The Courier: A Ryan Kealey Thriller (40 page)
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Authors: Andrew Britton
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Bishop reached for a cigarette, thought of his promise, then let it go. He chewed his cheek and watched as the woman shuffled ahead amid her captors, her shoulders squared, her head high and defiant.
The woman the Bureau had code-named Veil—she called herself Yasmin Rassin, though that was believed to be an alias—was responsible for the deaths of at least fourteen individuals around the world. She was wanted in the United States for trying to kill the deputy director of the CIA, Jon Harper, outside his home in Washington, a hit paid for by Tehran, according to a mole in the
Majles-e Khobregan,
Iran’s ruling council of clerics. The trail that led to her capture had been long and convoluted. Photographed by a street-corner security camera, she had vanished for almost a year after the attempted hit. Eight months ago, a pair of MI5 antiterror agents on another assignment had made a chance ID at Heathrow and taken her into custody. On the way to Thames House in London, their car disappeared. It was later found burning in a field northwest of the city. A month later, the body of one of the agents was recovered from the water under the Westminster Bridge. His throat had been cut with a razor. Pink cotton fibers found in the wound suggested the razor had been tucked into the sweater she was wearing, probably the sleeve. Though her hands had been zip-tied behind her, shavings suggested that the restraints had been slashed, apparently by another razor blade. Rassin had undoubtedly made a lengthwise slit in the back of her leather belt and tucked the razor inside so its edge was even with the top of the belt.
Majles-e Khobregan,
Iran’s ruling council of clerics. The trail that led to her capture had been long and convoluted. Photographed by a street-corner security camera, she had vanished for almost a year after the attempted hit. Eight months ago, a pair of MI5 antiterror agents on another assignment had made a chance ID at Heathrow and taken her into custody. On the way to Thames House in London, their car disappeared. It was later found burning in a field northwest of the city. A month later, the body of one of the agents was recovered from the water under the Westminster Bridge. His throat had been cut with a razor. Pink cotton fibers found in the wound suggested the razor had been tucked into the sweater she was wearing, probably the sleeve. Though her hands had been zip-tied behind her, shavings suggested that the restraints had been slashed, apparently by another razor blade. Rassin had undoubtedly made a lengthwise slit in the back of her leather belt and tucked the razor inside so its edge was even with the top of the belt.
The other driver remained missing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A
NDREW
B
RITTON
was born in England and moved with his family to the United States when he was seven, settling in Michigan, then North Carolina. After serving in the Army as a combat engineer, Andrew entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he pursued a double major in economics and psychology. Visit his website, andrewbrittonbooks.com.
NDREW
B
RITTON
was born in England and moved with his family to the United States when he was seven, settling in Michigan, then North Carolina. After serving in the Army as a combat engineer, Andrew entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he pursued a double major in economics and psychology. Visit his website, andrewbrittonbooks.com.
After more than a decade on the deadly front lines of
the war on terror, Ryan Kealey believes he’s finally
put danger behind him—and some of his demons to
rest. But his calm is shattered when he’s swept into a
merciless terror attack during a charity gala in
downtown Baltimore. Among the dozens of casualties
is the wife of CIA Deputy Director John Harper. With
normal channels of investigation obstructed, Harper
turns to Kealey, the one man with the resources,
expertise—and freedom from government
interference—to pursue the awful truth.
the war on terror, Ryan Kealey believes he’s finally
put danger behind him—and some of his demons to
rest. But his calm is shattered when he’s swept into a
merciless terror attack during a charity gala in
downtown Baltimore. Among the dozens of casualties
is the wife of CIA Deputy Director John Harper. With
normal channels of investigation obstructed, Harper
turns to Kealey, the one man with the resources,
expertise—and freedom from government
interference—to pursue the awful truth.
Following a string of secrets and violence, Kealey
blazes a trail from the confines of the innermost
chambers of government and big business to the
dimmest reaches of the human psyche, forced to
match wits with a new nemesis aided by new allies,
each with a unique agenda. Slowly, Kealey unspools
an unimaginable conspiracy that suggests America
may in fact be its own worst enemy.
blazes a trail from the confines of the innermost
chambers of government and big business to the
dimmest reaches of the human psyche, forced to
match wits with a new nemesis aided by new allies,
each with a unique agenda. Slowly, Kealey unspools
an unimaginable conspiracy that suggests America
may in fact be its own worst enemy.
