The God Complex: A Thriller Read online

  Chapter 12

  Antoine Noble walked onto the UN stage to rapturous applause after a humbling introduction from the UN Secretary General. The philanthropic endeavors of Atlas Noble through their trust were humbling to even the greatest nations of the world. Immunization for every child, clean water for all, the eradication of malaria, measles and malnutrition were amongst a number of their targets. Unlike many, these were not just wishful targets; Atlas Noble was spending more money than the nations of the world combined in an effort to make it happen. For the previous eleven years, every child on the planet had benefitted from the AN injection, a cocktail of immunizations that had already wiped out malaria and measles for all of its recipients.

  Antoine waited for the applause to settle.

  “Citizens of the world,” he began. “We are truly blessed to live on this wonderful planet, a planet that we have only begun to understand. A planet that merely nine nations, represented here today could, in the blink of an eye, destroy!”

  Antoine paused, allowing his words to sink in before he changed the direction of his speech to a very different slant than the one he had spun to ensure acceptance of his invitation. The nine member states in possession of nuclear weapons shifted uneasily in their seats.

  “Even today, long after the threat of the Cold War and the darkest days of human history, those nine countries between them hold over 17,000 warheads. At Atlas Noble, we strive every day to make the world a better place, yet we all live under the shadow of a past that still haunts us - mutually assured destruction.”

  Antoine paused once more. Heads were turning towards the nine nuclear states. TV cameras were refocusing their lenses on the individuals, the nine individuals who held the power and ability to destroy the planet.

  “Whatever religion you believe in, however you believe the world was created, it wasn’t at the hands of those nine men. Those nine men have the power to undo all creation and I, for one, think that is wrong. I believe it is time we asked those nine men whether they agree.”

  A rapturous applause engulfed the audience. Antoine looked at the UK king, who had recently taken the throne following his aging grandmother’s abdication and father’s untimely death which, together with his mother’s death many years earlier, was considered suspicious. King William looked across at his Prime Minister who stood up and walked towards the stage. The French President followed suit when Antoine’s eyes fell on him. Both moves had been carefully orchestrated in advance and both countries would benefit significantly from the support shown to Antoine.

  The applause grew louder when the two of the nine neared the stage.

  Antoine’s eyes fell on the Israeli president, a country that had refused to confirm it even had nuclear weapons. The Israeli President stood, and he too walked slowly to the stage.

  The Indian President looked at his Pakistani counterpart, both held each other’s gaze, nodded at each other, and they too walked towards the stage.

  Antoine motioned to his staff at the side of the stage. Nine desks and chairs appeared alongside him and he motioned for each leader to take one of the chairs.

  The applause continued to rise. But the big four didn’t move.

  Antoine raised his hands to calm the audience.

  “Perhaps I can make this decision easier for some of you,” he said with a wink to the camera, instantly turning more serious when he addressed the audience. “Any country that fails to sign an agreement here today to eradicate their nuclear arsenal is not a country that Atlas Noble will have any further dealings with. To clarify, what I mean by that, is that all Atlas Noble holdings within that country will either be liquidated or moved to a nuclear weapon free country.”

  President Mitchell’s red line cell erupted as his cabinet members tried desperately to alert him to what he was already fully aware of. Atlas Noble pulling out of America simply wasn’t a viable prospect for the ongoing wellbeing of the nation. He rejected all attempts by his Secret Service agents to pass him the cell phone. He looked across at his Russian and Chinese counterparts. He knew that the Russians were in the same boat as him; they would have to sign. The Chinese were trickier. They would spite themselves. As for the North Koreans, Antoine’s threat was unlikely to faze them. However, America could not allow the North Koreans to be the world’s only nuclear state. The idea was ludicrous and inconceivable. President Mitchell remained seated.

  Antoine looked at the young North Korean leader who got up from his seat. Antoine knew they would be the stumbling block. With little outside influence, the North Koreans had little to lose, but as Antoine had promised the North Koreans, they had a huge amount to gain. North Korea was about to see a cash injection that would transform its economy and strengthen the young leader’s position within his country, despite giving up his nuclear arsenal.

  A roar greeted the young leader as he walked towards the stage, a new experience for the world’s most hated nation and one the North Korean leader was certainly enjoying.

  President Mitchell appeared as shell-shocked as his Russian and Chinese counterparts that this was really happening. He knew the Russians would eventually go, so he focused on the Chinese President. His face remained impassive. Antoine began to speak rapidly in Chinese. President Mitchell grabbed his headset and heard the same threat repeated again. Obviously, Atlas Noble owned more in China than he had imagined, otherwise the threat was worthless and why repeat it in Mandarin? An almost imperceptible nod from the Chinese President received a far stronger nod from the Russian President and a relieved nod from President Mitchell. All three presidents from the three most powerful nations on the planet walked towards the stage.

  A standing ovation followed as the three men shook hands with the six already in place.

  News channels broke into broadcasts around the world reporting the auspicious moment. Antoine Noble, the billionaire philanthropist, had changed the face of the world forevermore. In one month, as stipulated by the agreement, signed by the nine premiers and presidents, the world would be free of all nuclear weapons.

