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161 pages

English

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Description

It is 1806; a powerful and criminal secret society has almost complete control over many of the elected officials, international finance, and commerce in the young nation. Its leaders arrange for a dissident to be brutally murdered and left floating in the Potomac River so that the body surfaces within clear site of Thomas Jefferson's White House.

This criminal act is intended to send a message to the President and all those around him: 'the society's power should know no limit – elected officials – including the president – must acknowledge and support us, allow us to do whatever we want, when and wherever we choose, or suffer the consequences'.

Almost two hundred years later, after discovering a hidden diary written by someone who lived in the White House during that time, a small group of college students and a world class computer hacker learn all there is to know about this particular crime... the identity of the victim and what, if anything, Jefferson did about it? They also learn all about the secret society. By digging into this two hundred year old crime the students attract the attention of the modern day version of the secret society.

The current leader threatens the student's very existence - but rather than retreat, the students decide to fight back.

Sujets

Historical

Fiction

Informations

Publié par	eBookIt.com
Date de parution	19 juin 2017
Nombre de lectures	1
EAN13	9781945211034
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	2 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0500€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

The Jefferson Files
the expanded edition

by Martin Herman

The Jefferson Files – the expanded edition
…A WILL JAMES MYSTERY Copyright ©2015, 2016 Martin Herman
ISBN-13: 9781945211034
Published in eBook format by:

521 Simsbury Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002

Converted by http://www.eBookIt.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photo-copy, recording, or any other – except brief quotation in reviews, without the prior permission of the author or publisher.

Thi s boo k i s histori c fictio n – Thi s i s a wor k o f fiction . Names , characters , businesses, places , event s an d incident s ar e eithe r th e product s o f th e author’ s imaginatio n or use d i n a f ictitiou s manner . An y resemblanc e t o actua l persons , livin g o r dead , or actua l event s i s purel y coincidental.

“The Jefferson Files” by Martin Herman

I t i s 1806 ; a powerfu l an d crimina l secre t societ y ha s almos t complet e contro l ove r man y o f t h e electe d officials, internationa l finance , an d commerc e i n t h e youn g nation. It s leader s arrang e fo r a dissiden t t o b e brutall y murdered an d lef t floatin g i n t h e Potoma c Rive r s o t h a t t h e bod y surface s wit h i n clea r sit e o f T h oma s J efferson’ s W h it e House.

This criminal act is intended to send a message to the President and all those around him: ‘the society’s power should know no limit – elected officials – including the president – must acknowledge and support us, allow us to do whatever we want, when and wherever we choose, or suffer the consequences’.

Almost two hundred years later, after discovering a hidden diary written by someone who lived in the White House during that time, a small group of college students and a world class computer hacker learn all there is to know about this particular crime… the identity of the victim and what, if anything, Jefferson did about it? They also learn all about the secret society.

By digging into this two hundred year old crime the students attract the attention of the modern day version of the secret society. The current leader threatens the student’s very existence but rather than retreat, the students decide to fight back.

the expanded edition

In this, the fourth printing since this novel was first published; the author has added about 10% ‘more’ to expand and advance the story while further developing some of the characters. As with the first edition, you will be surprised by the twists and turns. You will also be kept guessing because you will not be able to see how it all ends until the very last page.

Dedication

To Jessica Weitz , a remarkable and accomplished young woman whose very first breath gave me the title that means the most to me – “Dad”. I wish I had been as good as she is at harmonizing the needs and responsibilities of a family with the often excessive demands of a professional career.

To Aimee Herman-Durica , who cares so very much for the exploited, oppressed, and rejected people around her and matches her concerns with her words and deeds each and every day, and who edited this manuscript with the understanding of a writer and the love of a daughter.

To Lora Chan , who encouraged me to publish this manuscript and whose intelligence, basic honesty, support, and counsel are traits which I grow to appreciate more with every passing day.

T o Jonatha n Weit z , a n intelligen t an d thoughtfu l young ma n wh o i s wis e beyon d hi s year s an d th e kin d o f father/ rol e mode l I wis h I ha d whe n I wa s growin g up.

