The Guardians: A Political Thriller

By J. W. Lockwood

The Guardians

 

The Guardians is a shadowy group of high-level operatives, from former military operators to marketing specialists to an expert medical team. Under the leadership of a man known only as Abraham, whereabouts unknown, t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anunnaki Enterprises, LLC
• Release date: Oct 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781959182108

Book preview

cover.jpg

ISBN 978-1-959182-08-5 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-959182-09-2 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-959182-10-8 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by J. W. Lockwood

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher.

The Guardians

 v

Printed in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to all those who love freedom,

liberty, the US Constitution, and the right to live a life free of tyranny.

Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

EPILOGUE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Beverly Hills, California

By any measure, Alexis Palumbo was gorgeous. At the ripe age of 45, she had never felt or looked better. Her long, flowing blonde hair, flapping in the cool, dry air while she proudly drove her new convertible, belied her Italian heritage. Of course, her hairdresser had something to do with that. Alexis whipped her bright red Audi A5 into the VIP parking deck just off Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

Alexis pulled into valet parking and smiled sexily at the cute, young valet. They knew her well as she was a regular in the exclusive Beverly Hills retail stores. Chanel, Versace, Fendi, Armani, and many more are represented in this exclusive retail cluster. However, on this date, Alexis was on her way to Bulgari, the high-end jewelry store. Her friend, Paul, who works in the store, called her to tell her they had just received a diamond and emerald necklace she had coveted for many years. She could not wait to put the necklace on and wore a low-cut silk blouse so that she could see the jewels sparkling on her tanned and toned skin.

As she swished away from the parking area, she saw what appeared to be a homeless man shuffling along the sidewalk between her and the Bulgari store. He was slumped over, had a beard, and it appeared that he had on all the clothes he owned on his back. The homeless man never lifted his seemingly vacuous gaze from the sidewalk. This was slightly off-putting to Alexis as she loved for people to notice her beauty and fabulous body, especially her flawless silicone implants, possibly her most noticeable feature.

However, she was on a mission to acquire the new necklace even if the homeless man stood between her and the storefront. As she attempted to pass the man on the sidewalk, he suddenly lurched toward her and stumbled into her knocking her off balance and almost causing her to fall on the sidewalk. She was pissed and gathered herself while uttering loud enough for the man to hear to watch where he was going. He never looked up nor did he acknowledge her presence or the incident that just occurred. The lovely but arrogant Alexis never felt the prick of the needle that injected the poison into her body.

Suddenly, Alexis felt woozy, almost faint, and the storefronts became a blur of colors and fuzzy images. She stumbled up against the glass of the Louis Vuitton store, a few paces from Bulgari. As she fell to the sidewalk, she could feel herself losing control of her body. She tried desperately to scream for help but when she opened her mouth, no sounds were uttered. She tried to crawl toward her friend, Paul, and the safety of the Bulgari store; however, her legs were seemingly paralyzed and she was having difficulty breathing.

This can’t be happening to me. My mother is famous and I am shopping in Beverly Hills. What is happening to me? Am I dying?

Alexis collapsed on the sidewalk face down, barely breathing. As a woman rushed out of the Louis Vuitton store to see if she was okay, Alexis Palumbo was gasping for air and could not feel her legs. The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was her friend, Paul staring down at her in disbelief, tears streaming down his handsome face. As the sound of the siren wailed somewhere in the distance, no one on the scene had any idea that Alexis Palumbo, the oldest daughter of her famous mother and senior Senator from northern California, would be dead in less than two hours. The homeless man was nowhere to be seen.

Wareham, Massachusetts

Joel Shapiro, son of a well-known and powerful US Senator from New York, was walking on the beach with his dog, Baxter, a Labradoodle with a beautiful beige coat, when he decided to take a swim in the cool waters of the protected harbor. His family, a lovely wife and two children, frequently vacationed in this idyllic town as he did not like the more traditional vacation location of Martha’s Vineyard where the older crowd preferred to congregate. He loved his early morning walks on the deserted beach with his dog.

