FAQs
Questions and Answers
Below are frequently asked question about the first book “Spooky 8 The Final Mission” and the author, Bob King. These questions come from both fans and skeptics alike. If you would like to have your question added to this page, go to the “Contact Me” page and ask your question. All questions and comments are reviewed.
Q. Is this story and how you said it happened really true?
A. Yes and no. This book is based on actual events. Events that I and others were involved in. No one in their right mind would write the complete and total truth about a subject like this. After many hours with numerous attorneys, it was decided that the names, dates, places, sequence of events and even some events themselves had to be changed from the orginal manuscript to protect those who were involved in this story.
Q. Did you write the book by yourself or did you have help?
A. I wrote the manuscript completely by myself. When it ended up in New York prior to publiishig, it was edited and some creative liberties were taken by the publisher’s editor. I spent ten years as a police academy instructor and another ten years as an international consultant so I’ve had a lot of experience writing training manuals and the like. I’ve never had any formal training on how to write a book so I wrote it as if I were telling the story verbally. I’ve only read one book for “pleasure” in my life, and that was the “Abyss.” I’ve never read any of Tom Clancy, or any of the other books that I’ve been told are like mine, so the style of the book is mine.
Q. The story behind spooky 8 is amazing. Let’s say any random ten people know about it: 5 believe it implicitly; 5 think it’s impossible. Now, you’re standing in front of those ten people…as concise as possible, what do you say to substantiate your evidence?
A. First of all, I didn’t write Spooky 8 intending for anyone to read it so it doesn’t matter to me if they believe it or not. For those who do believe, don’t take only my word for the truth. They need to seek the truth on their own. Take very little for face value when it comes to what the US Government says. For those who don’t however, I would say: pull your head out of that dark place and start paying attention to what is going on around you. I just don’t think this story is anything new. I’m not a reader of any kind of books, but I’ve been told by those who are that people should check out a book by Michael Levine, a former DEA agent, a book by John Stockwell, the former Chief of the CIA Angola Task Force or a book called “Psychic Warrior.” These are books that tell a much wilder story than mine, and they are also supposed to be true. Those who don’t believe these stories are those who are either afraid of the truth or they just can’t handle the truth. Those same people are the ones who will not get involved with anything outside their own little world and are allowing our rights to be slowly and deliberately chipped away.
Q. Even before your first “op” you must have had some idea of what you were getting involved in, or something that raised a red warning flag?
A. When I started being exposed to “ops” as you say, I was 21 years old and a real flag waver. I was told that what I was getting into would help to insure the American way of life, you know, God and Country kind of thing. When you’re young and patriotic you believe just about anything your country tells you. You’re not allowed to think about why you are doing something, you just do it.
Q. Describe the allure of being part of a “special op” force.
A. I could say it’s the patriotic thing, the duty and honor thing or the intrigue of doing the sneaking “secret” thing but I don’t believe that’s really that much of it. It’s more the adrenaline rush than you might think. Once you’ve been exposed to it, you’re hooked on it. It’s like a drug for your ego and your warrior spirit. It’s a power trip, an adrenaline rush, an ego-feeding frenzy and the belief that you really might be doing something that will make a difference just seems to add to it. It’s a very personal thing that you can’t really explain, it has to be experienced. I think that’s why people jump out of airplanes, become cops and firefighters and even bunji jump.
Q. Do you feel there’s anything that can equal the adrenaline rush you experienced on those missions? And what did it feel like the very first time?
A. No, not exactly. The closest thing I have ever experienced that comes close to the rush was when I was a police officer and in a high-speed vehicle pursuit. That really gets you pumping for a short time. Even jumping out of an airplane is a different kind of a rush and it doesn’t last very long. On a mission, you’re pumped for a long time and the thought of your own mortality makes it unique. As for the first time, all I can really remember is how scared I was. On the verge of throwing-up sort of thing. Hell, I was scared on every operation. Anyone who says they weren’t scared shittless is either a lair, has never been there or is completely nuts.
Q. Does your family know of your history with government ops? If so, what was their take on it all?
A. At first, I’m pretty sure they didn’t know what I was doing. When I was in the Army, they didn’t hear from me for very long periods of time and that made my Dad suspicious. Once, I had been wounded and was in a hospital. I had called home just to hear a friendly voice and while I was talking to my Dad, he heard the hospital intercom in the background. I didn’t really tell him what was going on but he had a pretty good idea. Over the years, they knew and I didn’t have to tell them a thing. It’s a little difficult to hide bullet wounds and that sort of thing.
