Capital Sins

By Larry Ware

When Tom Ryan a retired Special Forces Army Colonel and now a Professor of History at Georgetown University learns that his oldest daughter and her Congressman fiance who were killed in a one car accident in Washington DC were in fact murdered because his daughter's fiance was investigating fellow congressmen who were involved in corruption.
Ryan finds flash drives hidden in his daughter's apartment that gives him leads, but not proof on these corrupt politicians. With all the corruption in Washington and not knowing who to trust, Ryan goes undercover to seek the proof and their killer.
What he finds out is alarming. US Congressmen and US Senator's are selling military secret's to Israel and other countries who are suppose to be our allies. Going from one corrupt politician to the next and exposing them he finds they are also promoting that the United States unite with Israel and declare war on Iran.
The deeper Ryan gets in his investigation the more dangerous it gets when he uncovers a plot to assassinate the President and his cabinet so an Israeli sympathizer will then become President and declare war on Iran to wipe them off the face of the earth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Larry Ware
• Release date: Apr 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310131011

Larry Ware

Larry Ware is the author of The Devil's Captive, Dangerous Times and Sanctuary. Born in Pennsylvania, he left there at age eight for California then on to Washington and then back to Pennsylvania where he finished high school and his first year of college. He enlisted for four years in the US Air Force which took him from training in Texas to two cold winters in New Hampshire and then for one year in a desert in North Africa. The last part of his enlistment was spent in Omaha, Nebraska where he met a girl and when out, they were married. They raised four children while he worked as a Sales Engineer. His work took him all across the United States and Canada. Business also took him to Germany and South Korea. The places and people he has met has given him many story ideas. He is currently at work on his fourth novel, a thriller set in Washington, D.C.

Book preview

Capital Sins

By Larry Ware

Published by Larry Ware at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Larry Ware

Discover other titles by Larry Ware at Smashwords.com

Sanctuary

The Devils Captive

Dangerous Times

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Capital Sins

Chapter 1

Fiona Ryan looked over at the handsome young man who sat next to her with love in her blue green eyes. She was so proud of Mark tonight when he spoke. He had a determined set to the chin and lips that were spread in a friendly smile. His speech at the fundraiser banquet drew louder applause than any of the other Congressman who spoke. After his speech she had heard nothing but compliments coming from the crowed room. Mark worked his way back through the crowd of well wishers who pumped his hand and pounded him on the back. When Mark got to her he took her by the arm and led her out a door to the balcony. Outside he breathed a sigh of relief and said this is what it's like, do you still want this kind of life. She had just put her hands on his face and her kiss lingered long and when finished she looked him in the eyes and told him she wouldn't have it any other way.

She was thrilled that in one month she would receive her Masters degree in Political Science and then three weeks after that she would be a June bride. She would then be Mrs. Mark Standish, wife of the smartest and youngest congressman from Virginia; smartest of course was her opinion. Fiona couldn't think of anything else that could make her feel happier except for that first day she had met Mark.

It was at his office in the Longworth House office building in DC. She was with her best friend and classmate from American University, Alice Standish. Alice told her they were going to lunch with her brother who worked here in DC. She had no idea that he was a US Congressman. All Alice had ever said about her brother was that he worked for the government. Alice also didn't tell her or her brother that lunch was designed for them to meet.

After Mark proposed to her she went to Alice and asked her to be her bridesmaid. She told Alice that it was the happiest day in her life, when she introduced her to her brother. She said she did because she knew that they were meant for each other.

Mark had been silent on their drive home because all his attention was on the road, since it was dark and the rain was coming down hard, and to make matters worse the wind was increasing.

What the hell. said Mark excitedly?

What's the matter? said Fiona with concern as she looked at Mark. His eyes were wide open and looking straight ahead. She turned and saw what Mark was excited about. There was a large garbage truck coming down the wrong side of the road and heading straight for them.

Mark kept honking his horn but the truck didn't alter its course. At the last moment Mark turned the wheel sharply to the right and went off the road and as he did he hit the the curb with such force that he momentarily lost his grip on the steering wheel. The next thing they knew they were going down a steep embankment. Mark kept pumping the brakes, but nothing happened.

Stop, shouted Fiona, or we are going to hit those trees ahead.

I can't, the brakes don't work.

They ran right into a large tree, the impact was horrific, the car exploded and Fiona and Mark would never reach the day they both longed for as the blackness of death engulfed them the instant the car exploded.

Eddie Devere stopped the truck. A grin crossed his broad black face. Satisfied, he got out of the truck and walked over to the edge of the embankment. Staring down at the flames he said to no one, I couldn’t have picked a better spot. He didn't have to check the bodies; he could see that no one could have survived the explosion. He went back to his truck and picked up the half empty whiskey bottle that was on the seat, and made a toast. Here's to another job well done. He then drove back to DC.

The ringing of the telephone woke Tom Ryan from a sound sleep. He looked over at the clock on the night stand next to his bed, it was one AM.