With intricate plotting and spine-tingling action,
The
Exile
propels us deep into the heart of a terrifying
conspiracy rooted in one of the world’s most unstable
regions—a place where the political has become
brutally personal....
The
Exile
propels us deep into the heart of a terrifying
conspiracy rooted in one of the world’s most unstable
regions—a place where the political has become
brutally personal....
For the President of the United States, the daily
horror of life in West Darfur, Sudan’s anarchic killing
fields, just hit heartbreakingly close to home. His
beloved niece Lily, a nurse caring for refugees in the
most war-torn region, has been targeted and savagely
murdered by a corps of Janjaweed, fearsome
government-backed militiamen.
horror of life in West Darfur, Sudan’s anarchic killing
fields, just hit heartbreakingly close to home. His
beloved niece Lily, a nurse caring for refugees in the
most war-torn region, has been targeted and savagely
murdered by a corps of Janjaweed, fearsome
government-backed militiamen.
The rash and vicious killing is a clear provocation,
but any response will seriously destabilize the
already-teetering region and threaten the security of
the entire world. With the situation too explosive for
diplomatic or military solutions, yet with the
President and the public thirsting for revenge,
America is out of options. Except one: Ryan Kealey.
but any response will seriously destabilize the
already-teetering region and threaten the security of
the entire world. With the situation too explosive for
diplomatic or military solutions, yet with the
President and the public thirsting for revenge,
America is out of options. Except one: Ryan Kealey.
Kealey, ex-Special Forces, former CIA, unrivaled
counterterrorism expert, has been central to the war
on terror for over a decade. But he’s finished trying to
save the world. After the Agency hung him out to
dry—and let his lover die—it was easy for him to turn
his back. They had nothing he wanted. Until now. For
the government has revealed its trump card, the one
thing Kealey will risk everything for.
counterterrorism expert, has been central to the war
on terror for over a decade. But he’s finished trying to
save the world. After the Agency hung him out to
dry—and let his lover die—it was easy for him to turn
his back. They had nothing he wanted. Until now. For
the government has revealed its trump card, the one
thing Kealey will risk everything for.
Once back in the fold, Kealey’s pursuit of Lily’s
killers unearths secrets and betrayals that shock even
his war-tempered sensibilities and leave him with
killers unearths secrets and betrayals that shock even
his war-tempered sensibilities and leave him with
no one to trust. On the lawless streets of Sudan, and
at the highest levels of the American government,
shadowy forces ignite a conflagration with
unknowable global consequences.
at the highest levels of the American government,
shadowy forces ignite a conflagration with
unknowable global consequences.
Brimming with intrigue and danger,
The Exile
pulses
with high-stakes gamble after gamble, as one man
navigates a tenuous web of international relations that
could collapse at any moment....
The Exile
pulses
with high-stakes gamble after gamble, as one man
navigates a tenuous web of international relations that
could collapse at any moment....
With searing narrative twists,
The Invisible
plunges
us headlong into today’s shadowy, fever-pitched
battle between terrorism and intelligence, as a covert
counterterrorism operative risks everything, including
the woman he loves, to save the life of one person....
The Invisible
plunges
us headlong into today’s shadowy, fever-pitched
battle between terrorism and intelligence, as a covert
counterterrorism operative risks everything, including
the woman he loves, to save the life of one person....
For more than a decade, Ryan Kealey has been a key
player in the war on terror. First, as a captain in the
U.S. Army’s third Special Forces Group, then as a
contract operative with the CIA. His actions have
saved thousands of lives, including that of the U.S.
President. Now once again, Kealey receives the call
of duty—only this time, the odds for success are slim
to none....
player in the war on terror. First, as a captain in the
U.S. Army’s third Special Forces Group, then as a
contract operative with the CIA. His actions have
saved thousands of lives, including that of the U.S.
President. Now once again, Kealey receives the call
of duty—only this time, the odds for success are slim
to none....
Tensions between Pakistan and India are at an all-time
high. To complicate matters, twelve American
climbers have disappeared in the snowcapped
peaks of Pakistan’s Hindu Kush range. The President
is demanding answers, but neither government is
supplying them.
high. To complicate matters, twelve American
climbers have disappeared in the snowcapped
peaks of Pakistan’s Hindu Kush range. The President
is demanding answers, but neither government is
supplying them.
