Rather
than just do a character interview, I want to do something a bit more fun and
add to the tapestry of the Tomorrow’s Edge trilogy. This isn’t in the main body of Day Moon,
but is a look at something happening behind the scenes that contributes to
events of the book.
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Begin interview : Shane Parsons : 2039- 10-15 21:05:35 UTC-4)
Amar: Good day, Mr. Parsons. I’m Agent Hain Amar of the NSA. Thank you for
agreeing to speak with me.
Shane: No
problem, though I really don’t know why I’m here. The agents didn’t make it seem like this was
a “by-my-choice” kind of meeting.
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Papers shuffling)
Shane: “So, why exactly am I here then?”
Amar: One minute please.
Shane: Ok…
Amar: Born-Lancaster, PA on June 12, 2018.
Parents-Bill and Karen, divorced. Average
scores on university admittance exams. One note from a high school math
teacher: “Clever pupil, but lackadaisical above all else.”
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Finger tapping on table)
Amar: One sibling, Ellie Brahn, 26, of Newhaven,
CT. Two nephews Jordan and Jacob, three
and five respectively. You work in the
university hospital in addition to attending courses. No pets, no school extracurriculars, avid
video gamer, and “looking for love or something like it” on social media. Just
let me check one more thing…
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Increased rate of tapping indicates anxiety in subject)
Amar: Ah, there. Sorry for the wait. I just
wanted to review your file.
Shane: My file?
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject exhibits apprehension)
Amar: Yes?
Shane: Why do you have a “file” on me?
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject displays signs of irritation and potential for aggression.
Biostatistics analysis started. Blood pressure and heart rate evaluation under
way. Agent remote alert pending)
Amar: Shane, may I call you Shane?
Shane: You already knew that’s my name. It’s in
your “file” on me, right?
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject has elevated heart rate and blood pressure. Subject hostility
meets threshold. Advise change of tactic. Agent alert sent)
Amar: It is, but I think you misunderstand the
purpose of our meeting.
Shane: Really? Because I’m pretty sure you guys
kidnapped me in the middle of the night and have been keeping me held up here
with no answers for who knows how long.
Shane: Well you know of course. Since you know
“everything”, right?
Amar: I apologize for the lapse in your care.
Our office has been swamped with the situation.
Shane: Situation?
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject biostastics stabilizing. Tactic effective. Alert sent to agent)
Amar: Yes, your apartment complex was the
target of a terrorist strike. We’ve had to bring in everyone for questioning.
Particularly after the detonation.
Shane: Detonation?
Amar: Yes. Yes, I apologize. I forgot you
couldn’t have seen reports of the apartment building’s destruction.
Amar: Which is really why you are here. You’re
an acquaintance of an Elliott Calhoun are you not?
Shane:
…
Amar: Of course you know him. He is, or was,
your present roommate. How well do you know him?
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject biostastics show no variance on goading. Advise change of tactic.
Alert sent to agent)
Amar: Let me ask it this way, how did you come
to have contact with Elliott?
Shane: He and I had a class together his first
semester.
Amar: Interesting. Aren’t you a couple years
older than Elliott?
Shane: Yeah, he is in that advance placement
program, right? He is already about to graduate.
Amar: And you have a few years left, yes?
Shane: Well, yeah. You try working shifts in a
hospital ER and still balance a full course load.
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject is engaged in dialogue. Subject biostatistics confirm a passive
state. Ideal conditions to press for information present. Alert to agent
pending)
Amar: That is quite impressive. Your “file”
says you saved a man on drugs from jumping out of a window. He was quite
violent I’m told. Very heroic of you.
Shane:
…
Amar: You don’t consider yourself a hero, do
you?
Shane: Anybody in my position would have done
the same. Wouldn’t you have?
Amar: I would like to think I would. But twelve
other staff members didn’t act when you did. That is heroism.
Shane: If you say so.
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject reticence noted. Psychological evaluation complete. Complicity
highly probable. Pursue primary agendum. Alert sent to agent)
Amar: I do.
Which is why your country needs you now. Your friend Elliott, his
intelligence impressed you when you first met, didn’t it?
Shane: Elliott is a good person. That’s why we
are friends. I know you’re dancing around what you really want to ask, so can
we cut out all this nonsense and get to it? I’m pretty tired and hungry here.
Amar: Of course, you probably haven’t eaten
much since Elliott failed to bring you your dinner the other night. Strange for
a loyal friend to forget something like that. .
