As they watched the news from California, the screen went blank. “Oh my God,” one of the pages said. The engineer in the room started scanning channels and picked up their affiliate in San Diego where the news flashes were just coming in from the Los Angeles area, in southern California. The time on the West Coast was now 5:04 a.m.
Brad knew he should have been on the desk immediately broadcasting, but all he could do was sit and stare at the screen. The other monitor in the room showed his co-anchors, Nancy Arms and Catherine Kwan now broadcasting live from the anchor desk as the information was coming in from various sources around the affected areas.
The door of the control room opened and Joe Biggman entered the room. He looked over at Brad and said, “You royally screwed that one up, didn’t you?” He turned to the producer and said, “Your tirade is all over the internet now too; every word of it.” He turned back to Brad, “Where is the paper he gave you during the interview?” Brad reached inside his pocket and withdrew the now wadded up ball of paper, trying to smooth it out. Joe literally grabbed it out of his hand, smoothed it out on the counter, opened it, and scanned the information on the page. He then asked, to no one in particular, “What was the exact time of the quake?”
One of the news support gurus replied, “Exactly 7:59 EST, sir.”
Then he said, “Do we know the magnitude yet?”
“7.9 sir, and before you ask, it was centered in the exact spot that Mr. South said it would be, and as best as we can ascertain, it shook a little over 7 minutes. Preliminary data shows exactly 422 seconds.”
He looked around the room then focused his attention on Jonathon Langer again. “So, Mr. South tells Brad here that if he doesn’t air this interview then a certain amount of people will die and be injured, but if you do, then only around ten percent of that number. Therefore, instead of going with it, Brad cuts the show off. Then, Mr. South’s attorney tapes you threatening him with going to jail.” Joe looked to the others in the room. “So, we have 90% of the deaths on us because we would not air it, correct?” No one said a word. All that could be heard were the computers and the monitors. Finally, he said, “Does anyone know where this Mr. Jack South is at the moment?”
Jonathon piped up, “I think he is sitting on the couch in the interview room where we left him.”
“Well that surprises me. Why is he there, may I ask?”
“Well, I told him I was sending a tape to Homeland Security and he would be placed under arrest. I told him not to leave.”
“What did he say?”
“He basically said that when this was all over, I would be lucky to get a job hauling garbage in Jersey.”
“He’s probably right. Anything else?”
“Yeah, he gave everyone the Pick 3 and Pick 4 numbers for the New York drawing tonight.”
“Well, considering his track record and your unemployment as of now, I suggest you go buy a ticket. You may need the money.”
Finally, he turned his attention to Brad. “Okay, here is what we are going to do for damage control. See if you can get Mr. South on the air, live, and let him tell his story. Mess this up, Brad and you will be like this idiot,” jerking his head towards the former producer, “Who no longer works here, and will never work in TV again as long as I am around.”
Joe then stormed out of the room slamming the door behind him.
Chapter 15
8:15 AM EST days New York - The Network Interview Studio
“Jack, let’s get out of here before I can’t help you,” Mark said.
“They will be here any minute and when they do, start taping again. I mean everything. Tape it all.”
“Okay,” he paused, “You’re footing the bill, and it’s your butt, not mine.” He seemed to be losing patience with me.
Immediately to my right, I noticed Michelle come running across the studio heading for me. She stopped and started stuttering, “Ja- Jack, they want you upstairs in the newsroom. You were right about everything, and they, they want you in, in the newsroom please. Sorry, I am a bit nervous.”
“I understand, Michelle, but we are leaving now. I just called for my car,” I lied. “We are going over to Bear News, where we are not treated like garbage. Also, tell your superiors that members of your staff have threatened me and within the next twenty-four hours, The Network will be receiving a lawsuit in regards to my treatment from your producer, Jonathon Langer and your anchor, Brad Williams. It will also include breach of contract.”
I turned away from her and said, “Let’s go, Mark. We are going over to the renegade network, Bear News.” It was loud enough that anyone within fifteen feet could hear. “We will leave in an hour or so.”
As soon as we got to the elevator, we saw Brad Williams running down the hall with a microphone in his hand and two camera operators in tow. When they were within about three feet of us, the elevator door opened and Mark and I entered.
Brad put one of his hands in to stop the doors from closing and said, “Jack, we need to talk. You can say anything you want; but I need you to come back to the studio.” He hesitated, then said, “We will do it live and we won’t cut any of it out; not one word.”
Still in the elevator, I leaned out and asked, “Are those cameras live right now?”
“Yes,” Brad answered.
“Then listen to this. You wouldn’t let me warn people of a natural disaster and so instead of a few dying and being injured, now 90% more are suffering. That would not have happened if you had let me finish to begin with. It’s your show. You explain it to the people of California.” With that said, I stepped back and allowed the elevator doors to close with Brad staring like he was in total shock.
