Code Red for Danger

By Bertram Ellis

Police arrest John Goodman, an accountant, for the murder of his boss. He escapes from jail with, Rick Holiday, a PI.
They are hunted by the law and soon discover that someone is trying to kill them. John realizes that his questions about the finances of a Middle East company, Star Investments resulted in his boss's murder
The search for the truth uncovers a web of intrigue across America. As they follow the leads to different cities, they narrowly escape being murdered when they encounter terrorists who want to silence them.
At the eleventh hour they discover a plot to use American drones to unleash a reign of terror on major cities. They must move fast to save the lives of thousands of people in this fast moving story of determination and courage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bertram Ellis
• Release date: Feb 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311965783

Bertram Ellis

Bertram Ellis had a successful career with the de Havilland aircraft company of Canada. He was a pilot until he lost his licence due to deteriorating vision. He has traveled the world, Europe, Africa, the Middle East the far East and South America.Among his adventures he has been blown up, shot at and imprisoned briefly in Saudi Arabia. Lost in the Sudanese desert south of Omdurman,fished the Mighty Zambezi. During all his adventures he has kept his belief in the essential goodness of ordinary people. He is a published author of short stories. A handbook on how to write your memoirs. Since retirement he has presented seminars on how to write your memoirs, at no charge, for many years. He lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada with his artist wife Karen. He has three children and ten hgrandchildren

Book preview

CODE RED

FOR DANGER.

By

BERTRAM ELLIS

Copyright Bertram Ellis 2014 Smashwords Edition.

1.

I knew it was going to be a bad day, If I’d known how bad I’d have stayed in bed. I cut my chin while shaving . I should have taken it as a warning, I haven’t cut my chin since I was a kid playing with my dad’s razor. I had already put on my white shirt and blood dripped onto it. Blood. Maybe, another warning of what was to come. I cursed and ignored it, changed my shirt, ate a tasteless breakfast and drove into the office.

The boss, Angus McGill greeted me with an unsmiling face. He was wearing his customary shiny black suit. There was no ‘Good Morning’. No smile he pointed to a memo on his desk.

Finish today’s work. Close the Star Investment files, then clean out your desk. Your severance check will be in HR with the severance papers.

Huh? I made that intelligent remark with my eyes and mouth hanging open. What’s going on, Angy?

You’re laid off. Rumor is that you have been asking questions about Star Investments and they don’t like it. I don’t understand why the hell they’re so uptight, but it’s one of the company’s biggest accounts, so the boss said he had no choice. Lose you, or lose the account.

Huh? there goes the smart aleck remark again.

He sighed, Someone said you’ve been delving into their accounts, asking too many questions. That’s all I know.

But, that’s my job, Angy. I’m a forensic accountant.

I know. But you were only asked to check the account. Not tear it apart,

There is something strange going on. They’re hiding something that they don’t want us to discover what it is. Take a look at it, Angy.

I agree and I will, but I’m sorry I can’t stop them letting you go. I’m thankful I haven’t been let go with you.

The day passed in misery. Charlie and Walter, fellow accountants I’ve known since we went to Western University together, usually kidded me about my work, today they ignored me. No one wanted to be contaminated with my problems. The day passed. I wrapped up the reports and handed the files to the secretary. She avoided my eyes.

A guard appeared at quitting time carrying a plastic bag. Oh God, I thought, not even the dignity of a cardboard box. He silently watched me clear out my desk, escorted me to the HR office. I signed the release papers. Grabbed my severance check and stomped out.

I stepped out of the offices that had been the center of my working life for over five years and felt numb. Why me? What the hell could I have done?’ I was really happy when I got the job with the company in Niagara Falls. It’s an exciting place to live and work. The people were good to work with. As for Star Investments I don’t know how they make their money. All I did was process reports. But my accountant’s sixth sense told me there was something shady about their operation. I shrugged, the hell with it. It had nothing to do with me now.

I threw the bag in the back of the car and drove off. Most of the people had already left and the road was quiet. I drove along still angry at this abrupt change in my fortune.

What was that? I braked hard. A man was spread-eagled at the side of the road. I backed up and jumped out. It was a dark part of the road so I couldn’t see who it was. He lay in a growing pool of blood. I dialed 911 on my cell phone.

Stay there until someone arrives, please, sir, the despatcher instructed me.

Okay I’ll wait, I replied.

A couple of minutes later a police cruiser screamed to a stop beside me. I could hear the ambulance in the distance.

Two policemen jumped out of the car and checked the man.

Thank God you’re here. How is he? I asked.

He’s a gonner, one of the cops said. He spoke urgently into his mike.