Hello, he said gruffly.

Sir, this is Sergeant Cyrus Robinson with the Washington DC police department. Are you Thomas Patrick Ryan, the father of Fiona Kathleen Ryan?

Yes, Ryan sat straight up in bed, what's the problem officer? Ryan felt like his heart was going to stop. He knew it was bad news. You don't get good news from the police when they call, especially in the middle of the night. He braced himself as he listened.

Sir, I'm sorry to tell you, but your daughter and the man she was with, Congressman Mark Standish were killed in a one-car accident this evening. We would appreciate it if you would come down as soon as possible and confirm her identity.

Ryan listened and with hands shaking managed to make note of the morgue address then hung up the phone.

His precious Fiona was gone at age 24 and just before her graduation and soon to be wedding. This is not the way it should go, children are not supposed to die before their parents. They are supposed to age and have their own children. His heart ached, but he had to call his ex-wife and let her know. He knew Claire would be devastated. Of their three children, Fiona was her favorite. Claire was so happy when Fiona got engaged to Mark Standish; she wanted grand children to spoil. Of course so did he, but not now, Fiona was dead. He picked up the telephone.

Claire's new husband Bob answered on the fourth ring. His voice was groggy like anyone being awakened from a sound sleep. He told Bob Haworth right away that something happened to Fiona and he had to speak to Clair. He didn't want to tell him first that Fiona was dead.

He heard Bob tell Claire that something was the matter with Friona and he heard her gasp.

Oh God, Tom tell me she is alright.

I'm sorry Claire, Fiona and Mark Standish were killed in an automobile accident this evening.

She screamed, No, No, No, not my Fiona. She dropped the telephone and Bob picked it up.

Is it true Tom?

Yes. You take care of Claire. I have to go now to the morgue and identify her. Tell Claire I will call her latter in the morning and we can then make arrangements for the funeral and burial in our family plot in Fredericksburg.

After hanging up, Ryan called his son Matt, a sophomore at Virginia Military Institute and gave him the sad news. He knew he would be devastated that his older sister was dead, but he would keep it inside him just like all the Ryan men have done for the four generations they had attended VMI. He told Matt he would check with him later in the day.

Next he called his daughter Katie, who was a junior at American University and Fiona's roommate.

Katie, this is Dad, I have some sad news about Fiona.

Katie was broken up and crying when he told her and that he was going now to confirm her identity. She said, between sobs, that she was going with him. After trying to convince her that he would come by her apartment when he was done, she said no and she was going with him. He didn't argue because he knew when Katie made up her mind up on anything, you couldn't change her. He thought at times that she was too much like him.

While driving over to Katie's he called his parents in Fredericksburg and told them about Fiona and that he would probably stop by later today when he visits with Claire about the funeral arrangements. His Mother was crying and his Dad said that he and Matt are to stay with them while they are in Fredericksburg. He knew Claire would want Katie with her.

After he and Katie left the morgue he told Katie that she should stay at his house until they left for Fredericksburg. There she would stay with her mother until they returned to DC. He had to take care of her, he thought, or was it the other way around.

The next few days were a blur and went by fast. Relatives from out of town were there for the funeral as well as students and teachers from American University in DC, Fiona and Katie's school. His poker friends from his group in DC were all there plus his fellow Professors from Georgetown University in DC. Also there were a number of politicians that knew Fiona through Mark Standish

Ryan had seen men die in battle and none were easy to lose, but to lose a child, he had a hard time handling that. He thanked God that Matt, Katie and his parents and good friends were there, it helped him get through the day.

After the packed funeral mass and burial services they had a luncheon in the church hall for family and friends of Fiona.

His son Matt introduced him to his best friend and roommate at VMI, Dick Kramer and his mother Elizabeth Kramer. Ryan was stunned by the well shaped woman in front of him who looked more like a beautiful older sister to Dick Kramer than his Mother. Matt had no sooner introduced him to Dick's mother when Matt saw some friends of his from High School and took Dick over to meet them.

You have a fine son, she said in a pleasant voice as she watched them walk away. When my husband and I would visit Dick at VMI, oh by the way I'm sorry, my husband Richard couldn't be here today because he had some congressional matters that had to be attended to today in DC.

Is he a politician?

"I'm sorry; I thought Matt had told you that Dick's dad is a Congressman from Maryland.

"Anyway, when we would visit Dick he always insisted that Matt accompany us, and I was glad, he was a delight to have around, he felt like family and Dick felt more at ease when he was with us. I sometimes wondered if he needed him to shield him from his father because they were not as close as I would like them to be, but that's another story and I'm beginning to ramble.

No, you're not. I know it's tough on kids when their fathers aren't always around. When I was in the Army I was often away from home and usually in another country. I missed a lot of their growing up, but when I was assigned to the Pentagon, I got to see my children more than before when I was married. I believe my children would have liked to have had me around more, but I know that it hasn't affected their love for me or me them.

