Conception - The Perfection of Evil: The Deception Series, #1

By Eugene Pitch

WINNER OF THE HIDDEN TALENTS LITERARY CONTEST IN THE THRILLER & MYSTERY CATEGORY

 

What would you be willing to do to find out the truth?

 

London, 10 °C

 

Eugenie finds herself with a scoop on her hands that could launch her career as a journalist.

Lonely and dedicated to her work, she has only one person to refer to. One person she thinks she knows well.

When her friend Edward Muffen hands her a mysterious file of sensational documents, Eugenie realizes that the moment she has been waiting for has finally arrived.

She then sets out on the trail of the powerful Sheikh Malik Al-Fazar, in search of answers.

What she finds will be far beyond her imagination.

 

The Perfection of Evil - Conception is a novella in the Deception Series, prequel of the action thriller IGNITION - THE FLIGHT OF THE DEATH

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hyperbooks Publishing
• Release date: Sep 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215735978

Book preview

PROLOGUE

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Perfection is something elusive that lives only in our mind.

Every time we look at another person we seek the perfection missing in us, but instead we just find the imperfection in common.

So nothing remains but to create perfection by ourselves.

We just shouldn’t forget the consequences.

Abu Dhabi, 37 °C

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Sarah had never seen an audience like this. The stage headlights lit up her with no mercy. Hundreds and hundreds of people crowded on their red seats, edging forward to watch her better.

Their subdued voices early became a permanent background and almost deafening.

It was the first time for Sarah to be the center of attention not for what she was, but for what she did. On the stage the announcer of the event watched her, fascinated, a big smile upon his face.

«Sarah, it is with my pleasure and honor that I want to consign to you this certificate of citizenship. Congratulations.»

A thunderous applause exploded in the room.

Then, the announcer went on.

«Sarah, you are an extraordinary woman, who has known how to stand out worldwide, pursuing a message of progress with the only strength of her own words. We are extraordinarily grateful and we want, with this simple honour, that your existence may not remain just a brief light in human history, but that it may enjoy appreciation forever.»

Another round of applause filled the enormous room.

«Thank you so much for this appreciation. It is very important to me. I wish to keep promoting with all my might the cooperation and social integration needed for a better world.»

But while she was pronouncing those words, she couldn’t feel the emotion of the moment. It was like the words came out without even thinking. She knew that all those curious eyes were fixed on her, but it felt as though she was alone. In a kind of way, she was really alone.

Behind the stage, just a few meters from her, Doctor Zimmer looked at her with pride.

Sarah continued with her long acceptance speech. Actually she didn’t know what to do with that citizenship. She was curious about it, that was all.

Her jokes to relax the atmosphere and to ingratiate the public hit the mark, as usual.

Her caustic sarcasm was a weapon that had certainly helped to bring her there, in front of all those enraptured people.

After the monologue she was accompanied behind the stage by Zimmer.

She didn’t know what she was feeling and didn’t even have the time to question herself; immediately the doctor took her aside and told her seriously:

"Sarah, I received a message for you. I do not want to ruin the joy of the moment, but I cannot wait.

«Michael, you look agitated. What’s the matter?»

«Well, I don’t know exactly how to say it, it’s the first time that I’ve been in a situation like this, especially with someone like you…» The man’s eyes couldn’t meet her face, only staring at the floor.

«Beating around the bush won’t get you anywhere. Tell me what are you talking about and then we’ll establish what to do.» The gaze of Sarah was cold and sterile.

«Cut to the chase, as always. Okay.» Doctor Zimmer agreed and pulled his smartphone out of his jacket. Scrolling his thumb nervously on the sweaty display, he read:

«An abomination like her doesn’t deserve to exist. Stop this before is too late».

The hands of Michael Zimmer trembled as he read aloud.

Sarah looked at him coldly. Then she told him:

«Michael, you know, I don’t have the power to stop this thing; only you, now that you’ve started it, could do it.

But let me say this: what we have done together until now can’t be stopped anymore. Don’t be afraid for my safety. We can go on the same.

«Yes, I understand, but I don’t wanna lose you,» Zimmer said shyly.

«You would never lose me, you know it. Let’s go now, we have a flight to catch…»

CHAPTER 1

London, 19 ºC

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Eugenie stirred the sugar into her tea with care. Her long and clean-cut fingers lingered on the metal teaspoon, its clinking resounding gently in the room; the fingertips worn, typical of those still accustomed to handwriting.

The laptop in front of her still displayed the same file. There was no doubt. She was on the right track.

She scrolled the pages up and down nervously, stopping here and there on the keywords that most caught her attention.

She looked for a moment at the clouds that, through the window, seemed to dance in the sky to the rhythm of the wind.

At some point, the phone started to vibrate. It was a message from Ed Muffen.

Sorry, I’ll be a little late.

She couldn’t wait to see that document. Together with the file he was observing at the time, it would open the way for something big.

Her father would certainly have been proud of her, even if he did want her to be a lawyer. But Eugenie was not interested in memorizing pages and pages of codes and laws. She was interested in being a journalist and helping people understand the world. And every time one of her books or articles received a positive review, she felt that her insecurity stepped away a little bit more.

People continued to enter the room without interruption. In the background, the unmistakable notes of Lee Ritenour. Eugenie was increasingly