was patient. - And you didn't see anything else? No one broke into the house? Aren't there surveillance cameras on the property?
- Yes, there are. I've already given them to the police. They said the fingerprints on the knife belong to his nephew! I never thought their rivalry would go this far! – She burst into tears again.
- As I said, the investigations are ongoing. We can't say anything else – Truman replied.
-There's one more thing – said the widow – Then I went upstairs and saw the whole upstairs part of the house turned upside down. The jewels were gone and then I saw the shattered window, that's all I can say. I'm sorry for helping with so little.
The widow resumed her tears, looking at her hands again.
-Was your husband an art lover? – Jack asked as he observed several paintings by Rembrandt, Monet and Renoir.
-Oh no, I'm the art scholar and collector of the family. My husband's hobby was hunting.
He was very proud of his trophies.
-I understand, ma'am. I've also been a great art lover since I was young. My first international exhibition was the São Paulo Biennial in 69 – said Truman
-Mine was the Vienna Biennial in 73 – she replied before walking away crying again.
-No way this was a robbery! They turned everything upside down and took some jewelry to create a decoy! And they probably stole a knife from Daniel's house to plant at the crime scene! – Jack commented.
Jewels... Jewelry! – An idea exploded in Nathan's head.
-Jack! Jewelry! Do you remember that Daniel and Jeffrey discovered Jim Slazas'
connection to the black market for diamonds from the Russian mafia? Where would he keep all those diamonds? And who would know where?
-Do you think there is a connection?
-There might be – Nathan replied, rummaging through the inside breast pocket of the deceased's suit and taking out a silky bag full of diamonds.
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[San Francisco Docks, California, USA, May 19, 2024]
- This is the place the “expert” pointed out during the “interview” with you this morning, Jack? This dock only has luxury yachts. Which one are we looking for?
- That one – Truman pointed – Yacht “Princess Diana”. The owner was Jim Slazas, he used to throw extravagant private parties here and according to my “interview” this was where your professor and Slazas would meet to discuss business and transact payments in diamonds. There was a VIP party scheduled for the night he was found dead. Ironically the plan was to use an undercover agent at the party to assassinate him on the yacht but someone else rushed in and did it first. I have a feeling your hunch was right.
Whoever killed him knew about the diamond business and I bet he’s on this yacht looking for them.
They entered without making a sound and soon noticed how everything was in disarray and the upholstery of the benches had been ripped open, clearly a sign of a search for something hidden.
Screams of frustration came from upstairs. They tiptoed up the carefully crafted wooden stairs and, with a gun in hand, Jack shouted at the young woman who was rummaging through everything to be quiet. That was when Nathan's eyes widened as he immediately recognized her.
-Sarah! What are you doing here?!?
Sarah stood still without saying a word. No matter how much Nathan asked her what she was doing there and what it meant, she didn't answer.
-She met Slazas through her father and was having an affair with him. Now that he's dead, she wants the diamonds—Truman finally revealed, unable to find an assertive way to not hurt Nathan.
-No!—Nathan reacted incredulously—you wouldn't do that to us, Sarah!—He looked at her in disbelief.
The girl's face turned red, revealing the whole truth.
-You killed Slazas?!? For the diamonds?!?—Nathan growled indignantly.
-I didn't kill him, I swear! I found out on TV like everyone else!—she defended herself, whimpering.
-Your father had a plan to have Slazas assassinated at the party. Were you the one who was going to carry it out?!?
-No! The senator was giving me the kind of princess life I always deserved! The kind of life you didn't give me! Do you think I was born to ride in that old junk of yours?!?
At that moment Jack noticed more people's footsteps on the lower deck of the ship and took up his gun again to go investigate.
The widow panicked when she saw a gun pointed at her and her lawyer.
-Calm down, Mrs. Slazas - Jack apologized, putting the gun away - we're here to continue the investigation into your husband's death. And what are you doing here?
The lawyer spoke for her
-We're carrying out a survey of the assets of the late Senator Slazas to pay off some gambling creditors.
-Gambling creditors?
