Gospel
Authors: Sydney Bauer
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Sydney Bauer has worked as a journalist and TV executive. While Director of Programming for a major Australian network, Sydney was able to indulge a personal passion for US dramas such as
24
,
Law and Order
and
The West Wing
and meet with revered TV writers such as Steven Bochco.
Gospel
follows Sydney Bauer's first page-turning legal suspense,
Undertow
.
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Also by Sydney Bauer
Undertow
SYDNEY BAUER
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To Mum
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First published 2007 in Macmillan by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited
1 Market Street, Sydney
Copyright © Sydney Bauer 2007
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
National Library of Australia cataloguing-in-publication-data:
Bauer, Sydney.
Gospel.
ISBN 978 1 4050 3802 7 (pbk.).
I.Title.
A823.4
The characters and events in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Typeset in 11/15pt Birka by Post Pre-press Group, Brisbane, Queensland
Printed in Australia by McPherson's Printing Group, Maryborough, Victoria.
Papers used by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited are natural, recyclable products made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.
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These electronic editions published 2007 by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney 2000
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.
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Gospel
Sydney Bauer
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Adobe eReader format: 978-1-74197-844-5
Online format: 978-1-74197-967-1
EPUB format: 978-1-74197-885-8
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First up I want to thank all the gang at Pan Macmillan â especially my publisher Cate Paterson, publicist Jane Novak, and editors Julie Crisp and Millie Shilland; for their skill and enthusiasm. They are some of the nicest people I know.
While my name is on the cover of this book, much of what is in it is the result of information provided by a group of extremely dedicated and helpful people. People like the US Attorney's Office Public Affairs Liaison Samantha Martin, Assistant US Attorney Emily Schulman, Suffolk County Sherriff's Office Communications Manager Emily Shortt and Suffolk County Jail's Deputy Abe Ayuso.
To the people from the FBI, like Boston Field Office Special Agent Gail Marcinkiewicz and the Quantico based Laboratory Public Affairs Liaison Special Agent Ann Todd; I am eternally grateful for your time and expertise.
To US Courts Deputy Circuit Executive Susan Goldberg and the wonderful Judge Douglas Woodcock â I thoroughly enjoyed my time at John Joseph Moakley Courthouse and was inspired by both your knowledge and your passion.
To the Director of Research and Analytical Technology at the National Medical Service in Pennsylvania, Dr Kevin Ballard, and Associate Professor
in Pain Management at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, Doctor Philip Siddall; for their endless knowledge on Oxycontin, undetectable sedatives and other related issues. And to Jessica Badger from the US Surgeon General's Office; for the run down on how it all works.
To Mike Armini and the gracious Robb London from Harvard Law School who enabled me to see this historic University through their colourful ex-students' eyes. And to the wonderful Helen Jhun, University of Richmond Law School grad, who made my first day in Virginia both interesting and a whole lot of fun.
A big thanks also to Boston's Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel Public Relations Manager Suzanne Wenz for her kind hospitality.
My special thanks goes to Officer Michael McCarthy from the Boston Police Department and David Procoppio from the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office for sharing their insights on life and the law. And to my friend, CIA Special Agent and âlegend' Chase Brandon â perhaps one of the most courageous people I shall ever meet â for his amazing tour of CIA Headquarters in Langley and his exuberance for everything life has to offer.
I want to thank my family and friends â Ian, Brian and Sara, Mitch, Mylee, Carolyn, Ros, Ingrid and others whose critiques I value and enthusiasm I cherish.
Thanks to Julie-Anne and Amanda for getting the word out, and especially to my mother Fae, who was the subject of the very first book I wrote.
Finally, and most importantly to Jarrod, for the one sentence ideas and the lifetime of support that goes with them. And to Claudia, with the unstoppable spirit and an imagination that knows no bounds.
Tuesday 19 April
âA
gainst,' said Luke, staring at the tall, broad-shouldered man across the table. The windowless room was cold, the single cast iron door locked and bolted, the concrete walls projecting his protest in echo.
âAgainst,' he said again, and this time with more conviction. He could see the man was frustrated, but not at all surprised.
Matthew stared back at him, his dark eyes having obviously foreseen Luke's negative vote and his calm demeanour indicating it was of no consequence. It was three against one after all and, as usual, Luke was the dissenter.
âLuke,' he said, placing his large hands on top of the sterile stainless steel table. âI know at face value this proposal seems extreme, but it has always been an option that was part of the greater plan. The timing is a little earlier than we had expected but we are ready and . . .'
âFor God's sake,' interrupted Mark, the youngest of the group. âIf Bradshaw knows anything we have no choice. We either take action now or risk exposure.'
Luke knew Matthew was not normally one to tolerate interruptions, and Mark rarely had the balls to make them, but Matthew allowed this
disruption from the rookie of the group, which made Luke realise just how far he had fallen out of favour.
âYou knew, Luke,' Matthew went on, âwhen you joined our little group, that this time would come. Mark is right; the risk is now too great. There really is no other . . .'
âIsn't there? Given the success of the business, there has to be a way to reach our goals without . . .'
Luke was starting to sweat and he hated himself for it. He was not sure which option would prove less compromising; taking out his handkerchief to mop his brow, or allowing the droplets of perspiration to track down his face. He chose the handkerchief and immediately regretted his decision. His hand was shaking and the other three exchanged glances, Matthew allowing a slight smile to drift across his face.
âAll I am saying is,' Luke took a breath before going on. âThis is murder, and not just any murder. Listen to yourselves; you are talking about killing the second most powerful man in . . .'
âOh, wake up to yourself, Doyle,' said Mark, obviously unable to control himself. Mark was a slight, fidgety, baby-faced man who was equally as nervous about this next step in their plan, but more devoted to their cause, and to self-preservation.
âStop.' Matthew banged his fist on the table, causing Luke and Mark to jolt back in their seats. âNo names, even here. It is not safe.'
âI'm sorry, but enough is enough,' said Mark. âDon't you see, Matthew? His lack of commitment will bring us all down.'
Matthew rose from the table to pace around the bunker, a tiny closet of conspiracy underneath the world's most powerful address. He walked slowly, looking down upon the other three, their features distorted from the 150-watt downlight provided by the single bulb which hung centred from the seamless cinderblock ceiling.
âPerhaps this is no longer in your best interests,' he said to Luke at last.
âWhat?' said Luke, shifting his substantial bulk in the too-small chair, terrified of what Matthew was about to propose.
âWell, let's be honest, ever since you entered witness protection, your usefulness to the organisation has been somewhat, shall we say, compromised.'
âThat's not true. You could not have done any of this without me. The
DEA have no idea what is going on. I still have the contacts. Nothing has changed.'
âPerhaps,' said Matthew. âBut how long will that last? It will be difficult to monitor any potential security risk from the other side of the country, especially with a new identity.'
The other side of the country
, thought Luke.
Matthew knew he was in LA
.
Luke was not surprised. Despite the so-called impenetrable fortress of security and confidentiality that was the US Marshall's witness protection program, it would be naïve of him to think Matthew, considering his position and the extensive means of investigation at his disposal, would not know where Luke had been relocated. But hearing him say it seemed to reinforce the extent of the man's powers and, as such, sent a fresh chill of terror slipping slowly down Luke's spine.
