Assassin (Assassin Series Book 1) Read online

  Sarah looked as confused as Rogerson was earlier. “And what was that?”

  Jake looked deadly serious. “Where do the CIA get off indiscriminately killing people, who are not at war with the US, for their own personal gain, without being answerable to US Law?”

  She nodded in agreement. “Isn’t that the truth?”

  Their food arrived and the bartender returned to the bar. He turned on the local TV channel as the mid-day news was coming on. The Channel 8 newscaster moved quickly to the top story from the night before at the container terminal.

  As the story unfolded, however, Jake and Sarah looked at each other in amazement as the extent of agency and bureau’s outrageous damage control started to become apparent.

  They both continued to watch in shock as the news story described how a combined task force of FBI and CIA operatives were successful in preventing a deadly shipment of highly dangerous weapons and targeting software from being shipped to terrorists overseas.

  Their eyes got even wider as the explosive shoot-out was described, but with a very significant twist. The newscaster announced that unfortunately, during the heavy conflict, two brave CIA operatives were killed in the line of duty, together with a business associate. They continued to look on wide-eyed, as pictures of Davidson, Benny and Peterson appeared on the screen. All of a sudden, the three villains that Jake had terminated, were now national heroes! And most significant of all, Jennings and Sharon were not even mentioned. So much for whitewashing at the highest level!

  Jake looked at Sarah cynically. “My God, those guys are really into this damage control garbage! This is pure bullshit! Not even a mention of Jennings, so I guess that one’s down to me!”

  “You got that right!” she sighed.

  They both looked on as the newscaster continued to add that on the business front, the shares of Midecon had taken a serious plunge that morning, following news that their CEO had resigned following certain irregularities that had come to light regarding a large oil service contract in Dubai.”

  Jake shook his head. “More hidden agendas!”

  And then came the final shocker as the newscaster wound up the segment with a new, breaking story, received just moments previously out of Langley, Virginia, that CIA Director, Ben Rogerson had resigned! Apparently no reason had been given for his resignation at that stage, but the Channel 8 defense correspondent confirmed that the President had already accepted the resignation.

  Jake shrugged and turned to Sarah at the final piece of news. “That don’t surprise me, the director looked ready to capitulate the more I told him!” he shook his head sadly. “Looks like some major players are cleaning house!”

  She nodded and smiled affectionately. “Sure looks like it,” she paused. “And what about you, Jake? What will you do now?”

  He thought for a moment, shaking his head sadly. “I’m not sure there’s much demand for people with my skillset anymore.”

  She looked at him understandingly. “I suppose you’re right.”

  “And I’m not exactly welcome at Langley anymore, so, maybe I’ll take a break.”

  Sarah thought for a moment. “Well, at least Senator Johnson has ensured our safety from any CIA retaliation, to prevent anything happening to us.”

  Jake gave a knowing grin, “I’ve been thinking about that Sarah, and I’ve also decided to set up our own personal protection plan as well, and I’ll let the senator pass it on to the powers that be.”

  She looked curious. “Protection plan?”

  Jake nodded. “Yeah, there’s no way we can just rely on Johnson to stay alive! Not with these murderous assholes!”

  “So, what will you do?” she asked.

  He gave a wry smile. “I’ll make sure that if anything happens to either of us, details of all that has gone on will become public knowledge.”

  She nodded that it was a good idea. “I like it, nothing like having a back-up plan!”

  He looked at her tenderly. “And what about you, Sarah?”

  She thought for a moment. “I’m kind of sick of the spook business too!”

  He smiled. “In that case, let’s drink to our retirement!” he held up his glass.

  She laid her hand gently on his arm. “How about we drink to a new direction instead?”

  He hesitated momentarily before clicking his glass against hers. “In that case, to new directions!”

  She looked at him with genuine admiration in her eyes. “Maybe we should discuss some options over dinner tomorrow night? We’re too damned good together to let our combined talents go to waste!”