-Yes, unfortunately, without his wife's knowledge, Senator Slazas had a strong gambling addiction, which left him with some debts that need to be legally settled. - said the lawyer.
That's not the only thing he had without her knowledge, - Truman thought, and as quickly as the thought came to him, Sarah came down the stairs, pushed by Nathan.
-It's true, my husband left me in a very delicate situation. Men from the casino came this morning to take my Rembrandt and Monet works of art.
As soon as Nathan looked at the subject accompanying the widow, he recognized him immediately.
-Charlie! What are you doing here, you embezzeler! You damn trickster! You should be in prison if only you weren't so lucky that Daniel is your friend and has erased the lawsuit against you! - Nathan growled angrily, grabbing him by the collar.
-Hey, get your hands off me! I'm the Slazas family's lawyer!
-Of course you are, - Nathan said with a sarcastic laugh - And a week ago at the Republican Congress you were an investment analyst and a few days ago at the meeting with the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff you were the congressional auditor! And you also had the nerve to impersonate me on another occasion in a cell phone store to incriminate me! You are a damn con and I hate fake people like you! What are you really doing here? What is your game?!? -
Nathan demanded to know indignantly.
-Excuse me! - Mrs. Slazas intervened - Stop this immediately. Charlie is our family lawyer. For many years. And I can prove it! - She reached into his pocket and took out a laminated card -
Here is your bar card.
Nathan snatched the document from the widow's hands, swearing that he would analyze it to see if it had been forged.
-The document is authentic! - Charlie protested
-Really?!? How do you cheat on the bar exam?!?
-Enough! – The widow became very dissatisfied – Stop arguing and let's focus on the debts my husband left behind! Have you found the diamonds yet? – she Jack asked hopefully.
-How do you know about the diamonds? – Jack took her by surprise
-Um, it's no secret to me that my husband had side businesses – she apologized, visibly uncomfortable – But did you find the diamonds or not?
-Oh yes – Jack lied deliberately for a purpose of his own – The nephew in custody, he was the one who initially unearthed Senator Slazas' connection to the diamond business and he has been following his movements carefully ever since.
-You mean Daniel knows where the diamonds are?!? - Charlie interjected hurriedly, suddenly very interested.
-Oh yes he does - Jack continued - And he is willing to make a deal to reduce his sentence. Of course the diamonds of illegal origin will be confiscated by the Treasury Department.
The widow's eyes widened in horror when she heard that.
-Confiscated by the Treasury? - She asked in a desperate voice.
-Yes - Jack confirmed - I mean assuming Daniel is the real killer we have nothing to worry about he is safe in prison with his secret where he is not going anywhere. But let's imagine for a second that Daniel is not the killer. He would be free as the only person who knows what
everyone wants to know and with no reason to give up his secret. Let's suppose he is not the killer. Let's imagine he is being framed for the crime...
-Framed what do you mean? That is ridiculous.
- Well, the knife could have been taken from Daniel's house and planted at the crime scene by someone who knew about the history of enmity between the two. Someone who thought they would get away with watching Daniel rot in prison instead of him... but the maid had to arrive just in time for the murder. The killer had to take care of her too. He stabbed her multiple times, leaving her between life and death, but fortunately we just got the call from the hospital saying she was going to live - Jack continued to lie. There had been no call. He was using his cunning.
- What? She's not going to die?! - Mrs. Slazas was surprised
- Oh no. She woke up. The doctors are stabilizing her and she'll soon be able to reveal the identity of the killer to us.
- What do you mean? - Mrs. Slazas reacted defensively - We already have the identity of the killer, he's my husband's nephew! -Then we have nothing to worry about, she'll just wake up and confirm what we all already know, and Daniel will negotiate his sentence for his secret, right?
Mrs. Slazas swallowed, visibly uncomfortable.
-Come on, - She said to her lawyer. - And you two get off my yacht. Your work here is over. Look what you've done, everything is a mess, - She said in a very irritated tone.