I know because Matt has always spoken highly of you, but what about you, I know you are a Professor and teach History at Georgetown University in DC, but Matt has never said much about being a military brat and I've never pressed him. He has hinted that you never had a dull moment while in the Army. Frankly, it makes me curious to know more about your background before teaching.

Well, I guess I can give you my life history in a short speech.

Ryan looked into her deep blue sparkling eyes and momentarily lost what he was going to say.

Are you alright, she said now with a look of concern.

I'm fine; it must be all catching up with me now.

If you rather I not bother you now we can visit another time.

No, I'm really fine. What's the matter with me, he thought, I look into this woman's eyes and I go bonkers.

"I was born and raised here in Fredericksburg. After High School I was offered football scholarships from a few Universities here on the East coast, but I decided to go to Virginia Military Institute. Both my Grandfather and Father went there and both were Generals in the Army. They may have expected me to be a general, but I retired after twenty years as a full Colonel. Now Matt is the fourth generation Ryan to follow in our footsteps and maybe he will be a general.

"When I graduated from VMI with a History major, I was married the next day and right after a short weekend honeymoon I went on active duty in the Army. I loved my years in the Army, but Claire, my now ex-wife didn't love it and we divorced after twelve years. I guess looking back I can't blame her, I was in Special Forces most of those years and was gone a lot and to places I couldn't tell her where or why I was there. Over that period I was wounded three times and as a result was in hospitals or recuperating for long periods and that added more stress to her life. The only good part of the time I had recovering was that I had time to work on my Masters degree in History. I wanted to get it and then a Doctorate, because I always wanted to teach after I retired. I did finally get my Masters after the divorce.

I was still in good shape to stay in the Army, but my wounds kept me from field assignments. I was lucky that I was offered a job in the Pentagon, which I jumped on right away because it would mean I would be close to my three children who at that time lived here in Fredericksburg.

I'm sure your children were glad, said Elizabeth Kramer with a new interest in the tall, dark haired, blue eyed man standing in front of her.

"They were happy years, thank God, and I was spending more time with my children. It got better when Fiona came to DC and attended American University. Then two years latter Katie followed her to American University. It was great. On weekends, when we could, the three of us came back here to visit family and friends. I stayed with my parents; they loved that and probably more so, getting to see their granddaughters more often. The girls stayed with their Mom which made her happy, because it was hard on her with them off at school. While Matt was still in High School we would watch him play football in the fall and baseball in the summer.

Another good thing about being near home and in DC, I got reacquainted with my best friend since kindergarten, Curt Jennings. Curt has a successful law firm in DC that specializes in divorce. In fact he handled mine to both my and Claire's satisfaction.

I don't know Jennings, said Liz Kramer, but I've read about him in the newspapers and seen him on television. He's represented a lot of high profile politicians and businessmen in DC.

That's Curt always in the action. What was great is that Curt and I have both always loved Poker and he got me into a weekly poker game with a group he belonged to in DC because one of their players had just retired and moved to Florida. It worked out great. I've been playing with them for over six years now and consider them all good friends.

Is there anyone else in your poker group that I might have heard of or know?

I don't think you would know any of the others. There is Roger Hamilton who is with the FBI in DC and by the way he's that tall muscular guy with the crew cut and looks like a typical FBI man over there in the corner talking with my father and with them is Ken Webster who is a Homicide Detective with the DC Police Department. Bill Evans is around here somewhere; he's a Professor at Georgetown University, who by the way is responsible for helping me to get the teaching job at Georgetown University. While I was stationed at the Pentagon I attended Georgetown and completed my Doctors degree. When I decided to retire Bill steered me to teaching at the school and I've been doing that for the past five years. Lastly is George Carver, he's that debonair looking man over talking to my Mother. One of his restaurants is where we play and where he feeds us to well, Ryan patted his stomach. I'll introduce you to them all later.

Carver I've seen many times, my husband and I have dined at a few of his places and he's catered a couple of political dinners we have attended. His food is great and he's very personable. I believe he was recently named Black Businessman of the year and the three previous years and his restaurants are always listed in the best in DC.

That they are, and that brings me up to the present. Now, it's your turn, tell me what's it like to be the wife of a politician?

"It can be exhausting. There isn't a lot of time for relaxation. Politicking has no end when you're elected to congress. They swear you in one day, and the next day you're out politicking for the next election. Those two years to the next election go by too fast. It's ridiculous to serve two years. Congressmen should be elected to a four year term so they can do a better job for their state and our country. Senators on the other hand are in too long. Their term should change from six to four years. In fact there should be a two term limit on them all. Also, it seems like most of the Senators and Congressmen are lawyers. I sometimes wonder if we would have a better run government if there were far less lawyers in elected office.

"I know that sounds like I don't like politics and lawyers, but I do, I love it. If my husband wasn't running for office next term, I would. I think he does a good job, but I think I could do better. One thing I would work on first is term limits. It irks me that there are too many elected officials that are so entrenched in office for years and their goals are usually in their own or a special interest group's interest than