To Barry Gray , New York radio personality during the 1950’s and 1960’s, whose late night conversations with politicians helped turn me into the political news junkie I am to this day.
PART ONE

Chapter 1
Sunday 12 January, 1806,
Washington City, District of Columbia –
Pre-daw n durin g th e middl e o f Januar y i n almos t any eas t coas t cit y ca n b e f ille d wit h al l sort s o f intimidating sights , sounds , an d unexplaine d coming s an d goings; mos t o f whic h see m t o b e fa r les s troublesom e i n th e light o f day . O n thi s specifi c night , i n America’ s newl y designate d capita l situate d fa r fro m majo r populatio n centers, i t al l seem s t o b e fa r mor e menacin g fo r Horac e Freeman . O n th e bes t o f night s th e shadow s radiatin g from th e man y lantern s a s the y swa y i n th e win d barel y illuminat e th e unfinishe d walkway s muc h les s th e hazards surroundin g eac h o f th e massiv e constructio n sites . Most day s Horac e ca n easil y dea l wit h th e darknes s an d visualiz e th e hop e an d potentia l greatnes s thi s wor k i n progres s represents … bu t no t today.

Horace was Thomas Jefferson’s body man. Although both Horace and his wife, Becky, were officially registered as slaves, Horace was generally able to come and go as though he were a free man. He usually walked proudly through the new streets, tall and dignified, giving little notice to the few people still up and around or the stray animals foraging for warmth and food. He related the sights and smells of the new construction with the hopes that many had for the young nation. Although always deep in the background, he was proud in the knowledge that he held a front row seat to history. These walks provided an easy separation from his full and active day while providing him a little time to think through the events of the day and allow him enough time to shape them into interesting little stories he could share with Becky when he returned to their room.

In good weather or bad, Horace felt safe along the makeshift streets that surrounded the new nation’s President’s house. Shortly after he and Becky were brought here from Monticello, Horace began this nightly ritual. After the President retired for the night Horace would take one last look around, making certain that everything was in its place. He then methodically selected and gathered the President’s clothing for the next morning, and quietly slipped out through the side door of the President’s mansion. Becky referred to this as Horace’s soothing time.

Th e lengt h o f th e walk , an d eve n th e rout e change d ever s o slightl y fro m da y t o day . Ho w lon g h e woul d sta y out o n an y give n nigh t depende d mostl y o n th e anticipated demand s facin g hi m th e nex t day . Wit h a clea r vie w o f the sky , h e fel t fre e t o star e u p an d convers e wit h God : t o say a nightl y praye r o f thank s fo r al l h e an d Beck y had , most o f whic h wa s th e lov e fo r eac h other , an d th e fait h and trus t o f hi s master , Thoma s Jefferson.

Ultimately, Horace returned to the small space he and his wife shared in the basement of the President’s mansion by the Potomac.

On the rare occasion when the walk and fresh air did not act as calming agents, just knowing that he would be returning to his darling Becky was enough to rev up his spirits and bring the day to a peaceful close.

Tonight, making his way through the second heavy snowstorm of the New Year, Horace was deeper in thought than usual. The cold winter air with fresh snow beating against his face or even the thought of Becky’s waiting arms could not take his mind off of the events of this day.

*****

When he was in the mansion, President Jefferson spent as much time as he could inside the drafty room on the southwest corner of the first floor. He often worked on multiple projects at the same time. The President opted to keep this room entirely for himself as his office and personal library. Here he could quietly work or reflect on the problems facing the new nation as well as his personal concerns about his farm and home in Virginia. He would look out the window at the new War department building or towards Alexandria, Virginia, just beyond the flowing waters of the Potomac, or just think. He ended most days reading. During the cold winters what little warmth there was in the room came from the well-used fireplace on the East wall.

During most days, this time of year, bright sunlight streamed through the tall window on the side of the building. The President kept his pet mocking bird, Dick, in an ornate cage suspended by the tall window. The bird was often let out of the cage to fly freely around the room. Jefferson trained the bird to ride on his shoulder.

Heavy tables filled the majority of the space within the room. Each table had assorted books and documents and objects pertaining to a specific project or current interest of the versatile leader. It was not unusual for him to move from one table to the next and back again, numerous times during the day.

Although this was a strange place for the leader of the new nation to spend so much of his time, it was his favorite part of the house. No one dared disturb him while he was within its walls. The rest of the household understood that he would re-enter their world when he wanted to – and not a minute sooner. Very few people other than the President’s children and grandchildren and Horace, whose regular place was on a tall stool just inside the main door, were ever permitted inside this room. Martha, the President’s eldest daughter, was the first to refer to it as “ the sanctuary ”, and the name stuck.

*****

It was a particular source of pride for Horace that he was the only non-family member permitted free access into this room. Even during confidential discussions, Horace was always within clear sight of the President. Conversations were open and free around him, never hushed because of his presence. Horace was trusted by all.

Horace could anticipate most of the President’s needs and more often than not was able to anticipate Jefferson’s need even before it was expre