-Oh, that wasn't us, Mrs. Slaza, - Jack replied calmly. - It was your husband's mistress over there, - he pointed at Sarah.
The sudenly enraged woman threw herself like a bull at Sarah and an ugly fight began.
-You're welcome, - Jack touched Nathan's shoulder with a smile and the two got out of there, leaving Charlie to calm the fight.
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Óscar Mendes got into the back of his Mercedes limousine and wasted no time turning on his tablet to connect to the latest financial market transactions. The arrival of an email caught his attention and he decided to look at it with curiosity. His expression immediately changed. It was a hate message from the “discontented,” a group of the working class who hated the lifestyle and privileges of the company’s CEOs at a time when the national currency had depreciated by 70% and people were starving.
The email threatened to bomb his partner and that he would be next. Óscar paid no attention to all that hatred distilled by the common Joe public in the gutter. Big mistake. The first shot from the sniper killed the driver, causing the limousine to spin out of control and crash into a hot dog stand.
Óscar got out in despair and started running with the shooter hot on his heels. He desperately entered a bank and took refuge between two police officers who promptly activated security measures.
Jack, where are we going in such a hurry? And explain to me why you told all those lies to Senator Slazas' widow and Charlie? - Nathan asked curiously.
-Because I already know who the real killer is. And I'm going to expose him. I'm going to leave you at the police station with Daniel and soon Charlie will show up wanting to know about the diamonds. I'm going to the hospital where the Slazas family's maid is because Mrs. Slazas is also about to pay a visit.
-Ok, and who's the real killer?
-You and the entire police station will soon find out - Jack said, stopping the car for him to get out - Hey, tell Daniel that I'll get him out of this hole in no time.
-I'll tell him
Nathan registered at the reception desk as a visitor for Daniel, but was told that he couldn't because there was already a visit with the prisoner. When he asked who, the name Charles Whitaker didn't come as a surprise. He was quick.
-Leave it alone, I'll wait my turn. - He pretended to pick up some magazines and then went to the bathroom and from there to the police storage room. He stole a uniform and went to look for Daniel. He found him talking on a phone behind a glass window and stood behind the other person on the other side to capture everything Charlie was saying.
-“Come on, bro, you can trust me. You can tell me where the diamonds are.”
“Don't say you don't know what I'm talking about.” “I already said you can trust me.”
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With her visit card, Mrs. Slazas entered her maid's room subtly and silently, quickly reaching into her purse to take out the syringe she had brought with her, but as soon as she closed the curtains and looked at her, she realized with shock that she had been tricked. The poor thing hadn't woken up; she was in a coma and was intubated.
-Mrs. Slazas, how kind of you to come – Jack greeted, surprising her from behind – Let me have this – He took the syringe from her hands.
-Give it back to me! It's not what you think! – she protested
-Of course not. It never is – Jack said sarcastically, immobilizing her hands behind her back and handcuffing her, while turning on the recorder on his cell phone.
-Why did you lie to me?! My maid is about to die!
-Because I knew that the real killer would be desperate that the witness would speak and reveal that Daniel was not responsible. I knew that the real killer would take measures to come here and silence the witness, isn´t it? – He said accusingly.
She stood still without saying a word. Jack then continued:
-The real killer was someone who knew the victim very well. Because the teacup next to the body was made of crystal and was intact, which shows that it did not fall when the victim was drinking tea and was suddenly attacked by an armed assailant. So the person who killed the senator was someone who knew his regular habit and wet the body and left the cup next to it to simulate a version of events.
-That's ridiculous! You're insinuating that I killed my husband and faked it for the police!
-But the maid arrived on time - Jack continued - And there was nothing else to do but take care of her too. The problem is that now there was so much blood on your hands. She had to remove it with bleach, which damages the skin, and that's why you kept looking at your hands for fear that they would report you!
-Insinuations! All insinuations! - protested the other defensively - why would I kill my husband?!?
-Because he was facing impeachment due to his international criminal associations having been discovered. Now your bourgeois life was over. And you didn't have to put up with all that anymore. The betrayals, the gambling debts that threatened to take away your wealth. You were going to put an end to it. Get his dirty diamonds, control his assets and you had the perfect scapegoat: His nephew!