We rode the elevator down to the ground floor and walked out through the side door that we had entered from earlier this morning. I figured we would take a cab over to Bear News, but as we stepped out the door, a man handed me a folded slip of paper and said, “Over here, sir.” I unfolded the paper and looked at it. It said that I was to follow this man. It was signed by Gabriel.
The man led us to a limousine and opened up the passenger door. Ariel and Gabriel were sitting inside. Ariel said, “Get in.”
Chapter 16
3:25 AM CEST Brussels - The Waldger Group Corporate Headquarters, David Matthew’s Office
At his computer, David was watching both Bear News and The Network News on his thirty-six inch desktop monitor about the earthquake in California, using split screens. On another monitor, he replayed the internet video feed of the interrupted interview with Jack South. He had just finished speaking with his superior, Aafre Waldger, who told him to find out everything about Jack South and how he was able to predict this so accurately. He was also to monitor his movements, wherever he went.
As instructed, he then called an associate they had used before in New York to start tracking Jack and whomever he associated with. The man they would now use was not conventional, and to be honest, he was something of a shadowy figure who took chances. However, they needed answers, and he was the best. David’s instructions to Presley were to use whatever tracking means necessary to keep 24/7 tabs on Jack and to send updates via text to his cell phone. He was to include pictures if possible. No contact and no rough stuff were to be used, period. As of right now, he knew that Jack had left the Morning Headlines Studios in New York and had refused any more interviews with them. He also knew that Jack had stated that he was going to Bear News. This was a concern.
Bear was a renegade network that had no ties to The Waldger Group. They helped other critics of the Group to monitor their activities. They were good at broadcasting a lot of innuendos about The Waldger Group that were primarily about one a world government and their ability to control the economy, the governments, and the officials of the entire world. Bear News implied that they were a hidden government, which governed the public ones. Therefore, according to Bear News, The Waldger Group was working in the shadows, pulling the strings worldwide.
David smile
d to himself, because the reality of it was, they were right. However, Jack South seemed to be a problem and somehow, he had this feeling, very soon, South would start attacking The Waldger Group also. When that happened, he would probably be told by his handlers to get the CIA or Homeland Security involved. They would need far more in-depth interrogation in order to find out what South really knew. As of yet, that order had not been given. He was told not to do anything other than to track him. Under no circumstances was Jack to be interrogated or harassed by any agency, anywhere. Using their extensive resources, the Group had gotten the word out to several worldwide agencies to let South do whatever he was doing for now and not make a move on him until they were told to.
Amazing, David thought. They could actually tell the CIA, FBI, Interpol, and even Mossad what they could and could not do.
He started thinking again about Jack going to Bear. Who knew what he would say or how things might go. The one thing they knew for sure is that this man had an uncanny power to see the future or had a direct link to something or someone not of this world. This made Jack unique. That also made Jack valuable. If he knew what was going to happen on a worldwide scale, then he needed to be controlled, if that was at all possible.
Chapter 17
8:35 AM EST Washington, D.C. - FEMA Headquarters, Director Samuel Jordan’s Office
The director of FEMA, Samuel Jordan, was in his office in conference with his staff. They were all listening to the news feed of the earthquake in California on Bear News. “According to current estimates, the entire region, as described by Jack South, was a complete mess; streets, homes, businesses. Infrastructure such as water, gas and electricity, are completely destroyed,” the news anchor was saying. Samuel knew that a 7.9 was not so critical, but four hundred and twenty two seconds of shaking, as this person predicted, was. Buildings and other infrastructure were not prepared for that.
He had recently been appointed as the Director of FEMA. He had been picked by the Administration solely based on his political ties and his ability to speak on camera effectively. He secretly thought that he got the job because he looked more like the Marlboro Man without the cowboy stuff. The media liked him on camera. He fit their profile, which was better for them than his predecessor was. Now, as leader of FEMA, his job encompassed keeping the public secure in a disaster. He was in his office at around 7:50 a.m. when he saw that he had an email from The Network. Out of curiosity, he had opened it and clicked on the video icon. It was seldom that The Network would send him an email, but when they did, it was usually of some importance or a request for an interview. After he had watched the video, he could not understand why it had been sent from them. He checked the sender’s name and realized that it was actually spam, because whoever had sent it had added another letter to the Network’s email address.
It was about that time that his telephone rang and he was told to turn on the TV. He then learned of the news in California and it hit him, this person, Jack, had predicted it and in exact detail. How could this man know all this? How in the hell did he win those lotteries? No one had ever predicted such a disaster in such detail before as the earthquake in California this morning; even down to the moment it would begin. The worst part was that South put the death toll solely on The Network and Brad Williams; discrediting the entire network, for they would get the blame. It was all over the world’s news stations as well as the threat from Jack South to Brad Williams that if Brad did not broadcast the interview, the death toll would be ninety percent higher.
