THE REDD DOOR

By Eddie Stone

Graham Callahan, former CDC Director, is unaware that his business trip was not accidental. Edward, his oldest son, called to inform him of the evacuation and a strange flu virus. Turning most people into mindless, vicious killing machines. The outbreak destroyed the world. Dr. Callahan and his son search to find one another and the cure for the virus. With hope and ambition, this will stop the virus and possibly unite a family and the world.
Witness this tragic derailment of a family lucky enough to escape with their lives. They eventually realize it's not just a regular flu, and mysterious events occur. Dr. Callahan searches for the truth behind the Redd Door.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798986872407

Book preview

BK90079646.jpg

ECWAM PUBLISHING

Copyright © 2023 Eddie Stone.

This book is a work of fiction. People, places, events, and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or historical events, is purely coincidental. 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.

ISBN:979-8-9868724-0-7

Book cover image by Get Covers

Book design by ECWAM Publishing

First published by ECWAM Publishing 2023

ECWAM Publishing

P.O. Box 531

Jacksonville, AR 72078

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to thank everyone involved in helping create this literary piece of work. This would not have happened without you. All the hard work put into this will not go unnoticed.

Dedications

I would like to dedicate this book to my entire family.

They keep me motivated and inspired to explore my dreams and talents.

Eddie Stone

Contents

Acknowledgments

Dedications:

Prologue

1 Home Isn’t Home Anymore

2 Blind Secrets

3 Dying Days

4 Leaders Of New America

5 A Killer Within

6 As I Think, So I Believe

7 The Great Graham Callahan

8 Brewer, Edward, Packard

9 Behind The Red Door

10 Exodus

11 Hell’s Eye

Epilogue

PROLOGUE

Tokyo, Japan

Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel - Penthouse Suite

Power is the only drug without a cure. They can strip you of power, deny you power, and ridicule you for your power. After a while, the intoxicating essence of power wears off. Everything becomes clear. Altir Hamid knew what actual power felt like. He watched as Harold reached for him and then clutched his chest, dropping to the floor. The pain was unbearable, and why he was here was something he couldn’t undo.

Altir stood over Harold, plainly not trying to help. Blood oozed from Harold’s eyes, nose, and mouth. He reached out to Altir, who stared back at Harold, knowing he wanted his help. In Harold’s hand was a thumb drive with the CDC logo on the sides. In that instant, Altir knew what was happening, and no one and nothing could stop him.

Hours later, Altir stood in his penthouse, staring out at the city with the thumb drive in his left hand. His enemies and employees knew of him as the son of Naeem Hamid, the sultan of Busaid. His reign had lasted for twenty years. People had often referred to him as King Hamid and to Altir as the prince. For years, possibly decades, Altir had studied biology and infectious diseases. He had obsessed over the work and finding a cure or solution for all sickness. His hard work and the information on that thumb drive would make him the most powerful human being ever to live. He would have the world in his hands.

The virus is ready, a heavy Russian accent voice said. Are you ready for execution?

Altir held up the thumb drive and smiled. He knew his plan was coming into play. The fortune he had spent to get to this point was worth every dime. The pharmaceutical market wouldn’t be able to keep up, and he held the solution in his hands.

Did you wire the money to Dr. Abramo?

Yes. The wire went through four hours ago, the voice answered.

Altir walked into his office and picked up the receiver. Execute the AWAT-K virus.

Starting the AWAT-K virus.

The line went dead. Altir laughed hysterically, playing catch with the thumb drive. Suddenly, something brought him down from his joyous moment, as he let the drive drop on his desk. I could be a God...

1

Home Isn’t Home Anymore

In the North Georgia mountains at Lake Hartwell, at a secluded Airbnb they’d picked, Brian Callahan smiled at Elizabeth as she nursed a glass of wine. I can’t believe you agreed to meet me here.

Elizabeth took a sip from her glass and looked up at him. She couldn’t believe she was here, either. As she stared into his dark brown eyes, his cell phone rang from his back pocket. The phone was ruining their moment together. Brian sighed and took out the phone. Hello?

Brian, it’s Graham. Are you up?

He snickered, walking away from Elizabeth. I was just about to take a hike. You want to drive up and join me?

He heard Graham laugh on the other end. I’m tied up with this research.

How are my nephews? Brian asked, stepping out onto a balcony.

Graham let out a frustrated sigh. They’re growing. Edward is about to graduate from high school. He doesn’t know what he wants to do. Graham Jr. is a football star. Kind of like you when we were in school. Then there’s Brock. He’s . . . Brock is one of a kind, and I wouldn’t trade either of them for anything in this world.

Brian was a little emotional for a moment. Yeah, those boys . . . they are everything we wish we could be.

Hey, I was calling you to let you know Lizzy is on her way to pick you up. You just have to let her know where she’s going.

I . . . I’ll call her or text her my location, Brian replied, a little conflicted.

I know, you jarheads love to be prompt—

Tonight, we celebrate. I realize I wasn’t here when you got the big promotion. But I’m home now.

Brian? Graham sighed. I can’t. I’ve got this big meeting with the board and the presentation for this trial case study.

Graham, come on. You can’t take one night off to spend with your little brother? I haven’t been home in years. I want to see you and my nephews. Hell, I’m excited about seeing Elizabeth.

Brian, I’m glad you’re home, but I really need to finish this work. Look, after tonight, I’m free. We’ll fly back to Glendale on a private jet, and we’ll spend the rest of the week together. What do you say?

Graham! Brian cried out.

Graham had hung up before Brian could say anything else.

Well, we all have our work to do. Hoo-raa, Brian said to himself.