-But then you had to show up! – the woman shouted now in a threatening tone – Who are you and what does it matter to you if Daniel rots in prison?!? You want my diamonds, don't you?!?
- She kicked, trying to hit Jack
-I already have them – Jack revealed to the horror of the woman's facial expression
-What?!? You're bluffing! You're bluffing!
-I'm not. – Jack replied calmly – You would know if you were truly as you say you are, an art scholar. When we met I told you that my first biennial was in São Paulo in 69 when I was very young. Every art scholar knows that this was the famous boycotted biennial, which never happened, in protest against the censorship of the Brazilian civil-military dictatorship. Your husband also knew that you didn't pay attention to art and so, this was the perfect way to hide the diamonds in that house.
- What do you mean?!? What do you mean by that? - She shouted angrily.
- The diamonds were always in his works of art. Rembrandt. Monet, Renoir.
- How can you be sure?!?
-Slazas was a man who liked to show off his trophies. And not just from hunting. These are fine and exclusive works of art... and they are also the part of a house that no one touches when they are rummaging through everything looking for diamonds.
The woman panicked as she remembered the men from the casino who had come that morning to take the paintings to pay off their debts.
-By the way, they weren't from the casino - Jack said, practically reading her thoughts - I was the one who sent them in uniform with that uniform - He said, referring to undercover operatives from the "department" - The works of art are now in the possession of the Treasury Department for the meticulous extraction of diamonds from the lining.
The woman's panic was now total and she screamed and kicked, wanting to kill Truman, but a team of police officers quickly entered for her and Jack handed them the recording.
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The woman entered the police station hysterical, needing four police officers to restrain her.
She shouted that she wanted her lawyer and Nathan replied sarcastically:
-Your lawyer? Thank God he's right here! – He pulled Charlie's chair, who was surprised.
Jack came in right after, following the police officer who went to Daniel to release him.
-I told you I'd get you out of this hole – Jack said, hugging him.
Nathan hugged him too and the three of them waved goodbye to Mrs. Slazas behind bars and went to have a beer in celebration.
Nathan was very grateful for Jack's performance and recalled that from the time he had known Jack, he would describe him as a man with impressive cunning who acted as if he knew nothing, until it was too late for the bandits, who realized the moment they fell to the gallows that it was Jack who had been giving the rope to hang them all along.
While they were having fun, Nathan's cell phone rang and he answered it on the second ring.
“Nathan Cale?”
“Yes, it's me. Who is it?”
“My name is Damian Cale. I'm your brother. I've been looking for you for a long time but I finally found you.”
“What?!?” “I don't have any brothers!”
“That was what I thought too until I dug deeper into our father’s story.”
The facts and dates brought to light on the other end of the line matched Nathan’s investigations up to that point, so he decided to accept the invitation to meet that night.
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That night at the cafe on the corner they had agreed on, Nathan waited patiently until a man in an overcoat, sunglasses and a hat approached him to sit at his table.
-Nathan, I’m glad you came – said the man who, upon removing his glasses and hat, revealed himself to be none other than Charlie.
-Charlie, you trickster!- Nathan exploded in rage, trying to strangle the other man over the table. - Were you the one who called me?! How dare you make up a story about a brother?!?
And how did you know so many details about my father’s lifeline?? Did you investigate me, you fraudster?!?
- Calm down, my friend – the other immediately defended himself – You have to listen to what I have to say first!
- I'm not interested in anything you have to say! You're nothing but a liar! A professional con! –
Nathan growled angrily
- You need to calm down, my friend! I'm here because your brother Damian asked for my help to find you as soon as he saw you on TV.
- All nonsense! I don't have a brother! And we're not friends! I hate fraudsters like you!
- It's all true! I met your brother when Jim Slazas signed a multimillion-dollar consortium contract with his architectural firm in Argentina for the construction of the Millenia towers. He was looking for a lawyer for the business partnership in the United States and Jim Slazas recommended me! It's all true, you can ask Daniel, he knows all the business deals his uncle had.
