Senator Robert Collyer paced around the interrogation room at the Corrections Department in Downtown Philadelphia. Senator Collyer was arrested earlier today for insider trading. Collyer was nervous because he knew he was innocent but knew his career, and possibly his life, were over. A skinny young man in a suit was buzzed into the room and sat his suitcase on the table in the middle of the room.
"Senator Robert Collyer? Kevin Aldridge. I'll be your attorney for this case?" Kevin extended his hand and Collyer relunctantly shook it.
"Where's Ted?" Collyer asked. Ted Dandridge was the leading attorney in Philadelphia and was a very public and vocal supporter of Senator Collyer and had been his attorney for over twenty years.
"Mr. Dandridge was unavailable for this case. He passed the case to me," Kevin explained.
"And so it begins," Collyer sighed. "How old are you, Mr. Aldridge?"
"I'm 25. I'm kind of new to the firm but my law teacher's recommendation said I was very promising," Kevin smiled. "So this is insider trading? Do we know who the DA is for this?"
"Matthew Landsman," Collyer said. "The District Attorney's number two man."
"Wow, this could be a big ticket case then," Kevin whistled. "I guess the first thing I need to know is if you are innocent or guilty."
"Well, honestly, I am innocent but that doesn't really matter anymore."
"Why? What do you mean?"
"Well, first of all, I have you as a lawyer."
"The Earth Is Flat"
Matthew Landsman was buzzed into the interrogation room and placed his briefcase on the table next to Kevin's. "Senator Collyer," Landsman began, "it is an extreme pleasure to meet you. Best Senator this state has ever had."
"Well, I'm glad I have a fan," Senator Collyer smiled. "I'm gonna need all the friends I can get."
"Well, insider trading isn't as bad. I'm sure you'd just get a few months in jail and time served," Landsman said.
"That's normally what would happen but I'm not going to get a fair trial. Everything is stacked up against me and there is no way I'll avoid prison," Collyer explained.
"It's a very straightforward case, Senator. I don't really know what you are talking about," Landsman said. He glanced at Kevin who shrugged.
"I can explain it to you," Collyer said. "It's actually a very fascinating story."
"I'll have to advise you against talking openly to..." Kevin tried to interrupt but Collyer held up his hand and silenced his lawyer.
"I know what I'm doing. The first thing I want to talk about is why this powerful and successful senator is sitting here. I typically have the best lawyer on my side: Theodore Dandridge but as you can see he's not here right now. Up until this morning, I didn't even have any stock, which is strange for a senator but the truth.
"Since I was elected, I have kept a secret that many other elected officials have kept. The secret, if known, could destroy the world and it proves that everything we know in this world--possibly the universe--is wrong," Senator Collyer began explaining.
"What could be so devestating? I don't understand," Landsman said.
"The Earth, Mr. Landsman, is flat."
Landsman and Kevin were silent as they stared at Senator Collyer. Landsman smiled and chuckled a little. "Okay, that is unbelievable. We've known since, like 400 B.C., that the Earth is round. Besides, even if the Earth is flat, who would benefit from it? What'd be the purpose?"
"You'd be surprised. Just about everything that happens in this world is linking to the Earth being flat. Rome fell because they refused to accept that the Earth was flat; kings were deposed because they either didn't believe or wanted to tell the masses; John Kennedy," Collyer revealed.
"What? Kennedy was assassinated because he was going to tell the country?"
Collyer nodded. "Pope John Paul II was slowly poisoned," he sighed.
"My God," Landsman gasped. "Why is this such a secret? Who started it?"
"All I know is that is goes back to the creation of religion. Cavemen believed the world was flat so the religious people in charge decided that if those Godless heathens thought the world was flat then, in truth, the world must be round."
"I'm having a hard time believing all of this, Senator," Landsman admitted. "I kind of want to believe but how can everything--literally everything--be tied to this?"
"Go see Thomas Snow, he's here in Philadelphia. He's a former White House Press Secretary. He'll tell you everything you want to know. He's a good man who wants everyone to know the truth," Collyer said.
"Look, I'm gonna go," Landsman said standing up. "I'm gonna look over the case and think about everything you told me and I need to decide what to do. This is a lot to take in. So you were going to tell?"
"Poisoning and assassination is a bit much for a lowly state senator so they just decided to ruin my life," Collyer smiled.
"Thank you, Senator. Again, a great pleasure to meet you," Landsman said and was buzzed out of the room.
Landsman sat in his office thinking about what Senator Collyer said. He had called to get the address and phone number to Thomas Snow and was debating going to see him or not. Landsman picked up his phone and dialed the phone number.
The phone rang three times and someone answered. "Hello?"
"Is Thomas Snow there?"
"This is he. Who is this?"
"This is Assistant District Attorney Matthew Landsman. I want to come over and ask you a few questions about Senator Robert Collyer."
There was silence on the other end then a deep breath. "Do you know where my place is?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tomorrow at three," and Snow hung up.
Next Week:
Landsman learns everything about the Flat Earth from Snow and then becomes unknowingly involved in the conspiracy.