As the conflict escalates, Brynn Fitzgerald departs
Washington D.C. on her first official trip as acting
secretary of state. Her goal is to serve as an
intermediary between the leaders of both nations as
well as to ensure all efforts are being made in the
search for the missing American climbers. But when
Fitzgerald’s motorcade is ambushed on the outskirts
of Islamabad, her backup team arrives to discover a
disastrous scene: dozens are dead, including seven
diplomatic security agents, and the secretary of state
has vanished without a trace.
Washington D.C. on her first official trip as acting
secretary of state. Her goal is to serve as an
intermediary between the leaders of both nations as
well as to ensure all efforts are being made in the
search for the missing American climbers. But when
Fitzgerald’s motorcade is ambushed on the outskirts
of Islamabad, her backup team arrives to discover a
disastrous scene: dozens are dead, including seven
diplomatic security agents, and the secretary of state
has vanished without a trace.
In the wake of the unprecedented attack, Kealey’s
operation goes into high gear. Once again, he is joined
by Naomi Kharmai, the British-born analyst who has
taken on a daring new role with the Agency. But
Kharmai is becoming as unpredictable as the man
they’re going after, and as they work their way toward
the target, it becomes clear to Kealey that anyone is
fair game—and no one can be trusted.
operation goes into high gear. Once again, he is joined
by Naomi Kharmai, the British-born analyst who has
taken on a daring new role with the Agency. But
Kharmai is becoming as unpredictable as the man
they’re going after, and as they work their way toward
the target, it becomes clear to Kealey that anyone is
fair game—and no one can be trusted.
Andrew Britton delivers a taut, electrifying read in his
new novel
The Assassin.
Maverick CIA agent Ryan
Kealey must fight against his own agency while the
clock is ticking on a devastating terrorist attack on
U.S. soil....
new novel
The Assassin.
Maverick CIA agent Ryan
Kealey must fight against his own agency while the
clock is ticking on a devastating terrorist attack on
U.S. soil....
More than a year has passed since Ryan Kealey
prevented the assassination of multiple world leaders
in the nation’s capital. While his work is brilliant,
he’s considered damaged goods. Now he’s about
to become a key player in a plot of unimaginable
scale. For something big is about to go down in
New York City.
prevented the assassination of multiple world leaders
in the nation’s capital. While his work is brilliant,
he’s considered damaged goods. Now he’s about
to become a key player in a plot of unimaginable
scale. For something big is about to go down in
New York City.
When a top Iranian source reveals that Iran is
planning to bomb the United Nations, U.S.
Intelligence begins countermeasures. Only Kealey
sees it as a smokescreen for another, far more
involved plot. But getting anyone to believe him
isn’t going to be easy. With only his ally, London’s
newest assistant chief, Naomi Kharmai, by his side,
Ryan will have to operate outside the lines in order to
prevent a terrible attack in a city on lockdown.
planning to bomb the United Nations, U.S.
Intelligence begins countermeasures. Only Kealey
sees it as a smokescreen for another, far more
involved plot. But getting anyone to believe him
isn’t going to be easy. With only his ally, London’s
newest assistant chief, Naomi Kharmai, by his side,
Ryan will have to operate outside the lines in order to
prevent a terrible attack in a city on lockdown.
A weapon of catastrophic power has been stolen from
war-torn Iraq and has made its way to the U.S. The
man who has it is Kealey’s nemesis, William
Vanderveen, an international criminal mastermind
who has no objective other than pure terror and who
will stop at nothing to achieve it. Making matters
worse, Vanderveen’s being helped by someone on the
inside with high-ranking security clearance. Even the
halls of the CIA are no longer safe from possible
espionage and treason. Now, as Kealey and Kharmai
race to put the pieces together, they will confront a
ghost from the past and be forced to question the
people they trust most in a desperate investigation
where only this is for certain—time is running out.
war-torn Iraq and has made its way to the U.S. The
man who has it is Kealey’s nemesis, William
Vanderveen, an international criminal mastermind
who has no objective other than pure terror and who
will stop at nothing to achieve it. Making matters
worse, Vanderveen’s being helped by someone on the
inside with high-ranking security clearance. Even the
halls of the CIA are no longer safe from possible
espionage and treason. Now, as Kealey and Kharmai
race to put the pieces together, they will confront a
ghost from the past and be forced to question the
people they trust most in a desperate investigation
where only this is for certain—time is running out.
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