Another car arrived and two men in suits climbed out. One of them walked forward and looked at my car. The other man knelt and looked at the accident victim.

Who are you, sir. Can I see your ID?

Certainly. My name’s John Readyman I showed him my driver’s license. I saw the body at the side of the road as I was coming home from the office. I called it in.

Uh, huh. The detective turned away and spoke to his companion who was taking photographs of the scene..

The ambulance drew up with the dying sound of its siren. Paramedics examined the body and shook their heads. As they loaded it onto a gurney I saw the dead man’s face.

My God. That’s my boss, Angus McGill, I exclaimed.

You knew this man?

Yes. I worked for him until today.

Why until today?

Uh. I was laid off. Oh God, that sounded bad. My gut tightened.

He fired you?

Uh, he didn’t. The company did, he just told me I was let go.

Okay we go? one of the medics asked.

Yeah okay. I’ll call the coroner later.

The ambulance drove off.

The second detective said something to his companion.

Mr. Readyman. Can you explain the damage to the front right fender of your car?

Oh that, I uh, banged it going into my garage. I uh, was uh, distracted. Now I was nervous. My mouth was dry with fear."

Mr. Readyman, I’m arresting you on suspicion of vehicular homicide. Anything you have to say. . . the words I had heard so many times on a TV show sounded alien.I was shaking.

The handcuffs were cold and they hurt my wrists.

I knew it was going to be a bad day, I suspected it was going to get worse.

2.

A 6ft. 3, bald headed, red faced, detective with a large red nose and a wide mouth, wearing a blue suit with slightly frayed cuffs, creased pants and scuffed shoes questioned me in a small room. A uniformed policeman sat to one side.

Why did you try to kill Mr. McGill?

I didn’t. I was uncomfortable. I’d been stripped of my watch wallet and belt. Thankfully I was wearing loafers without laces or I’d have lost them too. Hell, under the pressure of their relentless questions I started to feel guilty.

Do you know anyone who would want to kill Mr. McGill?

Hell no, he was a good boss.

You didn’t like him, did you?

He was alright. He was my boss.

And he fired you. You must have been pissed off with him. Thought you’d get your revenge.

No, no. It wasn’t his decision, he told me.

There was no general lay-off. Why did he pick on you?

The company had to let me go or it was going to lose a big account. The client didn’t like my work.

That’s a nasty bump on the right front fender of your car. Can you explain that?

I already told you. I drove into the side of my garage.

"Do you do that often?

No. I only did it once.

We’re looking at a dead body. Do you think we’ll find any marks or paint chips that’ll match your car?

The questions went on for a couple of hours. I was tired, frightened and even started to wonder if I was guilty. The same questions were thrown at me again and again. My mind was in turmoil. Then abruptly the detective stood, jerked his thumb at the door and walked out. The cop took my arm and said, Come with me.

I followed him along a passage, down some stairs, along another passage lined with empty cells. He opened an old fashioned steel bar cell door, removed my handcuffs and pushed me in.

A young man sat on a bunk looked up at me with a frown. What you doing here? he growled.

They think I killed my boss. I was shaken, I could have cried,

He looked at me with piercing blue eyes. Yeah, and you didn’t do it, that’s what they all say. I bet you never hurt anyone. He could see I was scared. He shook his head and said, I guess you’re okay, you look too scared to be a plant.

A plant, what’s that?

Never mind.

The police think I killed my boss. He was hit by a car. I didn’t do it. I liked old Angus. I’m sorry he’s dead.

Do you always talk a lot?

No, I was just telling you. . .

Don’t bother.

I looked at my cell mate. He was a good looking young man about 170 lbs in good physical condition.

So you didn’t do it?

Hell no. I just told you. I saw the body at the side of the road. I didn’t know it was Angus, and called 911,

So you called the cops and they assumed you done it.

Yes, just my luck.

Too bad. You should have called them and kept going.

You can’t leave an injured man.

So you’re a boy scout.

No. It’s common decency.

Yeah. So where did it get you? Anyway, I’m getting ready to leave. Do you want to come with me, or stay here?

I laughed. They just locked you up and they’re going to let you go? Hell I’d like to get out and try to find out who killed my boss."

He stared at me for a long moment.

What?

You think you could do that?

I could try. It might have something to do with the account I was questioning. But what’s the use. There’s no hope while I’m locked in here.

He stepped to the cell door and held on to the metal bars with his head cocked to one side. He sat down with a sigh.

What are you listening for? I asked.

Change of shift. Then we’re outta here.

You’re crazy.

If you say so.

He stepped over to the door again and held the bars,

A policeman came