- Of course! Daniel knew that his uncle was doing business with my long-lost brother and he never mentioned it! You're a pathological liar!
-I'm not saying that Daniel knew he was your brother. The surname is relatively common. I was the one who discovered it one time when we were waiting for the business meeting to start and your interview was on TV. the reporter started looking into your origins and your childhood. It was then that Damian realized facts and unlikely similarities, so exact, that he wanted to get the story straight and asked for my legal help. I immediately said that I knew you and that I could arrange a meeting.
-And aren't you too busy getting Mrs. Slazas acquitted of first-degree murder?! - Nathan mocked with irony in his tone
-I can't comment on private client cases due to my professional confidentiality - Charlie looked away, visibly uncomfortable.
-And where is this Damian? Why didn't he come in person if he's so sure that we're brothers? -
Well, that's a tricky part... first of all, he's in a wheelchair and secondly, he had complications.
-Complications? Really? What kind?
-The kind where a businessman needs to stay in an undisclosed location under police protection after a bomb threat reveals an activated explosive device under his bed – revealed Charlie, sipping his juice – Luckily for your brother, the bomber was careless with one of the copper wire connections necessary for the success of his attempt.
-So the bomb didn't explode?
-Luckily not, but this wasn't the first episode of attacks on the leadership of C&M Architecture.
Two days ago, the limousine of his partner and also CEO of the company, Óscar Mendes, was shot at by an unknown sniper. Mr. Mendes doesn't know about the bomb attack yet and is on his way because he doesn't feel safe in Argentina. The origin of both attacks seems to be linked to a series of hate emails received by the company signed by the “malcontents”, who identify themselves as a group of honest working-class citizens who are dissatisfied with the profits, luxuries and privileges of the businessmen of the company that in the last year received multimillion-dollar consortiums while Argentina sank into extreme poverty and social disintegration.
-So a group of “malcontents” think that my brother is the new face of modern fascism. How long exactly will he be under police protection? Where is he? And...I invest in the stock market...why have I never heard of this C&M Architecture if it is so prominent that it works with multimillion-dollar consortiums?
-I cannot comment on individual client cases...
-....due to your professional confidentiality. We already know. Go ahead.
-Since acquiring the consortium for the Millenia towers, problems with C&M Architecture's cash flow have become more evident than in the past. The company has been through a series of legal controversies with suspicions of capital embezzlement, tax evasion, financial transactions for others under the company's tax identity.
-Great. So now you're telling me that my brother is a white-collar criminal! How good that he handpicked the perfect lawyer for him! - Nathan said sarcastically.
-It wasn't your brother who cheated in the company. I'm sure of that. Seriously, I'm a professional at reading people's body language to set up my scams. When the federal police notified him that they were going to investigate the consortium, Damian's expression was one of genuine surprise. A real criminal would act surprised, but he was honestly surprised.
-Oh, I'm sure that an expert in cheating like you can be absolutely sure! - Nathan said sarcastically.
-I'm sure. That's why you need to come with me. Your brother needs your help.
-My help?
-Yes. I know what you can do with all your mathematical analysis and differential equations and advanced binomial calculations. And I know that's what you do in your work. The money trail always leads to the source, right?
Nathan choked on his juice for a moment.
-How do you know anything about our work, you con artist? And don't you dare say that Daniel told you because our confidentiality agreement is more government-mandated than yours.
-I know everything you think I don't know, Assistant Professor. I have the power to read people and minds. How is Ane Marie doing now? Did you get my note? - Charlie looked at him from behind his juice.
Nathan froze. What?! Charlie had left the note?! But how did he know?!?
-Look at me, you con artist, whatever it is you think you know about me, you don't! This story about paranormal powers is just another one of the lies you live and make others believe! But your lies don't work on me, you probably searched through everything there was to search through Jeffrey's school stuff and found our friendship diary and most likely you had no trouble investigating what I do at MIT and finding out that I'm a PhD student in differential equations and deduced that I'm a consultant where Daniel works. You can't fool me, you're nothing but a con artist, a fraud and a liar! - Nathan shouted, throwing the rest of the juice in his glass in the other's face and turning his back.
