Son of Perdition (Chronicles of Brothers) Read Online Free

Purvis stood in the doorway watching her boss intently. Twenty years in the business and he still got a high when it was live and exclusive – Jason De Vere was in his element when he was hands on.
    Jason watched as New York lined up.
    ‘Ten . . . nine – ’
    ‘Jason – we’ve got China – ’
    ‘Where’s Al Jazeera?’ Jason shouted into the mike.
    ‘Just come online – ’
    A lanky Ivy-League-looking executive strode in, exhilarated. ‘They’re all desperate for the feed – Reuters, Associated Press, CNN, ABC – ’
    ‘We make money.’ Jason muttered. ‘Good. Desperate is good. The BBC?’
    ‘We’re linking to London now – over to Mel in Teheran.’
    Melanie Kelly, Middle East Correspondent, visible on two screens, cupped her hand over her earpiece. Next to her stood Adrian De Vere, newly inaugurated President of the European Union.
    Jason stared, exhilarated. ‘Tell my little brother hi,’ he murmured into the mike.
    ‘Will do, boss.’
    Jason watched – Adrian smiled and lifted his hand in recognition.
    ‘Ask him if Israel’s in the bag.’
    Adrian nodded, then gave Jason a thumbs-up sign.
    Jason grinned, then held out his hand to Jontil. She passed him a whisky. He slugged it down, his attention now fixed on the New York news anchor broadcasting from VOX’s midtown Manhattan Studios.
    ‘We have breaking news that a final date for the Middle East Ishtar Accord – the peace accord in the aftermath of World War Three – has been set half an hour ago in Teheran.’
    Jason sat down on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the screens.
    ‘All major participants from the Russo-pan-Arab-Israeli War are signatories. Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Egypt as well as Russia, Israel, America and the European Union. We cross over to Melanie Kelly, senior Middle East correspondent for VOX News, reporting live from Teheran.’
    The camera zoomed onto the slight blonde figure of Kelly.
    ‘With me here in Teheran, I have the United Nations chief negotiator of the Accord and newly appointed President of the European Superstate, Adrian De Vere. At just thirty-nine years of age, he is being hailed as the new John F. Kennedy ’
    As the camera panned onto Adrian De Vere, Jason watched, elated.
    ‘This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East and the world.’ Adrian smiled, exuding a relaxed charm.
    Jason studied his younger brother. Adrian’s face was perfectly proportioned for the camera. Strong. Chiselled. High cheek bones. His suit was exquisitely tailored and he wore his usual summer Caribbean tan.
    Jason frowned.
    Adrian’s teeth looked different, perfectly veneered and whiter. Julia’s influence, no doubt. Her PR company had signed up the newly inaugurated President of the European Union. Jason scowled. After twenty years of marriage he was proud of the fact that, until their divorce, he had stubbornly resisted her every attempt to restyle him. But even he had to admit that, thanks to the efforts of his ex-wife, Adrian was now the epitome of a modern movie star.
    ‘Both the East and the West have longed for the day when we can rest in peace, knowing that our families and future generations will no longer face the threat of nuclear warfare . . . of suicide bombs . . . of hostages being murdered . . . ’ Adrian hesitated. ‘Of the sons of the East and the sons of the West being killed in action.’
    Jason shook his head. It had to be said. Never in the history of television had any politician come remotely close to the intense personal connection that Adrian generated with the individual viewer.
    It was instantaneous, mesmeric . . . and effortless.
    Adrian De Vere was the darling of the international viewing public. It had been the same during his two terms as British Prime Minister. Whether people watched him in Iraq, Syria, Germany, England, America, China or France, he was their son, father, brother, neighbour, friend. In fact he was . . . Jason shook his head, incredulous