  “Sounds like a plan,” he replied. “But first, there’s something else I have to do.”

  She nodded. “Okay, I’ll give you my address. I’ll call you tomorrow to confirm.”

  “No problem.” Jake paid the tab and drove back to his apartment, to meet the contractor who was going to give him a quote to repair the damage done to his apartment. He also wanted to take a special treat for Bruno for his timely life-saving services rendered earlier.

  The more he thought about it, he began to realize just what a specialized role he had been performing for the CIA over these past few years. Who knew, maybe there was a joint role that he and Sarah could play somewhere down the road. One thing was for certain, if it involved someone having his back, he could think of nobody better suited than the smart, attractive and warm-hearted woman, who he was becoming increasingly fond of.

  CHAPTER 42

  Glenda Harris was having a terrible time in dealing with the death of her only daughter Nancy. The days seemed endless and it was an ordeal just getting through each one. She had been totally devastated at the sudden loss of her only child, so much so that it had almost lost her the job at the restaurant. When she wasn’t late, she was absent for one lame reason or another. Her meticulous attention to customer satisfaction, had also waned since Nancy’s death.

  Her boss, Mario, had been most understanding, but she realized that she was dangerously close to getting fired if she couldn’t get her act together.

  It was early evening and Glenda was settling down after another hard day at work, to what was becoming quite a debilitating routine, her second and third glass of wine after a light supper every night. The doorbell rang and she answered it, surprised to see Jake standing in the doorway. Tears welled up in her eyes when she saw him, particularly when she saw the sling still on his arm. “Hello, Jake, come on in,” she looked at him more closely. “What happened to you?”

  “Thanks.” he entered and looked around, saw the empty wine bottles on the sink, but didn’t comment.

  Glenda made a feeble attempt at being cheerful. “So, what happened, Jake?” she repeated as she gently touched his wounded arm. .

  He took a deep breath, addressing her question. “Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Glenda.”

  She looked a little confused, already regretting that second glass of wine. “I’m listening?”

  Jake looked very tired and had visibly lost weight. There was no doubt in her mind, that he was missing Nancy every bit as much as she was. He came straight to the point. “I’m terribly sorry to tell you, Glenda that Nancy didn’t die in an auto accident, she was murdered!” he pointed to his injured arm. “As a matter of fact, I received these injuries bringing the bastards who did it to justice!”

  Glenda’s eyes widened in shock. “Did you say murdered?”

  He held her tenderly by the shoulders. “I’m afraid so, Glenda!”

  She was devastated. “My God, Jake, what happened?”

  He topped up her glass from the half-empty wine bottle and looked into her eyes. “What I’m about to tell you is confidential, okay?”

  “Of course.” she replied as Jake began.

  “It’s a long story, so bear with me.”

  She nodded, anxious to hear every detail.

  “It all began when Nancy was working on a large contract for one of the Midecon customers in the Middle East. It seems that
our friends at Midecon were involved in some illegal activities and Nancy overheard some things that she shouldn’t have.”

  She was still wide-eyed. “So, what happened?”

  Jake continued. “Midecon were working with the CIA on some illegal arms deals and Nancy was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  Glenda was now stone cold sober and already beginning to understand. “And you mean for that, she......” her words trailed off.

  He nodded sadly. “Exactly. When I returned from Dubai, her friend Nicole told me what had happened. She was also murdered, but it was set up to look like a suicide!”

  Glenda was incredulous. “My God, Jake! So, what did you do?”

  He continued to explain, trying not to confuse her. “Well, I did some digging and inadvertently met up with an FBI Agent who had also been investigating what Midecon were up to. Between the two of us, we foiled a major, illegal arms shipment from being sent to terrorists in Dubai, but most gratifying of all, I killed the bastards responsible for the deaths of Nancy and Nicole, except one and he’s now under suspension, but still on my shit list!”

  Suddenly, she put it all together, pointing feebly at the TV. “So, that story on the TV, was about you?”

