C.: What’s this? Buddy Bones dropped off the memory stick I sent to d.c., and he sent it back with a note. Let me see what it says.
“Cal.E., I rewrote the beginning of THE COLOR GRAY. Since you’re technically in the target age group, please read the first chapter and tell me what you think.” -d.c.
C.: Well, T is out and about trying to scrounge up food, but he wanted me to do burpees while he was gone. However, he’s not here, so he’ll never know what I spent my time doing while he was away. Reading sounds like a good break from training to me.
THE COLOR GRAY
by d.c.scot
The “color” gray is made up of two hues that don’t actually classify as colors. Gray is the combination of the black hue, which is, by definition, the absence of all light and the presence of all color; and the white hue, that is inversely defined as the absence of all color and the presence of all light. The two hues are comprehensive opposites.
If the two hues are combined on a canvas, the resulting hue of that canvas is gray. If more of the black hue is added to the canvas than white, the canvas tends to be a “dark gray.” Inversely, if more of the white hue is added to the canvas than black, the canvas tends to be a lighter shade of gray. There is an unlimited number of possibilities for the hue that the gray canvas may take on.
Many law enforcement officers view the law as being either completely black (the wrong choice, according to that person); or completely white (the right choice, in that person’s opinion). There are no gray areas in the law according to some.
CHAPTER ONE: JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED
"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do." - Potter Stewart
Austin, Texas: January 22, 2032
As Texas Governor Mark Joliet settled into the chair behind his desk, there was a knock at his door. Perturbed, Mark didn’t answer the door immediately. That, apparently, didn’t deter the person who was knocking. He opened the door and made himself comfortable in one of the chairs in the office that were supposedly for visitors, but really just for looks. The unidentified man sat down and gave the acting governor a grim smile.
“May I help you?” Mark Joliet was a busy man, and this interruption would make him late to begin his workday.
“ I believe you're the one who will be helped, my friend,” the man was cool and confident. “Since you are running for president of the United States in November, I can make sure that you win.” He then crossed one leg over the other, indicating that he was in no hurry to leave. This irritated the former CIA agent and Texas Ranger chief immeasurably, but he was willing to listen to someone who was confident enough in himself to guarantee a win in the presidential election.
“I am sure that you are interested in a strategy to defeat your foe, because he is a formidable opponent. He has convince the present administration to vacate the position after only one term-”
“Look, I don’t know how you got in here, but I have a busy day. I’m the focus of the government of the most populous state in the union according to the last census taken in 2030, so I have a lot of work to do…”
“This will be first on your list, then. Certainly, you don’t want your wife and daughter to be disturbed as they work out in the gym that is in the back of this governor’s mansion. Both of their heart rates are quite high, so they are engaged in a vigorous activity.
“Nor I’m sure, would you want your daughter, Jennifer, to know that your present wife, Martha, isn’t her biological mother. You remarried quickly after her biological mother died.” The unidentified man sat forward so that he was sure to be heard.
“And I’m sure you would like to know who killed your first wife, wouldn’t you?” “That was a hit-and-run accident-” The unidentified man cut Mark off.
“Was it? Then why couldn’t the organization that you were employed with at the time, the Texas Rangers, figure out what happened and who the driver was? That organization has some of the best-trained detectives in the world, and they couldn’t figure it out, but I can tell you what happened.”
“Tell me now, and I’ll decide whether or not to believe you and if I should call in the Austin Police Department or the Texas National Guard.” Mark was furious.
“I got past your security by myself because I have…influence with some of them. That applies to the other two organizations you just mentioned.
“Now then, first things first. I have a story that will hold your interest to the end. It involves you, your friend Jay Magruder, and the most wanted criminal on the face of the earth, as well as…other people of importance to you, including the best-trained sniper that the world has to offer..” The man sat back in his chair and smiled, as he sat a bloodstained stainless-steel arrowhead on the acting governor of Texas’ desk.
Mark picked up his phone, “Aubrey, hold all my calls for the a.m., please. Well, if it’s her…”
The unidentified man gave Mark an expectant look, one that said that he was more important than even the leader of the free world.
“Yes, even if the president calls. Tell her I’ll call her back as soon as possible if she does call.”
Mark hung up the phone and gave the man his full attention. “Okay, you have my attention, and I do want to know who killed my first wife, because justice must be served. Murder is a capitol offense, so there’s no statute of limitations on that crime, and I was a man of the law for over twenty years, but I have a lunch date that I cannot miss…”
“Well, then, I must begin my story promptly…”
C.: I guess we’ll all need to wait until tomorrow for the rest of the story, right here on Cal.E.’s Korner.
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