Hidden Demon, page 17
part #1 of Altered Demons Series
"Neat trick, Mr. President."
"Whereas Knox exploiting the demon without Butler's okay inflamed his rage and primed him for our own little disinformation campaign. Luring him in and securing a monitored confession was icing."
"Destroying reason and reality was Butler's specialty. That's an outcome you can't even achieve with bombs. Rooting him out before leaving office was a big win, Mr. President. Even though he was a mole, I'm glad he got to us before Knox. It bought us time. What about the others he hinted at?"
"Enablers of his organization, foreign or domestic, will see justice. Vice President Webb will make sure of it once he's inaugurated. Unfortunately, Butler's meddling will force us to scrub a generation of animal weaponization, intelligence, and monitoring systems. We simply can't trust those platforms anymore. You—you both—went beyond the call to keep comms hot and play bait. I just wanted to say thank you, in person."
Dee swigged her water.
"So, it is official then, Mr. President?"
"All negative marks have been redacted from your record. So, my next question is why aren't you taking the position with us? You wanted to settle down a bit, or so I thought."
"Yes, I suppose that means something different for me now. I've grown tired of being controlled by… I don't know… by flawed masters. No offense to you, sir."
"None taken."
"I'm not innocent," Dee said, wringing her well-worn hands. "But I hoped for the best, only to find the worst. I guess my trust in people has turned thin. And now it's time for a recharge. For a change."
"My dad used to say, 'Be the change that you wish to see in the world.' "
"That's Gandhi, isn't it?" Dee said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, but the benefits of that change depend on one's perspective. A feast for one is a famine for another. Leaving may work for you, but I'm losing a fantastic agent."
Dee accepted his praise graciously, but it did not alter her decision. He used flattery like any superb politician—to get his way. As much as she liked him personally and professionally, she could never fully trust him. A flawed master. That phrase perfectly described her feelings toward him. Flawed like all leaders that came before and all that would come after.
"Speaking of change," Freeman said, tapping a button on his console. "It's a bittersweet election week for me. My legacy is secure as Butler's terrorist network collapses. I can start moving past the presidency while taking my farewell tour. Pump up my wife's Foundation. Fish more often, and so forth. New leaders carry the world's politics now."
He reached to his side, grabbing a small tin box and handing it to Dee.
"What's this?"
"Just some reminders. We will always have Tokyo."
The limo stopped. An agent opened the door. President Freeman extended his palm to Dee. She grasped it, nodding before exiting to the same intersection they had departed from minutes before.
As the limo sped away, she opened the box. Photos and mementos greeted her. She grabbed a digital photo screen of Ko as a teenager wearing an Olympic gold medal and waving. In the photo, a younger Saburo stood at his side. An uneaten bag of souvenir peanuts from Singapore Airlines with a scribbled note that read 'I won.' An Olympic pin from the 2028 LA games. Dee removed her bullet necklace and placed it gently in the box before closing it.
"See you again someday, Ko."
***
The stray cat on the porch welcomed her with a comforting meow. A bowl of milk sat near it, partially consumed. Dee and the creature locked eyes. A calming sensation washed over her as it purred, rubbing against her leg.
Moments later, the old security door slammed as she entered her home. She placed the box and water on the table and peeled off her headphones.
"Hey, it's me. What's for breakfast?"
A voice with a southern accent responded, "Well, it ain't meat, sweetheart."
Dee turned her head as Penny emerged from the kitchen. She strolled to Dee, still in her tank top pajamas, and embraced her for a quick kiss.
"I thought we could try New York pizza," Penny said.
Dee looked at Penny's shoulder, rubbing a thumb gently over her scar.
"I've always liked pizza for breakfast. Cheese pizza," she said, emphasizing cheese.
Penny rolled her eyes.
"Yes, of course, a cheese pizza. Then a show? What do you think? Time to fuel the jet?"
Dee shrugged.
"It's your money now."
Penny met her solemn tone with a finger to her lips.
"Your next words need to be more positive, okay. Only good things, remember?"
Dee expected that positivity might wear off on her someday, but for now she would play along.
"Well, if you want pizza, there are even better places than New York."
Penny thought for a moment, until her face lit up with recognition.
"Italy!" Penny screamed as she danced in circles. "Totally! Pizza with a side of seafood at the Amalfi Coast."
"Well, I'm convinced."
"Okay, shower up, stinky butt," Penny said, smacking her rear with a towel.
Dee walked away and pointed at her.
"You be careful."
"I'll make the call to fuel the Gulfstream."
***
As Dee closed the door to the bedroom, Penny's phone rang before she could dial.
