Assassin 2 - Sleeping Dogs (Assassin Series)

by Bryan Murray

  She walked up to Gunther who was grovelling on the ground in pain, her gun aimed unwaveringly at his head. He looked at her with venomous eyes, realizing that ether way his race was run. If the bullet from this persistent woman didn’t get him, the devastating impact of the bomb due to go off any second would.

  He snarled at her. “You are too late, Jew, The bomb will explode, the people will be killed and the heads of state will be vaporized!”

  Sarah smiled wistfully. “Sorry to disappoint you, Gunther.”

  He looked shocked. “You know my name?”

  She smiled. “Hell yeah, I also know that the bomb was defused and the limos bringing in the heads of state were just decoys!”

  He looked at her, blood dribbling from the corners of his mouth, an incredulous look in his eyes as Sarah continued victoriously. “The real heads of state are up in the mountains with the Prime Minister and the peace accord has already been signed!”

  Gunther snarled at her. “We should have exterminated you all completely in World War II when we had the chance, you Jewish bastard!”

  Sarah smiled triumphantly, her gun still pointing unwaveringly at his head. “No way, you Nazi dog, oh, and by the way, that crazy father of yours and all his stupid followers have been taken into custody by Interpol and all your assets have been seized!”

  Gunther was choking in blood and anger. “You lie!” he gurgled.

  Sarah was enjoying herself. “Yes, it’s such a small world when you think about it, Gunther. My grandfather was the man who made sure your grandfather was convicted in Nuremburg and now I’m pleased to help bring your father to justice and make sure you join your old buddy Adolf!”

  Her face suddenly turned deadly serious as she pointed the gun at his head. “This is for my Uncle Ari, rot in hell you Nazi scum!” she fired a single shot, hitting him between the eyes as he twitched one last time in death. She let out a pent-up sigh before leaving the alley, just as additional Mossad agents arrived to take care of the body.

  * * *

  Across the skyline, two blocks over, Jake was still in pursuit and both he and Akeem were wounded, Akeem in the leg and Jake in the arm. They were now back at ground level, rushing past surprised tourists, both still firing at each other.

  Akeem was losing blood as he staggered ahead, scattering frightened people as he went. Jake was breathlessly following when his intercom beeped and Sarah was on the line. “Jake, where are you?” she called.

  “Still after the Arab! He’s heading towards the synagogue!” he gasped.

  Sarah knew exactly where he was. “I know where you are, I’ll meet you there. Gunther’s dead, be careful!”

  Jake half smiled. “You too, gotta go!” he clicked off the intercom and up ahead, Akeem stopped, turned and fired another burst at Jake, but his gun clicked on an empty chamber. He tried again but it was out of ammo. Akeem threw the gun to the side and staggered on, up towards the steps leading into the synagogue. Jake quickly jammed another cartridge into his Glock as he followed.

  Akeem reached the heavy ornate doors of the synagogue, where a group of tourists were just leaving. He staggered in past them, covered in blood. They all stood back in shock, even more shocked to see Jake staggering towards them, also bleeding, with his gun in his hand. A block away, Sarah was rushing though the heavy crowds in the direction of the synagogue.

  Inside the synagogue, the reverent worshippers and courteous tourists, looked up in shock as Akeem burst in and staggered down the aisle towards the altar, where the old Rabbi was still standing there in discussion with a group of visitors. The old man looked up in shock to see Akeem approaching, just as the doors busted open again and Jake came rushing down the aisle, his gun still in his hand.

  All of a sudden, the visitors inside the synagogue had seen enough. They all started to rush for the door and in a matter of seconds, the only people still in there, were Akeem, Jake and the old Rabbi, the latter not nimble enough to get out of harm’s way.

  Jake walked down the aisle, his Glock pointed unwaveringly at Akeem. The Rabbi saw the gun in Jake’s hand and being totally unaware of the situation, all he could see was an armed man advancing on an unarmed man, both men bleeding profusely.

  He spoke to Jake. “My son, this is a house of worship, it is not a place for guns!”

