CLOSE PROXIMITY Read online

  CLOSE PROXIMITY

  By

  MW Huffman

  Close Proximity©2013MW Huffman

  All Rights Reserved

  WaJe Production

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to anyone or any event is purely coincidental.

  OTHER BOOKS PUBLISHED BY MW HUFFMAN

  THE END–BOOK I of The Event Series

  THE BEGINNING–BOOK II of The Event Series

  THE REVELATION–BOOK III of The Event Series

  The Second Civil War–BOOK I-A Nation Divided

  The Second Civil War–Book II-A Nation at War

  The Second Civil War–Book III–A Nation Healing

  Project BlueBolt – BOOK I – American Gulags

  Project BlueBolt – BOOK II - The Gulag Journal

  Project BlueBolt – BOOK III – American Uprising

  REVOLUTION

  THE BRINK

  CLOSE PROXIMITY

  BLACKSTAR

  CHIMERA

  WORLDS END

  SUN BURST

  Sins of the Fathers

  The Unfinished

  Angie Bartoni Case File # 1 - The Alphabet Murders

  Angie Bartoni Case File # 2 - Frost Bite

  Angie Bartoni Case File # 3 - Dead Aim

  Angie Bartoni Case File # 4 - What Goes Around

  Angie Bartoni Case File # 5 - Nothing to Lose

  Angie Bartoni Case File # 6 - Shadow Man

  Angie Bartoni Case File # 7 – The Club

  Angie Bartoni Case File # 8 – Shakespeare Murders

  Angie Bartoni Case File # 9 – One Too Many

  Angie Bartoni Case File #10 – Weak Link

  Angie Bartoni Case File #11 – Vanishing Act

  Angie Bartoni Case File #12 – Victim’s Advocate

  Angie Bartoni Case File #13 – Payback

  Angie Bartoni Case File #14 – Dead on Arrival

  The Logan Files - Blond Deception

  The Logan Files - Innocence and Avarice

  The Logan Files - The Deal Breaker

  The Logan Files – Pain Center

  Norris Files - Silver2

  Norris Files – Insurrection

  FOREWORD

  For thousands of years man believed that the Earth was the center of the universe. Everything revolved around man’s existence on this small planet. To think otherwise was not only foolish, but dangerous. You could be branded a heretic and that often ended in a death sentence.

  And then a strange thing started to happen in Europe. Several mathematicians began to question this very concept.

  Contrary to popular belief, Galileo Galilei, did not invent the telescope. The first known telescope was invented by Hans Lippershey in 1608. Galileo was the one to take the telescope to the next level by using mirrors to collect light and thus was born the beginning of modern astronomy. Galileo was more than just a star gazer; he was a brilliant mathematician, scientist and observer. His contributions to science were earthshaking at the time. He discovered the four largest moons orbiting around Jupiter, aptly named the Galileo Moons.

  Where Galileo started to go wrong with the church’s philosophy at the time was when he wrote a paper explaining how he could determine the distance of a star from the earth. This implied that the Earth was not the center of the universe. His published works about Stellar Parallax made him an enemy of Pope Urban VIII. Galileo was brought before the inquisition. The deck was stacked against him and he was found ‘Vehemently suspect of heresy’ and was placed under house arrest. He was also forced to recant his theory that the earth moved around the sun rather than the earth being the center of the universe.

  Fortunately the scientific revolution was beginning to take place. Far too many things could no longer be shoved under the table. Galileo had opened the scientific Pandora’s Box. Many other brilliant and curious minds challenged the official policy of the church. While the inquisition deterred some, others refused to be subject to the whims of the church.

  Even after Galileo died, Pope Urban VIII refused to let him be buried in the Basilica of Santa Croce, next to the tombs of his father and other ancestors. The Grand Duke of Tuscany tried to petition the church to erect a marble mausoleum in his honor but Pope Urban VIII refused the request. He still viewed Galileo as a suspect of heresy even though his calculations and theories had been proven correct.

  Since that time, man has been constantly looking deeper into our universe and trying to discover its origin. New theories are developed but no one can say with absolute certainty who or what created the heavens and earth. Biblical references point directly to God, others scoff at that and look for other explanations.

  Knowledge is a worthy goal but in the end, does it really matter how the universe was created? How does that help us in our everyday lives? Knowing for an absolute fact will do little to change how we live on this planet.

  Even now, astronomers sit in front of huge telescopes and listening arrays to discover the secrets of the universe. Day after day, night after night, thousands work on solving the mystery of the stars.

  It is estimated that our galaxy, the Milky Way, is roughly 100,000 light years across and contains over 400 billion stars. We are but one of hundreds of millions of galaxies. The total number of stars and planets is incalculable.

  Our sun and our solar system rotate around the center core of a black hole in the middle of the Milky Way Galaxy. We are on the outer edge of one of the spiral offshoots of the galaxy about two-thirds of the way out from the center of the galaxy.

