CROSSFIRE: Ex-CIA JON BRADLEY Thriller Series (TERROR BLOODLINE Book 1)

by Paul Rodricks

  “Again, the NYPD must be investigating that case. Being an ex-CIA operative, the CIA may want to come in,” Diego Gonzalez stated.

  “They have already, Sir. Though, not officially yet. Eugene Lewek was a personal friend of mine. I was there at the crime scene and the three of us, “ indicating Allan and William, “did some preliminary investigation. I would need your permission and Mr. Turner’s also to continue the investigation since it may put us on the trail of the person or persons who planned the attacks on the two Synagogues.”

  The Asst. Director thought over it before he said, “If it’s relevant to the terror-cell investigation, I see no problem in that. But, let me speak first to the Director and the NYPD commissioner’s office. Steve will let you know what transpires.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Well… I guess, then, we are done here for now.”

  Seeing the concurrence on their faces, the Assistant Director of FBI got to his feet to be followed by the others. However, only Steve Turner went out of the conference room with their boss. He returned after about five minutes to address them.

  “It doesn’t mean that we completely close down this investigation. This is not an open and shut case for us. We’llcontinue to keep under surveillance the landlord’s son including whoever he associates with, and the other suspects linked to that Yonkers cell.

  “There’re NYPD detectives assigned to the FBI’s counterterrorism unit, who can be briefed further to take up the surveillance.”

  “Mr. Turner, I shall certainly want to investigate from the angle of Eugene Lewet’s homicide. The modus operandi

  of his brutal torture and murder reeks of the terrorist method including the beheading. And, that is not the only indicator.

  “Eugene was an active CIA field covert agent operating – outside the Embassy’s diplomatic cover - in Beirut, Lebanon when I was first posted there. I suspect Lewet’s identity was known to the leaders of the Hezbollah extremists there. It is also possible Eugene knew of the terrorist cell’s plot in Yonkers to seize and destroy the two Synagogues in the New York City.”

  “Do you suspect Mr. Lewek had links with the Mossad?” asked Steve.

  “That has been obvious to me. I knew that he was probably a Mossad helper-agent, Sayan. The CIA would have known about this because any such “friendly “

  arrangement served their interests as well. After all, the Mossad’s raid on our soil, couldn’t have happened without the knowledge and silent nod from the clandestine hierarchy in the CIA.”

  “Before I came here,” said Allan Banks, “this morning I heard that the CIA intended to carry out their own investigation into the murder of their ex-CIA man, Eugene. But what surprised me to learn was that your name, Jonathan, is being mentioned as the one to head this investigation.”

  “That’s certainly news to me,” Bradley said, but he knew that you soon learn to expect just about anything, working and living among the intelligence fraternity.

  “Well, they haven’t spoken to me yet,” Steve Turner said matter-of-factly. “Anyway, we’ll wait to hear from the Assistant Director.“

  He then looked up at the electronic clock on the wall of the conference hall. It showed 12.30 PM.

  “That’s about it for now. Allan, you’ll continue to update and send the summary reports to my office. We shall meet again to review the case when we have a reason to do so.”

  Turner stopped speaking as Jonathan’s cellphone started to ring. He excused himself to take the call. Meantime, Steve Turner turned to walk towards the door and left.

  “Jonathan Bradley.”

  He heard the familiar voice of Detective Liza at the other end.

  “Can you come see me at my office at 2.00 PM? There has been an incident in Ms. Clarke’s case.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  New York City - 2006

  Monday - 2.00 PM

  Detective Liza of the NYPD Sex Crimes has had her lunch postponed not because of her meeting with Jonathan Bradley, but because she had just returned from the scene of an apparent case of drowning related to one of the rape cases under her investigation.

  She was going through the notes when Bradley knocked on her door.

  “Come in,” Liza said absent-mindedly, then looking up from her notebook and seeing that it was Jonathan, “Oh, yes. Do come in, please. I’ve bad news, Mr. Bradley.”

  “What happened?”

  “A homeless person was found drowned this morning. One of the Park Enforcement officers reported seeing a man’s body floating in the reservoir of the main fountain in the Greenview Park. It is of one of our alleged suspect’s, Andre Poinsteur.”