Wareham is a town of 20,000 people, and just west of Cape Cod, and sits peacefully on the north shore of Buzzard’s Bay. It is secluded and quiet and provides a very private getaway quite different from the touristy Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod.

Joel threw the yellow tennis ball into the surging surf and Baxter dutifully chased the ball and challenged the waves. Joel stood admiringly and watched his pride and joy capture the ball. Suddenly, Baxter seemed distressed as he disappeared below the surface of the water. Joel thought he was momentarily pulled down by the undertow but soon realized that Baxter was in trouble.

The sniper, positioned and hidden in a dune surrounded by tall sea oats, carefully positioned his target through the lens of his Leupold Mark 4 10 x 40 mm scope. He lined up the sights with his target, took a deep breath, and waited for the perfect moment. He cradled the Remington Model 700 rifle, M24, 7.62 x 51 mm weapon and slowed his breathing to 4 times per minute.

Joel dove into the surf, desperate to save his wonderful doodle. As he approached the area where Baxter disappeared, his heart sank as he could not see Baxter. Joel thrashed about in the water and soon, Baxter reappeared with the tennis ball in his mouth. As they both returned to the sandy beach, Joel’s head exploded in a mass of blood and brain tissue. He never heard the shot from the blond-haired sniper’s rifle almost a half-mile away. The kill shot never allowed Joel to reconsider his life of leisure and the fact that he felt he had never lived up to his famous father’s expectations.

His lifeless body collapsed face down in the shallow surf as Baxter appeared to be looking for help. None was forthcoming. The beach remained deserted with no sounds but the waves lapping at Joel’s lifeless body.

The sniper collected his spent brass, covered his tracks, and slipped quietly and quickly into his 15-year-old station wagon with a surfboard on top. He drove slowly toward the entrance to the main highway where he would melt into the traffic without a trace. There were no witnesses.

Park City, Utah

The twenty-something girls were laughing and enjoying life as only young people can. Still bullet-proof in their early twenties, the four attractive young women were excited about their ski trip to Park City, Utah. As they drove along Interstate 215, which connects Salt Lake City to the mountainous region called Park City, the girls had not a care in the world and were enjoying life on their first-ever ski trip to Utah.

The group was eclectic and interesting but one of the young women was the daughter of the former President of the United States. She was afforded Secret Service protection until she was 16 years old but she could not wait to get out from under the thumb of the sometimes-intrusive protection detail that was always with her. Now at the age of 23, she was free to live life independently and did so with gusto every chance she had. They called themselves The Z Girlz because they were part of Generation Z, which followed the Millennial Generation.

She had several besties in her life and she felt so fortunate to be on a weekend ski trip with three of them. As they made their way up the mountain, Asa Abebe, daughter of the high-profile African-American politician and former president, exclaimed that she wanted all her friends to just let go and enjoy life by doing whatever they wanted to do. They giddily agreed with Asa and laughed their way to their destination, which was a rented condominium sitting on a hill overlooking the quaint and charming town of Park City, Utah.

None of the Z Girlz had extensive experience with skiing. Although they had all grown up privileged, skiing was not part of their growing up experience nor did their parents have an affinity for winter sports. However, this determined band of independent females wanted to experience it all and Park City was the perfect place to do it.

After choosing their bedrooms and unpacking, the girls were eager to get into town. Only one of them had ever been to Utah and none had visited Park City. They couldn’t wait to get into the local scene and the light blanket of snow added to the luster of the quaint mountain town.

They had been doing their homework and decided that they would try a few bars. They decided to start with Fletcher’s Lounge as the reviews were great and the menu featured lots of tasty offerings. There would be several other bars on their initial tour of the City but starting on Main Street seemed like the thing to do.

