Dan Tesson: A Thriller

By Sean O'Leary

Dan Tesson: A dystopian odyssey that plunges readers into a post-pandemic world where survival and love intertwine amidst chaos. Set in the 2040s, the story follows Dan Tesson, a magnetic defense contractor unafraid to challenge authority. As society grapples with the aftermath of two devastating plagues, Dan navigates a labyrinth of political intrigue, moral dilemmas, and personal vendettas. His unwavering devotion to his wife, Becca, becomes both his strength and Achilles' heel. With explosive secrets, unexpected alliances, and a relentless quest for truth, this thriller keeps readers on the edge of their seats, questioning who to trust in a world where deception is the new normal. Will Dan's audacious spirit lead to redemption or ruin? Dive into this gripping narrative to find out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sean O'Leary
• Release date: Jun 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227425133

Book preview

DEDICATION

To my son Timothy, who spent countless hours, over the

years, discussing Dan Tesson with me.

We all want a better world for our children.

Wisdom is knowing that they are the ones who will

shape their world.

PROLOUGE

The snow was piling up by the time they reached the center of town. It crunched under their shoes as they walked through Lafayette Square. An ominous silence hung over them. The lights on the White House were bright as day. They made a slight left and walked toward the northeastern entrance. As they approached the gate, four secret service agents stepped out and opened fire on them. The encounter ended predictably with the four dead men laying in front of the entrance. As they entered the grounds there were occasional sounds of gunfire. Some as large as 50 cal. They usually only got one or two shots off before falling silent. About halfway up the circle, Dan stopped and looked at the building before him. Jon stood a few steps behind him waiting and watching.

Dan thought about everything that had led up to this moment. It wasn’t like he could turn back now. The world knew every move he had made in coming here. By now they had images of the sleeping soldiers up north. Although they probably thought they were all dead. What made him pause was not fear, but doubt. Doubt that what he was doing was going to achieve the results he longed for. The governments of the world had become so corrupt... so power and money hungry, that they lost sight of the people they were supposed to represent, to protect. He had kept their needs firmly in his mind. It was for them and not for him that he stood here.

He turned and looked back at Jon, I guess there is no reason to delay any further. He turned and walked up to the top of the circle. He saw the cameras and the newspeople to one side. He smiled and waved, Good evening, he said in a loud and friendly voice. I have come to talk with the president.

There was an unexpected assault of automatic gun fire that lasted five or maybe ten seconds. Dan and Jon stood tall clearly unarmed but the press had retreated to the building or against the walls. Some were on their bellies in the snow.

Well, tried Dan again, hopefully that is the end of the bloodshed for tonight.

The press nervously stood up.

One man asked, Are you here to kill the President?

CHAPTER 1 — LUNCHTIME AT DENIGENS

A small bell tinkled as the front door of the restaurant opened. It was lunchtime, and the place was packed.

The three friends made their way over to a table in the corner and sat down. I think you went too far in your interview last night, commented Tom as he sat down at the table with Dan and Jennifer. Don’t get me wrong, you were brilliant. It’s just; well, you know how management is. . .

Can you blame them? questioned Jennifer. I mean, really Dan, have you forgotten you work for a defense contractor? You can’t come out and make wild allegations about our government and not think it is going to upset some pretty powerful people in our company. Dan, over in sales, I deal with our customers all the time, and image is very important. Yes, you need a good product, but you need a rock-solid reputation as well. When your employees are as vocal about criticizing the administration as you are, it reflects on our company as well.

Dan smiled. He had worked with Tom and Jennifer for eight years. They had occasionally gone to lunch and had become rather tight friends over the years. Their lunch conversations were never what you would call normal. The company bred a team of workaholics. They walked, talked and ate fast. There was always another meeting to go to, a project to finish or some crisis that was threatening to shut down production. Today was no different; they had half an hour to grab a bite at the café across the street from the plant and get back to work.

Why are you smiling Dan? asked Tom.

Just then the waitress walked up. She was young and thin and relatively new. They had seen her the week before, but now the expression on her face was almost one of fear over the noontime rush. She stood there and stared at them, seemingly gathering her thoughts. Her curly hair almost covered her eyes and looked like coiled springs of gold hanging from her head.

Welcome to Denigens, she said in a totally unconvincing way, and began searching her pockets for her order pad and a pen. Can I start you off with some drinks? "Three diet cokes. And we’d like to order right away.

