TERROR BLOODLINE Series Book 1
CROSSFIRE Book #1
CROSSFIRE Book #1
Terror Bloodline Series
Featuring Ex-CIA Agent, Jon Bradley
By Paul Rodricks
International fast-paced Action #Thriller
# Suspense #Adventure
#Crime #Mystery
Reviews:
"The fact that it is the first of three books makes Crossfire all that more compelling plus it's a fun to read. Paul POV shifts from telling a story to the illusion of real time which creates a healthy tension throughout. One of the finer elements in the book that helps make it authentic is the authors knowledge of the geo areas where the story takes place."
"The novel is multidimensional. There are several plot elements working simultaneously that the author handles with skill. The murder of his friend and the personal relationship between Jon and his lady friend, a rape victim, add depth to the novel. The story shifts between the current investigation and his previous, very dangerous, actions in Lebanon as a CIA operative."
Read here the Preview of the CHAPTER THREE (Continued) from this Thriller,
CROSSFIRE
CHAPTER THREE (Continued)
New Jersey 1962 – New York 2002
Jonathan Bradley
On completion of his training period, he received his posting letter. He was one of the six Reserve Foreign Service Officers, appointed at the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1993.
This happened a month before Sept. 13, 1993, when the Peace Accord was signed between the Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the PLO Chairman, Yasser Arafat, in Washington before Bill Clinton, the USA President.
The peace negotiations, however, failed to achieve the objective since the rival groups, namely the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine refused to recognize Israel. Once again, the region returned to violent infighting, assassinations, car bombings, suicide-bombers blowing up themselves in public places and attacking the State of Israel, which retaliated by air- bombardment and its military occupying parts of Lebanon.
Bradley arrived at the Beirut International Airport and moved out quickly using the Diplomatic channel where he was received by the American Embassy’s Public Relations Officer, Robert Armstrong, himself a CIA operative.
Driving them to the Embassy was the Lebanese driver, actually a security-guard. He headed towards the village Aukar, in the predominant Christian East Beirut, the new, safer location of the Embassy building.
In the April 18, 1983 suicide-bombing of the previous Embassy located at Ain el-Mreisseh Corniche, Beirut, a total of 63 people lost their lives.
It was an unthinkable disaster for the CIA alone. On the death list were the names of no less than eight CIA operatives, including the Station Chief Kenneth Haas, the Near East director, Robert C. Ames, the CIA’s top Middle East analyst, and William R. McIntyre, deputy director of the USAID.
As Bradley was driven along the potholes scared highway, everywhere stood out the ruins – the charred and hollow structures, bullets and shells ridden, windows blown-out, burnt out frames and twisted chassis of cars, trucks and other vehicles.
He would soon learn that such wreckage strewn along roadsides was a familiar sight in many parts of Lebanon. There was never a smooth car ride due to the pitiable condition of the roads.
Lebanon was a prosperous and peaceful nation until the early 70s. All that drastically changed following the Civil War era of 1975-1991.
During 1993, the year of his arrival in Beirut for the first time, nothing had changed for better.
The car-bombings, the political and personal vendettas, the wanton shootings, assassinations, bombing public places, kidnappings and the appearance of roadblocks without warning became a part of life for the Lebanese people and outsiders especially the Americans and Europeans living there or visiting Lebanon.
Robert Armstrong noticed that his new counterpart was keenly observing the passing scene as they drove past the surroundings.
They had not spoken much, except for exchanging pleasantries due to the presence of the Lebanese driver. Safety protocol demanded discretion when speaking about official matters. No one outside their American staff could be trusted.
However, every Case Officer was thoroughly tutored until the agent was familiar with mapping out the places and locations, also staying cognizant of the region’s economy, the social life and the changing political situation, including the portrayal of the important, influential leaders and players in the country of his posting.
“Nothing ever improves here. It had been the same when I was posted here three years ago, and the same during the time of my predecessors. Phew… it sure is a good feeling to be returning home soon. Beirut is becoming a veritable hell hole and that’s not just for us, but for common Lebanese people too.”
“I can already sense that,” Jon said, “You live in Washington D.C.?”
“Yeah, have a wife and two kids – the girl’s ten years old and the boy’s eight. What about you? Still single?”
“Mr. Armstrong, Sir… I will have to slow down. There’s a checkpoint ahead,” the driver interrupted their conversation.
They could see the brisk activity some distance ahead of them; two stationery military vehicles on either side of the highway, besides the two armed guards and four officers, dressed in olive green fatigues, checking out the car passengers and their documents.
From the black and red color berets they wore, Bradley guessed they were from the 'MOKAFAHA' – the Lebanese anti-terrorism unit and the Military Police.
A little behind them was parked the radio jeep, the police officer seated inside listening to the dispatcher’s alerts.
“The checkpoint wasn’t set up when we came through here earlier. But then, one never knows in this city,” observed Robert.
To be continued...