by Bob Mayer
Hancock declined. They were in a cabana on the west coast of Costa Rica with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean crashing on a pristine beach less than fifty feet from the double doors opening to the deck. Jungle surrounded them, and guards from the Costa Rican army, supplemented by mercenaries, patrolled the perimeter. The cabana was luxurious, with every modern comfort money could buy and import.
"They'll seek to extradite us," Hancock noted as Hill sat in a large wicker chair across from him.
"They have to find us first," Hill said. "That will take them a year or two. By then we'll move on. I have many people owing me favors—as do you."
"Prince Yasin is looking for us also," Hancock said.
"We did Yasin a favor by showing him the true nature of his bastard sons," Hill said.
Unnoticed by either man—and the security guards—a small, crablike object crept out of the ocean on metal legs. With a body less than four inches in size, it walked across the beach toward the open double doors.
"It was bad luck, really," Hill continued.
Hancock shook his head. "No. Jawhar and Akil had their own agenda and I should have foreseen that. It cost us everything."
"Not everything," Hill said. "Who knows? With a new administration coming into office—and there is no doubt the pendulum will swing the other way with the next election—we may very well be able to go back to Washington and reclaim our old jobs."
Hancock was listening to his mentor, but he was distracted by a very slight clicking noise. He looked about, then saw the mechanical creature stalking in through the doorway, the metal legs making the noise against the hardwood floor.
"What is that?" Hancock stood up.
Hill turned. A small optical wire on the top turned in their direction, like a crustacean's eye. It fixed on the two men.
Hill pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and was punching in for the head of security when a small canister about two inches long by one in diameter popped out of the top of the device. The canister rolled onto the floor with a hissing noise.
"What the hell—" Hancock leaned forward to look at the canister when he felt his throat seize up.
***
Dublowski watched the VZ kill Hill and Hancock. Certain they were dead, he hit the self-destruct on Freddie Two, and the image on the small TV screen in the cabin of the rented boat went black.
Dublowski climbed up the short ladder to the boat's bridge. He engaged the engine and headed north from his position three miles off the coast of Costa Rica. In two days he was meeting his wife and daughter in San Diego for a week of vacation and he wanted to make sure he made it in time. He knew Simpkins would be happy to know Freddie worked.
***
Parker knew the driver was checking her out, but more out of curiosity than male lust. That was a relief, given he was over sixty and looked like life had not been too kind to him.
"How much farther?" she asked as they turned onto another narrow street in Stuttgart.
"You sound like my grandkids," Morty Lorsen groused good-naturedly. He pulled the car into an alley and stopped. "We're here."
Parker got out of the car and looked around with some concern.
Lorsen saw her expression and laughed. "Yeah, this is it. Looked worse a month ago, if you can believe that. Our friend, he has . . ." Morty shook his head. "Well, you must see. Come on, come on."
They walked down the alley and then turned right through a narrow doorway. Morty opened the door and extended his right hand, inviting her in.
Parker walked through and blinked. Bright lights illuminated the center of the large room where several teenagers were gathered at a table while a tall, thin man was speaking in a low voice, pointing to a computer.
"That's Esdras," Lorsen said. "He's teaching them basic computer skills. And here . . ."—Lorsen led Parker around a thick concrete pillar to another section of the room—"is your friend Mr. Thorpe."
Thorpe had a roller in his hands and was perched precariously on a ladder. The ceiling above his head was half painted and Thorpe was covered with white spots. He saw Parker and smiled. "Hey." He climbed down.
A thin young man with tattoos all over the parts of his body that were visible poked Thorpe in the arm. "Hey, man, no breaks. You said it!"
"I've got to talk to the lady, Crew," Thorpe said.
The young man doubled over coughing, then straightened with a weak grin. "Yeah, well, I want to see this done."
"We'll get it done," Thorpe promised. "Maybe you should take a break too."
"Nah." Crew dipped his roller in the paint.
Thorpe walked over to Parker. "How goes things back in the States?"
"Things are good. Dublowski sends his regards and his thanks for the hundredth time."
Thorpe nodded.
"Hill and Hancock are dead," Parker added.
"How?"
"According to Gereg, someone infiltrated some VZ gas into where they were in Costa Rica."
"Interesting," was Thorpe's only comment on that.
"That seems to close everything out," Parker said.
"You think so?"
"Are all the world's problems solved?" Parker asked rhetorically. "Of course not. But a couple of them are."
"Jawhar and Akil haven't been spotted, have they?"
Parker shook her head. "Not a peep."
"I think Daddy took care of them," Thorpe said.
"We've kept an eye on Nabi Ulmalhamah," Parker said. "Nothing since Yasin left. No one's gone in there or out. Looks abandoned."
Thorpe sat down in an old chair that the stuffing was coming out of in several places. Parker settled down on a battered couch.
"There's something else," she said hesitatingly.
"What?"
"The German link who set up Jawhar and Akil with the Russian military. We've received word from the Israelis that—"
Thorpe held up his hand, then pointed. "See that wall?"
A splash of colors covered the concrete. The pattern caught the eye and held it, as the mind tried to make sense of the swirling images.
"It's beautiful," Parker said.
"Crew did that," Thorpe said. "He created something."
Parker opened her mouth to speak, then paused.
Thorpe leaned forward. "We're creating something here. A place for these kids to be safe. Because there will be more Jawhars. And Akils. And Hancocks. And Hills. All of them. I don't care about who the German intermediaries were and what they're doing now." He stabbed a finger at the floor. "As long as they don't come here. Nabi Ulmalhamah was the last mission. The Omega Sanction, to use CIA terminology. I'm done destroying."
