Mass Terror

By Ron Hudson

Kevin Culburn, a contracted agent is joined by Kelly a passenger on the AMTRAC between New York and Washington. Upon arrival Kelly, who at first, does not appear to have any connection to his mission, is shot as she gets off the train. This starts a series of events that leads to a major terrorist plot by two vicious saboteurs. Initially, the trail leads to an upper NY State small town, where Dr. Bret O'Toole is working on his version of a deadly poison toxin that can be released on large populations.
Kevin goes through many hoops and loops to find his target, who is intent on getting revenge on law enforcement for chasing him out of the country. When Kevin and the FBI close in on Dr. O. and his sidekick, Joe Montray, they escape through the underbrush of the northern woods. The two continue their evil activities when they settle just outside of Philadelphia, where they plant the poison toxin in a crowd visiting the famous Liberty Bell display. With Kevin getting closer and closer, the evil old man makes his second escape to Phoenix. Proving that he is not a totally evil man, he is touched by the kindness of a little girl he meets in the bus station in Nashville. His first act of kindness turns out to be his downfall, as she is the key to providing information to his location.
Though many twists and turns, Dr. O. finally makes his biggest headlines by destroying a major law enforcement building and killing several people in Phoenix. From there the tail ends with his ultimate spectacular last act, in an event none would ever have suspected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ron Hudson
• Release date: Mar 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463048405

Ron Hudson

Ron Hudson writes in several genres. Several of his books are fictional accounts about early South Carolina people and places, especially the Low Country. He was born and raised near the Salkehatchie Swamp and often visits from his current home in Virginia.

Book preview

Foreword

Kevin Culburn, a contracted agent is joined by Kelly a passenger on the AMTRAC between New York and Washington. Upon arrival Kelly, who at first, does not appear to have any connection to his mission, is shot as she gets off the train. This starts a series of events that leads to a major terrorist plot by two vicious saboteurs. Initially, the trail leads to an upper NY State small town, where Dr. Bret O'Toole is working on his version of a deadly poison toxin that can be released on large populations.

Kevin goes through many hoops and loops to find his target, who is intent on getting revenge on law enforcement for chasing him out of the country. When Kevin and the FBI close in on Dr. O. and his sidekick, Joe Montray, they escape through the underbrush of the northern woods. The two continue their evil activities when they settle just outside of Philadelphia, where they plant the poison toxin in a crowd visiting the famous Liberty Bell display. With Kevin getting closer and closer, the evil old man makes his second escape to Phoenix. Proving that he is not a totally evil man, he is touched by the kindness of a little girl he meets in the bus station in Nashville. His first act of kindness turns out to be his downfall, as she is the key to providing information to his location.

Though many twists and turns, Dr. O. finally makes his biggest headlines by destroying a major law enforcement building and killing several people in Phoenix. From there the tail ends with his ultimate spectacular last act, in an event none would ever have suspected.

Chapter 1

Kevin sat at the window seat of the nearly full AMTRAC train waiting for the final passengers to load. He always liked to have an empty seat beside him when he traveled, but today it didn’t look like that was going to happen.

A woman came down the aisle and looked him in the eye.

Is this seat taken?

Kevin smiled and replied, No.

It was not his habit to be passive when a beautiful woman is around. This time, however, he just wanted to do some work on his laptop during the three-hour trip between New York and Washington, DC. He opened the computer and tried. After thirty minutes, he gave up and closed the machine. Her slender legs kept easing her dress higher. The distraction was compelling. His mind couldn’t get away from the person sitting beside him. Glancing out the window to his right, she seemed to want to open a conversation.

Turning to her, Kevin inquired, Business in DC?

It was impossible to ignore her voluptuous and perfectly shaped breasts. By now, her long legs were half exposed from her tight-fitting blue suit dress. Right away, he noticed that she was not wearing a wedding band. She was probably thirty-something. He assumed she was traveling between business meetings since she had previously placed a briefcase in the overhead rack beside his.

Yes, I live in New York City. The travel between the two places is a killer. How about you?

Just a quick trip to the DC, don’t expect it to happen again anytime soon.

The conversation soon turned to entertainment, virtues of city life, and other chitchat things of little importance. After an hour of friendly conversation, they had shared a lot of personal information. Kevin was surprised to learn she was from a small town in Texas. Her family was cattle ranchers, and she had a brother. She talked a lot about her brother, telling Kevin that she practically raised him.