We’re a little short on time today, replied Tom taking charge of the situation. It seemed obvious to him the waitress was totally disorganized. He was sure she was going to mess up their order. I’ll have a Cobb salad, blue cheese dressing on the side please, he went on and then turned to face Jennifer, Jen?"

Minestrone soup and a hard roll, she said with a smile, to the waitress.

I’ll have the Thai chicken wrap, said Dan.

The waitress nodded and left, taking several steps away from the kitchen before she realized she was going the wrong way. Honestly why do they get people as dizzy as that to work in a restaurant? fumed Tom.

Dan chuckled, She’s going to spit on your food if you keep it up.

I doubt it, he blurted. In fact, if she even remembers where we are sitting, I will be surprised. Anyway, we were talking about your interview or rather the fallout from it. Has anyone in management said anything to you?

I got a few icy looks, but no direct comments, he said. I know I am taking a risk expressing myself. I should be the good little corporate drone and do as I am told; be thankful I have a job and not stir the pot. But that is not who I am. I have always been outspoken about things I think are important. I am careful not to claim something is true when I have no proof; so, I tell people right off, this is my opinion or theory. And I always let people, especially the news media, know that it is my personal opinion and not that of my employer.

Still people are not fair, and if you tick off the wrong person, I mean of a different political inclination then you, you might be working on a do-nothing project or worse you could be looking for a job.

Anything is possible, I suppose, he pondered. But I am good at my job and I make money for them and so, at least up ‘til now, they have tolerated me.

The waitress returned. She almost dropped the drinks in Jennifer’s lap. Have you decided what you would like to eat? she asked searching through her pockets for a pen and her order book.

For God’s sake, exclaimed Tom, you took our order a few minutes ago. We are really in a rush, and I would like to have some food before I have to return to what is going to be a very long afternoon. The waitress looked like she would burst into tears. Dan gave a reproachful look at Tom.

I, I’m . . ., she began.

But Jennifer cut her off, Forgive him, he’s an idiot. Do you have our order or would you like us to go over it again? she asked in a calm tone while smiling at the waitress.

I’m sorry, she said, gaining her composure. I am new and there is a lot to remember. I turned your order in when I was getting your drinks. She turned and hurried off. That was really inconsiderate Tom, scolded Dan, even for you. If you’re having a bad day, that is no reason to take it out on her. How would you like to be in an unfamiliar setting and have someone go out of their way to make you feel even less comfortable than you already did? Honestly!

Okay, okay. We are all on edge, said Jennifer. It has been a difficult week and the last thing we need is to begin taking it out on each other. Let’s change the topic, shall we? I was watching the news last night at ten and they said two more people have come down with the Bird Flu on the east coast. I am beginning to get worried.

Tom rolled his eyes and said nothing. He was feeling a bit chastised and did not want to say anything that would draw any further retribution from his friends. Dan had an expression of excitement on his face. Funny you should bring that up, he teased. I got a letter last night from The Journal and they have accepted one of my articles for publication. It just happens, it is all about the Bird Flu.

Let me guess, said Tom clearly unimpressed. You think the media is blowing it out of proportion to keep people from focusing on what is really important in the world.

Tom, I am impressed, said Dan with a little laugh. You have been paying attention. There may be hope for you yet. Well, you’re at least partly right. The media does latch onto a story and use it to distract people from the real issues. After all, if all they wanted was viewership they could run stories about the high gas prices, inflation, the number of dead in our ongoing war in the middle east or any number of stories that are important to people. Instead, they find something that will scare people and draw them away from issues that they might actually be able to change, given half a chance.

Dan, people listen to what is interesting to them. The media is just giving them what they want so they can get their ratings up, said Jennifer.

I don’t know Jen, responded Tom. "Have you noticed how our three great local news channels run the exact same news stories, at the exact same time? I mean they could at least show them in a different order so it wasn’t so obvious that they were giving you the same rhetoric.

Sometimes I want to go looking for the great OZ behind the media curtain. I don’t believe my ears, said Jennifer. Are you starting to buy into Dan’s ideas of media corruption and conspiracy?

Dan said nothing; he was rather enjoying their banter.

It just seems that if you have three independent news sources, you might get three perspectives or slightly different news stories, claimed Tom. Certainly, they would not always have the same stories in the same order. Maybe Dan is a bad influence on me, but I looked it up and all three news groups are owned by the same company. Now I am not one to buy into conspiracies, but you have to admit it looks a little strange. Competition is a good thing. Once everyone is on the same side it is no longer competition, is it?