Q. How high up did your contact go in the government?
A. I can’t answer that question because I don’t want to end up like others. Unfortunately, some of those contacts that were either in-charge, or directly involved, are dead. One of them died in a solo sea-kayak accident in the ocean off the New England coast in April of 1996. I won’t tell you who it was because I’ve been told not to mention any names by my attorney, but if you go and look for yourself, you’ll figure it out. If people would just do a little research for themselves, they would be shocked to learn how many people, and I’m talking public or political figures, have suddenly turned up dead. The rate of “suicides,”"single person accidents” and “unexplained deaths” is truly shocking.
Q. Excluding the final mission of Spooky 8 where your team was essentially setup and taking into consideration all those missions had inherent danger to them – which one stands out as the most dangerous?
A. I would have to say as far as danger is concerned, we really didn’t look at it that way. We realized the risk and if the missions was outside our capabilities, we didn’t do it. I guess the thing that concerned me most was when I did something solo. I escorted some supplies to Central America once without the support of my team and I felt completely naked and most vulnerable.
Q. Describe life “at home” between missions.
A. You develop a defense mechanism, or a survival mechanism would be a better term, and you learn to compartmentalize things. When you’re home, you learn to put your other (secret) life away and lock it up. You try to be a “normal” civilian but you never really are. You are always aware of your surroundings and at times, it is VERY hard to deal with some people, especially really stupid ones. The other side of your personality wants to take over and that’s something that you can’t let happen. You come to really appreciate simple things, like peace and quiet, nature, and the very few people that you allow to get close to you.
Q. Some people not involved in your past world may have trouble fully comprehending how your team could be more family at times that your own. Describe.
A. Families of Soldiers have been asking that question for thousands of years. Until you have fought side-by-side with someone, you can’t really explain it. You live because of them. They live because of you. They die and a part of you dies. Your warrior spirits become as one and you are closer than brothers.
Q. Without trying to sound too grim, is there anyone you’d take a bullet for?
A. Yes, my teammates, my wife, my son and those that are close to me, just like most people would.
Q. Who was the darkest character you ever encountered?
A. The government!
Q. In your opinion how prolific today is government sanction ops?
A. I think it’s important to know that “government sanction ops” are a necessary evil. They have been taking place since the beginning of time and I really believe this country would be in the toilet if they hadn’t. All military forces are involved in “sanctioned ops.” It’s the “unsanctioned ops” that concern me. The ones that don’t have any legitimacy or authority that are the problem. I believe today more than ever “sanctioned ops” are being conduction as they should be.
Q. Have you been in touch with “Kevin Stacey” since your fact-finding venture to DC?
A. No
Q. Describe the very first feeling you experienced when you finally discovered who the mole was in Spooky 8?
A. It was as if life as I knew it had ceased to exist. The thought that someone that close, that trusted, could do such a thing was incomprehensible. For a short time, it seemed as if the last sanctity of trust had been destroyed.
Q. Without compromising the survivors of Spooky 8, do you still have contact with any of them, or any of the other people mentioned in your book?
A. Some of the team no longer lives in this country but I still have contact with them on occasion.
Q. What is the one thing you wish you could do, or say, differently, in your life looking back at that period of you life?
A. Pay better attention to my instincts.
Q. Looking at the twenty years of ops work in you life, what is your biggest regret?
A. Remember, the majority of my life was not spent on “ops”, it was as a normal person. The majority of missions I was involved in took place once or twice a year and sometimes a year passed before one came up. As far as regrets, I don’t go down that road. If I had done anything different, I wouldn’t be in the place I am right now. I wouldn’t have my wife, my son or the people in my life. Whatever grief I had to go through was worth it for that.
Q. I truly don’t mean to sound morose or dramatic, but at any time did you ever think of just ending the charade, the “game,” by just doing yourself in and ending it all?
A. There are many people in all walks of life that consider doing this. I’m no different than they are.
Q. After all you went through, how does someone ever get on with “life,” and have you gotten on with regular “life”? Also, would you ever do any of this again, even if it was presented to you as necessary for national security and the preservation of American freedom and way of life for our people?
A. You just do, and yes, I would probably do most all of it again.
