A Matter of Carbon

By Robert Harvey

The novel is a mystery/thriller adventure that involves a young couple. The couple make a horrible discovery that places their lives at risk. There are multiple unexpected twists and turns  that the couple experience as they travel across the country. The novel involves comedic situations that enhances the rapid pace of the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Harvey
• Release date: Apr 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201718244

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The day was clear, truly glorious. The splendor of nature was wonderfully displayed by azure skies as far as the eye can see. Then plumes of carbon dioxide cloud the skies, ravaging the beauty of the day like a disease silently consuming perfectly healthy tissue.

Carbon dioxide climbs relentlessly, spewing toxic materials into the atmosphere, coming from coal-fired power plants at the Homer City Station near Homer City, Pennsylvania, the W.H. Sammis Plant, near Stratton, Ohio, the Gibson Generating Station, near Owensville, Indiana, the AEP Rockport Generating Station, near Rockport, Indiana, the Baldwin Generating Center, near Baldwin, Illinois and the NRG Powerton Generating Station, outside of Pekin, Illinois. 

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Bill Jenkins is an investigative reporter for the Chicago Daily News. He is in his mid thirties, of short stature and a slender build. What’s strikingly remarkable about him is his inexhaustible energy and quick witted personality. Connie is Jenkins’s wife and they have two boys, Charles and Scott. Jenkins is a tenacious, no-nonsense reporter with a boundless interest in the challenge and excitement of bringing important, breaking news to the public. He is a close friend of Roger and Kate Prentiss. His relationship with Roger dates back to their college days at Notre Dame. They see each other regularly. Both men like to bowl, play golf and attend sporting events. There is a mutual trust in one another. One day at work, Jenkins is walking down the hall of the newspaper office and sees Pam Hammond, a research worker, walking toward her desk struggling with a large bundle of old newspapers from the paper’s archives. Her job is to transfer selective newspaper articles into the newspaper’s computer data base. Jenkins says to her Here Pam, let me help you. There’s no sense in straining yourself. The Chicago Daily News is not a ‘slave shop’. She replies Thanks Bill. I could use a little muscle. Jenkins takes a large bunch of the newspapers and carries them to Pam’s desk. She smiles at Jenkins and he gives her a ‘thumbs up’. As Jenkins walks away from her desk, she looks at him and thinks a great guy.

At noon time, on the same day, Jenkins and Ben Purcell, a fellow reporter head for the local restaurant for lunch. On the way to the restaurant, a homeless man approaches Jenkins. He is wearing faded, tattered clothing. His appearance is gaunt and he has a subdued demeanor. He asks Jenkins in a muted voice Hey buddy, I haven’t had anything to eat for a while. Could you spare some change. Jenkins smiles at him and says Come with me. On the way to their usual lunchtime dining spot Jenkins and Purcell take the homeless man to a nearby fast food restaurant. When they arrive there Jenkins, pointing to the homeless man, says to the cashier Give this man whatever he wants and I’ll take of it. After the homeless man gives the cashier his order, Jenkins pays for it and starts to leave. The man turns to Jenkins and says to him God bless you bro." Jenkins smiles, nods to him and leaves. 

CHAPTER 2

PRESENT

It’s autumn and it has rained all day in Chicago. The rain continues into the evening creating a glistening effect on the streets and buildings. Corporate executives, federal and state officials, politicians, major contractors, Wall Street power brokers and their wives and partners are arriving at the Ritz Carlton Hotel to celebrate the success of the Green House Project. Many individuals attending the celebration have made a great deal of money from the project. The highly anticipated gala event is to celebrate the success of the project. Two of the guests arrive at the hotel in their Rolls-Royce Phantom VII. They are a middle aged couple, confident and impeccably dressed for the celebration. The woman says to her husband How do I look darling? He replies Beautiful as always my dear, beautiful. He turns his head away from her and wearily rolls his eyes in disbelief expressing his annoyance over that repeated question she has asked him on the way to the celebration. It goes unnoticed by her.