  Jonathan at once realized what he had feared earlier had come true. The clever murderer had eliminated a possible witness in Samantha’s rape case. The man was nothing less than a psychopath.

  “Any clues or signs as to how he might have drowned?”

  “The M.E. places the time of his death,” she referred to her notes, between 11.30 PM and 1.00 AM, based roughly on his examination of the exterior body organs. The man was apparently drunk. His legs and bare feet protruded outside the fountain. We will know more after the autopsy is done.”

  “Could be a case of accidental or forced drowning. The doctor will need to look for physical abrasions or injuries on the body,” surmised Bradley and asked, “The medic must have certainly checked for signs of water in the lungs?”

  “He did remark about the absence or rather the presence of very little water in the victim’s lungs.”

  “That could be our answer. He was nearly dead or barely semiconscious before he was placed or forced face-down into the water of the fountain’s reservoir.

  “I too have serious doubts that he drowned himself accidentally. He lived around parks and water fountains for too many years, not to have known his way around them, even in a drunken state,” Detective Quadros voiced her views.

  “For a man of his physique, only a much stronger man than he would have managed to subdue him before drowning him,” opined Bradley.

  “Anyway, he is out of our hands now,” she went on to tell Jonathan. “If it’s a case of murder, the homicide detectives will handle it. According to me, he did not appear to be a serious suspect in Ms. Clarke’s case.”

  “I have spent a few hours perusing her case folder. The other suspect, Samuel Morse, comes close to the victim’s description. He has a history of sex offenses, but a strong alibi and the fact that he is currently undergoing psychiatric treatment for reform, lets him off from being indicted. Has he been tested for a match of his sperm DNA with the sample kit of the victim’s?”

  “The forensic dept. was supposed to follow up on that. I will check with them.”

  She then dialed the code number on her desk intercom and asked Randy to see her.

  “Detective, did you consider holding a police line-up?”

  “We did consider it, but the victim was not in a proper state of mind. We can have one as soon as she is fit to do so.” “Alternatively, Detective, I would suggest a photo line-up. If you could arrange that, I could bring over Ms. Clarke here and she could examine the set of photographs, including Samuel Morse’s for some possible identification of the perpetrator.”

  “Yes, that can be arranged.”

  She glanced towards the door to see Randy walk in. After he had greeted Jonathan, Liza instructed him about the DNA forensics report status and the photo-array.

  “Randy, you get in touch with Mr. Bradley when it’s done.”

  “Just a moment, Officer Nogart,” interposed Jonathan, “Could you also please arrange with the Computer Artist to prepare an extra set showing the photo line-up faces wearing a black balaclava mask with only the eyes and mouth exposed?”

  Then went on to explain, “That was how the victim saw him.”

  “I shall look into it, Mr. Bradley,’ Randy said and left the room.

  “Meantime, I am taking in Samuel Morse for further interrogation. I’ve had my suspic
ions about him. If only I can break down his alibi.” Detective Liza said with determination.

  “I had also intended to question him, but if you are taking him in, I’d like to join you during the interrogation.”

  “That’s fine with me. The faster we get done with his case, the better it is for all of us. I will be in touch with you.”

  “Appreciate that, Detective.”

  ***

  He was driving back to his FBI office when he heard his cellphone ring. It was Samantha.

  She didn’t even give him time to respond. Her voice sounded distraught. “Jon, where are you? Please go check on Elaine at the apartment. We were supposed to meet this morning. She did not turn up and I have been calling her ever since. Her mobile just rings and disconnects after a while…”

  “Sam, Sammy… take it easy. Listen, please. Don’t panic.”

  He heard her calm down at the other end, “That’s better. Now tell me again… “

  “Late last night, that is after you dropped me home, she phoned telling me that things were not going right between her and Jamie. I know her well. I think she had been crying for a while. Said she’d meet me today and explain. Could something bad have happened between them since? Please Jon…”

  “Tell you what, love. I am turning around the car and am heading for the apartment. You calm down. Can you do that for me? Can you, please?”

  “Yes, my love,” her breathing was returning to normal as he tried to quieten her.

  “I will call you no sooner I am at the apartment and have spoken with her. Till then, there is no reason foryou to worry or to fear about anything. Agreed?”

  “I will try to, Jon. You be careful, alright?”

