2024

Copyright © 2013 George Easton.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

1-(888)-242-5904

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0462-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0463-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013922690

Archway Publishing rev. date: 12/09/2013

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter: Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Eight

Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-Two

Chapter Fifty-Three

Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Five

Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty-One

Chapter Sixty-Two

Chapter Sixty-Three

Chapter Sixty-Four

Chapter Sixty-Five

Chapter Sixty-Six

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Chapter Seventy

Chapter Seventy-One

Chapter Seventy-Two

Chapter Seventy-Three

Chapter Seventy-Four

Chapter Seventy-Five

Chapter Seventy-Six

Chapter Seventy-Seven

Chapter Seventy-Eight

Chapter Seventy-Nine

Chapter Eighty

About the Author

Chapter One

The Inauguration

C rowds lined Pennsylvania Avenue. The streets and avenues of Washington D.C., from the White House to the Capital were overflowing with millions of people from around the world. The front of the Capital building was draped with ceremonial flags and the streets were decorated with banners commemorating the event. Heads of State from around the world came as they always did. This time, however, there was a different feeling in the air. Excitement was everywhere and everyone kne w why.

Keith Richards was about to be sworn in as the next president of the United States. A new dawn was approaching. Hope was no longer a talking point. This was the real thing. Heads of State from warring countries arrived. They talked together and smiled. The whole world seemed united on January 17, 2024. It was a day that seemed to signal a sign of lasting peace and cooperation. Thousands of years of differences and hatred might be set aside.

Iraq, Iran, Israel, and Palestine, all sent dignitaries and leaders to witness the event and to share in its splendor. There were high expectations for this new president. He had already shown a remarkable degree of leadership and foresight by uniting more than one nation that had been torn apart by religious and secular strife. It was now hoped that peace might come to the Middle East after thousands of years of war and hatred, all because of this new and exciting president. It commonly agreed that the new President had the qualities of being a global changer. Never since the Kennedy administration, had there been so much optimism. This could be different, even better.

Much of this was the result of Keith Richard’s more conciliatory demeanor after his election. Richards had shown a remarkable change in the tone and content of his speeches to the public since the election. Now, as President-elect, he was not worried about the warnings and threats coming from his own party. He was free to be more vocal about his real ideology. This upset the far right wing extremists of his party who felt responsible for putting him in office. Keith’s wife, Debra, was proud of her husband for breaking away from the hard line leaders of his party and for speaking his own mind. His honest approach had made a huge difference in his popularity rating from the date of the election up until the inauguration.

From election day to inauguration day, it was almost as if he had abandoned his traditional base in an attempt to reconcile with the few old time left and moderate leaders of the senate and house. It was as if there was a complete transformation in his thought process. Party leaders were irate. The public was thrilled.

He made overtures with countries that did not even have relations with the U.S. He proposed global conferences in order to make serious attempts to unite the international community. He maintained that he would do all in his power to prevent war and use the trillions of dollars saved to improve infrastructure and standards of living around the world.

The extreme far right seemed hell bent on starting a new war because it is financially in their best interests, he proclaimed. This is simply not acceptable.

The Party, his party, became increasingly critical and warned the President-elect that if he continued down this path that he would surely be a one-term president. This did not concern Keith Richards anymore since he felt he could get more accomplished in one term anyway. In fact, he was in favor of term limits to avoid the potential corruption and paybacks, which now seemed to cripple the government. He was outspoken about this and drew criticism from both sides of the political aisle. About ninety percent of the public applauded his position on term limits for Senators and Congressmen.

All of a sudden, Keith Richards had come alive. His charm and charisma captivated audiences in a way he failed to do in the months leading up to the election. He became familiar to the average American and used his time wisely by spreading a new message of reconciliation and hope between the warring parties now in power in the United States.

On the day of the inauguration, the Chief Justice who usually gave the president the oath of office was unavailable. He was conveniently vacationing in the Cayman Islands since it was, after all, January.

Keith Richards was delighted. It meant that his good friend, James Rodriguez could administer the oath of office to him.

Justice James Rodriguez was one of three liberal Justices left on the court in 2024.

