Matthew Eberz
This is a story of two soldiers, one in the present and one in the past. The present day soldier, Major Sam Call, is at the end of his once promising career, and Sergeant Jonathan Simon, who was a Sergeant in administration during WWII. Sam was a career minded soldier of honor and integrity, but by openly fighting the system he ended his career. His last assignment is preparing the soon to close Fort Sheridan for turnover to civilian authorities. In doing so he finds a diary and some financial data, and then discovers an unlikely plot involving German POWs and American Officers. Once again Sam is forced to act, and he enlists his best friend to help unravel the mystery.
Matthew Eberz initially trained at Ft Bragg, North Carolina, rose to the rank of Regular Army Major in the United States Army and served numerous assignments including Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. He served as a Platoon Leader, Unit Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, Division Transportation Officer, Chief World Wide Military Command & Control Systems Europe, Training Officer with the United States Reserves at Ft. Sheridan, and Deputy Director of the United States Army Artificial Intelligence Center at Fort Monroe Virginia. Post army service, he continued in the computer industry developing major computer systems for private industry. Mr. Eberz is also the creator of the ADAM alert notification system, which supports the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
A black limo pulled up to the front door, and a chauffeur helped Ream exit the car. Wearing a gray suit and carrying a leather attaché case, Ream strolled through the glass doors of the building. Sam forced himself to wait, giving Ream fifteen minutes to reach his office and get settled. He wanted the enemy on familiar ground before he attacked.
Finally he left his car and entered the building, walked to the elevator, and like before a number of people got on with him. And just like before when he got to the top floor it was just himself getting off. The elevator doors opened and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the sweat on his forehead trickled down his face. He had rehearsed what was going to happen in the next few minutes fifty times while he sat in the cold He wiped the sweat away and marched out the door. He stood in the hallway and checked his watch and calculated the time it took to ascend the twenty floors. It had taken two minutes but they had stopped at three floors on the way up. He guessed that the security guards would use a key and express to the top without stopping. Sam figured it would take them just 60 seconds to make the trip and it estimated it would take about thirty seconds to notify security and get them on their way. He opened the double doors to Ream’s corporate offices, hurried past the receptionist, and went directly for Ream’s office. The receptionist called out to him, but he ignored her. She then did exactly what he’d predicted – she called security.
Knowing he had just have ninety seconds before the security team responded, Sam needed everything to go right. The first step had been executed successfully when the receptionist called security. Now he needed Ream to be at his desk or the rest of the plan didn’t matter. Sam approached Tracy, Ream’s secretary, who glanced up at him and his utility uniform.
“Good Morning Tracy” Sam smile at her as he past her desk. “Hello, Sam. I don’t believe you have an appointment.”
“No, I don’t, but this won’t take long, just about ninety seconds.” Sam started into the office and then turned back to her. “Sorry for what’s about to happen.”
Through the half opened door he could see Ream behind his desk reading a paper, perhaps some summary of the nights events. He shoved through the door harder than he needed to, just to make some noise.
Ream went from startled by the sudden noise to intense anger when he saw the cause of the noise was Sam. “What are you doing here? Get out!"
Sam was careful not to go too far into the office and thus not allow those outside to hear what was being said. “You son of a bitch! You killed them. You killed them all and you’re going to pay for it. No matter what it costs me, you will pay.”
Ream saw Tracy hovering in the doorway watching with her mouth open. “I have no idea what you are talking about. Tracy get security in here now.” Ream shouted at her. Making sure there was no one within earshot, Sam added. “Listen, you sorry sack of shit. You fuck with my family and I’ll see you dead – and don’t think I can’t do it.” “You think you can intimidate me, you little piss ant? You’re nothing – a passed over no account major. I’m going to bury you so deep no one will ever hear from you again.”
With that the security men came in and grabbed Sam’s arms from behind. . Sam was not surprised, and in fact was relieved. They were the same two that he met the first time he was here and Sam was happy about that; in fact he had counted on it. He had not moved from the door entrance to make the arrest quick and easy and since the two security guards had experience with him they would be less likely to use excessive force. “Let’s go,” came the order from behind him.
Sam didn’t fight, but turned with the direction of the security men “Good to see you both again. I feel like we’re old friends” As they led him out, Sam turned his head towards Tracy as they led him away. “Have a good day.” With Sam a full ten strides down the path toward the entrance, she responded as if she were saying goodbye to a friend.
“Bye, Sam. Have a nice day.”
