Underground Murmurs (Akira and Deane Thriller Series Book 2)

by Tim Jopling

  Ferec put on a convincing smile as he casually looked around, keeping an eye on the targets ahead of him. With his hands still concealed within his overalls he removed the back case of the camera. He removed a tiny pistol and dropped the rest of the device on the floor.

  Olsen was in the stadium now and shoved his way through the cheering fans as he tried to get onto the track and away from all the people.

  The tiny gun was in Ferec’s pocket as he took out a cartridge pen and unscrewed it.

  Olsen pushed his way past more fans and saw the Royal family and Prime Minister sitting in an erected balcony not far away. He stood on the athletics track and surveyed the area but he couldn’t see the man he was hunting. By now he had a group of agents with him and they fanned out to follow his orders. The sights and sounds around Olsen were impressive as the opening ceremony showed the industrial age of the U.K. with hundreds of people performing in front of him.

  Ferec tipped the cartridge pen upside down and two deadly looking bullets dropped out into his hands. Taking the pistol from his pocket, he kept it under his orange overalls and quietly loaded the empty chamber.

  Olsen kept his Beretta hidden as best he could as he continued to slip past people and keep track of everything and everyone. He stopped and locked onto one man around 200 metres down the track who had an orange overall on and was moving down the track when virtually everyone else had stayed in their positions to watch the ceremony. Olsen kept watch for a moment and moved to his left, away from the track as much as he could to get a better look at his target. The more he studied the man, the more he matched what he had seen in the surveillance photos. The man who killed Gibbs and left Jordan for dead! In that moment everything changed as the floodlights went off, leaving the stadium in darkness except for the centre stage and lighting from the stadium seating. The ceremony was moving onto the next phase. Olsen made his decision and set off in pursuit. His eyes locked onto the man ahead who was now moving further away from the track.

  Ferec found the best position he could and glanced up to analyse the security around the Royal family and politicians. He knew he would only get one shot but that would be enough to make sure he could have the maximum impact. He looked around him again but tensed as he saw some commotion some way back down the track. Ferec adjusted his position slightly and then caught sight of someone running to his position. His heart rate accelerated more when the floodlights came back on and Ferec realised that one of the S.U.C.O. agents was running straight towards him. With as much stealth as he could manage, Ferec spun around, raised the tiny pistol and took aim.

  Olsen slowed and dropped down into a kneeling position in one single motion. All around him was deafening noise and people moving to gain the best vantage point to watch the ceremony but as he pulled out his Beretta his eyes locked onto the target ahead and fired one shot.

  Ferec screamed out in pain as the shot ripped into his right hand, causing blood to splatter his face and his own shot to miss the Royal target and ricochet off the balcony roof. The pain in his hand was indescribable as he dropped the pistol to the ground. His light blue eyes looked up to see a huge frame hurtling through the air.

  Olsen dropped onto Ferec and lashed out with his left hand. He felt several of his fingers break, such was the force of his blow. With all his might, he tried to summon up the strength to overpower him quickly but he lurched back as he felt a blow on his forehead.

  Screams and chaos were forming around the two men with people running from their seats and it was pure chaos on the balcony as other agents spread out to use their bodies to protect the Royal family and politicians.

  Olsen was far from beaten and rolled on the ground back towards Ferec. In one swift move, he towered over the injured killer and wrapped his hands around the attacker’s neck. ‘It’s over!’ he shouted.

  Ferec gasped and choked and could see the tiny pistol just inches away from him. What good will it do? he thought. Several feet away, he could see the Royal family and Prime Minister covered by the bodies of Government agents and realised his chance had gone.

  Olsen let go and hurled his left elbow into the back of the man’s skull with all his strength. He pulled out his Beretta and pushed it hard into the skull of the killer. The attack on his home ran through his mind again and how close he had come to losing Rachel. The terrorist in his grip was the last survivor of a group that had made it personal. Amid all the screams and chaos of an interrupted Olympic opening ceremony Olsen’s right forefinger trembled on the trigger of his weapon. With every second, he fought the inner turmoil as to whether to end the life of the murderer before him…

  Amidst the darkness of Yusupov Palace, Akira lunged with his blade and was side stepping forwards all the time. Like a flash, he went for the chest and then whipped his blade downwards and tore into flesh.

  Deane screamed in pain and felt his body reach its breaking point, as if he were about to split in two. Holding his sword in his right hand he came to the stone staircase and fended off another attack but his vision began to blacken.

  Blades crashed together as steel on steel produced an ear-piercing noise.

  Akira spun away and shifted his weight as he snapped his blade round so fast it caught Deane’s stomach and sent him hurtling down the stairs and into the stone banisters below with a bone crunching thud.

  Wasting no time, Akira leaped off the top stair and came down with all the force in his soul, letting loose with a massive attack aimed at Deane’s head.

