The Cassandra Syndrome

by Eleonor Mendoza

Overview

Anne Cortez and her son Mark were on a cruise of Scandinavia and Russia, when they witnessed a shooting.

Untoward violence seemed to occur around a fellow passenger, Dr. Fawzi Senawi, an Iranian nuclear physicist.

Anne and Mark tried to avoid Senawi; but could they turn their back on a dying man’s plea that they save his kidnapped son?

Acting on a clue, Anne surmised that this was connected to the release of the ‘Stuxnet cyberworm’ by the USA. This malware was supposed to deter the Iranian nuclear program.

Anne and Mark sought the help of the past counter-terrorism czar and other would be patriots, but they are drawn into a deepening web of international intrigue.

Could they avert the repercussions of a cyberwar that would disrupt our financial, electrical, and defense systems; and would make possible the prediction that the Dow Jones Industrial Average would fall to triple digits in 2016?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475972160
Publisher:	iUniverse, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/31/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	347 KB

Read an Excerpt

The Cassandra Syndrome

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By Eleonor Mendoza

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2013 Eleonor Mendoza
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4759-7215-3

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Chapter One

To Copenhagen

June 6, 2012

Anne and her son Mark were going on a cruise of Scandinavia and Russia. Anne was supposed to have been ready much earlier, but as usual, Anne was behind schedule as she took care of other things that cluttered her life.

"Why did you not just answer the phone?" Mark said reprovingly.

"Sometimes I just want to get so much done before we leave. Anyway, I've endorsed the printing of invitations to another committee member. Just hold on; I'll finish packing even if I don't sleep," Anne said patiently.

"I'm packed—I'm going to bed," said Mark, who went to bed with a shrug.

"Two hours before departure means we have to be at the airport at four a.m.," said Anne's husband, Edward, grumbling as he headed for the sofa.

"I'll be done soon," Anne said, and she looked at the clock, which was striking midnight.

They made it on time to the Kansas City airport and then to their international flight going through O'Hare, in spite of the tight connection.

Anne led the way out of the plane and into the terminal. "Take this photocopy of my passport and put it in your wallet. I have yours in mine. Here's the list of the toll-free numbers to call if our credit cards are stolen," Anne said as she looked around at the restaurants.

"Got it." Mark put the folded paper in his wallet and followed. He was used to his mom acting like this, even if he squirmed at times. He suddenly smiled at the thought of his cousin calling his mom a control freak.

"Let's eat here. Chinese food will do. We have less than an hour to eat," Anne said, and she started for the line.

"Cheap and fast it is." Mark followed her.

The flight to Copenhagen was full. Anne sorted and arranged their itinerary sheets, passports, money, and other papers before she settled down. Mark was already asleep when she opened a paperback book and began to read.

Copenhagen

"Two days in Copenhagen is barely enough, but we will make the most of it." Anne suddenly stretched to free Mark's backpack from a moving luggage cart. "Is it that necessary to bring your computer?"

"Mom!"

"Okay! Okay!" Anne rolled her eyes and followed the bell captain pushing the luggage cart toward the hotel elevator.

"Are we going to see the Lorelei before dinner then?" Mark asked as they entered the room.

"Yes, and we can walk around that area and get dinner before we come back to the hotel. We'll sleep early so we can make the most of tomorrow."

Anne and Mark were at Tivoli Gardens by nine o'clock in the morning. They appreciated the scenery and chose among the rides that were available.

"How beautiful! I'm so glad I'm not missing the gardens this time!" Anne said.

"It's worth our time and trouble all right!" Mark agreed.

Next they went for the world-famous, tallest carousel, the Star Flyer.

They sat down next to each other as the carousel began to fill with people getting on the ride.

"I can do this, but I'm not going to ride that wooden roller coaster or the Vertigo, okay, Son? You go, but I'll wait nearby. I've had enough of those thrill rides. Oh! That jarring motion makes me nervous."

Anne looked around when she heard raised voices just outside the carousel perimeter. "Son!" she called.

"Huh?" Mark pointed out the scene to his mom.

Just then the carousel started, but with a slow motion at first. As Anne and Mark looked at the commotion, they suddenly heard a shot.

"Oh no! A man just got shot! I hope the mechanic lets us get off this ride," Anne said.

The carousel sent them on a spin, faster and faster, and then suddenly stopped with a loud, jarring noise. Anne and Mark were wide-eyed as they disembarked right near the scene of the commotion. Sirens were blaring, and a crowd of curious people formed around the disturbance.

