The Will Of The People (Conspiracy Trilogy Book 1) by Christopher Read

hundred
yards beyond Erdenheim, Charlotte turned west onto a narrow back
lane, pulling into a driveway partly-hidden behind a line of stumpy
trees to park beside a mud-spattered Range Rover.
    It was in fact
part of a farm complex, Charlotte taking a moment to work out where
to go before leading the way to the farmhouse’s side door. Even as
she went to press the bell, the door opened wide to reveal a woman
in her fifties, her smile of welcome tinged also with a hint of
sadness.
    “Miss Saunders
and Mr Anderson is it?”
    “That’s right;
Charlotte and Michael, please.”
    They shook
hands, Anne Teacher ushering them through into the large kitchen,
readying mugs as she continued to talk.
    “I was so
sorry to hear about the Commander; as you know I spoke to Jessica
and things just won’t be the same without him. Always helpful,
always polite; the commander was a true gentleman. What with young
Darren as well; it was all so sad… Now, can I get you some
tea?”
    Charlotte
smoothly took control, Anderson’s article on Darren now transformed
into a feature on Erdenheim. He nodded and agreed where it seemed
appropriate, happy to wait and see what Charlotte had in mind. It
quickly became clear that the meeting had been arranged through
Jessica, the Commander’s diary pored over to try and work out why
he had visited the Management Centre.
    “As I said to
the Commander at the time,” continued Anne, quickly becoming more
animated. “I have nothing against Erdenheim itself or it being
where it is, and everything was fine until early March. It’s not as
if we have many animals, so an occasional helicopter isn’t a
problem. But then all of a sudden lots of brash Americans turned up
with their loud voices and louder cars, none with the patience to
have to crawl for a mile behind a tractor. Every night it was a
noisy barbeque and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t cigarettes they were
smoking. I was just hoping the Commander could persuade them to
tone everything down a bit.”
    Anderson
finally found his voice, “Is it still as bad as when you spoke to
Commander Saunders?”
    Anne pursed
her lips, “It improved as soon as he had a word with them and I did
thank the Commander. At the moment, it’s much better and there’s
just the one sports car; even so, I can’t help but think about poor
Darren and worry as to whether my John might be next.”
    Charlotte
nodded in understanding, the arrival soon after of Anne’s husband
taken as their cue to leave. The sequence of events involving the
Commander might be somewhat clearer now but not the precise reason
for his subsequent actions. Charlotte’s doubts were pushing
Anderson into a potentially risky strategy, both hoping that his
visit to Erdenheim would help supply some answers.
    “We have lots
but we have nothing,” said Charlotte, as they headed back to
Marshwick. “And no motive. Perhaps Pat McDowell isn’t quite the
ogre you seem keen to portray.”
    “That’s always
been likely,” admitted Anderson. “I guess I’ll find out
tomorrow.”
    Charlotte glanced quickly across at Anderson, “There is one more thing. Did
you know my father had a heart condition?”

Chapter 6 –
Wednesday, May 12th
Lincolnshire, England
    Anderson sat in his small room at the Farriers , flicking through the TV
news channels for the very latest on events in Russia. Domodedovo
was still making the headlines, the total of confirmed dead fast
approaching six hundred. The missile attack had re-ignited the
Russian public’s concern that far too little was being done to stop
the terrorists, and Wednesday morning had seen Moscow’s police
having to contend with several large demonstrations, the biggest
targeting the Government building known as the Russian White House
– due purely to its colour and not because it had anything to do
with Russia’s President, so the BBC somewhat patronisingly
explained.
    With still an hour to waste before his 11 a.m. appointment at
Erdenheim, Anderson chose