After a night of laughter, food, and a few drinks, the Girlz decided to retire in favor of getting a good night’s sleep before hitting the slopes for day one of their winter adventure. They were surprised at how darkness seemed to come so early, like 5:30 PM locally, but they were young and ready for whatever their adventure might reveal.

Day two dawned and after a shower, coffee, and a light breakfast, the young women were eager to get to the Deer Valley Resort, one of the premier ski destinations in the United States. They had pre-booked a group lesson and were eager to test their skills on the icy slopes. After a two-hour lesson, it was time to try out their newfound skills. Several of the girls were disappointed to learn that snowboarding is not allowed at Deer Valley but they thought perhaps it was best to learn to ski on two planks instead of one, at least to get started.

Asa paired with her childhood friend, Christy. They attended the same prestigious school as kids and had been best friends ever since. Christy’s father was a wealthy and high-profile donor to the Liberal Party and her famous father knew all the wealthy donors. However, that did not matter to either of the girls, who were determined to make their way in the world. Somehow, they managed to slip and slide their way to the lift and get into a chair without doing a face plant in the fresh, powdery snow.

They giggled their way to the top of the mountain and surprised themselves with their ability to get out of the ski lift chair without falling into the snow. With all the handsome young men working at the resort, they did not want to appear too inexperienced as they wanted to meet some of the virile young men who seemed to be everywhere they looked.

They stopped at the top of the mountain and stared down at the lodge and restaurants below and they looked tiny while the mountain looked daunting. However, they were determined to take the plunge and head down the mountain with their newfound skills. What they did not expect and did not experience in the training they received moments earlier is that once gravity takes over, the run down the mountain, even on the beginner’s slopes, can be terrifying for first-time skiers.

The group of girls wanted to at least start together but it became quickly apparent that they would be traversing the slopes at different speeds. Two of the girls did face plants within a few feet of the chair lift but they laughed and giggled their way to a vertical position determined to ski down the mountain while looking poised and prepared.

As the girls descended the slopes for the first time, they soon overcame their fear and felt the exhilaration that skiing brings to those who love it. After a couple of runs down the mountain on the green slopes, Asa and Christy decided to take on a blue run knowing that it would be more difficult than the greens. Skiing came easily for the athletic Asa although she did notice that there were not that many African Americans on the ski slopes.

Asa and Christy mounted the lift feeling confident with their new skills. They made their way to the top of Bald Mountain, the highest peak at Deer Valley at 9,400 feet above sea level. It was so exciting to look down the mountain knowing that the only way to get back to the lodge was to ski. They were up for the challenge.

The girls decided to try Stein’s Way, a run that did not look too daunting. Off they went down the blue run. However, Asa somehow managed to wind up separated from Christy, who was a faster skier. Soon, Asa found herself alone, and somehow, she wound up on a run called Morning Star, which, unbeknownst to her, was a black run and meant only for experienced skiers.

Soon, she knew she was in trouble. She tried to steer herself to the side of the run but her turning skills were lacking. She wound up going faster and faster until she plowed into a copse of fir trees where she crashed with a thud losing one of her skis. Stunned, she looked up into the blue sky wondering what she would do now and saw the face of a handsome older man who smiled down at her and asked if she needed assistance. She acknowledged his offer and said she would be grateful for his help. He reached down to assist her to her feet and he helped her put on the ski which she had lost. He asked if he could ski with her to ensure that she got down the mountain safely and that was the last thing she remembered. She would not be seen again that day . . . or ever.

The news of a missing person on the mountain traveled fast. The Ski Patrol at Deer Valley was experienced and knew what to do. Dozens of skiers got lost, went off the trails, crashed into trees, and some had medical emergencies. All the Ski Patrol members carry radios and once the group of three of the Z Girlz had reconnected at the lodge, they realized that Asa was missing. They informed the nearest employee who quickly got on the radio to alert the team that one of their guests was missing. The Z Girlz did not panic because they knew Asa could take care of herself. However, they were in a strange place doing something none of them had ever done so it was best to be cautious and try to find Asa.