Anne and Mark left the carousel and stood aside from the scene, not wanting to be involved. An ambulance came, and several people were taken away in police cars.

"Let's eat. Maybe then we can think better," Anne said.

"Okay, but I'm trying not to let that spoil our day," Mark said. "Shall we stay here for the day as originally planned?"

"I agree, and we should do some shopping and walking around town tomorrow, just before we go to the cruise ship," Anne said.

They arrived at the cruise ship in good time, ate a casual dinner, and went to the lower deck to book their shore excursions.

"We don't need to see Berlin again if you remember it from last time," Anne said, looking up from the brochure.

"I need to see it because I don't remember that long ago," Mark countered.

"Okay, I hope I can still have sometime to walk around Warnemunde after we return—maybe just the market square." Anne sighed.

Chapter Two

Warnemunde, Berlin

On the excursion bus to Berlin, Mark was in the window seat and admiring the scenery when Anne nudged his elbow.

Mark looked up and saw a tall Caucasian man going toward the restroom. Mark tried to act casual, while his mom prayed her rosary.

The tourist bus brought them to Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, bombed sites from World War II, and the old Reichstag building. They were then given time to walk and shop along Unter den Linden.

Anne and Mark were quiet but observant; realizing that the man they'd seen at the Tivoli Gardens shooting was with them on the tour. The man had a pretty female companion, which somehow allayed their suspicion.

Anne was anxious to talk as soon as they returned to the cruise ship.

"Did you get a funny feeling when you saw that guy?"

"Yes, he was at the scene of the shooting at Tivoli Gardens," Mark said.

"I can't put a finger to it, but even if I did not see him clearly there, I just have that sense. I hope it doesn't mean anything. We'd better shake it off, or we won't enjoy this trip," Anne said.

"Rather odd, but I agree. Let's go to the computer room and check our messages." Mark led the way out.

"Dad's okay—he says the stock market is up, so he's happy. Jim's okay—he'll go out with friends tomorrow after their volunteering is done."

"I'll come with you to the gym tomorrow," Anne said. "I'm uncomfortable staying in the room alone. We will be at sea tomorrow, and we are on first seating for our formal dinner."

It was still daylight outside, but along the corridors leading to the main dining room, men and women were dressed for the occasion, nodding in approval at the beautifully groomed crowd, and exchanging friendly banter with those waiting in line to be seated.

Mark smiled to himself as he noticed the admiring gazes shot in the direction of his mother. She was petite at five feet one, was always well dressed, looked expensive, and had the right jewelry to boot; but it was her quick friendliness and wit that made people warm up to her.

The waiter led them to a table for eight, and the man they'd been talking about earlier was there.

"Hi! I hope we did not keep you waiting." Anne was quick to hide her apprehension. "I'm Anne Cortez, from Kansas City, Kansas."

"Hi! I'm the son, Mark."

"We just got seated a few seconds ago. How do you do? I'm Barry Eastbrook, and this is my wife, Mabel."

The blonde wife waved her bejeweled hand to all and said, "Hi! We're from Maine."

"Hello! I'm Fawzi Senawi, and this is my wife, Janan. We're from Iran."

Janan waved to everyone with a shy smile and said, "Hi!"

"That's interesting!" The portly man with crew-cut hair chuckled in a friendly way. "I'm Noel Pietz, and my wife is Cheryl. We're from Illinois." He turned to Senawi. "I'm just kidding; I suppose you get that all the time."

"You can say that again. Worse, I'm a physicist," Senawi said with a smile.

"Oh! Oh!" Pietz bantered.

Senawi raised one eyebrow with a sardonic smile. "Can I have a vacation in peace?" he said.

Anne blinked for just a second. "Absolutely! Nice to meet you!" she said with a nod from across the table.

"Nice to meet you," the others added.

"I'm buying the wine," Eastbrook said. "This trip is for our thirtieth wedding anniversary."

"Congratulations!" the others chorused.

"We don't drink wine, but we'll settle for soda," Senawi said.

"Soda it is," Eastbrook said, and he motioned to the waiter.

"This is the first time we are having a leisurely dinner," Mark observed.

"Same here," Pietz answered. "This cruise is not leisurely at all, and to think that we were at Tivoli Gardens when there was a shooting! They closed down the gates! We were near the carousel."

"We were on the carousel, quite near the scene of the commotion. The view was wonderful, but that shooting got me worried," Anne said.

