The Jagged Edge by AJ Frazer

Author:AJ Frazer [Frazer, AJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AJ Frazer
Published: 2020-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Jagged Edge’s headquarters were quiet when Dominic entered early the next morning. Only a few of the night-shift editorial and tech people were left, winding down their work from the night before. The twenty-four-hour news cycle fed the media machine that in turn fed the public’s insatiable hunger for other people’s sorrow, disaster, turmoil, and fear. For most people, news was a form of entertainment—just another neuro-chemical reward. Every time someone opened a news app a tiny hit of dopamine was released that triggered the reward centers of the brain. No wonder everyone was so addicted to their devices; they were hooked on the dopamine—like junkies to ice. Dominic used to feel driven by the social importance of news, of great investigative journalism, but now he saw it for what it was: a social addiction. Not an addiction to the worthiness of a universal awareness, but to a neurotransmitter chemical that controlled the sensation of reward.

Entering his office, he left the lights off and strode to his desk. The ambient sunlight from the enormous windows that lined his office created a soft hue that suited his state of mind. Sitting down, he pulled out his phone and sent Ray a message.

He was surprised Ray wasn’t already in the office. He was the stereotypical leader—first one in, last one out.

A minute later his phone vibrated gently with Ray’s response. He was on his way and would be there in ten minutes. Dominic contemplated what to tell him. He had considered telling him nothing at all. The fewer people who knew about Biblical the better. But he needed to tell someone; he needed to talk about the situation, test the scenarios, sort out the angles from the tangles. Under this kind of pressure, mistakes and lapses in judgment would be easy. He needed Ray to know about Biblical to help him navigate his way through this mess.

Ray tapped lightly on the door before entering. He was dressed similarly to Dominic except that everything was black and two sizes larger. “Morning. Haven’t seen you in this early for years.”

Dominic ignored the levity. “Take a seat, I need to share something with you.”

Ray sat, an expression of curiosity on his face. “Go on then.”

Dominic leaned back in his chair. “Before I do, I need your assurance that you will say nothing to anyone else about what I am going to tell you. I mean it, no one. Not Ruth, not your kids, not friends, and certainly no one here. No. One. Not a soul.”

Ray looked over at Dominic, his head tilted slightly. “So, keep it quiet then?”

“I’m serious. What I am about to tell you could lead to enormous human suffering. So I am taking you at your word like never before.”

“I get it, Dom. You have my word,” said Ray earnestly.

“I had a visit from Zhen Daiyu the other day—”

“Oh, I’m fucking sure you did,” spurted Ray. “You sly old bastard.” He looked relieved.

“Nothing like that, I’m afraid. She came to tell

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