The Final Enemy Read online

  “It’s here! Hurry, what can you tell me?”

  “Jack, please take it easy.”

  “Take it easy? Chicago’s massive. They’re gonna notice right away something’s happening.”

  Laura sighed.

  “Geneseo’s only has around seven thousand people, so it’s a small sampling, but no deaths at Hammon-Henry or any of the funeral parlors in town. They don’t have a coroner so—”

  “Yeah, I know. I was checking Annawan and they referred me to Henry County. The guy there said someone had just called.”

  “What’d you find out?”

  “Annawan’s just a real tiny place, like eight hundred people, so I checked Sheffield and Wyanet. They’re not much bigger, but zippo deaths. I’m gonna run with the story.”

  “You sure, Jack?”

  “I gotta take the shot. If I’m wrong, I’ll be laughed out of Keokuk, but I’m hightailing it out of there anyway.”

  Laura said nothing.

  “Hey, what’s the matter? You don’t think I should run it?”

  “Like you said, it doesn’t matter anyway, you’re leaving.”

  “No, wait, I didn’t mean you. I’m just saying I have to be doing real investigative journalism. It has nothing to do with you. It’s not you, it’s me.”

  “Boy, I’ve heard that before.”

  “Geez, I keep sticking my foot in my mouth. Listen, Laura, I care about you. I really do. I want things to work out with us. I mean it.”

  “And I care about you, Jack. You know that.”

  “Good. Look, why don’t you come up to Chicago?”

  “When?”

  “Now. As soon as possible. This thing breaks loose, and nothing’s ever gonna be the same again.”

  ***

  Jack read the article and set it down. He took a swig of water, attempting to quell the queasiness running up his diaphragm. He knew it was a ballsy, nothing-held-back article, epitomized by its blaring headline: Miracle Cure for Death Arrives in Chicago.

  The piece was, in essence, a proclamation that life as we knew it may be over, crediting the meteorite’s arrival with a possible cure to death. The article speculated about the origin of the meteorite and whether it randomly fell to Earth or was directed by a higher power. It was nothing if not provocative.

  Jack paused before sending the article to the Associated Press. He’d called Manny on the way to Chicago, giving him a heads-up on what he was working on. Manny had drooled through the phone and had immediately sent him a contract. Jack called back and negotiated an agreement that not only made Jack the lead correspondent on the meteorite story but provided him with an AP press badge. When Jack hung up he pumped his fist in the air. He wondered what his parents would have thought about this major upgrade in credibility and access before rereading his piece again.

  Before Jack hit the send button, he quickly called a couple of hospitals and a pair of funeral homes. Though somewhat assured with the continued lack of natural deaths, Jack squirmed in his seat, playing with the font for his name. He reduced the size a notch but altered the style so it stood out a bit. He looked it over and smiled. Perfect, he thought, that will be my calling card.

  Jack hit save, made the sign of the cross, and sent it on its way.

  “Mr. Riley, it’s Jack.”

  “How are things up in the Windy City?”

  “Good. The meteor just arrived. I did another article on it and sent it to Susan.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll look out for it. Anything else?”

  “Well, yes. I, I, uh, wanted to let you know that I signed a contract with the AP.”

  “The AP? Well, congratulations, Jack.”

  “Thanks Mr. Riley. I feel kinda bad leaving, after all you’ve done for me.”

  “Don’t be silly, Jack. You’ve earned it, besides, you’ll always be a part of the Iowan.”

  ***

  Pete Garland sat behind his desk, thankful the probate hearing on his parents’ estate had gone quickly. It was emotional, especially doing it so soon after their deaths, but Garland knew no other way. His style was to tackle things head-on. Besides, as the only child, who else was going to do it?

  Garland centered the day’s updates and news items on his desk and loosened his tie a smidge. He picked up a green pencil and dug in. Skimming through the triple-spaced synopses, he’d add an occasional note or circle an entire paragraph when he wanted more detail.