- I don't care if the bomb didn't explode successfully, it's a case of domestic terrorism, so you can tell the San Francisco Sheriff that our department is taking over the case - Truman hung up the phone with the county police and announced:
- We have a case of domestic terrorism. A bomb was planted under the hotel bed of an Argentine businessman who was in San Francisco for a business meeting with Senator Jim Slazas, who never showed up for the meeting because he was assassinated. Two days ago, the limousine of our businessman's partner and also CEO of the company C&M Architecture, Óscar Mendes, was shot at by an unknown sniper. The origin of both attacks appears to be linked to a series of hate emails received by the company signed by the "malcontents", a communist-oriented group with a violent methodology. The businessman is now in a safe place under police protection and we have the support of his lawyer, who will work in partnership with us due to his in-depth knowledge of the case.
- No way! – Nathan let out a scream, banging his fists on the table – There is no way we are going to work in partnership with that lying trickster Charlie!
All eyes were on him now
-Nathan, do you know who the victim's lawyer is? Do you know anything more about the case?
– Truman asked curiously.
-Yes, I do. This lawyer is Charles Whitaker, a professional con man. He approached me earlier trying to convince me that the businessman in question was a lost brother of mine whose existence I had been unaware for all these years and tried to convince me to help track down funds that were being illegally diverted from the company. But since he is an expert in lies and suggestion, I dismissed his allegations as a money-making scheme.
-I'm going to investigate C&M Architecture and averiguate this – Daniel said briefly
-Ok Daniel, you track the company's accounts and the origin of the emails and you, Nathan, come with me.
-Where are we going?
-Play Bombers at the hotel – Truman replied, putting on his sunglasses.
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Here is the bomb mechanism and where the glitch occurred here in these wires that made bad contact. – Explained the bomb squad technician.
Truman made a gesture to touch the aforementioned wires of the device but was quickly repelled.
-Don't touch anything, it may not have detonated but it is still highly sensitive to pressure. Let me deactivate the explosive charge grenade. – Said the professional carefully removing with modern equipment a cylindrical portion from inside the device
-Okay. Now it is disarmed – Said the bomb squad technician Nathan followed Jack and the two spotted Óscar Mendes who had just arrived at the hotel and thinking he was meeting Damian, he had heard what had happened.
-But I am shocked – he said almost in tears – These “malcontents” are going to ruin our company. Our stock market share has already dropped 15% since the attacks began!
So that's what matters? – Nathan thought. And he couldn’t contain himself:
- Mr. Mendes, how do you react to the accusation of financial irregularities that led the federal police to investigate your consortium?
-But it’s a complete lie. We operate with the highest degree of transparency and reliability.
-Of course. They told us that the hotel cameras were deactivated that very night for circuit maintenance. Can you think of anyone who would have known about that in advance?
-No, I can’t think of anyone.
-Thanks for your help, you can go, the police will take you to a safe place.
The phone rang. It was Daniel. He had updates.
Óscar Mendes was a millionaire criminal and money launderer who had bought half of the company to perpetrate his money laundering and tax evasion schemes. The company was now losing a dizzying amount of money in stock market shares, yet paradoxically its other CEO
Damian Cale had bet against the company’s own shares three days ago and was now making a lot of money in his personal account. Daniel also told them that the source IP of the hate emails was not in Argentina but in an internet cafe 50m from the hotel.
Charlie arrived at the hotel just as the phone call ended and Jack walked away to, for some reason, ask for a bag at the reception and return with it, bulky. What he had gone to get, Nathan had no idea.
-Mr. Truman, Nathan, it's great to see you again. How can I help you?
-You can't! Get out of the way! - Nathan growled impatiently.
Jack put his hand on his shoulder
-Of course you can help, Mr. Whitaker. Can you take us to where your client is?
-Yes, I can, please follow me.
