Glass Shore by Stefan Jackson

Author:Stefan Jackson [Jackson, Stefan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FH Thriller / Suspense, FIC028010 FICTION / Science Fiction / Adventure, FIC028020 FICTION / Science Fiction / High Tech, FL Science Fiction, FIC002000 FICTION / Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781908168580
Publisher: Elsewhen Press
Published: 2014-09-05T00:00:00+00:00

25

“What’s our status?”

“Well, Mr. President, I’d like to begin by stating that protocol for this type of event was followed to the letter.”

I turn to see the Security Council conference in progress on the far monitor above Geek’s workstation.

I hear a ping. One of my phones needs attention. I pull them both out. A green button on the new phone blinks. I check the phone. It’s a message from Geek. It’s the President’s personal phone number.

“Thanks Geek,” I say.

He acknowledges me with a nod but his attention is dedicated to the Security Council conference.

I call the President.

“Yeah.” It’s a statement, not an inquiry. Gliddin answers the phone like I do. I suppress the urge to laugh.

“I got something you want, and you got something I need,” I say.

“Who is this?” Gliddin asks in a none-too-happy tone.

“Not important. What’s your private email so I can send you details?”

“Who is this?”

“Damn – I didn’t realize you’re such a bitch. What’s your email address?”

“You’re talking to the President of the United States. How’d you get this number?”

“I asked someone for it.”

Silence.

“What’s this about?” Gliddin says at length, calm, as if he is lovingly placing bullets into the chamber of a gun before an execution.

“I have Nikki and the Jump One files. Gimme your email address and I’ll prove it.”

Silence. I can’t even hear him breathe.

“Is this Apollo?”

Well, at least he’s well-informed. “Yep.”

“Okay …” The line goes blank. Dead silence: like a stone tomb on Pluto. I look at my cell phone.

“What’s wrong?” Geek asks.

I put the phone back to my ear. “Not sure.”

“Apollo. Send it to [email protected].”

“Spell that.” I request and he obliges. Then I hang up.

Geek sends the file.

I decide to wait a few minutes before I call Gliddin.

“Earlier, the line went dead for a moment there,” I say to Geek.

“He probably tried to trace it,” Geek replies with absolute ennui.

Yet, there’s something about Geek’s demeanor that betrays his confidence regarding the invisibility of his cell phone. And so I play on it.

“Let’s say he can track this cell phone. How long before we can expect company, Geek?”

He doesn’t stutter or flinch when he answers. “It’s not that simple. I’m mobile, and projecting global shadows so they can’t get a true setting. If they are able to track the signal, their best hit would place me in the country but they can’t ID the state, county or city.”

“You think they were able to trace it?” I ask.

Nikki takes a short pull from her cigarette as she studies Geek.

Geek rubs his eyes and sighs. “No. Relax and have faith, I’ve been living like this for decades. You can use the phone. It’s cool.”

I nod. That’s good enough for me.

“Show me the snip you sent to the President.” I ask Geek as I call Gliddin.

“I sent a stream, so he’s watching what we’re watching,” Geek says.

I watch the monitor as I listen to the phone ring.

“Well no kidding. I’m not telling the world we fired on a UFO with nuclear missiles. The truth is not an option,” the President states.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.