The Scheduler: A Howard Watson Intrigue

By JoAnn Fastoff

Howard Watson is an FBI agent who deals with problems that hit America's shores: illicit diamonds, illegal logging, tobacco smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal drugs. These are problems that most Americans are not concerned with until or unless it impacts their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JoAnn Fastoff Blackman
• Release date: Jun 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781087861289

JoAnn Fastoff

JoAnn Fastoff has written extensively for Chicago, New York and Philadelphia publications. In addition, she was publicist for the musical group “Kool and the Gang”, an event coordinator for Graham Kerr “The Galloping Gourmet”, and has interviewed over 100 celebrities, including award winning photographer Gordon Parks, and Grammy award winning blues singer B.B. King. She lives in Chicago and has two adult children Angela and David. The Pact is her second novel.

Book preview

The Scheduler

(A Howard Watson Intrigue)

JoAnn Fastoff

Five men have been targeted for death by someone trained on an M-24 sniper rifle…a rifle that only the military provides. The person or persons unknown is an expert shot. Howard Watson is an FBI Supervisory Special Agent in Charge in Washington, D.C., and his friend, Allen Knox, is one of the two targets on the offenders’ list who escapes the deathtrap. What do these five men have in common that has garnered the wrath of the shooter? The FBI Profiler will offer her insight.

The Scheduler is the sixth novel in the Howard Watson Intrigue series.

The Scheduler (A Howard Watson Intrigue)

© by JoAnn Fastoff, 2020

First edition

Crime-Thriller-Series

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

Print ISBN 978-1-0878-7596-5

Electronic ISBN 978-1-0878-6128-9

Cover art by Debraj Dey

Published by JoAnn Fastoff

www.joannfastoff.com

Also in the Howard Watson series

The Standing People

The Smoke Ring

The Lie

The Pact

The Gordian Knot

Other books

Two Years of Heaven: Rekindled Stories of Happiness

White Sox (and other baseball worth mentioning) for Women

The Scheduler

This latest Howard Watson Intrigue does not disappoint! Hold on for the ride as there are so many twists and turns that you’ll be wondering what’s going to happen next. The secret that is shared by many in this fast moving adventure will have you trying to help Howard solve this case until the very end.

- R. Lee Walters, Former FBI Special Agent (1989-2012)

I loved The Scheduler! The intensity built to the point where I caught myself forgetting to breathe. Wow! Your series needs to be made into a TV show so that non-readers can enjoy it as well.

- Paige Lovitt, (15 years of reviewing Howard Watson)

"(The Scheduler) is another must read explosive and thrilling quest into the brain riveting world of an atypical serial murderer."

- Dr. D. Darell Dones, Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dones Global Solutions, LLC

The Standing People

"The Standing People takes the reader to locales not usually at the top of national headlines to address crimes not always at the front of the public’s minds…but this is what makes the journey even more captivating! The Standing People kept me fully engaged to the end, and yet hungry to learn where Special Agent Watson will go next."

- Walter N. Clements, PhD, CPP, Former FBI Special Agent

(1984-1990)

"The Standing People is complex in the beginning due to the author’s attempt to unravel the interpersonal lives of a large cast of characters, but it works. If the reader is looking for a compelling mind bender that will keep you on your toes while trying to figure out what global intrigue is coming next, this book is a must read for the individual on-the-go."

- D. Darell Dones, PhD, Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent (Retired)

"The Standing People is an awesome brain teaser. The complex story is intriguing and isn’t easy to figure out nor predictable by any stretch of the imagination. It is a good read. Mook is a wonderful character. Hopefully there’s a film in the works."

- Darryl L. Kimbrough, Writer/Director/Producer

"In The Standing People, JoAnn Fastoff’s hero, FBI Agent, Howard Watson, is an intriguing combination of Eliot Ness and James Bond, traveling the world to deal with criminal and national security crises. Fastoff deals with real-life contemporary issues around the world, such as the plundering of natural resources. The tactics utilized by Watson and his team are imaginative and engaging. An enjoyable read!"

- James H. Treacy, Former FBI Special Agent (1985-2009)

"In The Standing People Ms. Fastoff brings Special Agent Watson face-to-face with international criminals who have supplemented their criminal activities with human trafficking, a crime that is on the minds of the public and of increasing concern in our world today, weaving the tale through locales as diverse as the Indian Ocean and Asian ports. I found the story to be plausible and exciting and was anxiously waiting to see how Howard Watson was going to get out of his predicament."