"Hello?"
A tense silence permeated the line as she listened closely. No overtones. No Stingray monitoring.
"Hello?" Penny repeated.
"When is your mind like a rumpled bed?" A voice said.
Penny paused before offering a reply to the coded riddle, "When it is not made up."
"Voice identification successful. You are alone?"
"Yes. For now."
"The assets are in place. The time is now."
"It's too soon."
"You ordered readiness as soon as feasible after the Colonel's demise."
Penny grabbed the bridge of her nose.
"We're being watched. I need to get into international airspace so you can secure her for study. After her interaction with the cougar underground, it might be our most important mission."
"But do you still want to complete his mission?"
She clenched her jaw.
"Assembling that asset volume proved difficult."
"Time is short. We may not have another chance. I need your authorization as the new leader of Cell Ten."
"Yes. Do it. Proceed with the plan," Penny said. "The time has come to reveal our true capabilities to the world. If this movement is to thrive, it can't depend on my sniper skills alone. Not after I missed the shot in Tokyo."
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Author Interview
What is your novel about?
Hidden Demon is an action novel about how far humanity goes to maintain the status quo for fear of change. It is a story about the only female member of the elite US Secret Service Counter Assault Team. While there is no shortage of her being a legitimate top agent, the story centers on relationships and how she processes the unique aspects of each of them as her action mission progresses. Fear. Understanding. Compassion. Humor. Anger. Revenge. She experiences them all, and it makes her a different person, ready to face the perils that come in the next phases of her story.
How did you get the idea?
This novel started as my second screenplay, which was workshopped with the Atlanta Film Society and producers in Los Angeles. Everyone who has read it can recommend no comparative work as they do not align in scope and diversity. It is a legitimate mix of high-tech science fiction, horror, technothriller, and political commentary, all steeped in real-world issues happening now and extrapolated out over twenty years.
What is the style of the novel? What can readers expect?
There are elements of Tom Clancy and Stephen King with a touch of Michael Crichton and Robin Cook, but fluff is minimal. I always write to expedite the read and get readers to the next page. I run the novel like a movie in my mind, squeezing it into three hours or fewer. I want people to enjoy the story, characters, and visuals without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail.
Epic fantasies of 100K words will never be my style, which has disappointed some readers in the past. As far as the target audience, anyone with an open mind can enjoy this story, but I think fans of political thrillers will appreciate it most, followed by science fiction and techno fans. Horror fans should also enjoy it since those components are there, but they are a smaller percentage.
The story is intense, don't expect a children's book or even a PG rating. This falls into the Adult Fiction category. There is swearing, drinking, death, and hints of sex, but you'll learn so much along the way. I don't preach in my novels. I educate. Call it the old professor in me. You might not even notice. While my stories are socially aware, I'm giving information, not telling you how to think or believe. I hope most readers appreciate an approach where I shun mindless entertainment and strive to provide the complete package. Readers should be positively glowing at the end. That is my goal.
Who is your favorite character in Hidden Demon? Who was the most difficult to write?
My favorite character this time around is Ko. He uses silence as a weapon and kicks only the rears that require it. I like his attitude. He's a gentle giant and always there for Dee, deferring to her leadership. He is the epitome of a supporting character.
The most difficult to write was Penny. She enters later in the novel. Though she presents herself as the love interest, she has many layers. Getting through them all coherently is a challenge. She is the second most complex character in the novel behind Dee.
You're a white male but you authored a book with a diverse set of characters. Any concerns about how others will receive the story?
Of course, but those concerns center around my desire to do these characters justice. They are my friends, and their diversity reflects my friends and associates in real life. This is the first time I've written a main character who is black, female, and lesbian. My supporting character is from Japan. One of the other characters is a descendant of Cuban refugees.
At the time of this interview, I am putting the book through multiple reads and asked for sensitivity reviews of both the screenplay and novel. I wanted to root out bias and problems iteratively and not let issues fester. My inevitably limited perspectives require remedy, so I treat it like a 360 evaluation in an annual performance review. What am I missing? Did I say or do anything offensive?
I can't promise to not offend anyone who picks up my book, but I have tried to write thoughtfully and respectfully from the beginning. Many of the words and actions you read are things I've seen my real friends say or do… other than killing all those people of course.
Tell me more about the main character.