  Finishing up with a review of the foreign affairs reports, he found only one item needing attention. Garland drew a double circle around a paragraph about an insurgency group that was picking up steam in Japan and moved to the domestic side of things.

  He skimmed the two pages, and as he drew a circle around a report in the Chicago Tribune about a meteorite, there was a knock on the door.

  “Yes.”

  “Mr. Garland, the president has requested your presence in the White Room. Also, Senator Blumenthal keeps calling. He said it’s imperative he speak with the president.”

  Garland reached to tighten his tie.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Noric. I’ll be on my way in a moment.”

  “What should I do about Senator Blumenthal?”

  Garland rose. “Nothing. Just continue telling him there’s no room in the schedule.”

  As Garland put his jacket on, he reviewed the bank of TV news feeds and was buoyed by the green in the Dow futures, implying an up day for the markets when they opened.

  “Good morning, Mr. President.”

  “Morning, Pete.” President Ted Baxter pointed to a silver tray. “Coffee?”

  Garland thought the president looked particularly tired this morning. Probably was the late dinner with the Finnish Prime Minister, who was known for his drinking.

  “No thanks, I’ve had two already.”

  “Two? That’s my second pot, and it’s only eight fifteen.”

  “Did you have something specific to discuss?”

  The president sighed. “Bratton came by last night. Just what I needed after a late night of clinking glasses with the Finn.” Baxter yawned.

  Garland didn’t like the optics of the FBI Director stopping by the White House late at night.

  “What’s going on?”

  “The noose is tightening around Blumenthal. Bratton didn’t go too deep, but it seems the investigation into pay-for-play puts Blumenthal smack in the middle. Bratton wanted to be sure I kept my distance from him.” Baxter folded his hands on his lap. “I just wanted to thank you for seeing this way before anybody else.”

  “Glad I was able to be of service, sir. By the way, I’ve already reached out to our guys in Connecticut to see who they’d like to run for his seat.”

  “Geez, you have him farmed out already.”

  “He’s up to his neck, and I’m told there’s no way he’ll survive.”

  “I don’t know where you get your info from, Pete, but you’ve been a damn lifesaver.”

  Garland ran a hand through his silver hair. From the back, people often confused the chief of staff and his president. Both were six foot and lean, with identical hair colors, but that was where the similarity ended. Baxter had a heavily lined face and looked ten years older than baby-faced Garland. The chief of staff recognized the physical toll the office always took but also knew the president had improved his political skill set during his term, and that was tough to do, as Baxter was universally recognized as the best politician in America’s history.

  “It’s my job.”

  “And you do it exceedingly well, my friend. Okay, what do we have?”

  “Really kind of quiet—”

  “That’ll be the day.”

  “Seems the insurgency group in Japan I’d mentioned has grown in strength and numbers. It’s not close to critical mass, but if it grows at the current rate Prime Minister Okada will be challenged.”

  “Have Stevens call on him and offer our support.”

  Garland nodded. “In addition to having the ambassador visit, it may
be helpful if you’d call the prime minister.”

  “He such a pompous jackass.”

  “I’ll schedule a call at nine fifteen tonight. That way, you’ll be able to escape the Hungarian State Dinner.”

  “Another good idea. What else?”

  “Nothing really, just a report in the Chicago Tribune, but it’s an outlier.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “A meteorite landed outside a small town in Iowa, and, since that time, people seem to have stopped dying.”

  “Are you telling me there’s a connection here?”

  “It’s highly unlikely, sir. But the threat is if the public buys into it, it could cause some unrest.”

  “I know you’ll keep an eye on it. Anything else?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Good. Now, I’d like you to accompany me to Jacksonville. We leave at noon.”

  ***

  Jack and Laura were staying at a Days Inn ten minutes from Adler Planetarium. Before going on their early morning jog, they verified that the towns on the initial part of the meteorite’s route had reported no deaths.

