The Consultants

By Mike Seigler

Al, Juba and Manuel enrich themselves using their psychic powers along with a greedy organization. The organization though decides to take greed one step further which creates a problem for the three. To make matters worse one of them falls in love and that threatens to unravel their tight knit brotherhood. Can their psychic powers help them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mike Seigler
• Release date: Nov 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9780990903703

Mike Seigler

I love the written word in most genres. I took up writing many years ago to record the stories I came up with. I think the telling of a good story and the hour or hours it takes you away from whatever is priceless. Stories make us dream and you have to dream to create those stories that can take you away to other places and times. Let yourself be taken away, read.

Book preview

The Consultants

A

Novel

Mike Seigler

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 by Michael Seigler

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.

ISBN 978-0-9909037-0-3

Dedication

For three friends…

Contents

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Disclaimer

Email

About the Author

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Chapter 83

Chapter 84

Chapter 85

Chapter 86

Chapter 87

Chapter 88

Chapter 89

Chapter 90

Chapter 91

Chapter 92

Chapter 93

Chapter 94

Chapter 95

Chapter 96

Chapter 97

Chapter 98

Chapter 99

Chapter 100

Chapter 101

Chapter 102

Chapter 103

Chapter 104

Chapter 105

Chapter 106

Chapter 107

Chapter 108

Chapter 109

Chapter 110

Chapter 111

Chapter 112

Chapter 113

Chapter 114

Chapter 115

Chapter 116

Chapter 117

Chapter 118

Chapter 119

Chapter 120

Chapter 121

Chapter 122

Chapter 123

Chapter 1

Plumes of car exhausts rose gently upward until the traffic light changed to green, and then it became a fog. Al watched that with disinterest.

The taxi ride was slow going on that cold January morning and he wished to be at the hotel already. To pass the time he glanced over at the taxi next to him that was keeping pace and focused on the young woman in the back seat. Her upper body movements are what he watched.

Al concentrated and got in her mind to read the thoughts that developed the feelings she was having. He read the usual; she was trying to convince someone she liked that she was loyal. The person she was talking to was a solid thing in her life and she did not want to lose that. He then got the picture in her mind of happiness, she had her confidence back, and she felt relieved.

The young woman hung up her phone and glanced over at Al in the taxi next to her. He gave her a thumb up and she just stared for a moment then turned away. He liked doing that, confusing people. He was able to read minds and liked to play with them harmlessly just to see their reaction.

The young woman looked again and Al went into her mind one more time. She was feeling happy now that her special someone believed her and the taxi next to her had a man she would not mind having fun with. She must be more attractive than thought because he gave her a thumb up.

Al let her go and focused her out of his mind. Her taxi took a right and was gone and he was happy for that. Because it was a usual encounter, he had with young women. Their minds for the most part were limited to, themselves. When the attraction wears off then what?

Al’s taxi driver was listening to the radio. The announcer was in a hyperactive mode due to the inauguration day buzz that many felt. Al did not feel the buzz or was the least bit excited because it was just another President and nothing new was going to happen.

The excitement about the new president elect was palpable. He was young and the young people felt they could relate to him. Yes, Al thought, let the young people rule the country and in times of emergency what will the young people do? Probably search out the older wiser ones who should be running the country to begin with. He dismissed those thoughts and looked at the taxi driver.

Al concentrated and got inside the taxi drivers mind. The thoughts were serene and dismissive. He did not care about the new president that was taking control of a country that he really did not like living in. Since moving here, he heard promises of a better life from everybody. His wife and child were always harassed because of the headscarves they wore. The freedom they say is here is not. It is worse than his home country, which he should not have left.

The driver looked in the rear view mirror at him. Al then asked, Are you happy about the new president.

The driver looked back at the road and said, ah, yes, good thing for America.

Right, I think he’ll make mistakes and learn and in four years we’ll see if the public still wants him. Al said keeping eye contact.

You no like then, the driver asked.

I don’t like or dislike him, it’s just that we need a leader in this country like other countries, so, we deal with what we have, Al said still looking at the driver.

The driver nodded and Al caught a thought from the driver; this young executive is smart and I like him.

It was one of few occasions that the physical matches the mental, Al thought, there are times when the thoughts match the expression, Al repeated to himself.

The taxi pulled to the front of the Plaza Hotel and the hotel door attendant opened the car door as Al paid and tipped the driver then said, I hope this tip gets you back to your country sooner. The driver nodded and then digested what Al said and looked at him with a jolt.

Al thanked the door attendant for opening the door and nothing was on that man’s mind Al knew. He was let down because he liked the chatter in people’s minds. He liked reading their thoughts but it was time to get to work he knew as he walked to the bank of elevators.

Chapter 2

On the tenth floor, Al walked to suite ten eleven and knocked. He heard Juba yell to Manuel to get the door. It was always like this going to work, waiting to get inside. The door finally opened and Manuel stood there, What’s up. Check out this place.

Al entered and looked around at the sweeping living room and the spiral staircase. Looking back at the living room, he saw the huge TV screen and the windows that overlooked Central Park.

Sweet, Al said and looked at the stairs as Juba came down smiling. Don’t tell me you have a girl up there? Al asked hoping for the best. Juba liked women and needed one just about every day and he got them very easily too.

No Bro, I’m smiling because I just did a big dump. Don’t use that rest room up there, Juba said smiling ear to ear.

Damn Juba can’t you do that at home, Manuel asked.

I could if it wants to come out then, Juba said.

Okay we have work to do. I don’t want to talk about Juba’s shit, Al, said, they nodded, and he continued. Nice suite though, good one Manuel.

Hey we ain’t paying for it and we do earn it bro, Manuel said in his best Spanish accent.