A solid majority of Americas were now behind the President-elect. He was the new sign of hope and progress for the whole country. On the eve of the inauguration, he had a popularity rating of sixty-nine percent. His political change was dramatic. The whole world looked forward to his upcoming presidency.

Millions were watching TV at noon on the cold Wednesday afternoon. Those who braved the weather didn’t feel it. They somehow felt warmth inside. The world anticipated the new president’s inaugural address. Justice Rodriguez administered the oath and Keith Richards was sworn in as the forty-sixth President of the United States of America.

The moment the oath was administered, all of those present and the millions watching on television began to celebrate when, suddenly, four shots were fired, the first two shattered the bulletproof glass protecting the President and the Supreme Court Judge. The second two entered the brain of not only the new President but also Justice Rodriguez.

Chapter Two

Assumptions

T hose immediately present, were in a state of shock and either ran or dove off the podium causing a tremendous panic. Some hid under the podium or under the bleachers. Neither decision was safe. Several more shots were fired into the crowd with no regard for innocent people who might die. Severa l did.

Those in attendance, being far too familiar with violence and terrorism by now, scattered in all directions.

People watching from their homes, and offices were horrified. The whole world was aghast and everyone felt the pain of losing such a promising young president. The mournful masses of the world prayed and openly wept.

The loss would have worldwide implications and immediately people of every peace loving country rushed to the conclusion that this was a terrorist attack originating from some foreign group. The majority of Americans instantly felt that the assassin or assassins must have had Islamic or Muslim ties and that the assassination was more than likely associated with some Middle Eastern country.

Peace went from being an optimistic, even likely prospect, to a dark optimism of inevitable war in seconds. A promising period of peace was abruptly changed. The hairs of hatred rose on the backs of most Americans. Shivers ran down their spines and revenge was on the mind of everyone. Who was responsible?

Immediately, people of the Islamic and Muslim faith knew the implication of such a terrorist act. Fear and trepidation returned after a brief month or two of jubilation, understanding, and hope. No more would they feel safe in their homes or places of worship, at least not for the foreseeable future. They had previously felt the effects of hatred and terror in America. Now, however, passion and vindictiveness would undoubtedly prevail. The peace and harmony of the previous day was suddenly dashed. Who was to blame? Americans would immediately conclude the obvious as they had done so many times before.

With the election of Keith Richards’s two months earlier, hope for a final resolution to the Middle East Crisis seemed to be on the horizon. The young President-elect had already arranged to have a Middle Eastern summit involving every warring religious sect, tribe, and political organization in the entire sector of the world. For the first time in centuries, everyone would be represented. Their politics didn’t matter and their religious views didn’t matter. They were scheduled to come together as early as February 2024 at a neutral site. The only goal was to end the seemingly never-ending conflict and bloodshed that was killing millions of soldiers and innocent people. A larger more comprehensive dialogue could come later.

Surely, all people, who have died in these wars and conflicts, could have put their efforts and talents to a better use. Instead of constantly killing each other, we must work to have the world community unite for the good of the whole rather than the selfish ideology of the few. Richard’s had proclaimed. People of the world must understand the enormous loss that results in these never ending wars and skirmishes.

That hope had vanished in a short moment in time.

Chapter Three

Bomb Shelters

M any of those standing on the podium to the right or left of the president’s box were immediately rushed to the safety of bomb shelters, which had been constructed in the early 1960’s to protect members of Congress against a nuclear attack from the former Soviet Union. The shelters had been drastically altered since then and now were more like a modern underground city like Atlanta or To ronto.

Some select dignitaries were quickly escorted to the shelter. Others, including various heads of state were left on their own. They scattered, unescorted, to safety wherever they could. The representative from Iran had been killed and several others appeared to be seriously wounded.

Mass confusion developed and it seemed that no one was specifically in control.

Herb Farnsworth, an ex-Navy Seal, cautiously assessed the situation and, tried to keep those who were denied entry to the shelters as calm as possible. He remained diligent in the knowledge that a sniper could still be lurking somewhere.

Herb had seen other leaders assassinated before. Sometimes he was the assassin.

Now he helped many of the wounded get to safety before he too was suddenly whisked away to the safety that lied below.