Street traffic is heavy. Several of the valet attendants are at the hotel entrance waiting for the guests to arrive. At the far end of the hotel entryway are two attendants with umbrellas huddled together trying to remain dry. They are patiently marking time waiting for the guests to appear.  One of the attendants says to the other What a miserable evening. This would be a good time to be at home. The other attendant says in an agreeable tone Tell me about it. The two attendants notice cars beginning to arrive at the hotel entrance. One of them whispers says to the other Well Charlie, here they come! The ‘one per-centers’. They are the ‘royalty’ of the nation. The ‘crème de la crème’ of society. Smile and look beholden. Maybe they will ‘open up’ and reach down into their deep pockets for us. The other valet attendant answers in a pompous manner Excellent idea Barrington. As guests exit their Bentleys, Aston-Martins, Mercedes-Benz and limousines, valet attendants quickly meet them with umbrellas and escort them attentively toward the hotel entrance. Approximately 200 guests are invited to the celebration. Men are impeccably dressed in well-tailored tuxedos. Wives and mistresses are adorned in fine clothes (Fendi, Versace, Gucci, Dior, Prada and Oscar de la Renta) and jewels (Tiffany, Buccellati, Cartier, Graff, Bvlgari and Harry Winston) in an effort to create a stunning impression and of course, one-upmanship. Kings and Queens come to pay homage to power and gold. As the guests approach the hotel entrance they are greeted by the hotel doorman. He smiles at them and says to  a couple who approach him Welcome to the Ritz Carlton. I hope you enjoy the ceremonies this evening. Please follow the hotel staff who will escort you into the main reception hall. Guests enter the hotel lobby and are met by hotel personnel who say This way please to the reception hall. As the guests enter the reception area, Luigi Boccherini’s Minuet in A major echoes throughout the hall. The melodic strings flow gently into the welcoming ears of the invitees. The music is commensurate with the surroundings. A woman whispers to her husband What an extraordinary venue! Guests are escorted to an impressive, large renaissance style ballroom. Orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and lintels adorn the room.  Large gold and crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling. Tables are carefully covered in white lace table linen with Ercuis silverware and Lenox chinaware that enhance the dining table appearance. Waiters are thoughtfully dressed in stylish uniforms appropriate for the occasion and are wearing white gloves to enhance their appearance. Guests are greeted and politely escorted to their tables by attentive and eager waiters who assist the female guests into their chairs. Women nervously adjust their dresses and hair to assure that a proper appearance is maintained. As guests are enjoying a selection of fine wines and champagne a waiter approaches one of the tables. He says Ladies and gentlemen you are about to receive the dinner menu for this evening. It is without doubt, the most extensive and extraordinary menu that has ever been offered by the Ritz Carlton to its guests. Permit me to go over the menu in advance and answer any of your questions or concerns. We have fennel, black walnuts and white balsamic, Chesapeake crab Angelettes, Anjou pear salad, roasted red pepper bisque served with cilantro crème fraiche, petite hearts of romaine with shaved Parmigiano, toasted croutons and zesty citrus dressing, poached salmon with Mousseline sauce, pheasant under glass, dry aged rib eye steak, Moroccan-spiced roasted chicken, firecracker rock shrimp on whole wheat linguine, petite filet steak au poivre paired with honey and orange-infused shrimp, duck confit souffle potato, caramelized corn and Espelette cream, orange glazed carrots and black trumpet mushrooms. For sumptuous deserts we have a delicious caramel and chocolate mousse cake, a molten chocolate lava cake, a strawberry French tart, a peach plum rose tart and a maple cheesecake with roasted pears. Do any of you have any questions or comments? A guest responds I’ll have one of each." Guests at the table laugh.

After dinner, the guests sit back as the master of ceremonies introduces the main speaker. Jim Bradley is the master of ceremonies and a close friend of the main speaker. He approaches the main podium and says Ladies and Gentlemen, the man I am about to introduce to you is known by many of you personally. I know you are familiar with his numerous accomplishments. We are here this evening to celebrate the success  which  germinated from his singular idea. He used his organizational, administrative and executive skills to bring a gigantic project into fruition. Countless thousands of people, generation after generation, will benefit from this great accomplishment. I take a great deal of pleasure in introducing to you a gentleman who is responsible for the achievement that we are celebrating this evening. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor and privilege to present to you Frank Wilson.