  There is nothing easy about grasping the enormity of the universe. The only time we seem concerned is when something has an impact on our daily lives. For man to become interested in space it takes something grabbing our attention and putting it into terms we can understand.

  That is exactly what was about to happen in only a few short months during the year, 2016.

  “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”

  - Albert Einstein -

  CHAPTER ONE

  James Erwin had been a renegade most of his life. He was in constant trouble as a kid and continued on during high school. All of that changed one night when he was caught in the back seat of his father’s car with the Mayor’s youngest daughter.

  “Out of the car,” the cop said, shinning the light through the side window.

  The officer could see two people mostly naked in the back seat.

  “Come on. Get out of the car,” the policeman said, tapping on the window.

  “Give us a minute,” James yelled back, trying to help Becky get her blouse buttoned.

  James finally opened the door and the two got out. Becky was shivering from both the cold and fear.

  “Holy smokes,” his partner said, shinning his flashlight on the girl, “Do you know who that is?”

  “Some girl this scumbag picked up?”

  “It’s Becky Brown, Mayor Brown’s daughter.”

  “Oh heavens. Oh damn,” he said and involuntarily took a step back.

  “Yeah. What now?”

  “Let us go. No one has to know,” James suggested.

  “Little late for that. We called in the plate.”

  “Look, I don’t mind getting in trouble but I don’t want Becky implicated. Can’t you just make up a name? If her father finds out he will kill her.”

  “I doubt that but she may wish she was dead before it’s all over,” the policeman said.

  “You two stay right there. We need to talk this over.”

  The two officers walked over to the cop car and started discussing the situation. James figured one wanted to just take them in and the other was arguing against it. He couldn’t be sure but he caught enough words
to get the gist of what was going on. One of the cops was very animated. Finally they stopped talking and walked back over.

  “James you have been in trouble more times than I can count. Hell, I’ve pulled you in four or five times. You are trouble boy and my partner and I don’t like people that cause us undue problems. I’m going to take you in but you keep your mouth shut about Becky Brown. We are going to haul you down to the station and then drop off Miss Brown at her house. What she tells her dad is her problem. We don’t intend to divulge her name.”

  “That’s great. Thank you.”

  “You understand what’s happening here Miss Brown.”

  “Yes sir,” she said shivering.

  “You had better come up with a good story that your dad will buy. If he asks us, I won’t lie for you but I won’t volunteer anything either. Got it?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Alright. Get in the car and follow us to the station. Maybe you can come up with something that will fly,” he said and headed back to the police car.

  James and Becky followed them back to the station and went over what she could tell her dad. All her dad knew was that she was going to go get something to eat with a friend. She hadn’t mentioned any particular name. She would say they dropped her off at the corner and she walked home from there.

  “Why did they drop you off?” James asked.

  “I ask them to.”

  “Why?”

  “Just because. What difference does it make?”

  “It makes a difference because your father has to be satisfied and ‘because’ isn’t going to float.”

  “Damn it Jim. I don’t know why. I guess because I felt like walking. Do you have a better answer?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “Then it has to be because I ask them to.”

  “I guess we had better hope he doesn’t ask then,” Jim replied.

  When they got to the station, they took James inside and booked him. When they were finished they drove Becky home.

  “Stop at the corner,” she said.

  They pulled up and let her out. At least she wouldn’t have to lie about that. She had asked them to drop her off at the corner. When she got out she was happy to see that the lights were off and her dad’s car wasn’t in the drive way. With any luck at all she would be able to get out of this scott-free. Just as she was walking up the drive, headlights illuminated her as her dad pulled into the drive.

  CHAPTER TWO

  James spent the night in the holding cell. He was kept awake by the screaming of some jerk who was on drugs and thought a snake was coming out of his ears. He sat up and put his feet on the floor. His back hurt from the hard bench he had used for a bed. At least there were only three in the cell. He had been there previously when the place hardly had room to sit, let alone lie down.

  He was served something that vaguely resembled eggs and was allowed to shower and was given an orange jump suit and pair of soft soled moccasins. At 10:00 A.M. an attorney appointed by the court came to talk to him.

  “Okay Mr. Erwin, let me just lay this out for you. When the judge asks you how you plead to disorderly conduct and public nudity you will say ‘Guilty your Honor’. In exchange, nothing else will be brought before the court. I have already had a conference with the prosecution and the judge and you will either join the military or serve eighteen months in the county jail. Those are the only two choices you have.”

  “So I’ll have a criminal record following me the rest of my life?”

  “Absolutely not if you join the military.”

  “That’s not much of a choice,” James said.

  “Really? I think it’s pretty generous. Looking at your past history with the law I think that the judge is doing you a huge favor. You need to get your head screwed on right,” the attorney admonished.

  “Wow, and you’re on my side?” James said.