  On the way back, they stopped at a newsstand and picked up a copy of the Chicago Tribune.

  Laura thumbed the paper. “Oh, my goodness, they ran the story on page three!”

  “Yeah, but if my gut’s right, it should’ve been the lead story on the front page.”

  “What do you think this really means? If the meteorite possesses some magical power, or something, to stop death, it’ll be incredible.”

  “Things will never be the same, that’s for sure.”

  “Where’d you think it came from? Who sent it?”

  “All good questions. You’d make a good reporter.” Jack laughed.

  Lisa frowned. “Seriously, do you think God sent it to us, like he did with Jesus?”

  “Jesus did beat death with his resurrection, but why a meteor?”

  “God works in mysterious ways.”

  “I hope you’re right. Let’s move it. I want to get to Adler early.”

  ***

  Laura and Jack cut through Burnham Park and made their way along Museum Campus Drive toward Adler. As they turned onto Solidarity Drive, the access road for the planetarium, Jack said, “Holy crap! It’s a frigging mob scene.”

  “I know, and it’s only ten after nine. It doesn’t open till ten.”

  “Let’s head to the service entrance. It’s to the right.”

  The couple waded through the crowded plaza. After explaining who they were, they were granted entry and waited in a reception area for the strapping astronomer, Leonard Ricci, whom they’d met the day before, but he hadn’t arrived yet.

  The couple could hear the crowd as they worked their cells trying to get a read on any change in Chicago’s death numbers. Jack also checked into Chicago’s death stats, trying to separate the murders from the natural passages.

  “I don’t know, Lor, there’s so many more people here, a lot of violent deaths. It’s tough to get a handle on what’s going on.”

  “I know, plus the meteorite’s not been here long enough to meaningfully impact the numbers.”

  “Trust me, when I kept asking what times the deaths were and whether they were natural or otherwise, no one had the data. We need to get granular, otherwise we’ll lose our edge. Man, I wish we had a contact on the inside.” Jack wrung his hands. “Who would know someone, say at Northwestern Memorial or Rush?”

  “How about the guy at the Associated Press?”

  “Nah, the AP gets wind of the idea, we’ll get flattened.”

  “So don’t tell him. Make like it’s for another story you’re working. Maybe murders.”

  Jack shook his head. “Can’t take a chance.”

  “Sure you’re not getting paranoid?”

  “Maybe, but I’ve worked too hard to have someone steal my story.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “I’m gonna roll the dice one last time.” Jack stood. “Come on, let’s get some shots of the crowds. I’m gonna insist they run a photo or two with the article.”

  The couple took a hallway and headed for the entrance. When it spilled into the lobby, they stopped dead in their tracks. The limestone veranda, stairs, and large square were packed with a mass of people who skewed older. When those pressing against the wall of glass doors into the planetarium noticed the couple inside, they began shouting to be let in.

  “Laura, call 911. Tell them to get the police here pronto.” Walking away, he said, “Meet me in Lowell Hall. We gotta get the meteorite moved out of there to the biggest venue they’ve got.”

  Jack and Laura watched law enforcement set up a line of blue barricades to protect the building’s glass entrance from the pressing throng before the meteorite was ready to be moved. They could see at least one camera crew interviewing some of the crowd. As they went to Lowell Hall, the sound of sirens wailing receded into the background.

  The couple watched workmen move the meteorite into a spacious auditorium that was used to host presentations. As the meteorite was moved onto its stage, a police officer continued announcing over the PA system that the planetarium’s opening had been delayed by an hour. The officer assured the crowd they’d get the opportunity to see the meteorite and pleaded for their patience and cooperation as the meteorite was being moved to a larger viewing venue.

  The auditorium’s door swung open and Adler’s general manager poked his head in.

  “Sergeant, are we all set? It’s almost ten.”

  “Give me five. I want to have at least two officers on stage.”

  “Is that really necessary?”