Actually, he was disappointed to see the trip end. It was the most pleasant trip he had taken in a long time.

As they pulled into the station, Kevin suddenly realized they were enjoying each other's conversation so much, they had forgotten to exchange names.

Oh by the way, he smiled, my name is Kevin.

She replied, And mine is Kelly, I guess we won't be seeing each other again unless we both have a train trip scheduled, she smiled back.

Well, I am in the city for a while, would you like to get together for lunch. Say tomorrow?

Her smile broadened, I would love that.

Do you know where the Cocilla Restaurant on 4th St., near DuPont Circle, is located?

Certainly, I have eaten there before.

How 'bout if we meet there at 11:30 AM.

Great, I'll see you.

When the train pulled into the station and stopped, she exited before him. He lost sight of her while he was retrieving his bag from the overhead bin.

As he moved down the steps, he heard a sharp crack. He had heard the sound before. It was a shot from a small-caliber weapon with a silencer attached. Probably a pistol and it was near him. Kevin reacted instinctively, jerking to a squat and retrieving the S&W 9 MM from his shoulder holster in one motion. He couldn’t see the shooter.

Several people in the crowd clearly heard the shot. People on the platform began screaming and running wildly in different directions. Then he saw a woman lying on her face on the cement where the crowd once was. A red spot on the back of her blue suit was already starting to ooze blood. The bullet hit its target directly in the center of her back, about eight inches below the collar.

He couldn't see her face, but there was no doubt in his mind it was Kelly. Having it imprinted in his mind earlier, he would recognize that body from any angle. His impulse was to run to her and render assistance. Before he did, he quickly scanned the few remaining people, who by now were running in every direction. He couldn't just let her lay there without help. It was a chance he had to take, even if the shooter was still present. He squeezed his 9 MM, and rushed over and knelt beside her. With his help, she rolled on her side facing upward.

One look into her beautiful brown eyes told him her attacker had accomplished his fatal goal.

Kelly, Kelly!

She didn’t answer right away. Then she blinked her eyes and squeezed his hand.

Help my brother...hurry, they are almost ready.

Where is your brother...Who is almost ready, moving his face close to hers he whispered.

Then her grasp on his hand relaxed and her eyes slowly closed. There was no doubt in his mind that Kelly, his beautiful blonde-haired traveling companion was gone. Why would anyone want to shoot such an attractive and friendly woman? Who was the assassin, and what was the motive? He looked up. Someone must have already called 911.

He heard the sirens a few blocks away. He looked across the multiple tracks and saw two police frantically talking on their radios. This place would be swarming with law enforcement officials in a few minutes. While he had no connection with Kelly’s slaying, his current mission would not permit him to be questioned by the police.

Kevin slowly and respectfully lowered her head back to the pavement. He got up, walked to the nearest exit, up the stairs and onto the street above. Not running so fast as to attract attention, he walked quickly and looked straight ahead. As he stepped into the street, he saw McClure's, a bar and restaurant, near the exit. He opened the door and entered.

He sat at the bar, trying hard to act casual in spite of the horrific incident he had just witnessed. He ordered a bourbon and water and just sat for several minutes trying to regain his composure. Then the reality hit him. An assassination! Why?

One thing that kept coming back to him was that this incident was somehow tied to his present situation. If an attempt had been made to kill him, it might have made sense. But Kelly? Someone he didn't even know. Yet, it can't be a coincidence. Could it have been a mistake? He ordered another drink and after about thirty minutes walked out the door.

Chapter 2

Kevin caught a cab to 2456 10th Street. The building was one of many similar high rises in downtown Washington. He showed his ID to the guard on the first floor and signed the roster as, Kevin Culburn. The guard welcomed him and waved him pass. Exiting the elevator on the Seventh Floor, he turned right and walked into the familiar office marked, 702, Office of International Logistics.

He didn't know the real objective of the office, but he was amused at how someone came up with a name for the organization. Whoever it was, did a good job as the title formed a very good acronym in a city where you are typecast by the acronym associated with your organization. What he did know, was that it had little to do with logistics.

The entire group was a cover-up for the Office of Biological Warfare at the Pentagon. This location was manned by about five people. They all were go-through people for the Biological Warfare Office and various government contractors or other government organizations.