Herb’s wife, Susan Farnsworth, had been immediately escorted to the underground shelter. She couldn’t believe what had happened. Given the protections and technology in place to prevent such an occurrence, she wondered how it was even remotely possible that the president of the United States could be assassinated. The vast presence of Secret Service men, FBI, and local law enforcement was incredible. The precautions that had been taken before the inauguration left almost nothing to chance. Her brother and husband had been on the podium with the now deceased ex-president and they all could have been killed with him. Certainly, others were still in danger outside. She observed that not everyone had been sent into this vast shelter. There seemed to be room for thousands. She could not locate Herb.

The group now in the shelter was quickly guided through a passageway, which led to a room that looked more like a banquet hall.

The vice president elect was now the president.

President David Schultz, immediately, after the shots were fired, and without help from the Secret Service or the FBI, led a stampede of his Party members to a separate entrance to the shelter.

All passageways eventually led to the larger central banquet room.

Those left outside ducked under some broken chairs and bullet-ridden platforms. The dead president’s body was still lying under the podium, which had collapsed under the spray of bullets.

Herb had attempted to help some of the families still stranded outside. Initially, he resisted the efforts of Secret Service agents to tear him away. He finally complied after some of his ex-Navy Seal friends insisted that he could leave and that they had the situation on the outside under control.

Richards crumpled body was carted off with as much dignity as was possible. Rodriguez, who dropped immediately after being hit was pronounced dead after paramedics had worked feverishly to save him. His body and that of the President were taken to an awaiting ambulance. Both bodies would end up at Bethesda Naval Hospital. There would be an autopsy performed as soon as possible. The Secret Service and FBI scoured the area placing telescopes on the ground in a vain attempt to locate the killer. None of them had seen even a puff of smoke or other evidence of gunfire, which would have helped them locate the position of the assassin. They swept the area for bullets and other evidence.

Three hours after the assassination, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court arrived at the scene. In his apparent sorrow and, sporting a nice tan, he made a small speech, saying he should have been there. He also said that he mourned the loss of President Richards and Justice Rodriguez. He then scurried into the shelter to swear in the next new President, David Schultz. David Schultz was the next in line to succeed the now dead president. He, as Vice President, under the 20th and 25th Amendments to the Constitution would, automatically become the next President of the United States, even without a swearing in ceremony. David insisted on it.

The Richards’s family was devastated by the loss of a husband and father. Family and friends who had accompanied them on this day and throughout their journey were crushed by the loss of Keith Richards.

Not only did they have to endure the grieving process but they were also told, while still in the bomb shelter, that they were going to have to leave the White House within a week since president Schultz would be taking occupancy. Their personal belongings had been moved into the White House the previous week. Friends surrounded Debra and her children attempting to console the bereaved, former first family.

Underground, rebellious, opposition leaders who despised David Schultz were appalled at the events of the day and called for a meeting. They expressed concern however, of a quick rush to judgment. With the country in a state of mourning and shock, nothing could be planned until things died down and the American people were better informed.

The outrage, however, did not subside and the country was in total disarray. What was next? A second attack? People were justifiably concerned about the future of America. They lost Keith Richards and were now wary of the upcoming presidency of David Schultz. His rise to power and assumption to the position of the most powerful man in the world was troubling to say the least. His campaign rhetoric gave many a feeling of anxiety.

Chapter Four

The Candidates

M uch to the dismay of some, Senator Keith Richards won the nomination for president at the 2023 Republican Tea Party (RTP) National convention. He reluctantly ended up choosing David Schultz as his running mate. Donald Spears had been his preferred pick for vice president but circumstances dictated othe rwise.

Richards beat most of the opposition in the primaries. He easily garnered enough delegates to win the RTP nomination. Nevertheless, extreme resistance arose on the floor of the convention. State delegates were forced to nominate their own governors as their favorite son candidate with the hope of thwarting an inevitable Richards’s victory. In the end, however, the RTP had little choice but to nominate Keith Richards as their presidential candidate. The extreme right wing leaders of the RTP were appalled at the selection. Nevertheless, he was the popular candidate and most likely to beat any adversary the Democrats selected at their convention. They needed to unite behind Richards, as hard as that might be. They needed to continue their line of presidents well into the future. The current president, Burton Ward, a staunch RTP member, was only the beginning, they hoped.

