John Eastman
AN EPIC TALE OF A MODERN DAY DAVID AGAINST A SEEMINGLY INVINCIBLE GOLIATH
In a prior life, Christian Brice lived in the world of military espionage Black Ops. A trained shooter, a killer, an assassin, he lived a life that was solitary, trusting only a few select individuals. When Christian was on his missions, he trusted even fewer. His targets were never personal and there was no hatred in him, just a sense of duty.
Christian repeatedly carried out his duties to the letter, until he was assigned to take out an NVA Colonel and rescue a captured American, CIA Section Leader - Spook - John Cockney. John Cockney is the only man Christian has ever hated. Cockney is a traitor and murderer, selling weapons, secrets and illegal drugs to the enemy, for personal gain.
With his Vietnam duty behind him, and now in private life, Christian has sworn himself to a new mission, a righteous mission, to expose Senator John Cockney, who is now running for President. Christian is framed, sentenced to prison, losing his family and former life in the process.
Using a new identity, Christian Brice starts his new life as Raymond Miller, a journalist living in a secluded community in Colorado. When Senator Cockney is kidnapped in Vietnam by terrorists, only days before the national elections, there’s only one man that can carry out a rescue, but he’s officially dead.
Having kept his aging body in condition, Raymond is commissioned to go back into the jungle to once again rescue his archenemy. This struggle is tantamount to the culmination of his life struggle to right a wrong, and perhaps prevent America from starting World War Three.
John Eastman
John Eastman lives in Amish Country of Western Pennsylvania. Putting his faith in Christ first, his greatest treasure is his young son. Although writing for several years, 'Verdict! In Search of a Crime' is John’s first published novel. He has written several successful programs for Christmas, Easter and other events at the church he attends. John has three other novels, three children's stories and two screenplays that are soon to be published, not including the sequel to Verdict, which is presently in the writing phase. Being a former Silent Drill Team Marine and athlete, John has the flair for action writing and deep life experience. John works for an International Technology Consulting Firm, based in NY.
John Cockney looked down at Nathan, gun in hand, ready to end the young boy's life, when something violently slammed into his silver automatic, knocking it from his hand and onto the steep hillside in fragments. Seizing the distraction, Nathan rushed Cockney and kicked him square in the groin. With intense pain buckling him over, Cockney left go of his grasp on Amy. She scrambled away to the safety of the rear of the vehicle. Cockney overcame the pain, grabbed Nathan and slammed him to the ground. Spying a machete under the seat of the Hummer, he pulled it out. Incensed, Cockney put his foot on Nathan’s small chest and pressed hard. He held the blackened blade above they young boy’s head, while Nathan screamed in pain as he struggled to breathe.
Cockney knew that there was only one man that could have made that shot. “Brice, you’re dead," he screamed as he held the lethal blade. "How did you come back from the grave? I watched you die. I shot you!” There was no answer, just ghostlike stillness as Nathan stopped struggling and pretended to be unconscious. Hardly a sound could be heard in the jungle except the rapids from the river far below. With Cockney distracted, an alert Delta Force team member quietly approached from behind and grabbed Amy, covering her mouth in the process. She tried to scream, but it was to no avail. He placed her in a sleeper hold, quickly rendering her unconscious. With her out of harms way, the Delta Force soldier, unknown to Cockney, took a position behind the Hummer and waited. They wanted Cockney alive so he didn’t shoot, but another person watching the events didn’t share the same rules of engagement.
“I’ll kill the boy if you don’t give me passage out of here now!" Cockney yelled, his voice filled with desperation. "I want a helicopter or I swear I’ll kill him. If you don’t believe me, just watch as I dismember him limb by limb.” Cockney grabbed Nathan and pulled him from the dirt. Placing the blade across Nathan’s throat, Cockney yelled again. “Well, what’s it going to be? Either I get a ride out of here or I start chopping the boy to pieces.”
The Delta member took a bead on Cockney, but didn’t have a clear shot. He wouldn’t risk hitting Nathan.
"Take the shot," the Delta Team Leader whispered.
“I can’t. I’ll hit the kid,” he said to his team leader.
“OK, I warned you!” Cockney yelled as he raised the machete into the air.
“Christian, he’s going to kill your son! You’ve got to do something - now!” Hobo cried in desperation as he watched transfixed through the spotter scope. Christian didn’t respond, but just kept his crosshairs trained on the target in the distance as he adjusted his windage one click.