At one end of the reception hall Frank Wilson sits at a long table, on an elevated platform, along with other notable guests. He is the chief executive officer of Alston Industries, the major corporation in charge of the Green House Project. As he is introduced to the crowd, he receives a standing ovation. He smiles and bows to the audience in appreciation as he walks toward the podium. Wilson is a very successful multi-millionaire and is the major decision maker of the Green House Project. In his mid 50’s and twice divorced, he is a tall, robust man with a commanding presence and walks with an air of self confidence. Previously, he owned two energy companies that were very profitable. He sold those companies to help finance, along with other investors, the Green House Project.

Wilson says Ladies and Gentlemen, Alston Industries has done something quite remarkable. It has taken two and one half years to complete the ‘Green House Project’ of which I am extremely proud. We have captured the toxic effects of excessive carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which contribute to global warming and ocean acidification that threatens the food chain of marine life. We have taken these poisonous gases that envelope the earth and placed it in an area where it cannot harm the environment or ourselves (the crowd stands and gives him an enthusiastic applause). At this very moment, the ‘Green House Project’ is capturing carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants and safely and effectively places it in pipelines that transport it into a depleted oil reservoir known as the ‘Apollo Station’ located in southwestern Indiana. Hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide is being stored at that facility. The states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois have a cleaner environment today, which we and future generations can enjoy. This was a cooperative effort by state and federal governments. They helped both legislatively and financially in building carbon emission pipelines running through these states to the storage facility at the ‘Apollo Station’ near Evansville, Indiana. This model of achievement can be applied to other areas of our country and I truly believe this carbon capture plan will serve as a major building block in our fight against global warming. The cost of the ‘Green House Project’ was over two billion dollars. We will offer this energy system and technology to other countries of the world. I am so honored at what Alston Industries and others have accomplished in this effort. It is truly an historic achievement. The audience rises again and gives him an enthusiastic ovation.

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At the time the Green House Project celebration is taking place, Roger and Kate Prentice are in a taxi that is driving to the Embers Lounge. The couple is going there for an after work drink. They are in their early thirties. Roger is a tall, handsome individual who presents a strong and confident appearance. Kate is a dark haired beauty with a slender build and an intrepid countenance. The couple has been married for five years. They have no children. Both of them are very successful in their respective professions. Roger is a commercial architect. His firm designs large commercial buildings in the United States, Canada and Europe. He is a top architect in the firm which requires him to travel a great deal. He is clever, funny and a quick study. However, he has a stubborn streak. He comes from a poor family and is one of seven siblings. Roger’s mother past away several years ago. His father, who is in his seventies, is currently in a nursing home. He loves his father, provides for his support and sees him frequently. Kate is an outstanding corporate attorney and has risen to partner in the firm in a short period of time. The company is a very large national corporate law firm. Kate’s job requires her to travel throughout the United States, advising corporate executives on legal rights, contract law, intellectual rights, tax law, mergers, corporate expansion recommendations and licensing. She is intelligent, perceptive and has a positive and independent personality. Kate’s father left the family when she was fourteen years old. Consequently she learned to fend for herself at an early age. The couple is street smart. The success in their respective professions comes from dedication and hard work. They wanted to have a family. Unfortunately Kate had a miscarriage. The couple have tried repeatedly to have children but have been unsuccessful. The couple sought medical help with negative results. After two years of trying, they both have shifted their attention to climbing the ladder of success in their respective professions. As a result, Roger and Kate have drifted apart. The mood inside the cab is heavy with emptiness. There is an uneasy silence between them. Neither person is looking at the other. Both of them are peering out of the cab window into the darkness, deep in thought. Roger thinks to himself I don’t know if our marriage is going to make it. But I do love her and I do want to be with her. Kate ponders I want him to be a part of my life. We are right for one another. Roger turns to Kate and says Do you still want to go to the ‘Embers’ or would you rather just go home? Kate replies Let’s go to the ‘Embers’. It’s been a long day at the office and I just want to unwind a little. A diversion is what I need right now. Roger says Then ‘Embers it is. When the couple arrives at the lounge, Roger pays the taxi driver using his cell phone that has a credit card app. As the couple enter the lounge it is dimly lit with tables and chairs discreetly placed to allow for maximum privacy for its clientele. An early crowd has already arrived. Periodic laughter and nervous giggling is heard among some patrons and the usual outbreaks of surprise during the course of their conversations. Light classical music fills the lounge. When Roger and Kate enter the lounge they are greeted by the maitre d’. He says "Welcome to the