There are six multiple rescue stations (commonly called Patrol Shacks) sprinkled around Deer Valley. At any given time, there are as many as 40 patrol personnel on duty and most are seasoned patrollers. Some have EMT certification. They stay in touch via radios and are highly trained and skilled skiers. When the report of a missing person went out over the radio, the intrepid members of the Ski Patrol knew immediately what to do. They questioned the three girls who reported their friend missing and started immediately with the missing person protocols. One of the girls did mention that the missing woman was the daughter of the former President of the United States and while that made no difference in the actions of the rescue teams, the Ski Patrol manager knew that their mission was critical.

A search of the mountain, including some of the back bowls and ungroomed areas, revealed no injured or lone skier trying to find her way down the mountain. Darkness began to creep over the mountain around 4 PM and the Ski Patrol knew that they would be mobilized throughout the night to find the missing woman.

What they did not know is that they would not be successful. She had simply vanished into the snow-covered mountains without a trace.

Baltimore, Maryland

The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and landmark of the city of Baltimore, Maryland. It was described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the world. The harbor is within walking distance of Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. A water taxi connects passengers to Fells Point, Canton, and Fort McHenry.

The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront is a high-rise hotel with commanding views of the Harbor and the City. There are 490 guest rooms at the Marriott and it is a short walk to Camden Yards, home of the Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles. The Concierge Level features upgraded rooms with outstanding views and reasonable pricing.

On this lazy winter afternoon, the corner room on the Concierge level smelled of alcohol and weed. The naked man on the bed stared into space while the young prostitute tried to decide what to do next. She put on her lacey bra and sexy thong panties unsure if her recent lover was done for the afternoon. She was very attractive and had a marvelous body. Rich, full breasts, toned legs, and a great ass on her 30-something frame. Short cropped dark hair, tousled after her romp on the king-sized bed, framed a delightful face with high cheekbones and dark, penetrating eyes. She wore no makeup.

Her lover opened his eyes and smiled. He was a handsome fellow even if he did give in to his vices and addiction all too frequently. Victor Harrison grew up privileged with a high-profile father who was a long-time senior senator and former vice president of the United States. While his father chastised and admonished him frequently, they had many business dealings that took their relationship beyond father/son status.

The lovely woman looked at her lover and smiled.

I thought I had lost you there for a moment. That was quite a performance, tiger.

Vic looked at her and smiled, proud of his performance.

Do you want to get high?

Vic loved his drugs and alcohol.

What did you have in mind?

She said she had some excellent Dr. Feelgood in her bag. (That was street slang for heroin or other substances meant to be injected into the veins.)

Vic replied, Why not, especially if you will take me for another ride on that incredible body of yours.

She smiled while pulling out the bag with the heroin and needles.

That is precisely what I had in mind as she stripped off her lacy, black Victoria’s Secret bra and loaded the needle with the milky substance.

Victor wrapped the rubber tube around his arm and squeezed his fist so he could find a good vein. She prepared the needle wearing latex gloves. He never noticed the gloves and even if he had, her lovely breasts commanded all his attention at that moment.

She handed him the needle and he inserted it into the vein in his left arm. He emptied all the liquid into his body and felt an immediate rush followed by a warm glow and extremely mellow mood, even euphoria. She smiled down at him. Her work was done.

She began to dress and carefully removed any hint of fingerprints or other evidence that would tie her to the scene. His breathing began to slow and he felt that he had no control over his body. He was not aware that there was anyone else in the room with him.

As his breathing slowed, the organs quietly failed, one by one. His breathing stopped within a few minutes as she dressed, packed up the fluted glasses, and finished dressing and packing her things. Victor Harrison was dead and his lifeless body still had the needle inserted in his arm. It had been filled with fentanyl and heroin with a dose that would have killed an elephant. For the investigating law enforcement, this would appear to be an accidental drug overdose, a common occurrence in Baltimore and virtually every other city in the USA. However, at some point, the Medical Examiner and law enforcement would determine that this was a person with political connections and his death would prove to be anything other than accidental.