  Deane raised his blade weakly and barely hung onto it as he managed to push away the killer blow. He got to his feet and tried once more to find some energy reserves, anything to save the operation and the world from certain war but it was no good. After so many battles, so many stand-offs and horrors that had ebbed away at his very life force, he had nothing left to give. The sword in his hand was flicked away with childlike ease and the butt of the handle smashed into his face.

  Akira was breathing hard as he stepped over his fallen opponent. Even he had to admit the MI6 legend had fought well but now in a crumpled and blood stained heap on the white stone floor, the moment had come.

  ‘You’re on the wrong side…Salenko will kill you eventually.’ Deane offered weakly. Still he tried to move and escape death one more time. His hands quivered at his side and no matter how much he willed them on to save him, every cell in his body had relinquished itself to the spreading white-hot pain. In his heart he admitted the painful truth; he was beaten and death was near. He would never see Sam Olsen or Will Hawk again. If his body were still capable he would have shed a tear.

  Akira had waited an eternity for this moment and wanted to reply and scream the truth but would never give Deane the satisfaction. Even now the small-minded man below knew nothing and would die in ignorance, just as he had lived. His thoughts were racing at a frantic pace but rising through to the surface was Madeline who was now screaming with rage the same words over and over again.

  Avenge my death, my love; avenge me!

  Akira raised his blade for the killer blow. His eyes caught on fire with pure joy.

  One voice penetrated the moment.

  ‘If you move your sword, you will be forcing me to fire.’ The voice was young but controlled and the look on Will Hawk’s face clearly showed he meant every word. His finger quivered on the trigger but he would not kill for nothing. They had come for Salenko and no one else.

  Akira couldn’t make out the face in the shadows and so wanted to spear the sword into Deane. But what of his vision? His date with destiny? Was that more important than revenge? Seconds passed until finally he heard from her again, this time sounding calm and controlled.

  There will be another time my love, our vision is our destiny. I have foreseen all of this. Lower your sword.

  Slowly he lowered his blade and eventually tossed it away, consoling himself that though he had relinquished his advantage, the biggest change was yet to come.

  Russian voices screamed out as seve
ral guards sprinted down the hallowed halls of Yusupov Palace and fired their weapons in the direction of the intruder.

  Hawk took cover and shielded his eyes from the stone that was crumbling around him under a hail of gunfire. He fired his Browning pistol and then wheeled around and took aim at the masked attacker who had stood over his mentor. Hawk moved again and fired at the fleeing man who had now leaped up the stairs. Turning again to fire in the direction of the guards he jumped two stairs at a time and scooped up his mentor’s broken form. Sprinting onto the main corridor he headed for the window that would lead to the River Moyka and possible escape.

  Slinging Deane over his shoulder, he looked back but could see no sign of the masked attacker, let alone Salenko, so he carried on at full hilt towards safety. Blasting away with his gun the large window in front shattered under the barrage and with it came an inviting image that cried of hope and safety.

  Without so much as a second thought, Hawk jumped out with his mentor over his shoulders and under the twinkling night sky they both fell silently to the river below almost in slow motion. Three protectors had come to save the world from certain war and like others before them they had failed. This time only two had escaped. Another protector had fallen to the darkness.

  At the window of the Palace, Akira watched the River Moyka closely waiting for signs of life, anything that would indicate the boy and his mentor were still alive. Minutes passed until finally he turned away, satisfied the challenge had been overcome. In the remains of his heart though, he knew Deane would resurface in time but it didn’t matter, he had proven himself to be the more capable and the next time they crossed paths he would make certain it would be for the last time.

  The lights went out in Yusupov Palace and the whole area near the River Moyka turned into darkness.

  Much like Akira’s heart and soul there were no cracks of light, no signs of hope or salvation, just total and utter darkness. Only Madeline could penetrate it and Akira welcomed that voice and embraced it with everything he had. There was no doubt in his mind that his dead wife was a part of him and was with him every step of the way. They were on a road with destiny together and that was how it would be. Always.

  ‘Olsen!’ yelled Ramsey, who disturbed the scene with S.U.C.O. agents Sampson and Miller who had been protecting Rachel Olsen. ‘Drop the gun!’

  Olsen didn’t move and pushed the Beretta down harder until a woman’s voice from behind shattered his concentration.

  ‘Come back to me, Sam.’ Rachel Olsen dressed all in blue with her long dark brown hair flowing over her shoulders stood just a few feet away.

  The Beretta trembled for a moment more but was then released as Olsen pushed the assassin in the direction of Sampson and Miller. He dropped the weapon and rushed over to his wife. The thought of returning to the love of his life had kept his mind and soul together through it all. He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes. Not for a moment did he want to think about the conversations they’d had over the last few days. As he buried his face in her hair he fell away from the scene of terror around him and remembered the life he had been living before the attack on their home.