"I was actually near the scene," Senawi said deliberately, making the others look at him. "People were looking around, and the whole area was cordoned off, with us in the circle. We were all questioned closely at the police precinct."

"Oh! I'm so sorry to hear that," Mabel Eastbrook said, looking puzzled.

"I hope we can still enjoy the rest of the trip," Senawi said.

"Don't worry! We'll make sure you do," Pietz said.

"Right!" Cheryl chimed in.

The others at the table put up their glasses in a toast. "Right!" they said.

Eastbrook turned to Anne and said, "I'm a retired real-estate broker, how about you?"

"I'm a retired doctor," Anne answered. "My husband is an investor and doesn't leave the USA that often, because he trades stocks. I love to travel, so my two sons take turns accompanying me. Mark is in college."

"Well, I'm a retired lawyer," Pietz countered.

The waiter came back to serve their salads.

Anne and Mark made the sign of the cross and prayed silently before they began eating, as they always did. They returned to the conversation without much fanfare.

Fawzi Senawi looked at them before he started eating his salad.

"Just call me Noel," Pietz said to Anne. "Shall we call each other by first names? You too, Mark," Pietz said as he saw the younger man hesitate. Everybody nodded, and they each repeated their first names.

Chapter Three

Talinn, Estonia

Feeling more comfortable with their company, Anne and Mark were more relaxed as they boarded the bus for the trip to downtown.

"What a quaint scene," Anne said as she took a picture of people outside a church, gathered around a baby in baptismal dress.

As soon as they came down from the bus, the tourists got busy taking pictures; then they took pictures for each other. They formed into groups, posing with the scenic backdrop.

Anne and Mark posed with the Eastbrooks, and when they came near the Senawis, they also had a picture together.

"Let's exchange pictures by e-mail. Do you have a pen? I'll write down my e-mail address, and you give me yours," Eastbrook said to Mark.

"Here's a pen. Okay, write down my e-mail address too," Mark said.

"Here's mine," Senawi said as he wrote on a piece of paper and gave it to Mark.

"Here's mine," Pietz said. "What's yours?"

"Oh! My pen ..." Mark looked around and then said, "Thanks!" as Senawi handed him a pen.

Anne watched the exchange of e-mail addresses. The Senawis were behaving like most people, and she felt relieved. They're normal, she thought.

The camaraderie was catching, with Eastbrook singing funny songs on the drive back. He then suggested they play cards on the cruise ship.

"Make that gin rummy and I'll play you," Senawi answered.

"No betting," Pietz said. "I'll play too." "I'm going for a swim," Mark said.

Anne and Mark ate dinner at the poolside buffet.

"Wait, Mom," Mark said. "Let's pass by the group playing cards. I seem to have Senawi's pen."

They went to the game room, but Senawi had just left.

"Maybe you can return it tomorrow," Eastbrook said. "Needless to say, he won. He's so competitive, I doubt if he ever losses."

"Oh! Thanks," Mark said.

"Good night! Tomorrow should be exciting." Anne waved as they left.

Chapter Four

St. Petersburg, Russia

As though primed for adventure, most tourists lined up early to disembark for the shore excursion.

Anne's yellow outfit got some nods from the men, and she added a scarf to ward off the morning cold. "Good morning," she said pleasantly.

"Top of the morning, my dear! You are brighter than the sun today," Eastbrook joked.

"At least I can help the tour guide if you wander off and miss us," Anne bantered.

"Look who's just coming! Yo! Senawi, over here!" Pietz signaled the Senawis, who were arriving in a hurry.

"Haah!" Janan said, catching her breath as they came closer. "We did not get our morning call, and the clock in our room was late!"

"Write a complaint and put it on your door outbox, or be sure to let the steward know when we return. Our schedule is hectic, and you could easily miss the excursion if you don't get up early," Mabel advised.

"Right! I'm not taking chances. I'll also set the alarms on our cell phones," Senawi said in between breaths.

The tour director was really knowledgeable, so Mark listened intently.

Anne saw an unusual building and looked back. "Wasn't that a church?"

Mark was chuckling at the tour director's joke, but Anne looked forward to hide her apprehension. She had looked back for a better view of the church, but it was Senawi's face she saw, beads of perspiration on his brow as he whispered to Janan.

The tourists came off the bus in a hurry. The Winter Palace was so huge and breathtaking; they all wanted to take a lot of pictures and found themselves pressed for time.

"Hurry up, Mom," Mark said, wondering why his mother was behind.