The attractive woman put on her wide-brimmed hat and slipped stealthily out of the room careful with her latex gloves still in place. She avoided the security cameras in the hallway by slithering along the wall while keeping her hat over her face. She found her way to the housekeeping room near the service elevator. She slipped into the room, found a housekeeper’s uniform, and stripped off her clothes. She wore a bodysuit with an inflatable device that allowed her to puff up her appearance to that of an overweight and presumably older woman. Once inflated, she squeezed into the housekeeping dress, slipped on her sneakers, and went down the service elevator and out the back door of the restaurant kitchen, which was mostly deserted at this time of day. She disappeared into the streets of Baltimore.

Washington, DC

With the death of Victor Harrison in nearby Baltimore along with the very strange disappearance of Asa Abebe, the political establishment on both sides of the aisle began to panic. Someone was after their children, an unprecedented act in American history. All the incidents of death were completely different and likely designed to appear random. However, the Washington establishment knew better. They did not yet know why or who but they knew the deaths were related.

The president called for a private and emergency meeting with the directors of Homeland Security, the FBI, the CIA, the Secret Service, and the National Security Agency. The president was pissed and he wanted answers. Moreover, his colleagues (more like longtime political cronies) along with the media, were asking him questions he could not answer. Worse, the four victims of the recent crimes were children of members of the Liberal Party and high-ranking members, including the son of a former vice president and the daughter of a former president. All agencies were asked to bring a preliminary briefing on their findings into each of the four cases involved in the investigation. Although no comments were made to the press, or even to local law enforcement, the president and his advisors knew that somehow, the four cases were related. However, they had no clue let alone how or why or who committed the crimes. Moreover, the president had children of his own and even though his family had active Secret Service protection, he knew that his smart and independent children could always find a way to escape the eyes and ears of the agents on duty.

The president had decided that since all the crimes occurred on US soil, the FBI would be the lead agency. Egos, turf protection, overlapping responsibilities, and legal entanglements between the various security agencies had improved somewhat since September 11, 2001, but there were still major issues between the agencies. If nothing else, they compete for federal funds to perform their primary functions but there is also a lot of cronyism and adequate funding allows for hiring like-minded people in the various agencies.

The mission of the FBI (from their official website) is as follows:

The FBI’s major priorities per their website are to:

• Protect the United States from terrorist attacks

• Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations and espionage

• Protect the United States against cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes

• Combat public corruption at all levels

• Protect civil rights

• Combat transnational and national criminal organizations and enterprises

• Combat major white-collar crime

• Combat significant violent crime

The agencies, with some heavy-handed input from the president, had decided that the four crimes had to be related and they fit the definition of domestic terrorism, although no group had taken responsibility for any of the crimes. However, all law enforcement officials involved knew damn well that these were not random crimes.

With no Internet traffic or chatter and no input from confidential informants, there were virtually no leads on any of the cases.

They all appeared to be executed with precision and whoever committed the crimes covered their tracks extremely well indicating a highly coordinated and well-planned effort. Would there be more? That was the daunting question in the minds of all the meeting participants.

And then there is local law enforcement or LEOs as the Feds sometimes referred to as the local police chief or sheriff. It was rare when the federal agencies have a lot of credence or respect for the locals but they are a necessary evil in criminal investigations as long as they do not contaminate crime scenes or inadvertently destroy evidence.

The Department of Homeland Security was formed in 2003 in response to the 9/11 attack in 2001. With over 240,000 employees, it is a substantial part of public safety and defense. Its stated missions involve anti-terrorism, border security, immigration and customs, cyber security, and disaster prevention and management.

The National Security Agency is the world leader in cryptology, the art and science of making and breaking codes. Their role,