Well, I don’t know what it is, but it can’t be better than truly independent news.

Tom, you have renewed my hope in the American public, said Dan. I couldn’t agree with you more. It has been my contention for years that the information coming from the news is being tightly controlled. People watch or read the news and think they are getting the truth, something similar to what really happened and something unbiased. But they aren’t. The news has been centralized. It is now a tool to manipulate, sway – Sway, he corrected himself seeing he was going to lose Jennifer’s ear, "public opinion.

Just, then the waitress returned with their food. She got the order right but put the food down in front of the wrong people. The waitress smiled a bit pleased with herself for not dropping anything. Can I get you anything else right now?

No thank you. This will be fine, replied Jennifer with a smile.

After the waitress walked away, they exchanged plates with a slight chuckle.

I am glad you two think this is funny, said Tom, slightly irritated, but the service in this country has gone to hell.

So, what is your article about, questioned Jennifer.

You are not going to take me seriously, but I am convinced that the Bird Flu is a manufactured virus, he waited for their reactions but only got raised eyebrows. The government has taken the virus from the 1918 Spanish flu and mutated it and has been preparing for some time to release the new strain. This is the beginning of a biological war.

You mean the government wants us all to get a really bad cold and have to stay home from work so our jobs can be taken over by foreign workers? mocked Jennifer.

I knew you wouldn’t take me seriously, but I thought you would be up on your history, reproved Dan. Between 1918 and 1919 somewhere between 25 million and 100 million people died of the flu. This wasn’t a bad cold, it was serious. One in three people were getting sick. Some countries lost a fifth of their population. People would get the disease and be incapacitated in hours. Many died the following day. The first groups literally drowned in their own body fluids with pneumonia while the later ones came down with secondary bacterial infections.

Can we not talk about graphically disturbing things while we are trying to eat? begged Tom. Besides we have antibiotics now, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

Wrong, said Dan. Antibiotics can’t fight viruses. They can only help with secondary bacterial infections. I think they have made a better flu virus than the 1918 virus, one that will kill more people.

But why should the government want to kill people? asked Tom. They have to know it will kill their own people as well as their enemy.

If you manufacture a virus then you know everything about it, said Dan. And you can make a vaccine. Several vaccines in fact, one that really works and another that works but not very well. Then you could select who gets which vaccine. You could select which segment of the population survived and which did not. Then on a global scale you could decide which countries to give the real vaccine to and which to let die. Perhaps you only give the vaccine to the rich and well educated because they are the ‘cream of the crop’. Or maybe you decide to give them the bad vaccine because they are difficult to control and besides someone will have to take out the garbage and that is certainly not going to be someone with a Ph.D. Control, it is all about control.

Tom and Jennifer had stopped eating. They were staring at Dan in disbelief. Their conversation had not been overheard and so the commotion in the restaurant was as noisy and chaotic as ever, but the mood at their table was tense and uncomfortable.

Jennifer began in slow measured words, Dan, have you lost your mind?  You can’t really believe what you just said.  That would be like, like. . . It would be akin to genocide but not against a particular ethnic group. I don’t even know what to call it. No one would do that.

No one? asked Dan. "I know that you hear my words and think they sound outlandish but think about history. What did people say in the 1930’s and 40’s when the Nazis tried to exterminate the Jews. And it wasn’t just the Jews. They imprisoned gypsies, homosexuals, interracial couples and those with physical deformities. And let’s not forget the subversives. Those are the people who did not agree with what the Nazi’s were doing. No one? How about the Khmer Rouge (1975)? Do you remember Bosnia (1992), Rwanda (1994), Bangladesh (1971), Sudan (1983), Ukraine (1930’s) or the Armenians (1915)? And let’s not forget the smallpox blankets given to the first inhabitants of this continent by our predecessors.

We have been killing one another, for one reason or another, since the beginning of time. Just because something is horrible, violent or disgusting does not automatically make it untrue.

And as for it not being biased toward any particular ethnic group, what do you think will happen to the people who look like me but are making minimum wage, have one wage earner and three kids to take care of at home? Minorities always get the short end of the stick. They don’t have healthcare, so they rely on the system to take care of them, or not. Point is, if you are just making it, you won’t get the best care, preventive or curative."

O.K., said Tom, "Suppose you are right. They get to weed out those they deem undesirables but why would they want to kill so many people? Wouldn’t it make more sense to have