Having spent 20 years in the Navy and been assigned much of that time at different organizations in the Pentagon, Kevin was certainly familiar with bureaucracy. Often people and missions were funded and assigned to organizations that had no obvious relationship to their mission. Occasionally it was done to cover up their real work, or sometimes to share funding that would have otherwise not have been available. More often than not, it was a way to continue dead-end or unpopular programs. Which category his mission was in, he really didn't know. Nor did he care, as long as he could continue to do what he had been hired to do.

Kevin walked into Room 702 and told the person sitting at the desk his name, and said that he was here to see Mr. Halaway.

He is expecting you, go right in.

Kevin had never met Mr. Halaway, but the man fit the picture of the usual government bureaucrat: sixtyish, wearing glasses, partially bald, white shirt, blue tie, and two pens clipped into his shirt pocket.

Good morning, Mr. Halaway, I’m Kevin Colburn. Kevin handed him his letter of introduction.

Mr. Halaway didn't offer any small talk. Without any emotion at all, he moved right into the business at hand.

Yes, Kevin I have been expecting you. In the past, you have done an excellent job for us, and we need your services again. The compensation will be the same. Your instructions are contained in this package. My phone number is also in there. I will expect a periodical telephone report as specified in the package. Otherwise, never call me except in an extreme emergency. This is a top-secret, eyes-only, assignment. You are aware of what that means and how to conduct yourself. If you put yourself in danger, we may not be able to help you. In fact, we will probably deny any knowledge of your existence if we are contacted by anyone other than you. Do you have any questions?

How do I contact you if I have an emergency or critical information to report?

It's in your instructions. I have a special phone that is used for you and a couple of others. I will be known to you as Woolworth. You will be Skag. Do you have any other questions?"

Just one, do you know anything about the shooting of a girl named Kelly that I happened to be on the same train with me, coming down from New York?

I do not have any information about a shooting. However, I will run it through our people to see what turns up. I suggest if you think it has a connection to your mission, use your own good judgment to investigate it yourself.

The meeting didn't take more than fifteen minutes.

Back at his room, Kevin began reading the material in the package he had been given by the person he now knew as, Woolworth. On the first page was written, AFTER READING DESTROY THE CONTENTS OF THIS PACKAGE. Additional information was provided where Kevin was to take it to get it shredded.

The first three pages discussed clostridium botulism, one of the most poisonous substances known, and the ramifications should it be released into the general population. The report went on to describe botulism as a life-threatening poisoning caused by toxins produced by the bacterium clostridium botulism, usually referred to as c. botulism.

Even though it is a deadly substance, it has received little attention because of its tight control. On the other hand, like many such substances, there are limited quantities of it outside government agencies. It is these small, unaccounted for quantities, which could be a hazard to public health. Within the U.S. government, manufacture and control are limited to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases Army Biological Warfare Group, U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and a few other agencies.

The report said it is feared that one or more rogue chemists have developed a form of botulism that can be encapsulated into an aerosol container. It could then be released into the atmosphere, where a large population of people could inhale it indiscriminately.

The report indicated intelligence has been received that an unknown group of terrorists has been experimenting with a form that can also be encapsulated into small aerosol containers. Further, it is believed that they have already been successful in developing a method for delivering poison to large populations of people. These bioterrorist operatives are associated with Islamic terrorists. ISIS operatives in the U.S. are being supported by one or more knowledgeable chemists. It is believed all of them have been schooled in the U.S. Some of them may very well be U.S. citizens. They are believed to be operating in the Brooklyn area or near New York City. This does not preclude operation elsewhere in the U.S.

Reports have been received the Faithful Prophet of Islam, located in Brooklyn is supporting such a clandestine group. It is believed they have a laboratory and test center set up for developing airborne botulism. The laboratory is not believed to be set up at the Temple, but some of their congregation and maybe their leaders, know where it is located. No further information on the size and sophistication of the group is available. Two names were provided that could be involved: Ishar Salam and Meleeza Rashad. No addresses are known for any of these people, but it is believed that they all were associated with the Faithful Prophet of Islam.

The objective of the current effort is to collect information that will help determine how advanced the program is at this time. Information is also needed as to how much knowledge to develop botulism is available outside of government organizations, and if work is being done to develop a viable system for the delivery of botulism. Of particular concern is whether any other systems are being worked on for the delivery of an airborne version of this deadly substance. The report closed by citing several additional places where it was suspected