  “You see the size of that crowd? I’m not taking any chances.”

  “If you believe it’s really necessary, but I don’t like the way it looks. This is a learning center for children, Sergeant.”

  Just before eleven a correspondent from Fox News and her cameraman made their way into Lowell Hall. Even with the crowd’s fixation on the meteorite, the stunning looks of the reporter coupled with the camera gear turned heads. The reporters took pictures and moved to the back of the hall to interview the renowned astronomer Dr. Ricci.

  “Ready?” the cameraman said, “Three, two, one.”

  “Patty Pet here, live from Adler Planetarium. Dr. Ricci is the head astronomer at Adler. Doctor, the crowds are just amazing. Is it safe to say this is the most popular exhibit Adler has ever displayed?”

  “Indeed, we’re very fortunate to have the meteorite here at Adler. We’re hoping the public’s interest in it will spur people of all ages to learn about the fascinating universe we live in.”

  “The way I understand it, the meteorite is actually an asteroid that has landed on Earth.”

  “Very good, Ms. Pet, you’ve done your homework.”

  “Meteors land on Earth all the time, right, Doctor?”

  “It is a fairly regular occurrence.”

  “So what makes this particular meteorite so interesting?”

  “At this point, and we’re still conducting tests, there are a couple of minerals or elements that we have not been able to identify.”

  “So it is special, then. Is it possible that those mysterious elements could enable the meteorite to influence events on Earth? There was an article in the Tribune that made some inferences.”

  “Well, it seems there’s some people who believe it’s possible that it possesses some mystical power.”

  “And you don’t?”

  “Well, I’m a scientist, ma’am, but the fellow who wrote the article is right there.” He raised his muscular arm and pointed to a corner of the room where Jack and Laura were on their phones.

  “Thank you, Doctor. Patty Pet, from Adler Planetarium, back to you, Brett.”

  Cameraman in tow, Patty marched over to Jack.

  “Jack Amato? I’m Patty Pet, from Fox News.”

  He shook her hand as Laura moved closer to her man. “Nice to meet you.”

  “I read your article thi
s morning, and it’s provocative, to say the least. Would you mind if we ask you a few questions?”

  “Uh, on the air? For TV?”

  She flashed her pearly whites. “Yup, we do the TV news, and you guys take care of the papers.”

  “Sure, that’d be nice.”

  They moved into a corner of the room, and as soon as the cameraman set things up, the reporter spoke, “Fox News, live again from Adler Planetarium, this is Patty Pet.” She signaled her cameraman to pan the crowd. “Record crowds have gathered here to view what some are calling a magical meteorite. With me now is Jack Amato, from the Iowan. Jack’s article is responsible for most of those here to see it. Jack, tell our viewers what makes this meteorite so different from the others crashing into Earth.”

  “Well, I’ve followed this since it landed in Keokuk, Iowa, and, as it was moved first to Davenport and now to here in Chicago, a phenomenon seems to be occurring.”

  “And what exactly is that?”

  “No one seems to be dying. Of natural causes, that is.”

  “That’s quite a conclusion to make. Some would call it is crazy.”

  “I realize it seems crazy at first, but I’ve checked the towns from Keokuk to Davenport, where the meteorite travelled, and not one of them has had any natural deaths.”

  “They’re relatively small towns. Can’t it just be a coincidence?”

  “You’d think so, and it’s certainly possible it’s a fluke, but I also checked with hospice organizations in the area surrounding Adler, and again, no deaths since it’s been here.”

  “That’s interesting. Can you tell our viewers how large the area around the meteor seems to be affected?”

  “It’s tough to pinpoint exactly, but I’d estimate it at around ten miles.”

  “Do you believe there’ll be a rush to get within the ten-mile perimeter?”

  Jack swept his arm out. “Look around, something big is happening. This is the story of the century.”

  “Thank you, Jack. You can be sure Fox will be closely following the story.”