  He nodded. “I’m afraid so!”

  Tears were now streaming down Glenda’s cheeks, as she absorbed what Jake had just told her. “Where do they get off doing things like that to ordinary people like Nancy and Nicole, that’s what I’d like to know?”

  Jake agreed. “Exactly! That’s why I’m here, Glenda!”

  “You mean?” she was trying to comprehend.

  “Yes,” he replied, “Somebody has to answer for this kind of atrocity and I’ve got something in mind.”

  She looked him purposefully in the eye. “Whatever you are planning to do, Jake, you can count me in!”

  He hugged her to him. “Thanks, I knew you’d say that, but we will have to work together.”

  “No problem!” she replied. She looked at him lovingly, the man she had thought perfect for her precious daughter. Her mothering instincts automatically came to the surface. “Can I get you a sandwich, or something?” she asked.

  He gave a wry smile. “No thanks. I’ve got more people to see after we’re done.”

  “All right,” she sighed. “And thank you, Jake, I now have a reason to go on living for my daughter!”

  CHAPTER 43

  In a tidy, middle-class suburb in Washington DC, Jake drove up and parked outside a neatly-kept detached house. He checked the number, walked up to the door and rang the bell. Jim Matthews, Nicole’s father, in his late 50’s, grey hair, answered the door, an inquisitive look on his face when he saw the stranger standing there. “How can I help you, son?”

  Jake took a breath. “Hello, Mr. Matthews, I’m Jake Harrigan, my wife Nancy was a close friend of your daughter Nicole.”

  Jim remembered instantly. “Yes, of course, Nicole spoke of Nancy many times. We were so sorry to hear of your loss, Mr. Harrigan.”

  Jake nodded sadly. “Yours too, sir, that’s why I’m here. Is there somewhere we can talk?”

  Jim held the door open. “Sure, c’mon in.”

  A kindly-looking, small lady appeared in the doorway. Jim introduced her. “This is my wife Betty.”

  Jake shook hands with her. “My pleasure, ma-am.”

  They went inside and closed the door. In the living room, Jim ushered Jake to a seat. “Can I get you a drink, Jake? I was just goin’ to have a beer!”

  Jake smiled, he liked the guy already. “Sure, beer’s fine.”

  Betty was looking at Jake’s cuts, bruises and bandages as well as the sling on his arm. “You look like you’ve been in a war, Jake?”

  He smiled as Jim brought them both a beer. “You could say that, Mrs. Matthews.”

  She smiled. “Call me Betty.”

  “Okay,” he gave a wry smile. “As a matter of fact that was why I wanted to speak to both of you.”

  Jim looked concerned. “So, what’s this all about, Jake?”

  Jake shook his head. “It’s kind of a long story.”

  Betty smiled. “We’re good listeners?”

  Jake took a deep breath. “Well it all goes back to when my wife Nancy was killed. It was only after I got to check it out after the funeral that I realized that she wasn’t killed, she was murdered!”

  Betty put her hands to her mouth. “Oh, my God!”

  Jake continued. “But before I realized this, Nicole came to see me to inform me that she was the last person to see Nancy alive.”

  Jim nodded. “Yes, Nicole told us that as soon as she heard that Nancy was dead.”

  Jake carried on with the story. “That’s right, Jim, Nicole told me that Nancy had overheard something and that she also thought she was being followed,” he paused before continuing, observing the faces of the saddened couple in front of him.

  “What Nicole didn’t realize, was that after she came to see me, she was also being followed and when she left that night, I saw a black SUV follow her into the night as she left my cabin! At the time, I thought it was just one of my neighbors going out for the evening.”

  Jim was already thinking ahead. “Oh my God! You mean...?”

  Jake continued. “Exactly, she was being followed by one of the bad guys. There was no way your daughter committed suicide by jumping off her balcony, she was pushed!”

  Betty had tears in her eyes. “I just knew that wasn’t like her!” she sobbed.