When I first started, I didn't have Dee's character profile completely fleshed out. I knew her relationship with her dad was a problem and that she hated baseball and hunting. I thought she might be from Georgia, since that's where I live right now, but I decided on Louisiana with an ancestry through the Caribbean. As characters speak, I let them author the story. I know that sounds odd, but my conversations with her, and all the characters, feed what ends up on the page. She has miles of experience as former military SpecOps and knowledge through her college education. She's vegetarian but drinks heavily and considers what's next in her mid-30's. This speaks to the dissatisfaction with her current life, which she oddly can't admit. Her reactions to Ko, her partner on the mission, and discomfort with small towns led me to ask questions. What influenced her to be this way? Why did she leave? Even though the story takes place twenty years from now, in the world I've created the perspectives in small town America have changed little.
Your last book was heavy on religious components. How does this compare?
Yes, The Last Minder had a fallen Catholic named Benny as a main character. Of course, some would say the time traveling alien was the real protagonist. I leave that to you to decide. I'm not a Catholic, so Benny required ample research. However, the Hidden Demon characters cannot be more different from him. Dee is decidedly non-religious, as is Ko. They are kindred spirits in their disdain for tradition. It is an interesting dynamic, and one reason they are both so lonely at times yet get along well together. They are walking contradictions to the world, but successful despite a measure of nonconformity. There are scenes with a church and mentions of a god, but the religious components of this book are minimal.
What makes a good story?
A presentation that helps suspend disbelief, no matter how grand the premise. Stories that draw us in and punch us in the face over and over amaze me. If I get to the end of a movie or a book after a few hours and it doesn't make me feel I'm better for the experience, then I've wasted my time. Good stories do not waste the time of others.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I rarely hear from readers, and if I do it is through reviews. I've never had a reader reach out directly if that's the question. I did a giveaway on Goodreads, and someone said in a review that my book had been on their "to be read" list for a long time. They were excited to win. Another said they stopped reading two other books to read mine based on the first few chapters. I am blown away by statements like that. They humble me and encourage me. Don't worry though, my wife is always there to tell me where I messed up a sentence or word choice when she reads the first drafts.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Personal experience, the Internet, magazines, news sites, interviewing others, beta readers… the list goes on. Let's just say the FBI has a profile on every writer in the world. For this book alone, I researched everything from US aircraft squadrons in Japan to artificial intelligence to torture methods to animal migration patterns. As far as ideas for books or screenplays, they simply emerge, and I capture them. That's the only way to describe it.
What is your background?
I was once interested in being a military pilot or physician or both. I completed pre-med studies at Duke University and flew multiple aircraft simulators, though I never served or went to medical school. I enjoyed technology too much. My wife and I ended up in Atlanta as we started our technology careers. After 20+ years, I’m a multi-platform creator. When I’m not writing, my software incubator for early-stage product ideas and a modest movie production company both occupy my professional time.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was born. But seriously, we are all writers. I am simply privileged with the time, energy, and creative spirit to sustain it for longer than most. I'm also stubborn. So, I won't let something languish for too long. I'm all about getting it done.
Any closing thoughts?
My wife has been incredibly supportive in the journey, while my teenage daughter says, “Look at daddy signing books like he is famous.” If you want to follow me, I’m most active on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Bookfunnel, and the large company named after a river in South America.
Thanks
As with most projects, we often turn to thanks last. A project this challenging does not happen without help.
This would have not been possible without my wife, Adeline Lake. She has stood by me during every struggle and all my successes while encouraging my creative engine. Her support makes this possible. Her gleeful use of red pens on my manuscripts improves them immensely. Having one's wife as alpha/beta reader is a blessing.
I'm grateful to my dad, MSgt John Lake (ret.), who took time from retirement to beta read and offer feedback on the military aspects of the novel on our trip to Folly Beach, SC. His participation in the process was most appreciated.
A big thank you to my developmental editor, Ilia Epifanov. Once again, he helped me find gaps in character development, story arc and world building. His questions and insights enriched the chapter beats, so I could tell this story to its fullest.
A special thanks to Karen Holcomb Gonzalez. As a long-time professional acquaintance and friend, she has taken an active interest in both my fiction and non-fiction work. She is also the biggest Star Trek fan I know. Her beta read of the novel offered valuable feedback from the consumer perspective.
Thank you to Julie Hurwitz who took the time to review the screenplay version of this story and provide feedback prior to conversion to a novel. As a writer, set designer, and UX professional I was appreciative for her time.
Thanks to my old high school friend, Ruth Shiroma Foster, for reviewing parts of the screenplay dialogue early on. To Miho Moore who provided feedback on the proper use of kanji characters. Thanks to Casey Barbato Case for the great thrift shop name. A brief but gracious thanks to Roxanne Hiatt, who has supplied substantial insight on fiction marketing. I deeply appreciate her help.
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Fish Phillips, Hidden Demon