He walked back into the house, where Elizabeth was sitting on the couch, naked, waiting for him to go back inside. Brian smiled. He turned his phone off and placed it on the fireplace mantle.

Who was that on the phone? Elizabeth asked.

As he undressed, Brian paused for a second. Nobody important. Couple of marine buddies trying to have drinks.

Elizabeth smirked. They shared a long, passionate kiss. He held her in his arms and stared deep into her eyes.

I think we need to be careful, she said, and they made love.

Brian smiled. You forget that’s what I get paid to do.

They were in their own magical fantasy for years, contingent upon him making it back home from tour. Then their relationship spiraled out of control. Nothing was ever the same again . . .

2

Blind Secrets

Doctor Graham Callahan let out a scream of anguish that rang out through the hotel room. He awoke with a startling image from his nightmare. The phone next to his bed was ringing. Dazed, he picked it up. Hello?

Doctor Callahan, I know it’s late, but I need your help, a man’s voice said.

Dr. Abramo? He squinted at the time on his phone. It was 5:30 a.m.

The CDC is opening an investigation on my experiment with the K-virus. They have accused me of weaponizing the virus.

What? Who’s this coming from? Dr. Callahan asked.

CDC executive Clayton Redding. They informed me of this case a few days ago. I’m intrigued about what you know about the investigation.

Wait, what? Dr. Callahan could barely focus. Are you sure it’s Redding?

He graduated from Stanford University with a medical degree in biomedicine and a master’s degree in molecular physics. He attended Johns Hopkins as a resident and graduated at the top of his class as the only African American. He ran a private practice for five years. He’s been a CDC executive for seven years. His mother’s name is Deloris Cook; her maiden name is Reeves. She was an alcoholic and is now spending her days in the Talbott Recovery Center. His father’s name is David Redding. He’s a workaholic. He worked for United Airlines for over thirty years before he retired six years ago. Dr. Callahan, I know any and everything about Redding.

Do you know what time it is?

Like I said, I apologize. There is something we need to discuss. I’d rather not talk about it over the phone.

Dr. Callahan gave an annoyed sigh. He was used to these sorts of calls. Most of these calls were hypochondriac patients who had self-diagnosed themselves with a sickness that was as simple as the common cold, trying to plead their case for why they were feeling sinus congestion. About a month ago, a patient had strep throat. Dr. Callahan had warned this patient if they didn’t have their tonsils taken out, the strep throat would only get more severe each time it returned. Dr. Callahan considered it his duty as a doctor to fulfill his Hippocratic oath. He tried to remain calm and polite, ignoring the time. How did you get my number?

Dr. Callahan, I’m very persuasive. Besides, they listed all of your information on your travel log.

Dr. Callahan seemed confused and was sure the only occasion wherein one’s information got listed was when one was about to move to another job. Obviously, something was wrong, and Dr. Abramo was a liar. I need to speak with you in person, the caller insisted. Don’t worry, I’ll keep your family out of this.

Dr. Callahan was alarmed and upset. I’m innocent and I—

There’s no need for hostility, doctor.

I am not speaking with you or anyone else about this investigation. Dr. Callahan hung up and fell back into bed. He tried to fall back asleep, but between that call and his nightmare, there was no use. He looked over at his wife and got out of bed. He put on his robe and went into the living room.

He walked through the luxury penthouse suite while nursing a cup of coffee. The sun had risen and was peeking through the cracks and crevices of the blinds, playing off the cherry wood floors. His accolades and various awards from previous years of being a doctor and an African American CDC director paid for this life. As Dr. Callahan entered the living room, taking a seat on the couch and savoring his cup of coffee, the black coffee caught his reflection.

The coffee showed his distorted image. He could see his age peeking through at him. It reminded him of his father and how he would read the newspaper and the sunlight would give his gray hair a highlighted look. Doctor Callahan was handsome in a moderate sense. His wife described the forty-six-year-old as having a sophisticated sex appeal. Strains of gray in his five o’clock shadow, deep brown eyes, and a deep voice to whereas almost every moment he spoke it was with authority. After years of practicing medicine, he had kept his six-foot-tall body is shape.

He sat alone, staring at himself in the steaming black coffee as the room brightened from the sunlight; once again, his silence was disturbed by his hotel phone ringing. Exhausted and amused, he gave a light chuckle. What has Graham Jr. done this week? he thought. We gave you specific instructions—no party, yet you do it anyway. He took his mug into the kitchen and sauntered into the den, which served as his and his wife’s temporary office. He sighed before he picked up the receiver to answer.

Doctor Callahan speaking, he answered while flipping through papers on his desk.

Dad, I wasn’t sure if I should call, but we have a problem, a young man’s voice said. He recognized the voice.

Edward? What’s going on?

Not sure; soldiers are here, and they want everyone to report for a briefing within the next hour at the Civic Center.

The Civic Center?

Yeah, most people around here have gotten sick within the last few days.

When are they coming to get you and your brothers?

I don’t know. The soldier said everyone had to evacuate and go to the Civic Center.

Dr. Callahan held the phone to his ear, trying to figure out what was going on. One phone call from a colleague who’s on the verge of losing his medical license, and his oldest calls in a panic, not knowing what was going on or why they had to leave their home. He had no answers. Is this a weaponized virus connected to the evacuation back home? he thought.

Okay, call Uncle Brian as soon as he lands. Have him meet up with you and your brothers at the Civic Center. When the four of you are together, call me and your mother. Until then, protect yourselves, and don’t trust anyone. We’ll be home as soon as we can.

Dr. Callahan hung up and collapsed in his chair. He sat wondering what this was he was about to embark on. His phone vibrated from the pocket of his robe. He took out his phone and saw he had received a text message from an unknown number. He went to his text icon and opened the message;