Psychological Thriller - A fast paced, action novel blended with a precarious, unintentional love affair which takes place in a U.S. Midwestern city with a population with a population of approximately 90,000. The story portrays the exploits of one man, whose task is to help his former comrade in a hostile land far from home in a span of only five days. Working alone with the help of his friend's daughter, who is an editor at the local newspaper, he must carry out this dangerous undertaking in the time frame allotted to him by his superiores. The task at hand, although a dangerous undertaking, was straight forward-seek retribution on his friend's adversaries, but to get out alive would be a challenge. However, he was not prepared to fall in love with his best daughter. An unexpected relationship develops between him and the seductive young woman who would aid him throughout his mission, but this unintended, passionate love affair could jeopardize his entire mission and place both their lives in imminent danger. His goal is to seek justice, and bring down Nicklaus Vinchinzi and the people in his unscrupulous organization and others responsible for the orchestrated attack on his longtime friend and colleague. These were very dangerous times in the United States and failure was not an option. This story is about one brave man and woman who fought the lonely fight against man's oppressors, like the charlatans who hide behind cloistered walls, and the righteous do-gooders whose only ambition is to force their narrow, opinionated beliefs on others. It was a dangerous mission in a hostile land with no promise of the dawn. Working alone, he would attempt to take down the organization responsible for his friend's misfortune and eliminate the man at the top whose sole function was to enforce the new regime's strict laws and to eliminate any dissidents who opposed the ruling autocracy. In every era of history there have been
FULL CYLINDER
INVITATION TO A KILLINGBy Wesley Don LawrenceAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 Wesley Don Lawrence
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4634-1935-6Contents
PROLOGUE..........................................................viiCHAPTER 1 THE ASSAULT.............................................1CHAPTER 2 PUSAN SOUTH KOREA.......................................14CHAPTER 3 HARRY'S BAR.............................................21CHAPTER 4 NICKLAUS VINCHINZI......................................29CHAPTER 5 ADRIENNE................................................35CHAPTER 6 FUSILLADE...............................................40CHAPTER 7 THE HOSPITAL............................................49CHAPTER 8 BREAK RIGHT.............................................54CHAPTER 9 THE APARTMENT...........................................65CHAPTER 10 MIDAIR.................................................73CHAPTER 11 MR. FULLER.............................................79CHAPTER 12 FATHER LANCASTER.......................................89CHAPTER 13 BARTHOLOMEW............................................103CHAPTER 14 THE LETTER.............................................113CHAPTER 15 CLEARWATER, OHIO 1869..................................117CHAPTER 16 UNWELCOME VISITOR......................................132CHAPTER 17 ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH FATHER BARBER.....................138CHAPTER 18 INTERLUDE..............................................146CHAPTER 19 SMOKING MAN............................................157CHAPTER 20 ACROSS THE FIELD INTO THE TREES........................163CHAPTER 21 EPILOGUE...............................................173ABOUT THE BOOK....................................................181
Chapter One
THE ASSAULT
He was on his hand and knees attempting to rise, when without warning, a huge boot smashed into his exposed chest. Spirally like a top, he landed face down on the cold, unyielding pavement. Breath stopping pain, shock, followed by a paralyzing numbness spread through his body ... dazed, confused, he lay still on the hard pavement not daring to move. Sucking in his breath, he unconsciously held it for three or for seconds before expelling what remained in one expulsion of air. He tried focusing his muddled mind on something, anything to escape what was happening to him. Observing a small puddle of water a few inches from his face, he stared at it, concentrating on light reflecting off the surface of a pool of dirty water, but underneath was only darkness and silence. Suddenly, someone—he was unable to see who issued the command—his attackers immediately sprang into action to execute the order. Instantly rough hands lifted off the pavement and held him upright in a standing position. Although both eyes were almost swollen shut, he was able to see his tormentor, a giant of a man who glared down at him with eyes devoid of mercy or compassion. His desperate pleas for succor were ignored. A huge fist smashed into his exposed stomach, the pain was electrifying, he tried to breadth, but no breath would come and he collapsed. This was only the beginning of a terrifying ordeal not of his own making. And he knew the nightmare of this day was not over, for this was just a taste to what was to follow. What did his attackers want from him? Gasping for breath, he prepared for the worst. Pulling his aching body into a writhing ball of pain, he clutching frantically at his injured body wrapping his arms around it for protection, but this gesture only served to infuriate his attackers to the point of unbridled savagery. He could hear his attackers chattering in the background, but was unable to understand what they were saying. Why were these men hurting him? What had he done wrong to deserve this terrible beating? He would be admonished for his transgressions later after the chastisement was finished. But would he survive?
A moment later the beating resumed in earnest.
It was unusual warm fall day in the Midwestern city of Unity where 90,000 happy citizens resided ... But not all the people were content, there were a few who dared to complain against the strict moral code now in-place in the land of the 'free'. Not far the center of this thriving metropolis in a dimly lit alley with only a few street lights, a brutal assault was in progress. The vicious, brutal punishment was administered scrupulously; the punches were designed to inflict serious pain, but carefully orchestrated not to cause death or permanent injury. The scheme was to hurt and humiliate the victim as well to teach him or her a lesson in compliance and respect for the New Order. Cut and smash the face, kick the body, break a few fingers, strip off the clothes before informing the hapless victim of his or her transgression. After the beating, it would be a couple of hours before help would arrive to transport the injured person to the hospital. These attacks were always administered in a remote section of Unity to avoid onlookers or witnesses who might observe the gross spectacle of these frequent assaults. In these tempestuous times under the New Order, a walk across the street had become as dangerous as an overland journey across the West during the Indian Wars.
This was just one of the many isolated locations were such violent acts occurred over the years since the New Governing Body and the One Nation Under God regime assumed power with its total reign over its subjects. Laws were quickly enforced, especially Church Justice which was swift and finale. It was a new decade of total obedience ruled by a harsh system included capital punishment when applicable. The man in charge of routine law enforcement and the task of monitoring all activities in Unity was a former crime boss hired by the New Order to enforce its strict dogma, his name—Nicklaus Vinchinzi, a man who was feared and hated by his many enemies, yet admired by his loyal followers; nevertheless, he was revered by the Church Hierarchy for his many successful accomplishments, especially the routine, brutal attacks on enemies of the State and the New Church.
On this catastrophic day for one of Unity's unlucky citizens—who was previously turned in by a one of his close friends for several infractions involving one of the many existing Church laws—was just finishing work on Monday at 5:30 P.M., when he was grabbed off the side walk in front of his workplace by two men, and roughly dumped unceremoniously into the back of an unmarked black van parked next to the curve directly in front of several onlookers who wisely looked the other way. The ordinary workday went on as usual without him. The van immediately left the curve with its human cargo heading south with its prey safely tucked in the back of the vehicle. The helpless victim was surrounded on each side by two ominous looking men who never spoke, only giving their prisoner an occasional threatening glance. There were two other men in the forward compartment who were engaged in a lengthy conversation, but he could not hear what they were saying. Their prisoner was in excellent health for his age, perhaps in his late forties or early fifties, slender, about five-eight and well dressed in a neatly pressed business suit. He was in good spirits, his job was going well and tomorrow was his day off Yes, life had been good to him until now.
With a half-hearted effort he attempted to address his captors.
"Who are you ... what do you people want with me?" The frightened man blurted out, then asked, "Are you the police?"
...