Thorpe stood up. "We've got an extra brush if you want to help."
Parker nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
THE END
Other Books
by Bob Mayer
"Heart-racing, non-stop action that is difficult to put down."-Mystery News on Bodyguard of Lies
"Thelma and Louise go clandestine."-Kirkus Reviews on Bodyguard of Lies
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“ . . .delivers top-notch action and adventure, creating a full cast of lethal operatives armed with all the latest weaponry. Excellent writing and well-drawn, appealing characters help make this another taut, crackling read.” Publishers Weekly
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“Fascinating, imaginative and nerve-wracking.” Kirkus Reviews
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THE GREEN BERET SERIES
“Mayer had me hooked from the very first page.” Stephen Coonts
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“Exciting and authentic. Don’t miss this one!” W.E.B. Griffen
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“Mayer has stretched the limits of the military action novel. Synbat is also a gripping detective story and an intriguing science fiction thriller. Mayer brings an accurate and meticulous depiction of military to this book which greatly enhances its credibility.” Assembly
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“Wi
ll leave you spellbound. Mayer’s long suit is detail, giving the reader an in-depth view of the inner workings of the Green Machine.” Book News
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“Mayer keeps story and characters firmly under control. The venal motives of the scientists and military bureaucracy are tellingly contrasted with the idealism of the soldiers. A treat for military fiction readers.” Publishers Weekly
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“Sinewy writing enhances this already potent action fix. An adrenaline cocktail from start to finish.” Kirkus Reviews
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“Incredibly believable and absolutely riveting. Quite possibly the best book every written about the Green Berets. Bob Mayer tells Green Beret stories like Joseph Wambaugh tells cop stories!” Macon News-Record
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BRAND NEW FICTION COMING 7 MAY 2013
NEXT IN THE GREEN BERET SERIES
“A background in Special Forces gives Mayer credibility and understanding from ‘having been there and done that.’” Airpower Journal
COMING 7 MAY
THE BLACK OPS SERIES
“Sizzling, first rate war fiction.” Library Journal
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“A military thriller in the tradition of John Grisham’s The Firm.” Publishers Weekly
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“The Omega Missile comes screaming down on target. A great action read.” Stephen Coonts
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“What a delicious adventure-thriller. Its clever, plausible plot gives birth to lots of action and suspense.” Kansas City Journal Inquirer
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“Exciting and authentic. Author Mayer, a Green Beret himself, gave me a vivid look at the world of the Army’s Special Forces as they battle America’s most deadly enemy. His portrayal of Green Beret operations and techniques takes you deep into the covert world of Special Operations as a you follow an A-Team into combat. Don’t miss this one.” W.E.B. Griffin
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Praise for Atlantis by Bob Mayer:
“Spell-binding! Will keep you on the edge of your seat. Call it techno-thriller, call it science fiction, call it just terrific story-telling.” Terry Brooks, #1 NY Times Bestselling author of the Shannara series and Star Wars Phantom Menace
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PSYCHIC WARRIOR SERIES
“A pulsing technothriller. A nailbiter in the best tradition of adventure fiction.” Publishers Weekly.
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AREA 51/NIGHTSTALKERS SERIES
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Nightstalkers is a NEW series birthed from the 9 book Area 51 Series
CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE 9 BOOK SERIES
About the Author
NY Times bestselling author Bob Mayer has had over 50 books published. He has sold over four million books, and is in demand as a team-building, life-changing, and leadership speaker and consultant for his Who Dares Wins: The Green Beret Way concept, which he translated into Write It Forward: a holistic program teaching writers how to be authors. He is also the Co-Creator of Who Dares Wins Publishing, which does both eBooks and Print On Demand, so he has experience in both traditional and non-traditional publishing.
His books have hit the NY Times, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and numerous other bestseller lists. His book The Jefferson Allegiance, was released independently and reached #2 overall in sales on Nook.
Bob Mayer grew up in the Bronx. After high school, he entered West Point where he learned about the history of our military and our country. During his four years at the Academy and later in the Infantry, Mayer questioned the idea of “mission over men.” When he volunteered and passed selection for the Special Forces as a Green Beret, he felt more at ease where the men were more important than the mission.
Mayer’s obsession with mythology and his vast knowledge of the military and Special Forces, mixed with his strong desire to learn from history, is the foundation for his science fiction series Atlantis, Area 51 and Psychic Warrior. Mayer is a master at blending elements of truth into all of his thrillers, leaving the reader questioning what is real and what isn’t.
He took this same passion and created thrillers based in fact and riddled with possibilities. His unique background in the Special Forces gives the reader a sense of authenticity and creates a reality that makes the reader wonder where fact ends and fiction begins.
In his historical fiction novels, Mayer blends actual events with fictional characters. He doesn’t change history, but instead changes how history came into being.
Mayer’s military background, coupled with his deep desire to understand the past and how it affects our future, gives his writing a rich flavor not to be missed.
Bob has presented for over a thousand organizations both in the United States and internationally, including keynote presentations, all day workshops, and multi-day seminars. He has taught organizations ranging from Maui Writers, to Whidbey Island Writers, to San Diego State University, to the University of Georgia, to the Romance Writers of America National Convention, to Boston SWAT, the CIA, Fortune-500, the Royal Danish Navy Frogman Corps, Microsoft, Rotary, IT Teams in Silicon Valley and many others. He has also served as a Visiting Writer for NILA MFA program in Creative Writing. He has done interviews for the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Sports Illustrated, PBS, NPR, the Discovery Channel, the SyFy channel and local cable shows. For more information see www.bobmayer.org.