  As he spoke, Akeem had reached the altar and with a lunging grasp, he had the Rabbi by the throat, a knife in his hand, ready to kill the old man. The Rabbi was in deep shock. Jake raised his hand, trying to calm Akeem. “Take it easy, okay. Let the Rabbi go, this is not his fight. Put the knife down!”

  For the first time, Akeem spoke. “On the contrary, drop the gun or the Rabbi dies!”

  Suddenly, Jake was in deep, devastated shock. The man was not speaking with a Middle Eastern accent, he was speaking with an American accent and what was sending Jake’s brain into warp speed, it was a voice he recognized! But who the hell did it belong to?

  He continued to try and defuse the situation. “Don’t be a fool, the place is surrounded. Kill the Rabbi and they’ll shred your body for the Griffons!”

  Behind him, the synagogue door opened silently, and Sarah, gun at the ready, slipped inside. She looked ahead, saw what was happening and started to move stealthily down the side aisle, out of view of Akeem, moving from pillar to pillar.

  Up ahead, Akeem was feeling weak, he was losing more blood and he was deathly afraid the bomb would go off any second. Jake put his mind to rest. “You can relax, the bomb’s been defused, Gunther’s dead, and that maniac Heinrich is already in custody in Austria!”

  The truth started to sink in with Akeem. He heaved a sigh of defeat. “You never could keep your nose out of our business, could you Jake!”

  Suddenly, the deadly truth hit Jake. He was about to speak as Akeem reached up with his hand not holding the knife and ripped off his excellent face mask. Both Jake and Sarah, who had appeared at Jake’s side as if my magic, looked on in total shock to see Ted Jennings standing there, still with his knife to the Rabbi’s throat!

  Jake was the first to gather his wits. “Well, how convenient, two birds with one stone!”

  In the background, a brave camera crew, alerted by the crowd outside, were moving down the aisle, trying to get a hot story.

  Jennings was now deadly serious. “So, both of you drop your guns. I count to three and the Rabbi dies!” One, two...” before he got to three, the old Rabbi, who wasn’t as frail as Jennings thought, suddenly grabbed the hand with the knife and sagged to the ground at the same time, just as Jake and Sarah fired simultaneously, hitting Jennings who fell to the ground.

  He looked up through glazed eyes. “Just couldn’t seem to make my pay day!” he gurgled. Jake looked down venomously at him. “Afraid not, old son. So, this is for Nancy!” he shot him once. “This is for Nicole!” he shot him again. “This is for Daniel!” he shot again, “This is for Ari!” he shot again. And this is for all the rest!” He emptied the rest of his Glock into Jennings’s twitching body.

  Sarah looked at him, there was now final closure in his eyes. “Now it makes sense. What a devious monster!” she whispered. The Rabbi was still looking on in shock.

  Jake nodded in agreement as the camera crew approached after hearing the noise of the gunfire, not having seen exactly what went on.

  The Reporter was already signalling to the cameraman to get footage as he turned to Jake and Sarah. He pointed to Jennings’s body on the floor “Who’s this?” he asked.

  Jake answered carefully. “Ted Jennings, a corrupt ex-CIA agent, trying to disrupt the peace accord!”

  The Cameraman was continuing to film Jake and Sarah and the body of Jennings on the ground. The Reporter grabbed his pad and started to scribble down notes, but Jake and Sarah had seen enough and decided to leave discreetly, just as Mossad back-up was starting to arrive and take control.

  The Reporter looked at the Cameraman. “Did you get footage on these two?” he asked before he looked round in shock to see tha
t Jake and Sarah had already left. He then continued to help the Rabbi to his feet, checking that he was okay, looking over his shoulder, still surprised that Jake and Sarah had disappeared so quickly.

  CHAPTER 43

  In the board room at Nayra Global, Heinrich Kloss and his followers were still watching the telecast from Jerusalem on CNN. The newscaster continued the broadcast, with the scenes of a peaceful Jerusalem in the background, explaining that on that day in Jerusalem, thousands of worshippers, both Jews and Christians were once again gathered to celebrate their respective faiths. He suddenly stopped and touched his ear piece, advising his audience that he had received a newsflash in from Jerusalem, concerning an attempted terrorist bombing in the old city.