  “That’s a good girl. Now wait for my call. I will be there in a short while. Love you, Sam.”

  She reciprocated and he waited until she had disconnected.

  The apartment was located on the second floor of the Crossley Apartments building. Jonathan took the lift up while he thought about the next course of action.

  From the car, he had made several attempts to reach Elaine on her number, then changed to her landline, but without any success.

  A sliver of fear was beginning to bother him when he reached the door of the Apartment B2.

  First, he rang the door-bell. Next, he knocked a few times on the door. Then, he called out aloud,” Elaine… Elaine, it is me, Jonathan Bradley. Jonathan here, please open the door…”

  He repeated, and knocked on the door again. Just as he was about to call out again, he heard his cellphone ring. It was Elaine calling.

  He spoke quickly into the mobile, “Elaine, it’s me Jonathan. Please open the door. You have nothing to fear… “

  “Are… are you alone, Jon… ?“ Elaine’s voice sounded fearful.

  “Yes, I am alone. You can trust me, Elaine. Please open the door.”

  He could hear the soft thud of the footsteps coming towards the door, the latch slides and the chain rattle, and finally the door open, but not before she had made sure that it was Jonathan on the other side.

  Elaine rushed into Jonathan’s arms, and next as if sensing their close physical contact, hastily stepped back, letting him come inside the apartment.

  To Jonathan, she made a pitiful figure. She had a hideous left black eye, which she had tried to hide under make-up, and her lower lip was grossly swollen. Elaine was looking at him embarrassedly.

  “I am sorry, Jonathan, I made you wait,” she mumbled.

  “That’s alright, but why have you not been responding to calls from Samantha and me? She is worried to death about you and asked me to check on you. What’s wrong, Elaine? I can see that you have been hurt badly. Who did this to you? Have you reported to the police?” He let out a flurry of questions, anxious as he was for Elaine’s welfare.

  Actually, Jon was angry with himself for failing to prevent harm from befalling Samantha’s loyal friend.

  “Please come inside and sit down. I will explain everything, Jonathan. I have had the time to rest and think.

  And then when Jonathan Bradley heard Elaine speak next, he was startled at her steadfast conviction with which she made the accusation.

  “Jonathan, I believe I know the masked man who raped Samantha.”

  Continues

  in

  INFLIGHT Book#2

  About Book #2 – INFLIGHT

  TERROR BLOODLINE

  Book #2

  INFLIGHT

  Ex-CIA Jon Bradley 3-Series Thriller

  Read and discover:

  What does Elaine reveal to Jon Bradley? Who is the real rapist of his lady-friend, Samantha? How does Jon identify and confront him.

  Investigation into the brutal murder of his mentor, Eugene Lewek, an ex-CIA retiree and sleeper agent of Mossad, leads Jonathan Bradley to one of the alleged suspects, Joanne Ross.

  The latter, abandoned and abused as a child, grows up to be a narcissist psychopath, who is obsessed with discovering theidentity and whereabouts of her inhumane parents, both having a deceptive past.

  While on the trail of the elusive Islamic-Jihadist Mastermind, also a wanted international illegal arms broker, Jonathan establishes his true identity.

  But, the intrepid Mastermind owing allegiance to the Hezbollah has another

  side of his, so far unknown to Jon Bradley.

  This further leads him to investigate into the disappearance of the femme fatale MI6 field agent, Claire O’Neal – Jon’s one-time lover – during his last operation, Mermaid, in Beirut, Lebanon.

  Enters the scene, Khaleed el Abbassi, the spurned son of the elusive Hezbollah’s Mastermind, set forth on his personal agenda of family revenge.

  CIA, MI6, and the Mossad all seem to be in hot pursuit of the Mastermind to stop his diabolic plot to trigger a nuclear blast in Jerusalem. Or, are they really?

  BOOK REVIEW:

  The Author would appreciate your taking some time to review the book. Comments and suggestions are also welcome.

  paulrodericks@gmail.com

  Blog:

  http://www.paulrodricks.com/

  About the Author

  I am a published Author and freelance Writer of Creative Writing, having varied interests in reading and writing Fiction and Non-fiction, Poetry, Music Composition & Songwriting, Travel, Nature & Climate Change; also studying and doing research on Human Origins, Archaeology, Religion & Spirituality, and Ancient History.