Then Juba took over as they settled down on the couch. Okay we have three options today to make money. The CEO of Eagle Steel is working on something with the Chinese or there’s E-Tech and the new phone they’re working on and, or, Manuel can shut down some refiners and we go into oil.

Manuel moved a little on the couch, last time someone died and I don’t like that.

Juba and Al nodded and did not respond because they knew it bothered Manuel.

The three had special gifts. Al was able to read minds, Manuel able to move objects and Juba able to insert thoughts into people’s minds.

I say we do Eagle Steel, Al said and Manuel looked relieved.

Cool, Juba said and the three got down to business.

Manuel handed Al a folder that had the profile of John Darlington, the CEO of Eagle Steel. He opened and read the outline of where Darlington lives with his family. Then he read the business side of him. The corporate headquarters was in Pittsburgh and his schedule for the week, attached.

They got the schedule by Juba inserting a thought into Darlington’s secretaries’ mind and Manuel making her move the right document into place to be scanned and e-mailed. He was able to do that because Al was there, seeing what she was seeing. They in effect zombie her and she will not remember a thing.

Juba’s talent was the scarcest because he could almost control people. When under his thought control they were zombies.

Al read the schedule and saw that today was the Board of Directors meeting. Cool, the board meeting is today, this’ll be easy, Al said with a smile and the other two smiled and nodded.

Chapter 3

There was little maintenance needed for Al when he went deep into someone’s mind. Contrary to what is in movies where one needs to go into a deep trance. He did it in a normal environment, which helped him focus.

Al looked at the picture of John Darlington and concentrated on him and a picture began to form. A large room with a huge table and men were talking and some laughing. John Darlington was talking to someone he liked and knew for a long time. The person he talked to liked his idea. Al looked over at the TV and saw the opening bell for Wall Street being rung by an executive for a retail store chain. There was clapping and the trading was started. Al went back to the conference room.

John Darlington was talking and not really thinking. He was telling all the board members the state of business for the company and what he thinks they should do going forward. Al caught glimpses of a picture of an island with a sunny beach with John Darlington and a woman that he kept going back to as he talked.

John Darlington then said with a picture in his mind of China. The balance is shifting, China is the new global buyer of steel and will be for the next ten to twenty years or until they complete infrastructure needed in the country.

Al glanced out the window at the cold January day while locked into John Darlington’s mind.

John Darlington was feeling confident and saw the faces of the board members who would not like what he was leading into. He then told the board members that he has been in talks with Shenzhen steel of China. They had worked out a deal for Eagle steel to setup shop there in three locations around the country.

John Darlington then saw smiles and two frowns from board members he knew the two frowns would not like the deal but would go along anyway.

John then thought about the money Eagle steel would make with this deal. He had backing from a few congressional representatives and senators so this was a good as it gets.

Europe was full of steel and new construction was limited so China was the next frontier and John Darlington had a great deal on his hands.

A frowning board member asked if the Chinese would pull out of the deal. John thought of the pressure they were getting for not allowing foreign investments in their country and the backing he got from the US Government and replied, NO.

Then the picture changed to happy thoughts of a new mansion and a woman named Diane.

Al broke away at this point, picked up the folder, read the family names, and saw John Darlington had a wife named Marta. Not, Diane.

He looked over at Juba and Manuel, looks like he cheats on his wife.

Juba looked at him and said, I don’t give a shit about that. What’s going on with the board meeting?

Plenty going on but the point of the girlfriend is we may be able to get more information. She’s probably very special and he must tell her things, Al said looking at both Juba and Manuel.

Yea and how do we find who she is? Manuel asked.

The same way we find out everything, Juba said with a big smile.

What I mean how we find out who she is. It’s not like he’s thinking of her name, address and telephone number, Manuel explained.

Al smiled, you’re right Manuel, I’ll have to get into John Darlington’s mind more, like tonight. That may be the time when they meet.

Okay that’s what I’m talking about. We’ll have to get together tonight, Manuel said.

Fuck, I don’t like working nights, Juba exclaimed.

Hey, we do what we do at any time of the day or night, Manuel said seriously.

We got that out of the way now don’t you want to know what they talked about at the board meeting? Al said smiling.

What’s the story? Juba asked.

They’re forming a joint venture with the Shenzhen steel company of China. They’re going to open three operations and make tons of steel and money.

But how’s this going to happen, I mean the China government doesn’t allow businesses into their country, Manuel asked.

John Darlington has some congressmen and senators on his side. China has been under a lot of pressure to allow businesses in and Eagle Steel got a sweet heart deal, Al said.

Sweet, time to call the boss, Juba said.

Chapter 4

Many streets south in lower Manhattan, in the financial district is the offices of John Hartley investments. It is like many that that reside in the area; they look for financial investments that have a lot of risk and great reward.

The owner John Hartley has been in the financial business for thirty years and branched into his own eight years ago. He takes in money from investors looking for a good return on their money and he gives them that. It is what we call today, a hedge fund.

About three years before he hired a young university graduate named Paul Staco who showed potential like many he has worked with over the years. This one though had an extra edge in the stock market where he was able to predict stocks that would rise up and those that would fall with good accuracy. That gained John Hartley’s interest right away because he was able to make money when the market went up and down. He found a golden goose. John immediately promoted him into his executive staff as the chief trader.

That was about two years before and as time went by Paul confided in John about his childhood friend Allen Stelenski. John Hartley did not believe him at first and thought the young man was losing his mind but he was introduced to Al and given a demonstration. That was about a year and a half ago.

John Hartley knew he had something special but used it with caution just in case it malfunctioned. He was old school and believed that nothing good lasted forever so he made a special arrangement with Paul and Al.

Al and his friends would not have an office or be directly employed by John Hartley Investments. They would be outside consultants and that fact would be deeply buried in the company prospectus with no information about them being revealed. They would be given