  Jim had a determined look on his face. “So, who the hell did it, that’s what I’d like to know?”

  Jake laid a reassuring hand on his arm. “I need both of you to give me your word, that what I am about to tell you won’t be discussed with anyone, until we are ready to go after the culprit and ensure a conviction. Do you understand?” They both nodded emphatically.

  Jake took another deep breath and continued to explain the story to the tearful couple in front of him. When Jake had finished, and told them his plan of action, like Glenda, they were also in agreement.

  CHAPTER 44

  It was a cold, rainy day, as Jake stood under an umbrella at Nancy’s graveside. He had a lost look in his eyes as he bent down and put another bunch of fresh flowers on her grave. Once again, he spoke to Nancy. “Well, honey, I know I have to move on with my life, but you’ll always be in my heart. Believe me, the people who did these horrible things to you and me, have now paid dearly! Just one left to go and believe me if it’s the last thing I do on this earth, he’s going down!”

  He slowly stood and walked dejectedly back to his car, climbed in and drove away from the deserted cemetery.

  CHAPTER 45

  The six months following the shoot-out in the Port of Baltimore, had passed fairly quickly for Jake and Sarah. True to their toast in the deli, they had both left their government positions with varying sentiments on both sides. In Jake’s case, it had been with mixed blessings from the CIA. Part of the hierarchy were glad to see him leave after the embarrassment that he had caused, even though he was only following orders.

  However, other elements within the agency, realized full well that they were losing a dedicated, deadly, professional assassin, a truly rare breed. After the debacle following the Dubai incident, they were more sensitive than ever concerning the damage control that would be needed if a clandestine termination ever went wrong again. Jake had been given an honorable discharge with all his pensions intact and plans for a new life in the security business, with his new partner Sarah, were now well under way.

  Sarah in turn, had left her position, much to the chagrin of the bureau, since her handling of the Ashram affair had been nothing short of exemplary, not to mention her tough-as-nails handling of the incident in Baltimore.

  She had also been given further ongoing assurances from Senator Johnson, that both she and Jake would be free from any retaliation by any government department.

  Jake was also still adamant that the actions of Jennings, the lone surviv
ing culprit in the murders of Nancy and Nicole, would not go unpunished. Since the night in Baltimore, Jennings and Sharon had both been immediately placed on indefinite suspension with full pay, much to the annoyance of both Jake and Sarah.

  However, Jake had since encouraged Glenda and Nicole’s parents to pursue some monetary settlement from the Government at the loss of their loved ones and as a result of this, the Civil Liberties Union had also jumped on the band wagon. Those people always had some noteworthy crusade to support and in this particular instance, they had come on board very quickly, resulting in a full senate inquiry being scheduled into the operations of the CIA, also bringing Jennings back under scrutiny.

  As far as Jake was concerned, his personal vendetta would not be over, until Jennings’s final humiliation and prosecution were complete. It had taken a while, but things were progressing.

  A gag order had now been placed on the events of the night in Baltimore. Marcus was too young to testify, and Uncle Remo wanted no part of any altercation with the law, as a result of which, the charges against Sharon had been dropped.

  However, following testimony from Mrs. Talbot of Child Welfare Services, after she had spoken with Marcus to get the full story of Sharon’s reckless endangerment of the child, this had meant that Sharon had since been dishonourably discharged from the agency. Jake was no longer sure of her whereabouts.

  On a more positive note, the new joint business venture between Jake and Sarah was progressing very well, as was their bond of mutual respect and affection.

  They had a nice little office in the suburbs and had filed all the necessary corporate paperwork to start their own security business, registered as ‘Harrigan and Schaumberg’. Their customer base of international clientele was progressing nicely and one of their newest potential clients was the Israeli Government. This was mainly thanks to the strong link between Sarah and her uncle, Ari Golchen, the Israeli Minister of Defense, who had strongly suggested they submit bids for varying security assignments in Tel Aviv.