Michael Beres - Final Stroke

DEDICATION : To caregivers and those they care for .

Published 2007 by Medallion Press, Inc.

The MEDALLION PRESS LOGO is a registered tradmark of Medallion Press, Inc.

Copyright (c) 2007 by Michael Beres Cover Illustration by James Tampa

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the authors imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Beres, Michael. Final stroke by Michael Beres.span>

2007004852

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition

Beres (GRAND TRAVERSE) goes one step beyond THE MAN? CHURIAN CANDIDATE in this engrossing thriller, which some times seems too obvious but then foils expectations by twisting the readers mind along with that of the protagonist. Recommended for all popular fiction collections.

Library Journal

Conspiracy fanatics may enjoy Beress second novel (after GRAND TRAVERSE), a bizarre political thriller The denouement would be at home in the tabloids.

Publishers Weekly

A recent article in Publishers Weekly talked about how the current White House does not like that the publisher of this book has used the presidential seal on the cover because there are several bullet holes. I applaud Medallion Press for standing firm on its use of the artwork for this timely work of fiction. The novel is all about conspiracies, presidential assignations, and covert operations. Beres has written a very tense nail-biting thriller that is filled with several well fleshed out characters in tense situations. Beres sums up the discontent voters have for all politicians in this country very well in a few short sentences. THE PRESIDENTS NEMESIS is a great political thriller.

Gary Roen, Midwest Book Review

Michael Beres has written a suspenseful novel that delves into paranoia as Stanley Johnson becomes involved in a convoluted plot to assassinate the President. Readers will enjoy Johnsons plunge into madness as people and events beyond his control begin to take over his life. Beres plotting is brisk and full of twist and turns. Fans of Stephen King and Dean Koontz may want to check out this great beach read.

Bob jabberwockybooksense.com

CHAPTE R

ON E

A STROKE IS A BRAIN HURRICANE . E VERYTHING S STILL THERE , BUT torn up and mixed around in the soup. For example, last time we watched The History Channel at the rehab center, Babe Ruth is standing at the plate taking strikes and the next thing I know my husband is off and run ning in his wheelchair before Babe hits his homer. Its because the word strike relates to the word stroke, and the fact that the Babes first name is the same as our last name When someone you know has a stroke, you look for keys to the past in the strangest places. Its like history rewritten before your eyes Maybe if world leaders had strokes we d all be better off because suddenly theyd see things in a new light. In this newer, more childlike world, the name Babe would be as common as, say, the names Smith or Johnson or Carter.

Jan Babe

Stroke Family Support Group

Saint Mel in the Woods Rehabilitation Facility

Chicago, Illinois

In March, damage from the previous hurricane season was still obvious. Recovery was taking longer than expected and memories of that season would linger for a while, which meant at least until the next hurricane season. The March heat, plus the fact that no political campaigns were in progress, acted like a sedative to both tourists and natives. In Dade County the breeze was off the Everglades, the mug giness making folks feel faint and disconnected from their bodies. But on the west coast, in Collier County, the breeze off the Gulf made for a perfect evening. Here on the Gulf Coast it was a different kind of warmth. A sleepy warmth as two white-haired men sat on the porch of a sprawling Naples, Florida, home that, although situated on a rise in the topography, sat low on its prime real estate like a bunker.

The two men watched as the red ball of sun headed down into the Gulf. Optical illusion created a sun grown in size as if it were going into nova and would toast the folks heading out on the fishing pier to get the best view. The folks on the pier stepped gingerly around peli can shit, the pelicans flew back in to feast on fish heads, and the fish ermen who had provided the fish heads stared out into the Gulf where their lines glistened like red-hot filaments.

Both Valdez and Hanley were natives who understood south Flor idas weather better than any Chicagoan would. Hanley had been a native almost five years since his move from Virginia. Valdez was a born native, having held a post at the Miami office for forty years. Although Valdez was younger than Hanley, both men were obviously past their prime. Valdez wore dress slacks, a short sleeve shirt, and black shoes. Hanley wore shorts, a tank top, and sneakers. Sunglasses hid their eyes.

Never could see the point in it, said Valdez.

What? asked Hanley.

Fishing. You must not see any point in it either, said Valdez. Living next to the pier and Ive never seen you out there.

Right, said Hanley, adjusting his dark wraparound sunglasses. But Id wager its more relaxing than what we do.

Thats for sure, said Valdez. Why are we still in this business at our age?

Were in it because we cant get out, said Hanley. But get back to this Chicago dick named Babe. How did he get that name anyhow?

Apparently it comes from a longer Hungarian name, said Val dez. An ancestor shortened it. A great name when you think about it. Im told the stroke made him a happy guy. Even though Ive never met him, I kind of like him.

Why is that?

Because people who have strokes mix words around in humorous ways and sound like they dont know what theyre talking about. They think theyre talking about one thing when theyre really talking about something else. Valdez laughed.

Its not funny, said Hanley. We might be there some day.

Youre right, said Valdez. Except I heard about this drug on talk radio the other night. They say if you get it right after you have a stroke, your memory loss can be minimized. Apparently hospitals down here are well stocked being that we live in heavens waiting room.

Im glad the hospitals are prepared, said Hanley. The only problem is the drug they give us when we have a stroke wont be the one they give other people.

You really think the director put that into effect?