He knew this was a setback for The Network. It was owned and controlled by The Waldger Group, of which he was a minority member, as were many others in his administration. Having their best anchor destroyed on national, TV did not bode well for the future. Somehow, they needed to neutralize the damage done to The Network or they would definitely lose their market share. Since The Network was the Administration’s primary propaganda source, the damage could cause the current administration to lose votes in the polls and possibly affect the view of the people on issues that were important to The Waldger Group. However, he knew that was not really his business and that the right people would take care of Mr. South, eventually; and neutralize him if the need should arise.
He was also wondering why Homeland Security had not immediately picked up Jack South and find out how in the hell he is able to do this. However, when he asked about it in the earlier conference call with his boss, Jamal Jones, the Chief of Homeland Security, he was told to deal with his own issues and not to involve himself with Jack South. So here he was, just waiting with his staff here for the green light from the President to start the gears of the department that was supposed to react and provide resources in national disasters.
Sam knew from the news reports that it appeared that the earthquake was centered in the San Gabriel Valley and had wiped out most of Pasadena and the surrounding communities as far south as Rosemead; as far north as La Canada; other foothill communities, and parts of Los Angeles. The death toll, personal injury, and property damage were going to be the worst of any natural disaster ever in the history of the United States, if this Jack person was right. In addition, the costs of lives and property would probably be in the billions.
He was well aware of the consequences of Katrina in New Orleans and the inability of quick response. He knew decisions needed to be made quickly. The movement of resources needed to begin immediately. If Jack South was right, the death toll was going to be unmanageable. Getting that cleaned up, identifying the bodies, or even finding them, was going to be a catastrophe in itself.
Once a game plan was announced the movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies would begin. He also knew from the TV coverage that the Governor of California had already contacted the President a few minutes ago, requesting that the area be declared a disaster. He was also aware that the National Guard would soon be called out to immediately seal off the area and start patrolling the streets in order to provide aid to the people as needed. At least all this would happen only after everyone was told to put the Federal Government in gear.
Unfortunately, like New Orleans, this area had a lot of crime to begin with. Gangs, looting, robberies, rape, and carnage would be rampant. Some decisions would have to be made immediately to control the streets and then evacuate the area as needed. This was always a major issue.
In California, there were several FEMA camps. These would be, opened for survivors immediately, to provide some food and shelter for those who needed it. The media counts being quoted were shocking; that it could be up to half a million refugees from the area, if not more. The pictures on TV literally made California look like a war zone.
He turned his attention back to the TV monitor. The Bear News Anchor, John Roddenburg, was announcing that Jack South was on his way to their studios and that they would be broadcasting his interview live, within the next hour or so.
Samuel turned to his assistant, Laura Rogers, and said, “Please try again to get the President on the phone and let him know that we need to move forward as soon as possible.”
Chapter 18
8:35 AM EST Washington, D.C. - White House War Room
President Richard Stevenson looked around at his Cabinet in the War Room. They had just finished looking at the tape of the interview that had made it to the internet and around the world. They had all just sat dumbfounded at the idea that this person had the ability to do this and had tried to warn the people of California; but Brad Williams had blown it, at least that is what the public would think.
They also had the news feeds of several networks nationally and internationally reporting on the situation at hand. The President motioned to one of his aides to turn the volume down. As that was being done, he turned to the cabinet members who were present at the time, and began speaking.
“The first order of business here is, as you all know, to get on the air immediately and declare California a disaster area. The quake hit about half an hour ago and we need to get Home
land Security and FEMA in gear immediately. Samuel Jordan has already called, but I was unable to speak with him. I will call the director of FEMA here momentarily and instruct him to move forward as quickly as we can.”
He also told them that he had spoken with the Governor of California a few minutes before and had assured him that they were going to authorize the National Guard to move in and declare martial law in the entire southern California area from the grapevine down to San Diego.
“Because of the total destruction in the area, I am using presidential powers invoking Article One, Section Nine, which will be immediately imposed for the affected area. It needs to be very apparent to the public and to the state of California that in this case, the National Guard will have all police powers in the area until order is restored; and that may take some time. We need to immediately establish a command center and start moving Guard troops in. Is that understood?” He paused, looking around the room to see if there were any objections, then he continued. “Get me the presidential order typed up so that I can sign it and send it to Congress. In addition, someone write up a press conference speech so that all of this can be announced to the public. Call the networks and to announce that we will address the nation and give further details in the Rose Garden in about thirty minutes. When you call the networks, let them know that no questions will be answered until we have a better handle on this; and that includes questions about Jack South. Any questions?”
The secretary of defense, Christopher Albiger, asked, “What about this Jack South guy? Are we going to move on him and find out how this happened?”
The President then looked around the room and said, “Listen to me very, very carefully. Under no circumstance is Jack South to be picked up by any agency or any information released about him from state or federal levels until I tell you different. No renegades here; we go by my game plan. Do you all understand?” He paused again, seeing if there were any dissenters then said, “This includes local agencies and the entire federal government. Please get the word out.”
They all nodded in agreement; and then he said, “Go to work. We have a mess in California that is of biblical proportions, and we need every man at the helm.”