- R. Lee Walters, Former FBI Special Agent (1989-2012)

The Smoke Ring

I thought I was a seasoned mystery reader. Fastoff has proven me wrong. She put a twist, or was that a turn that delightfully surprised me.

- Sam Rodgers, CEO, UtterHip Magazine

The Lie

"Fastoff cuts with perfection a jewel of global intrigue and suspense in her latest Howard Watson installment The Lie...will keep you breathlessly turning pages all the way to the jaw-dropping end. The Lie is a gem of a thriller."

- Randy Richardson, President Chicago Writers Association

"The Lie is a must read book"; brilliantly put together displaying details only persons inside law enforcement would know. It is mysterious...suspenseful...and demonstrates Fastoff’s incredible knowledge of the inner workings and jargon used by the FBI and local law enforcement. It keeps you on the edge.

- Kenneth M. Webb, Jr., President, Fact Finders Group, Inc.

The Pact

Once again, JoAnn Fastoff has written a novel that you will find yourself unable to put down in her latest continuation of the Howard Watson Intrigue Series.

- Paige Lovitt, for Reader Views

Fastoff gives an authentic view of criminal investigation with a touch of believable technology...thriller of a story!

- Detective George Patton (ret.) Chicago Police Dept. &  FBI/Chicago Violent Crimes Task Force

"WOW! All I can say is (Fastoff) never lets me down when it comes to action that I can visualize.

- Elliott V. Porter, Filmmaker & Actor

The Gordian Knot

A fast-paced and suspenseful novel, enjoyable for diverse readership...

Reader Views Shelf

For

Ronny Francis

Table of Contents

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

EPILOGUE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

CIA Officer Allen Knox decided he would drop his law enforcement moniker for this special occasion and become Allen. Not to be outdone, FBI Special Agent Howard Watson dropped his moniker too. The groom-to-be and his best man then walked out into the great room of the church.

In the adjacent room, FBI Special Agent Janet Forrestal smiled at her matron of honor Carol Watson. Janet was thinking that in a few minutes, she will be Janet Forrestal Knox. She could not stop smiling. Janet’s father stepped into the room.

You ready, baby? he asked as she took his arm.

Carol then walked down the aisle ahead of the bride to the loveliest music ever.

The one-room church in the woods was adorned better than planned. Shimmering twinkling lights hanging from the ceiling hung almost low enough for people to touch. The place of worship never looked so beautiful; its unbelievably improved appearance caught everybody off guard. The atmosphere felt electric.

Allen sneaked a peek down the aisle at his beautiful bride-to-be as her father guided her carefully up the aisle. He glanced at Howard, and smiled uncontrollably. Janet felt the smile and not to appear looking like a Cheshire cat, stroked her white satin wedding gown with the pale yellow flowers. When she reached the altar Allen took her hand. The smiles were infectious.

A few moments later Howard noticed red spots on Janet’s dress which made him suddenly realize Allen had red stains on his chest.

Janet screamed.

Howard grabbed Knox and shouted No, Knox, no! Someone call 9-1-1…now!

The old law about an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind.

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

PART ONE

ICU – University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian, Philadelphia. PA

Howard, you’ve got to eat something, Carol whispered gently. Allen is alive, and the doctors are doing everything for him at this time.

Although she knew her words would fall on deaf ears, Carol still believed she had to say something; otherwise, her husband would continue to sit beside his friend and colleague for who knows how long.

As Howard stared at Knox, who looked almost peaceful, the tubes running everywhere in his body reminded him that his friend was shot in the chest at his wedding. He looked over his shoulder at his wife.

I’ll be fine was the only thing he could muster up to say. I’ll be fine. Please go back to the hotel, honey, and I’ll be there later, I promise.

Carol kissed him on his neck and reluctantly left the ICU. As she walked toward the elevator, she was met by Tim Yamamoto. She breathed a sigh of relief to see Howard’s best friend arrive.

Carol, any news? he asked as he held his breath for the answer.

No Tim, she answered. Howard is still with him. I suppose if this were my friend, I wouldn’t be leaving his bedside either.

They hugged, and she got on the elevator. Tim then joined Howard in Knox’s room and sat in a chair on the opposite side of the bed. Both men said nothing for ten minutes.

Tim finally broke the silence.

What did the doctors tell you?

"They wouldn’t tell me anything, but Knox’s father said Knox had bleeding around his lungs, so the surgeon made an incision along his rib cage to gain access to his chest. Knox is so damn lucky because they were able to identify and stop the