The perfectly lit room on the ground floor of the hotel was full of police officers on duty, some of whom were distracted by their cell phones. In the center, next to a table with flowers and snacks, a CEO in a wheelchair was talking on the phone on his latest generation iPhone.
-Mr. Cale? - Charlie said. - Introduce him to the lead agent of the investigations, Jack Truman.
He's going to ask you a few brief questions. And I present to you your consultant Nathan Cale, the brother you were looking for – Charlie revealed without delay.
The room was silent for a moment and everyone in the room stared at Nathan and Damian.
The two extended their hands in a slow and uncomfortable gesture. Nathan asked how the wheelchair accident had happened and Damian replied that it had been during a horse riding event. Nathan replied that he also knew how to ride; his best friend had taught him.
Then they briefly went over the interview that Nathan had given on the occasion of his nomination for the Nobel Prize and what details from his childhood had caught Damian's attention and how they fit into Nathan's investigations into his father. Damian even showed an old photo he had of his father signing the deed for the purchase of his first house. In the photo, his head was lowered, concentrating on the pen, so unfortunately it was not possible to see his face. The conversation would have been much longer, but Nathan needed to make it clear that they were there for professional reasons, and made room for Jack to work.
- So, Agent Truman, do you know who was responsible for placing that bomb under my bed? -
asked the businessman.
- Mr. Cale, I'm going to be very direct with you - said Jack - Not only do we already know, we already have him. He's in this room with us while I speak to you.
- And who is it?! - demanded the wheelchair user to know immediately.
- Him - Jack pointed at Charlie - Your so-called lawyer is an expert in disguise, concealment and deception, but he went beyond the limits of his greed, so he planted a bomb like this under your bed - Jack took the bomb he had collected from the brigade technician out of the bag and, to the horror of everyone in the room, placed it on the table - it's a highly pressure-sensitive device, so Charlie knew that if he touched it here, it would activate - Jack stretched out his arm to touch the bomb and demonstrate...
- No!!! – Damian Cale screamed hysterically, getting up and running from his wheelchair to the other side of the room, throwing himself on top of the bomb and quickly disconnecting the wires where they had originally failed so that the bomb would not explode. He immediately realized that the bomb was not activated, it was missing the explosive grenade. He immediately realized that Truman had set a trap to expose him.
-Of course Charlie did not plant the bomb. He is a cheater, not a murderer. You were the one who placed the bomb under your bed knowing that it would not explode because you knew how to disarm it. – Truman exposed himself in front of everyone - You did that so that suspicion would not fall on you when you ordered the assassination attempt on your partner Óscar Mendes, who you discovered had been cheating the company for a long time. Óscar had always been a crook and had been doing so for a long time, but now with the multimillion-dollar consortium his cheating had gone to another level. You couldn't let all that money and reputation go down the drain.
- ...So you bet against your own company's shares three days before the alleged attacks began because you knew what effect they would have on the stock market. You went to a nearby internet café and created all those emails, this whole situation of "malcontents" who proclaimed themselves the perfect scapegoat for your actions. You are cold, meticulous and calculating and that's how you got to the top of one of the most prominent companies in a
bankrupt country. You pretend to be in a wheelchair to gain people's complacency, but I noticed that your shoes were worn out as soon as I greeted you...
-....You and Charlie were in cahoots, he being a skilled and experienced professional con man he knew of Nathan's mathematical skills that yielded very successful investments in the stock market, so he extensively researched Nathan and his father's past and used your common surname to fabricate a brother who suddenly appeared. The plan was for you and Nathan to develop a strong friendship and convince him to help with C&M Architecture's investments where you would profit and Charlie would profit from his brokerage commission....
-... But I worked with Nathan's father for 20 years and I know many details about him that neither you nor Charlie suspect. For example, I know that the man in the photo you showed Nathan is not Nathan's father because he is signing the deed with his right hand, but Nathan's real father was left-handed - Jack Truman revealed, unmasking the fraudsters.
Nathan looked at his hand, which Damian had squeezed moments ago, as if it had been bitten.
