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Back By Way of Deception
Chapters (84)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Character List
  6. February 2018
  7. Chapter 1
  8. Chapter 2
  9. Chapter 3
  10. Chapter 4
  11. Chapter 5
  12. Chapter 6
  13. Chapter 7
  14. Chapter 8
  15. Chapter 9
  16. Chapter 10
  17. April 2018: (Three Months Later)
  18. Chapter 11
  19. Chapter 12
  20. September 2020: (Two Years Later)
  21. Chapter 13
  22. Chapter 14
  23. Chapter 15
  24. Chapter 16
  25. October 2020: (One Week Later)
  26. Chapter 17
  27. Chapter 18
  28. Chapter 19
  29. Chapter 20
  30. Chapter 21
  31. Chapter 22
  32. November 2020: (One Month Later)
  33. Chapter 23
  34. Chapter 24
  35. Chapter 25
  36. Chapter 26
  37. Chapter 27
  38. Chapter 28
  39. Chapter 29
  40. Chapter 30
  41. Chapter 31
  42. Chapter 32
  43. December 2020: (Four Days Later)
  44. Chapter 33
  45. Chapter 34
  46. Chapter 35
  47. Chapter 36
  48. Chapter 37
  49. Chapter 38
  50. Chapter 39
  51. Chapter 40
  52. Chapter 41
  53. Chapter 42
  54. June 2021: (Six Months Later)
  55. Chapter 43
  56. Chapter 44
  57. Chapter 45
  58. Chapter 46
  59. Chapter 47
  60. Chapter 48
  61. July 2021: (Three Weeks Later)
  62. Chapter 49
  63. Chapter 50
  64. Chapter 51
  65. August 2021: (One Month Later)
  66. Chapter 52
  67. Chapter 53
  68. Chapter 54
  69. Chapter 55
  70. Chapter 56
  71. Chapter 57
  72. Chapter 58
  73. Chapter 59
  74. Chapter 60
  75. Chapter 61
  76. Chapter 62
  77. Chapter 63
  78. Chapter 64
  79. Chapter 65
  80. September 2021: (One Week Later)
  81. Chapter 66
  82. Authors’ Note
  83. “It Was the Perfect Day—Until the Gunfire.”
  84. Behold Israel

It turned out that, when he had a gun pointed at his face, the Russian wasn’t interested in ideology—only money and self-preservation. So Nir had promised to spare his life if he halted his funding of the Chechens and fulfilled one favor with no questions asked at the time of Nir’s choosing. Nir was now going to call in the favor by sending him a painting with instructions signed Your night visitor.

The second man would be a Jordanian billionaire, Marouf Ensour, who made his money in road construction and was an established Mossad asset. The last painting would go to Takeshi Kitamura, the owner of a Japanese tech company, whom Nir met when the man was shopping for diamonds for each of his four daughters.

Nir continued. “In exchange, each man receiving a free painting will be asked to display it prominently and spread the word of their acquisition. Like you said, it’s a fairly small community, and word will get around quickly.”

When he paused, Nicole jumped in. “That’s where you and I come in, Alicia. We need to create a packet to distribute to the owners of the world’s top one hundred personal mega yachts. If we time it right with the buzz, we’ll get some interest. Then it will be up to you and me to go make some visits.”

Alicia seemed overwhelmed, as if she were still trying to process it all. “Why would you do this?” she finally asked, looking only to Nicole. Apparently, she’d decided she had Nir figured out. He was about the money.

Nicole reached over and grabbed Alicia’s hand. “First, you’re a friend. A good friend. And I don’t have a lot of those in this world. Second, quite frankly, the money could turn out to be really good. And, third, it’s an adventure. Girl, we’ll be visiting mega yachts all over the world. It’ll be crazy fun. A lot of work, but crazy, crazy fun.”

Nir was amazed at Nicole’s performance. But maybe she was so good at it because it wasn’t really a performance for her. She genuinely liked Alicia, as did he. He really hoped none of their bigger plan would blow back on her. If all went well, this would turn out to be a great deal for Alicia, for Nir and Nicole, for the State of Israel, and even for the three men given the free paintings.

It was a win all around—except for the men who would eventually be blown up on their yachts by explosives-laden artwork. This was decidedly not a good deal for them.

November 2020: (One Month Later)

NOVEMBER 2020

(ONE MONTH LATER)

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

ONE MONTH LATER

AL ASMAKH TOWER, DOHA, QATAR—NOVEMBER 24, 2020—10:30 / 10:30 A.M. AST