  Kloss suddenly had a demented look of anger in his eyes. “What does he mean, attempted bombing?” he screamed. “What is going on?” he looked back at the TV and on the screen, behind the newscaster, the bodies of first Gunther in the alley and then Jennings, lying in a pool of blood on the floor of the synagogue, with Jake and Sarah in the foreground, came on the screen. The newscaster continued, explaining that the culprits had been apprehended by Israeli security forces and the peace of the holiday week-end had been restored!

  Heinrich’s demented eyes couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “Mein Gott! That was my son Gunther, he looked dead and also Akeem!” he started pointing frantically at the TV, his blood pressure skyrocketing. “Rewind, rewind!”

  Bleiberg quickly rewound the telecast until Jake and Sarah came back on the screen. “Stop! Stop!’ Kloss screamed as their picture was frozen on the screen. He and Bleiberg looked at the screen in shock.

  Kloss was almost foaming at the mouth. “And those, those people there!” he was struggling to breathe, waving his arms like a madman. “They, they are the ones who came to see us!”

  Bleiberg nodded in shocked agreement. “Correct, Herr Kloss!”

  * * *

  Way across the world, in Northern Ireland, the exact same telecast was being broadcast and watched by a dangerous-looking, dark-haired Northern Irishman. He gave a sudden start when he saw Jake and Sarah on the screen. “Holy Jaysus!” he yelled as he paused the TV.

  * * *

  Back in Austria, Kloss was screaming like a banshee. “This is why our plan failed! I do not believe this! The work of a lifetime ruined!”

  The doors of the board room busted open and Interpol Agents came rushing in. Their Leader was the first to speak. “Interpol, you are all under arrest!”

  Kloss was desperately trying to gather his wits. “On what charge, may I ask?”

  The Leader thought for a moment. “Too many to list, but how about international terrorism for a start!” he answered. The Interpol agents handcuffed all the Nayra executives gathered around the table before marching them out. As they wheeled Kloss outside in his wheelchair, he suddenly started to convulse when a massive heart attack caused him to slump lifelessly in his wheelchair.

  Seconds later, back in the empty board room, the TV was still running as the newscaster continued to explain that up in the mountain retreat, outside Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Minister, David Mischner, had welcomed the visiting heads of state for the historic signing of the Olive Branch Peace Accord, between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. The newscaster signed off from a peaceful Jerusalem, expressing the hopes that the new peace accord would finally mend the long-standing rift between the countries of the Middle East.”

  * * *

  At a white tie dinner that evening in the Israeli Government’s Ceremonial Banquet Hall, over cocktails with all the heads of state, US President Parker, Prime Minister Mischner with Jake, Sarah, Joseph and Zeke Safin of the Mossad, were all in polite conversation.

  President Parker was the first to speak as he addressed their gathering. “Lady and gentlemen, both the Prime Minister and I find it hard to put into words, our appreciation of the tremendous job you all did in keeping the lid on the Neo-Nazi attacks here in Israel and in the US!”

  Mischner was also smiling. “I second that, Mr. President. On behalf of my fellow countrymen, we thank you and your staff for all your help, especially Jake and Sarah for stopping these madmen. I know we have not seen the last of prejudice in this modern world, but this will surely have put a dent in their credibility, with the knowledge that we can still keep this a safe place for people to live in!” he was followed by a chorus. “Amen to that!” They all raised their glasses of champagne in a final toast. “US/Israeli relations!”

  Outside, on the streets of the city below, people from around the world, Jews and Christians alike, were quietly enjoying the sights and sanctity of a peaceful, religious pastime.

  * * *

  On the balcony later, as they enjoyed a night cap together, Jake and Sarah, patched up once again, had finally been able to catch their breath and absorb the events of an unbelievably stressful but productive day. Sarah smiled affectionately at Jake. “The President seemed pleased!”

  Jake nodded with a wry smile. “Yes, but the agency’s goin’ to be pissed big time!”

  She looked curious. “You think so?”

