Klock: Book 1

By Charles Carmichael

On the run from the FBI after being set up. Two friends must rush to clear their names. The only lead is someone who they thought was their best friend. However she doesn’t seem to exist and no-one believes their story. Packed with twists, turns and conspiracies, one question remains constant. Who is Rachel Klock?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502359469

Book preview

coincidental.

CHAPTER ONE

Thump thump, thump.

Their hearts beating erratically as they race up flight after flight of the stairs inside the downtown Chicago Renaissance Blackstone. Jack Weiss, age twenty-seven, is closely followed by one of his best friends twenty eight year old Will Anders. Jack maybe be slightly shorter but he has more of an athletic build than his skinny friend who struggles to match his pace up the stairwell. They burst through the door and in the the hallway. Rushing past the elevators to a door. Jack fumbling for the keycard frantically inserts it in the door and rushes in to the room.

Rachel, Jack calls out as they enter the room. Though a room doesn’t quite describe their luxury suite. Its more than a hotel room and only slightly less than a condo. It has a ceiling high windows that overlook Grant Park and the Chicago harbor on Lake Michigan. Rachel, you in here?! he repeats again. Will pushes open the door to her room, still no reply.

He walks back out to the living area and flips on the television. Jack he calls out. Jack joining him in the living area sees the news footage on the TV. A reporter is standing outside the famed Art Institute of Chicago, fire trucks, police and ambulances fill only part of the background. You can see smoke and flames erupting from one of the cities once great landmarks.

We’re outside the Art Institute of Chicago where an explosion has ripped through the downtown Chicago landmark. Says the reporter. So far there are no reported casualties though details are still hard to come by. Police officials are not ruling out the use of a bomb at this time. What they do know is that two men were seen fleeing the museum only moments before the explosion took place.

Will turning pale exclaims, Shit! She’s talking about us. Jack rushing over to the hotel window sees a column of smoke rising halfway up the northern side of the park. She’s talking about us, Jack! I know, Will. Jack replies more calmly than his panicked friend.

I think I’m gonna puke says Will.

Where the hell is Rachel? Jack wonders.

I’m not sure if it’s from running across Grant Park.

Relax for a second Jack says.

Relax? Relax? Our best friend just blew up the Art Institute, and you want me to relax?! Screams Will.

We don’t know that! Bursts Jack. His outburst finally silences his overly panicked friend. He stares a reassuring stare and continues. We’ve have no proof Rachel did any of this. And further more we haven’t done anything wrong. So let’s calm down, pack up Rachel’s things and go to the police. They can handle this. Sound good to you?

Will, calming down a little nods his head in agreement. He rushes to one of the bedrooms in the suite and disappears inside. Jack turns away, back towards the window. Looking down he notices a copy of On this Road written by Jackie Lichten. As he picks up the book, it brings back memories of when he received the book as a gift from Rachel…

Jack, Will and Rachel are all three standing in front of twenty eight year old Rachel’s small blue SUV. Rachel Klock stands only slightly shorter than Jack, with shoulder length red hair and glasses. The car is parked in front of an old Victorian style house. The house, located in Virginia, is blue with white trim and where the three of them had spent their last two years of college.

Jackie Lichten wrote this great American novel in less than three weeks. How? Because she didn’t need to invent the characters or their adventures. She lived them. States Rachel.

Will glancing up from his smartphone asks, They teach you that in chemical engineering?

Rachel responds, I’m not an engineer for the next month. Taking Will’s phone and tucking it into his pocket she continues. And you’re not a businessman, and Jack your not a lawyer. For the next month we’re adventurers. We’re characters in our own book.

Grabbing both of his friends by their shoulders, Will put his arms around them and stared up at the house which the three of them lived in for two years. It was a great two years filled with fun and long-lasting memories none of them hoped to forget. On the other hand, it was finally time to leave. As the three college graduates looked up at their former home, Well, it’s time to say goodbye to this old house and hit the road, says Rachel. They all take one last look at the blue Victorian, until Rachel shoved both her friends forward and shouted, Shotgun!

Playfully laughing, she ran around the SUV to the passenger seat while Jack and Will argued over who was driving. Jack walked towards the driver's seat, but Will teasingly shoved him out of the way and dangled the car keys in front of him. As Jack mourned his loss, Will got into the front seat and strapped in his seatbelt. Jack opened the door to the back seat and tossed his backpack inside. Before he could get in, though, Will stepped on the gas pedal, moving the car forward several feet.

C'mon guys, Jack pleaded as he reached for the car door.

Will stopped the car, but only long enough for Jack to get the door open. Forcing Jack to chase the car, Will and Rachel sat beside one another enjoying a laugh.

Hey, c'mon! We're adults now! Be mature, Jack told his friends.

As Will stopped the car, Rachel looked out from his window and shrugged, Okay, okay, we're just kidding.

However, Will drove onwards once more while Jack reached for the car door. Quit playing games, guys! Jack shouted, getting annoyed. Unfortunately, his friends continued tormenting him till they finally got to the end of the block and Jack hopped into the back seat.

It’s been a long drive, the three friends switching off and taking turn as to who was driving. Rachel is driving humming a sound to herself while the other Jack and Will are in the back watching a movie on the in car DVD player. Here comes the best part, says Jack. As the main character in the movie goes flying down the main corridor of the LA Art Museum on roller blades. The screen clicks off. Hey, they both say, that was the best part. Sorry boys, we’re here.

Rachel pulls her SUV up in front of the beautiful Renaissance Blackstone. A grandiose hotel that no college students could have afforded. As they arrive a smiling bellman approaches, opening the door and saying Welcome to the Chicago Renaissance Blackstone. Jack hops out the of the car and stares up in disbelief at the hotel. This is where you booked us? he asks.  I figured its our last night to live as royalty. After this its nothing but cheap hotels and campgrounds all the way to San Francisco, Rachel says. You guys check in, I’m going to park the car says Rachel.

