TERROR BLOODLINE Series Book 1
Only $0.99
Limited Time Offer until
31st OCTOBER, 2015
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 FOUR from this Thriller,
CROSSFIRE
CHAPTER FOUR
BEIRUT, Lebanon - 1993
American Embassy
It was 20 minutes later that they arrived at the Embassy building, without any further untoward incident. There, he first met with Richard Darwin, the Beirut Station Chief and the Deputy Station Chief, Ignatius Brasconi.
“Welcome to Beirut, Jonathan Bradley. I believe you have had your first taste of what the normal life is like in this unpredictable city,” Richard said to him lightly, watching Bradley with keen interest, as they shook hands.
The Station Chief, Jonathan observed, was in his early fifties, of medium built, gray-black thinning hair, and sharp light blue eyes – his trained body language showing the outward signs of a man of ease, behind his hard interior.
Darwin was the longest-serving Station Chief in this strife-torn city and had seen it all. He was held in esteem for his interrogation skills.
“Yes, Sir. But not unlike what we have been instructed about and told to expect.”
“You will experience a lot worse once on the job, Jonathan.”
Then turning to Brasconi, the station chief said, “Ignatius has been with me for a while longer than the other Agents. He will introduce you to the other Staff and brief you about your immediate assignment. You are taking over from the outgoing Case Officer, Robert Armstrong. You already know that?”
“I have been so briefed, Mr. Darwin.” Bradley answered. He glanced at the brown folder with his name written on it, containing his dossier, lying atop his superior’s desk.
“Good. We meet every morning at 8.30 AM in the conference room, unless you are involved in a covert field operation, which would keep you away from reporting personally. In that case, I would need you to submit the daily reports at the earliest you are able to. Meantime, you will stay in touch on the phone with Brasconi here and keep him informed,” he paused to continue, “In the event of any emergency, you will have direct phone-line access to me and Ignatius, and next to the PRO and our Secretaries.
“As for your duties, you will be briefed and instructed by the outgoing Case Officer & PRO, Robert Armstrong. You will relieve him after he has brought you up-to-date and you have had the turnover meetings with his contact-agents and possibly the cold-meetings to re-connect with past agents.”
“I understand that, Sir”.
“I am sure, you do. Once again, welcome aboard, Jonathan.” He extended his hand to Bradley, which the latter took, and later left the Station Chief’s office.
Following the afternoon work break, he was introduced to the Embassy staff consisting of several Cover Officers like himself, the Secretaries, Cryptographers and Clerks, all the individuals he would be interacting with.
Later, Bradley was shown to his living quarters in the Embassy housing compound where the rest of the American staff also lived, some with their wives and children.
Next morning, Bradley went to Robert Armstrong’s office room on the fifth floor of the Embassy building to begin his first day as the CIA operative in Beirut.
The outgoing agent, aged about 47 years, with regular and distinct features, looking tanned and displaying an amicable nature, was temporarily assigned to PRO duties as he was being rotated out until his next posting.
During the first week, Jonathan went through the files – personal dossiers, case documents, intelligence records and contact--reports, photos, pictures and notes concerning the relevant case-studies and the individuals he would be handling or trying to establish contact with.
One of the cases meant interacting with the MI6, the British Intelligence Agency.
He used some of his free time in making the acquaintance of the local staff recruited by the Embassy such as, the consular secretaries, clerks and others handling the U.S.A. travel and visa requirements of the Lebanese people.
In a few months, Jon Bradley would be befriending the beautiful young Christian Lebanese Secretary, Brigitte Fawzi, working in the consular section, a twenty-five year old single woman, fluent in French and English.
Their intense relationship would last until the end of his second tour in Beirut, ending under unexpected and tragic circumstances.
As a Case Officer, Bradley’s most difficult task was to recruit a local person as his agent and afterwards to control him or her. Some came in willingly, including the frequent walk-ins, while most had to be worked over or coerced or seduced. But, in every case, he had to make sure that the source had a genuine reason for coming over. Both the case officer and the agent knew each other by their code names or aliases only, to safeguard their personal safety and the disclosure of the intelligence operation.
To familiarize Bradley with his outdoor routine, Armstrong started taking him to the usual haunts in downtown Beirut, the Hamra Street in Ras Beirut, the Gemmayze street, the Corniche and other places, visiting the popular hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, art galleries, sports and beach clubs.
These locations were frequented by all levels of diplomats, journalists, reporters, spies, informants, undercover terrorists and the like for their morsel of stories, information, disinformation, gossip and self-indulgence.
Finally, it was time for Armstrong to make his first turnover of an important agent to Jonathan.
The three of them met over dinner at the Bedford Hotel situated close to American University of Beirut, Pigeon Rocks.
To be continued...
Next: CHAPTER FOUR (continuation) -
The LAST PART OF THE BOOK SAMPLE