  “Not really. I just happened to be the sap that landed this case,” he said as he was leaving.

  **

  The court appearance was over almost before James had time to take it all in. He stood up when asked how he pleaded. Of course he said ‘Guilty’. The plea bargain was entered but worded so that no mention of the indiscretion with the Mayor’s daughter was apparent. The judge gave him the choice of jail or military and of course James opted for the military.

  There was one tiny detail that was attached to the stipulation. He had to remain in the service for his full term and receive an honorable discharge. It seemed like a small thing at the time but he was about to learn just how difficult military indoctrination could be.

  **

  Nothing in his civilian life prepared James for the shock of boot camp. From the minute the bus pulled into the base until the end of boot camp, thirteen weeks later, it was a total transformation. Because of his attitude he was singled out along with other ‘wise guys’ and given extra attention.

  In the military, extra attention is not a good thing. It simply meant that additional abuse was added to their already dehumanizing routine. At the end of the thirteen weeks James was forever a different person. His smart mouthed, carefree attitude had been turned into one that understood the consequences of his actions.

  CHAPTER THREE

  James received his honorable discharge and had reached the Non Commissioned Officer, NCO level of E-6 during his four years. When discharged, he decided that if he was ever going to amount to anything he would have to get a good education.

  Before the military he had never even considered going to college but now it seemed like the only way he was going to be able to make a decent living. He had always been smart enough; it was simply a lack of drive.

  He had matured and for the first time became physically fit. He was six foot one and one hundred and seventy-nine pounds of mostly muscle. His face had softened and the tan made him look younger than he was. He wasn’t Hollywood handsome but he was certainly attractive.

  He took the entrance test for the University of Arizona in Tucson and was accepted. Acclimating back into the civilian world took a little time. Having been an NCO he was used to giving orders. Now he was pretty much powerless and brains became more important than pay grade.

  It was during his second semester that he took an introductory astronomy class. By the end of the class he was certain that was what he wanted to do with his life. He majored in Physical Science and finished in the top five percent of his class.

  He actually became obsessed with astronomy and spent countless hours reading everything he could get his hands on. It was during his Planetary Astronomy and Sciences class during his senior year that he met Dr. Abigail Montgomery.

  Professor Montgomery was one of the leading scientists in the field of planetary composition and gravitational physics. She had written several books on the subject and James read every one, not just once but several times.

  She was very popular with the students because of her approach to teaching. It wasn’t just stand up in front of the class and flash PowerPoint presentations on a screen. Her lectures were peppered with descriptions of actual events that she had experienced from doing field work. Her passion for the subject was contagious.

  James was enthralled with the class and spent countless hours in the labs doing extra and advanced work whenever he got the chance. When he came into class on Tuesday, late into the semester, Professor Montgomery handed him a note.

  I would like to discuss your grades and the test from yesterday with you. If it is convenient, please stop by my office during my regular hours.

  Dr. Montgomery

  He had no idea what this was about. Could he have absolutely bombed the test? It didn’t seem that hard. He had spent three days studying for it and felt confident when he handed it in.

  The rest of the class was a blur. He kept going over some of the questions in his mind and how he had answered them. He was nervous and edgy when the class was over. He went to the lab and tried to focus on his project but it was useless.
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  He checked his syllabus and found the scheduled office hours for Montgomery. He decided that he needed to find out what this was all about as quickly as possible.

  Promptly at three o’clock he entered the building where the vast majority of the Astronomy Professors Offices were located.

  “May I help you?” a student worker asked.

  “I’m looking for the office of Dr. Montgomery.”

  “Is she expecting you?” the girl asked.

  “I don’t know. I mean, sort of. She handed me a note and said she wanted me to drop by to discuss a test we just took,” James told her.

  “Just a second,” the cute young girl said and dialed a phone number.

  “Your name?” the girl asked while she had the phone up to her ear.

  “James Erwin. I’m in her 10 o’clock class,” he offered.

  “Doctor Montgomery. I have a James Erwin here who says you wanted to meet with him.”

  “Alright. Fine. I’ll tell him,” she said and hung up.

  “She is with another student; she asked if you wouldn’t mind waiting a few minutes.”

  “Sure,” he said and shrugged.

  He looked around and found two chairs placed against the wall. He sat down and looked at the note one more time. This is stupid, he thought. I’ve read the damn thing a dozen times. I’m not going to glean any new insight reading it again.

  It was a full ten long minutes before he saw one of the other students from his 10 o’clock class coming out of one of the offices. The phone rang on the student worker's desk.

  “Yes Doctor Montgomery? Yes he is. Alright I will,” she said and hung up.

  “You can go on back. Her name is on the door. Third office on the right.”

  “Thank you,” James muttered.

  He felt like he couldn’t breathe. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” the familiar voice said.

  James entered and saw that she was standing behind her desk. She came around to greet him.