They’ve got valet offers Will.

I know a garage on 8th. Half the price. I’ll meet you up in the room she says. She pull off down the busy street as the others head inside.

The lobby floors are polished marble and the celling towers above. Off to the right a few businessmen are reading the Times on a set of leather couches. Jack and Will walk to the front desk, dropping their frame backpacks on the ground beside them.

Checking in? asks the desk clerk.

Indeed. Anders. First name Will. He says pulling out a beautiful polished metal credit card.

And if you could check if any suites are available that would be appreciated, he continues.

I’m sure we can find something for you sir, the desk clerk nods knowingly.

The clerk swipes the card and hands it back to Will. The clerks turns back to his computer to type a few more things in as Will turns back towards Jack. The American Express Black Card. Reserved for a privileged few. Many thinks these cards are actually black and only a legend. But I assure you, they are quite real, he says handing the card to Jack. Jack, grabbing the car from Will notices the name on the card. This is your dad’s he says. I borrowed it for the trip, the Anders family does have its perks you know replies Will.

Okay, gentlemen. You have our exclusive executive suite. A bellman will be happy to show you to the room. Says the Clerk reaching forward and dinging the small bell in front of him.

A large hulking Hotel bellman, maybe in his late forties leads Jack and Will into their jaw dropping accommodations. The place in immaculate, and Will walks over the the windows to check out the view.

You gentlemen are in town for pleasure I take it? asked the bellman. On a road trip but the looks of it he says. Jack looks a bit puzzled as the bellman continues, I could tell by the bags. Like to guess where folks are heading based on their luggage.

Neat trick, Jack responds and starts to pull out a ten dollar bill. Will comes over before he can and hands the bellman a fifty dollar bill instead.

Yeah. And we plan on kicking off this road trip with a bang. If you could arrange a limo for us we’d greatly appreciate it, says Will.

Of course sirs. Just call the Concierge and he will have a car waiting for you, responds the bellman.

As the bellman is leaving, Jack heads over to the windows to take in the view of Grant Park, and the harbour stretched before him.

So what does a view like this cost? asked Jack.

Don’t even worry about it, says Will.

You don’t have to pay for everything, Will.

It’s not my money he says.

Look, we said Rachel would plan this trip. I’d cover the major costs. And you’d keep us out of trouble. Says Will as he pops open the complimentary bottle of champagne. He takes a drink and passes the bottle off the Jack.

Of the three I’d say your job is the most difficult he continues.

The glass chandelier above changes an array of colors in sync to the pounding pulse of the music. Jack and Rachel sit in a private banquette just off the main dance floor. A beautifully designed bottle of French vodka sits in the middle of the table. Jack sips on his beer and Rachel is filming everything she can with the latest GoPro that she brought along.

Your going to take that thing everywhere on the trip aren’t you Jack states.

I’m sure you’ll thank me someday replies Rachel.

Will finally steps off the dance floor to join them. Checking his hair in the mirrored wall as he takes a seat at the table. We did not come to one of the hottest clubs in Chicago for you two to play wallflowers. There’s dozen people out there waiting for dance partners he says.

Hey, some of us are in a relationship Jack reminds him.

"No, you my friend have a girlfriend. But if you take advantage of your time with me tonight, we may just be able to make that girlfriends" says Will.

Jack’s phone lights up and vibrates on the table. Looking down at the screen he sees that it’s Jenny calling.

Speak of the devil Will mutters.

Jack answers the phone but before he can speak Will grabs it out of his hand. Jenny, hon, he’s gotta call you back…in a month Will says as he hangs up and hands the phone back to an irritated Jack.

Sorry, but I need to get back out there say Will as he pops a mint in his mouth.

We’’ll be there in a second says Rachel, trying to diffuse the tension. She’s called what? Three times tonight. Doesn’t want you to go, does she? Rachel asks.

She’s not the only one having second thoughts he replies.

You’ve got to see the world before you can set about to change it, Jack.

Yeah, and I’ve also got to pay off eighty thousand in student loans He replies.

I’m sure Will would be happy to help with that she jests.

Don’t even start with that he says as Rachel puts her arm around his shoulder.

Look, you’re doing the right thing. We all need this trip. Adventures like this, when you take the time to step off the track and see what makes this country tick…They change your life she says as she pats his back. Setting down her vodka tonic she heads out onto the dance floor to join Will.

It’s a beautiful clear morning as the sunrise begins to peak through the concrete canyons of downtown Chicago. Will not making it to his room, passed out on the couch. Their once pristine room is a mess. There are empty champagne bottles littering the floor. Pizza boxes sit open on the coffee table. The large flatscreen TV has one of the morning shows on mute.

Rachel enters from her room and interrupts the morning silence. Wake up call! Come on, Will. Everybody up! she says.

I do not rise before noon, my friend grumbles Will.

Rachel enters the second bedroom to find Jack doing push ups next to the bed.

You’ve got to be the only guy I know that cures a hangover with push ups she says.

Twenty per beer. It’s a Weiss family secret he replies.

Well, if you’re done. I’ve got an unforgettable way to start our trip Rachel says.

Good. Cause I can’t remember anything from last night Will answers, looking and sounding a bit haggard. Rachel impatiently waits while the others get showered and dressed.

Standing next to the harbour with a cool breeze coming off the water, the three friends look down towards the Art Institute of Chicago. Jack zips up his green hoodie, surprised that Will is warm in just his dress shirt.

It’s like a homage to the movie you were watching in the car. Only…better Rachel says.

"Rachel, can I just say