  Ramsey watched the assassin being dragged away and saw the touching moment unfold. He didn’t want to disturb it but couldn’t help but say something, he was so proud of the Government Agent he had fought so hard to have reinstated. His voice carried the emotions he was feeling. ‘Well done Sam, you made the difference.’

  Olsen picked up on the emotion in Ramsey’s voice and knew there would be questions about whether he would stay on at MI6 permanently but he dismissed the thought as he felt the warmth of his wife’s embrace. He kissed Rachel tenderly and stroked her cheek. Olsen looked into Rachel’s eyes and felt so lucky they had both survived the last few days. He was proud of himself to have made it and there was a side to him that did want more of life at MI6 but for now the warmth, support and love from his wife was all he wanted. He closed his eyes for a moment and then looked at Rachel with such a vulnerable expression he almost didn’t know what to say. His voice was quiet and soft, a far cry from how he had been the last few hours. ‘I know this has been a terrible couple of days and I know you may want to reconsider parts of our relationship…but I just want you to know that coming back to you, surviving all this to be with you, was the only thing that kept me going, Rachel. I’ll always be by your side.’

  Rachel heard the words and was so grateful her husband was still alive she believed them instantly and buried herself in her husband’s embrace. Not for one minute did she think about everything they had been through and what was yet to come…

  ###

  EPILOGUE

  Akira moved to the window of his third floor flat in Karachi, the capital of Pakistan. His eyes focussed on a dark blue Volvo that passed by. Just over ten minutes before, the same car had slowly manoeuvred its way through the afternoon traffic. Scanning the scene ahead of him he noted several other irregularities.

  A parked car on the corner of a nearby street with four passengers, all waiting for something or someone. Another man could just be made out near a small paper shop. He was speaking into his mobile phone and studying the building that housed the flat he had rented for the last day. Pakistan security services; they couldn’t make it more obvious.

  He adjusted his robe and picked up a small briefcase that contained numerous vital documents. Denyer, leader of the elite Black Knights, was sitting on the nearby bed and had been watching his master closely. Akira paused for a moment before speaking. ‘I hadn’t anticipated our presence being discovered quite so soon. No matter, we will head to Saudi Arabia immediately and contact our ally there. Once the West discovers what we are planning it will all be far too late.’

  ‘What of our political allies?’

  ‘We already have control of Iran and Syria.’ The recent election of Mikhail Salenko in Russia made him smile almost uncontrollably. The last image he had seen of Salenko had sent his heart racing. The rest of the Black Knights, FSB’s most lethal team of assassins, had surrounded the President and he had looked untouchable. All of them would be more than a match for their Western counterparts. ‘Now, with Russia on our side the West won’t know what’s coming.’

  His thoughts turned to MI5, MI6, the CIA, GSG9 and the other Western world security services. Akira could feel his hatred and loathing of the West consume him once more; the foreign policies, the complete lack of understanding, the deceitful attitudes and their desire to control and conform every culture. He stopped and closed his eyes.

  His vision of the future came back to him and it continued to give him the hope and strength he needed; A vision where his beliefs and his way of life would be accepted and cherished. There would be no more deceit, no more ‘policies’ and more importantly, no more Governments to oppose him.

  As with all his thoughts Madeline was with him, supporting him, loving him and urging him on to continue with his quest. Akira’s black heart was defiant. He would never fail her again.

  He stood tall and made his way to the door, arrogant in the knowledge that his vision would prove to be a better world for everyone. He was determined to run the gauntlet and sow the seeds of destruction for the West and its protectors.

  Look out for the next novel in the series…

  DOUBLE CROSS

  (Akira and Deane Thriller Series Book 3)

  Zoltan Ferec is rotting in a secret MI6 detention centre after being captured for his failed assassination attempt in the Olympic park. MI6 agent Patrick Walker must break Ferec but has just days to do it. Will he crack under pressure or can he stay strong in the hope he will be rescued? Akira learns of Ferec’s capture and looks to help but does he want Ferec dead or alive?

  MI6 Chief Kevin Ramsey dealing with the political fallout of the failed attack on London is growing increasingly concerned about Thomas Deane, who was sent to Russia to prevent political uprising. When word comes through he has to act quickly to save the life of his most valuable as
set.

  Akira still lurking in the shadows seizes an opportunity to prevent Deane from crossing the borders to safety and continue with Russia’s resurgence…

  Available for Christmas 2015 in print from Amazon and eBook format from Amazon, Kobo, Nook and iBooks

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  Tim Jopling

  About the author

  My name is Tim Jopling and I love any spy and espionage books, TV or films! People always say you write about what you know and although I've never had any personal experience (I've worked in the IT sector for 16 years!) I've read a lot of novels (you can't really beat the original Ian Fleming novels in my opinion) and watched as many TV shows and films as I possibly can. I'm a big James Bond fan (not the spoofy ones, my favourites are the grittier ones with Timothy Dalton my favourite Bond - nothing to do with the name mind you!) and loved all the seasons of 24.