A popular, middle of the road, young man, with charisma had sprung up in the ranks of the RTP and people liked him. His entire family, for generations, had belonged to the Republican Party. Given his position on social issues, it surprised everyone when he continued the tradition and choose to join the RTP.

The RTP worried that Richards was too far to the left for their extreme right wing platform. They could easily get him elected though. The American people liked him. Richard’s immense popularity and primary victories had caught the hardline right wing by surprise and they were now in a situation where Richards was the only viable candidate for the RTP. The risk of nominating someone else was simply too great.

Richards had the money and support to challenge the RTP as an independent candidate if he wanted to. The danger of an independent was not worth the gamble to the RTP. Richard’s popularity was such that even if he did not win the general election he would probably take so many of the old Republicans with him that the Democrats would undoubtedly reap the benefit and win the presidency. The RTP was unwilling to give up the White House. Richards would come around they thought and, if not, there were other alternatives.

Keith Richards hated his running mate, David Schultz. Richards was from Los Angeles. David Schultz was from New York City. Richards would never have picked Schultz but it was not left up to him.

David Schultz was an ultra-right wing religious extremist with a history of questionable conduct and ethical behavior. He fit in well with the new RTP but not with Keith Richards. Schultz was a rising star in the RTP but did not, as of yet, have the credentials to be a vice-presidential candidate. He was popular to the base of the RTP and riled them up at town hall meetings to a fever pitch.

During a long and arduous convention, where the delegates disagreed on almost everything, they became hopelessly deadlocked on a vice presidential candidate. Richard’s personal choice of Donald Spears as his running mate was the main source of the split and was contentious from the very beginning. Other nominations were made. Ex-presidential hopefuls, all soundly defeated by Richards in the primaries, were nominated. Richards sent out messages to the State delegates letting them know once again that he favored Spears. Voting was tedious, tempers rose, and fights broke out sending the convention into chaos. His own party rejected Donald Spears.

Finally, after two days of bickering, David Schultz’s name came up. The delegates, tired and depleted in number, were encouraged by the new name thrown into the mix. Not surprisingly, the Republican-Tea-Party delegates all returned to the convention and finally, by the smallest majority, nominated David Schultz as their vice presidential candidate. Richards was devastated but his hands were tied. He vowed personally to make Schultz his personal lapdog. Lyndon Johnson’s relationship with the Kennedys would look like an enduring friendship compared to the distance he would have with David Schultz.

Keith Richards was outgoing and well liked even by many Democrats. The RTP had enjoyed years of victories and they certainly did not want to stop now. Richards would see the light. He would have to come around to their way of thinking or they would make him a one-term president. If he didn’t they would begin to work on that the day Richards was elected.

The RTP worried that Keith Richards might roam too far to the left and derail what they had worked so long and hard to achieve, a super majority.

Chapter Five

Democrats

T he Democrats, at their convention, which was held two months prior to the RTP convention, had picked John Baxter from Florida as their presidential choice. He selected Joseph Smith of Illinois as his running mate. Baxter and Smith were good friends and Baxter had decided to pick Smith months earlier when they were re-united on the campaign trail.

Smith’s politics were rather liberal or moderate on most issues and so he was considered dangerous by the RTP. Both parties, however, had to agree publically, that he made quite a personal case for his political opinions.

Smith’s son, Robert, had been shot and killed in a drive by shooting, when he was only eighteen. A gang carrying automatic weapons gunned down five people who were standing on a porch, which was located next to a drug house frequented by gang bangers. Robert had planned to attend his high school semifinal football game after meeting at a classmate’s house with some friends. Robert and his friends were all murdered by mistake. The police had arrested three perpetrators who were now in prison. All three were convicted of five counts of first-degree murder and were sentenced to five consecutive life terms in prison without any chance of parole. Robert Smith’s death, however, would never be erased from the memories of the Smith family. Every year family and friends held a memorial to honor Robert and all of the accomplishments he had made during his short life. The families of all of the slain teenagers joined the Smith family in the annual memorial.

Joseph Smith was in favor of background checks for gun owners. He also opposed ownership of semi-automatic weapons having the capacity of shooting multiple rounds of ammunition.

The NRA immediately began running negative campaign ads against what they proclaimed was an affront to the