  ***

  President Mitchell signed the agreement.

  “Are you shitting me?!” shouted the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

  “What was he supposed to do?” asked the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

  Their regular weekly Joint Chiefs meeting had been interrupted by the breaking news. The seven most powerful uniformed officers in the United States watched on in horror as their most powerful weapon and main deterrent was swept away from under them.

  “Nothing he could do,” agreed the Army Chief of Staff.

  As much as some of them disagreed, deep down, if they were in the President’s position, they knew they would all have had to sign the agreement. Atlas Noble was a massive employer.

  “That guy is a genius,” said the Air Force Chief.

  “Genius? He’s certifiably crazy!” argued the Navy Chief.

  The Air Force Chief said, “Atlas Noble is the world’s largest arms manufacturer.”

  “And?”

  “Just wait,” said the Chairman bitterly. “We’re about to see the largest bump in our budget in years. We’re about to see an arms race unseen since the height of the Cold War. Those two aircraft carriers you put on hold, trust me, they’ll be dusting off the plans before the end of the day.”

  Chapter 13

  Cash waded into the rubble, keen to assist in any way possible. The fire crews had already cleared the way to the basement and were nearing the shelter.

  Rigs, as instructed by Cash, called in their situation. There would be a myriad of agencies fighting over the scene within the next few hours. By the time he had finished the call, a far more relieved Cash was walking towards him, leading the shell-shocked Kramer family.

  When Sophie and her mother took in the scene of their devastated home, the home Chief Kramer had built, they wept.

  Deputy Chief Sanders walked over and offered his condolences.

  “We need a car,” sai
d Cash abruptly.

  Sanders handed his own car keys to Cash. He was still keen for the President not to discover who his prank caller had been.

  “Thanks,” said Cash, leading the Kramers away.

  “What happened?” asked Sophie, looking at the ruins of her childhood home.

  “We’re not sure yet but we’ll find out,” he said, looking at Rigs.

  “Cash, don’t do anything stupid,” said Sophie, reading between the lines.

  “Me? Never,” he said with a smile.

  “Says the guy who disappeared for fifteen years.”

  “I’ll make it up to you.”

  “It’s too late for us, it’s Kyle you have to make it up to.” Cash looked at the only woman he had ever loved, a woman who, fifteen years later, had only grown in beauty.

  “I was a fool.”

  “You were always headstrong but in your defense, you were seldom wrong.”

  “I’m never wrong,” he smiled again.

  “About us?” she asked, climbing into the car.

  Once, he thought, once.

  “So where to?” asked Rigs across the roof of the car.

  “Drop them at a hotel,” Cash said quietly, “then you and I are going to pay the Surenos a little visit.”

  “Good call. We’ll have to be quick though, to beat the cops.”

  “Exactly, so stop talking and get in the car.”

  Cash took the driver’s seat. He knew the area, or, a fifteen-year older version of the area. After a few minutes of deafening silence, he felt he had to say something. He had to apologize to the son he didn’t know he had but had no idea how.

  “So, Kyle, how’s school?’ he asked awkwardly.

  “It’s okay,” replied the sullen, typical teenager.

  “He’s his father’s son,” said Sophie, “top of his class in every subject, driving his teachers crazy with questions they struggle to answer.”

  “I wasn’t top in every class,” Cash argued.

  “Hmm, yes, physics,” Sophie said to Kyle. “Your father pretended to be not so good at physics, so I’d be top of that class.”

  Cash smirked. “I’m not sure I remember it like that.”

  “Cash, your father always wished you’d followed him into astronomy,” said Sophie. “He reckoned your brain was twice the size of his at the same age.”

  “So how about sports?” asked Cash, desperate to change the subject. The guilt of the fifteen missed years with his father was beginning to sit heavily on his conscience. At least he had the chance to apologize to Kyle; that opportunity was gone for him and his father.

  “Not bad,” said Kyle.

  “Captain of the rugby team, star of the athletics team,” said Sophie.

  “Just like my father?” Kyle laughed.

  “Swap the rugby for football and yes, just like your father,” confirmed Sophie.

  “We’re here,” said Cash. “Wait here while I arrange some rooms.”

  With Cash gone, Rigs remained silent in the front passenger seat, his eyes looking out for signs of danger.

  “You don’t say much, do you?” asked Sophie.

  Rigs shook his head awkwardly.

  “So you’ve been friends with Cash for a while?”

  Rigs nodded slightly. “Fifteen years.” He was uncomfortable with the unfamiliar environment and the questioners. “A great friend,” he added, keeping his eyes fixed on the hotel entrance, awaiting Cash’s return.

  “Hmmph,” said Mrs. Kramer, stirring irritably in her seat. “He abandoned his son.”

  “Mom!” Sophie hissed.

  “You can’t abandon someone you didn’t know existed,” said Rigs, turning to face his friend’s dissenter. Few things riled Rigs, but an attack on Cash he would defend. “Cash Harris risked his life daily to save his fellow Marines. That’s not the type of guy who would let his own son down.” Rigs turned back to face the front and reenter his own world.