"Would you take our picture, Mark?" Mabel Eastbrook asked. "Then I'll take yours with your mom against that fountain there."

Mark nodded, and Anne followed. Their group took turns photographing each other, and Anne tried her best not to worry.

Maybe I'm imagining things, she thought as she saw Janan and Senawi taking pictures of the fountain.

It was a full day's excursion going to the Winter Palace and seeing the Amber Room. Lunch, dinner, and a show were included. The Kirov Ballet was performing, so Mark sat attentively for the first ballet he would see. Their group was impressed, and Anne heard a whispered comment from Pietz behind her.

She turned in agreement, smiling, but then she quickly looked down at the program to hide her concern. Anne thought she had shaken off her worry about the Senawis, but she had just seen Fawzi sweating and looking behind him apprehensively.

"What a wonderful day, but I'm tired." Mark stretched out on his bed even before he could change into pajamas.

"It's been hectic but well worth it. I didn't tell you that something was bothering me—I didn't want to spoil your day—but Fawzi Senawi has been acting scared." Anne explained what she had seen.

"I'm getting spooked. I too have been trying to shake off the feeling. I hope it's nothing," Mark said.

Anne sighed. "We'd better sleep early. It's another long day tomorrow."

"I'm looking forward to the Hermitage Museum," Mark said with a yawn.

"All right! I've tried to show you about a fourth of the most important paintings in this museum," the tour guide said. "Even if we spent an entire week here, we couldn't cover everything. It's not possible. Look up what interests you most. We will meet in the bus parking lot in two hours. The Rembrandts and the Reubens are in this pavilion." The guide pointed to his left and, with a nod, left them.

Anne and Mark looked at their wristwatches and quickly moved left. They made an effort to concentrate on each famous painting and yet move quickly to the next. When they approached the third room, Anne glanced back at their outdistanced group, and then she noticed that there was a man already in the room, looking at a painting. She felt a movement nearby and saw that Senawi had entered the room too.

The man came toward Senawi and spoke in low tones, but from behind Senawi, another man raised his voice and pointed a gun. The man talking to Senawi also pulled a gun.

"Look out!" Mark shouted, at the same time pushing Anne out of the way.

From behind them, they heard a shot, and they took cover behind a post. There was a scuffle, and then one of the men ran away, followed by the other one. The tourists screamed and scattered in different directions, tripping over each other.

The security police arrived and started firing at the two men, but each of the men ran in an opposite direction. More police arrived, and the chase continued outside the museum.

The tourists stayed hidden and petrified until the police returned to tell them it was safe. Most went for the door, half-running out of the museum, and they sat panting at the foot of the steps. Mark and Anne sat on the steps too, catching their breath.

"The gunman is dead," the tour guide reported, and he went back inside to check with the police.

"Thank God!" Mabel said.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The Cassandra Syndrome by Eleonor Mendoza Copyright © 2013 by Eleonor Mendoza. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Part I The Cruise....................1
1. To Copenhagen....................2
2. Warnemunde, Berlin....................4
3. Talinn, Estonia....................7
4. St. Petersburg, Russia....................8
5. Helsinki, Finland....................12
6. Stockholm, Sweden....................13
7. Emergency Password....................17
8. Copenhagen to O'Hare Airport....................19
Part II Stuxnet and the Hostage....................22
9. Washington, DC....................23
10. New York....................32
11. The Storage Box....................36
12. The Hostage....................39
13. The Israeli Embassy....................44
14. From France to Switzerland....................45
Part III The Trail to the Solution....................54
15. Return to Stockholm....................55
16. To Hungary....................67
17. Armenia to Iran....................80
18. Working in Budapest....................84
19. Tel Aviv....................88
Part V The Adverse Administration....................93
20. A Circuitous Route....................94
21. In the Philippines....................102
22. Facing Interrogation....................113
23. Family Crisis....................118
24. Congressional Hearing....................124
25. Escape from Washington, DC....................133
Part V The Plight of the Wanderers....................138
26. Refuge in Israel....................139
27. Search for the Family....................144
28. Touring Italy and Switzerland....................161
29. In France....................169
30. The Villa....................177
31. The Anti-Fordow....................197
32. Enemies at the Gate....................211
Part VI Cyberfight and the Quest....................217
33. Eastern Europe....................218
34. Campaigning from Abroad....................225
35. The Election....................238
36. Higgins's Quest....................250
37. Averting a Prediction....................263
38. The Patriots' Ball....................277