Then he glared at Charlie and at the ceiling, trying to calculate with mathematical precision how much rope he would need to hang him.
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[Stockholm Concert Hall, Sweden, December 10, 2024]
- Many congratulations, Nathan! I recorded the entire ceremony on video so your grandchildren can see your Nobel! How does it feel to receive the emblematic diploma and medal from His Majesty the King of Sweden? - Daniel asked with a strong hug, followed soon by Jack, both of whom had traveled for Nathan's big occasion.
- A toast to our Nathan and his Nobel Prize! - Jack raised the cup in celebration.
- Look at them - Daniel pointed at the guests. Families of the laureates, representatives of the Swedish government and parliament and the royal family were all enjoying themselves at the banquet and taking pictures with their devices. - They are having so much fun. The problem is those modern iPhones they all use... well... modern devices use up data traffic so quickly and the battery drains so quickly, don't they? - Daniel hit Nathan on the shoulder, unable to contain his laughter.
Nathan knew exactly what the other meant by that laughter. He put his hand in his pocket as if in a desperate reflex to check the temperature of his cell phone. Then he looked back at Daniel as if lasers were coming out of his eyes to pierce him.
-Daniel! I don't believe it! How could you! What were you thinking?! ? And you Jack knew about this?! ? - Nathan demanded to know
-Of course I do - Jack replied calmly, drinking his glass - Members of the Swedish royal family and the country's government are all gathered in this room. Why not hack their devices and sell the photos to the tabloids? It's the deal of the century.
Nathan looked at him as if Jack had just insulted him.
-What?! ? Jack, I don't recognize you! Are you going to let Daniel cause a diplomatic incident because of some tabloids and their magazines?!?
-Oh, don't be so dramatic, Nathan – the veteran retorted – our state department can clean up the diplomatic mess later...
Nathan was incredulous, wanting to hit them both, but at that exact moment Jack burst out laughing, followed by Daniel.
-My God, you should have seen your face. You believed everything – Jack laughed non-stop Amidst the amused laughter of the other two, Nathan's cell phone rang. It was Dr. Seraina.
-Congratulations, my dear. I was watching the Nobel ceremony on TV! I'm so proud of you!
You're going to be very successful and happy in everything you do.
-Thank you, Seraina. Your words mean a lot to me. You are a soul of light and you also deserve to be very happy.
At that moment, Nathan remembered the pain he felt for Dr. Seraina. Such a good person to discover that the person he thought he loved was living a double life as an international criminal mastermind. He knew that Seraina visited him regularly in federal prison but that he never said a word. Nathan felt sorry for her. Holding on to a feeling that only lived in her memory with a person who even surpassed Charlie in deception. Of course, he wouldn't bring it up so as not to open her wounds. He would never bring it up.
-And tell me, assistant professor, how is your PhD at MIT going? Any new theories in progress?
-I'm almost done with my PhD, Seraina. And I've been keeping very busy in the field of hyperdimensional physics and differential equations. I've also been having a lot of fun using the super quantum computer! – Nathan revealed, smiling happily.
-You know, Nathan – The tone of voice on the other end of the line changed – You know that we all make mistakes and well... Sarah had a lot of time to think about her mistakes... and I just wanted you to know that she regrets having thrown everything away with a good boy like you who she liked and I wanted... that you could forgive her.
-I've already done that, Seraina. A long time ago. I don't hold a grudge against anyone and I forget offenses. But broken trust is like broken glass. There's no way to restore it.
-Of course, my dear, I understand that. Perfectly.
I know you understand.
-So, Nathan, will we see you next Thursday at the appointment?
-Yes, of course, Seraina. Take care.
- The call dropped and a familiar chill immediately ran down Nathan's neck. It seemed that he had another social visit that night.
-I couldn't help but come, it's your big night. -And all thanks to you...
-No. I'm just a channel for your assigned mission in this world...
-I still don't know what that is.
-Yes, you do. Enjoy the party, I'll come back later tonight when you're asleep and we'll explore the infinite mathematical fields of hyperspace.
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