Shane: …
Amar: The truth is we are looking for Elliott.
We believe he is in danger. You aren’t very familiar with his cousin, John
McIntyre, are you?
Shane: Never met him. Just called Elliott a few
times.
Amar: A few times recently, actually. Would you
like to see summaries of the chat logs?
Shane:
I’ll pass.
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject wavered in resolution. Likelihood of complicity almost certain)
Amar: Mhm, well. They are innocuous, but many
of John’s other correspondences haven’t been. John has been planning the attack
with an Asiatic terror cell for nearly a year. We have reason to believe John
has Elliott hostage, perhaps using him for his extensive expertise with digital
devices and software.
Shane: Elliott would never…
Amar: Willingly aid a terrorist? Are you sure?
Shane: …
Amar: Has his behavior lately been, suspicious?
Shane: He wouldn’t help by choice. They’d have
to force him.
Amar: How might they do that?
Shane: Probably threaten Lara…
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject has divulged unintended information. Suggest staggering
expressions of compassion and aggression to achieve maximum results)
Amar: Lara? Do you mean Elliott’s classmate
Lara Hopewell?
Shane: No, I mean his girlfriend, Lara Hopewell.
Or at least she was going to be his girlfriend.
Amar: Why only “going to be”?
Shane: I called her looking for him when he
didn’t come back to the apartment with the pizza he promised. I heard another
guy snoring in the background.
Amar: And it wasn’t Elliott?
Shane: Ha, definitely not. The snoring was about
three octaves below Elliott’s register.
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Aggression unnecessary. Subject exhibits regret. Alert sent to agent)
Amar: You seem unsettled by this.
Shane: He’s my friend and like I said, if he
would turn his back on his country, it would be for her… and I’m pretty sure
she was hardcore cheating on him.
Amar: Do you think she could be involved with
the terror plot? Perhaps the man she was with was John McIntyre. We know so
little about Lara. Her family keeps an usually low profile. Do you know
anything about her that might help direct the investigation?
Shane: Just that she wasn’t at a great hotel. I
could kind of make out things in the background. I haven’t seen a hotel that
plain and tech-less since, well, ever.
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Beginning search for hotel images featuring simplistic floor plans and
amenities in 10 square mile area. 20 square mile area. 50 square mile area. 100
square mile area)
Shane: Listen, I can’t say anything about Lara
or John, but Elliott is no traitor. He’s no terrorist. He’s a little too
trusting though, so anything he’s mixed up in, it isn’t what it looks like.
Okay?
Amar: I understand. Thank you for your time Mr.
Parsons. We will take everything you said under advisement.
Shane: Am I free to go?
Amar: Absolutely. I will direct one of our
agents to drive you home.
Shane: Um, I think I would prefer a friend’s
house. Seeing as my apartment was blown to pieces.
Amar: Oh, right. Of course. Anywhere you like.
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Shuffling of chairs and footsteps nearing room exit. Interview complete,
after-action analysis beginning)
Shane: Great. Oh. Just one thing, how did you
know Elliott didn’t remember to bring dinner back to me? That happened before
he got mixed up in this, right?
Amar: “File” remember?
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject heart rate increasing)
Shane: Ah. Super. Thanks.
Amar: Take care Mr. Parsons.
(SYSTEM
NOTE: Subject tagged by agent for enhanced surveillance)
About the Author
Brett Armstrong, author of the award-winning novel, Destitutio Quod
Remissio, started writing stories at age nine, penning a tale of revenge
and ambition set in the last days of the Aztec Empire. Twenty years
later, he is still telling stories though admittedly his philosophy has
deepened with his Christian faith and a master’s degree in creative
writing. His goal with every work is to be like a brush in the Master
artist’s hand and his hope is the finished composition always reflects the
design God had in mind. He feels writing should be engaging, immersive,
entertaining, and always purposeful. Continually busy at work with one or
more new novels to come, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and playing with
his beautiful wife and son.
His latest book is Day Moon (Tomorrow’s Edge Book 1).
WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
About the Book:
Title:
DAY MOON (Tomorrow’s Edge Book 1)
Author: Brett Armstrong
Publisher: Clean Reads
Pages: 389
Genre: Christian/Scifi/Dystopian
Author: Brett Armstrong
Publisher: Clean Reads
Pages: 389
Genre: Christian/Scifi/Dystopian
BOOK
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