  Jake grinned wickedly. “Why d’you think I gave that film crew Jennings name for them to spread across the globe. Now, people back in the US, especially those frosty-faced senators, will realize they made a huge mistake in letting that bastard Jennings go and kill hundreds more people. Now they may have to backtrack on their decisions to save their scrawny asses!”

  Sarah was following his line of reasoning. “You mean...?”

  He finished the thought. “Yes, once the CLU start nibbling at their heels again, with a worldwide front page picture of Prince Charming lying dead in a synagogue in Israel, linked as the mastermind to all the terrorist bombings against Israel.”

  Sarah was ahead of him. “And with sixty per cent of those self-same senators being Jewish?”

  Jake concluded the thought. “Then perhaps the families of the five people killed by CIA assassins, will see a settlement after all!”

  She put her arm round him and gave him a hug. “Nice work, partner. Now, maybe people will think twice before starting to screw around with the Israelis!”

  He hugged her affectionately. “Let’s hope so!”

  * * *

  Back in the USA, the story that had been front page news for days, had now come to an end and CNN were now running the final story of the failed attack in Jerusalem. They had managed to get footage from the film crew in the synagogue and extracted a shot of both Jake and Sarah, as the newscaster explained that they were instrumental in foiling the attack, also adding, that the body in the synagogue, was that of a former CIA agent, who was involved in all the attacks on US and Israeli targets.

  They also announced that detailed information had now been gathered from the offices of Nayra Global in Austria concerning the individual identities of the entire intel support group that had been supporting Akeem and Gunther in both the US and Israel and now the combined resources of the FBI and the Mossad were already making multiple arrests!

  The political backlash in the US was immense and in Langley, CIA Director Rathbone and his staff, were back under siege, behind closed doors, working feverishly on their next damage control statement.

  * * *

  As the telecast aired in Northern Ireland, the man seen earlier, was watching intently, his own devious plan already forming in his mind.

  CHAPTER 44

  When Jake and Sarah stopped by to say goodbye to Aunt Miriam, Sarah’ parents Paul and Helen were still there, having delayed their return to Connecticut for a further week. Miriam was still in deep mourning, dark rings around her eyes and she looked like she had lost weight. Her brother Paul and her sister-in-law Helen, had been a godsend in comforting Miriam, who was still dressed in black when Jake and Sarah arrived.

  Paul came over and shook Jake by the hand. “I never thought I’d be thanking my daughter and her partner, for not only terminating my father’s killer, but also for helpin
g to save the entire economic and international credibility of Israel!” he also hugged Sarah to him. “Blessings to you both!”

  Jake smiled. “It’s a relief that it’s all over, sir, that’s for sure!”

  Paul added. “Call me Paul, please, Jake.”

  Jake looked at Sarah and smiled. “Sure, no problem.”

  Helen hugged Sarah to her. “So, what’s next for Harrigan and Schaumberg, my darling?”

  Sarah put her arm lovingly around Aunt Miriam’s shoulders as she replied. “Well, first we need to finish the training assignment we came to do and then head back to DC to see if we’ve still got a business back there.”

  Paul smiled. “After what you guys did over here, I’d imagine you’d have top level clients banging on the door!”

  Jake smiled. “Let’s hope so, but after we get sorted out, we’re going to take a vacation.”

  Sarah looked at him, a surprised look on her face. “We are?” she asked.

  Jake smiled at her. “Don’t you think we deserve it?”

  She nodded. “I guess.”

  He shrugged. “In that case, you decide where!” they both laughed as Aunt Miriam seemed to be getting back to her old self. “So, what about Ephraim Goldberg?” she asked, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Sarah smiled admonishingly “Aunt Miriam!”

  * * *

  After a further week of training with their new recruits, the new agents were now seeing Jake and Sarah in a new light after the action of the previous days. They could also see the almost prophetic way that Sarah’s first spotting of the cable feed of the movie star’s deaths back in LA, had been the forerunner of all the violence that would rain down on Israel and they had been most impressed.

  Joseph was now newly promoted and he picked them up from their hotel to take them to the airport. He was clearly sad to see them leave, having become firm friends with the two Americans. He walked them through immigration to their gate and they had a final drink together as they waited for their flight to be called.