  “Well he did,” said Mrs. Kramer flatly. “I’m sorry, Kyle, but your father is a…”

  “Mom, Rigs is right, Cash didn’t know.”

  Mrs. Kramer stared at her daughter for any hint that she was lying. Sophie didn’t blink or look away.

  Rigs spotted Cash exiting the hotel and opened the car door to get out.

  “Kyle, go with him,” Mrs. Kramer ordered. “Mom, Cash didn’t run away because I was pregnant,” were the last words Rigs heard before he shut the car door behind him.

  Rigs placed his hand on Cash’s chest to stop him getting to the car. “They’ve got a couple of things to sort out,” said Rigs. “Give them a minute or two.”

  Cash handed Kyle a key and directed him to the elevators.

  He glanced into the car and saw both Sophie and her mother talking heatedly, but couldn’t hear what they were saying. All the while, Rigs held him back.

  “It’s fine,” Rigs told him, “let them work it out.”

  A minute later, Sophie’s door flew open and she stormed out of the car, took a key from Cash and disappeared into the hotel without a word. Mrs. Kramer followed, far calmer, and walked over to Cash. He held out a key to her but instead of taking it, she took him in her arms.

  “My boy, my dear sweet boy!” she said, before taking the key and, like her daughter, disappearing into the hotel.

  Cash looked at Rigs for an explanation.

  He shrugged. “Women.” And taking a key, he left Cash bewildered as to what had just transpired.

  ***

  Gray watched the drone’s feed as long as it was on station, which seemed to be oblivious to the scenes below, staying above the devastation long after the first news choppers had arrived. Gray marveled at how brazen his client was and how well connected he was to have access to an armed drone and a satellite-killing missile. Delivering that capability over a war zone was one thing, delivering it over California was in an entirely different league. A feeling of dread came over him. How could he have been so naïve? These were the missions that required ultimate and total deniability. These were the missions that secretive government agencies used poor patsies to deliver. His head spun around, suddenly everything was a potential enemy.

  “Green?” he said into the radio.

  “Yes?” came the reply. His team was still okay. “Where are you?”

  “ETA, with you, three minutes!”

  “Make it two, I’ve got a strange feeling,” he said ominously, hearing a change in engine revs over the radio as a result.

  Gray turned his attention to the Surenos’ gang house, a hundred yards down the street. They were the ultimate patsies in the mission.

  His burner cell buzzed with a text message – the only connection with the client: ‘Take out the Surenos house.’ He looked around again; it was as though they knew exactly where he was and what he was thinking. He leaned out of the car window and looked into the morning sky. The drone had left the hillside. He clicked on the link to its feed. It wasn’t active but it was still up there. There was no reason the feed would no longer be available, unless…

  “Green! Abort! Abort!”

  They were watching him.

  He looked around. A young mother was pushing a baby in its pram. No one else was on the street. He started his engine. A muzzle flash lit up the Surenos’ window. By the time he engaged ‘Drive’, the flashes had engulfed the house. Not a sound emanated from it. He checked his rear view mirror. Two young men turned the corner behind him. He accelerated, screeching to a halt as the young woman tried desperately to protect her pram from his onrushing car.

  The two men were still a hundred yards away. He turned to check on the young mother. She stood looking directly into his car, the barrel of a gun pointed expertly at him.

  “Shit!” was all he managed as the bullet tore through the windshield.

  “Target down,” she said into her mic.

  A minivan with blacked out windows sped down the street, pausing to pick up the two men before collecting the woman and her prop pram. The DIS Team L
eader, Steve, jumped out and poured a box of files carefully onto the passenger seat next to the still warm corpse of Gray. The box had been couriered to him fifteen minutes earlier, strict instructions made it clear that the files were not to be read nor any fingerprints or DNA deposited onto them.

  Another stop at the end of the street retrieved two further DIS operatives from the Surenos house. Within twenty seconds of Gray’s death, his body was alone on an empty street with enough incriminating evidence to bring down a government.

  MISSION LOG – EXTRACT 5-1

  Deep Space Mission – Last Hope

  Log entry 1 – Mission Commander

  The last window of opportunity has passed. We are the last hope for our people. While they live their lives as though the future was certain, they know nothing of the devastation that faces us. We are the last of five missions that have been sent to save our way of life. We are the last hope. The window of opportunity for any further attempts has closed behind us.

  We have studied in detail each of the mission logs from those that ventured before us. All end as they near their entry to the planet’s orbit. The belief is that it is simply a communication issue. However, each of the subsequent missions has carried far more advanced communication equipment. None has communicated beyond the atmosphere of the planet we hope will be our future.

  Despite that, our mission remains as originally intended. If the previous missions have failed, our mission will already be lost. We can only hope that for all our sakes, it is a communication problem and nothing more sinister.

  We, like those before us, mourn our loved ones as we disappear into the night sky but it is for them and our descendants that we must go forward and build a future for us all.

  Chapter 14

  Cash checked his cell. Twenty-three missed calls, all from the office.