BooksBarbecue
Back The Neighborhood
Chapters (59)
  1. Part I Reconnaissance
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Part II Incursion
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Part III Under Siege
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Part IV Course Correction
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Part V Balance of Power
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-One
  27. Chapter Twenty-Two
  28. Chapter Twenty-Three
  29. Chapter Twenty-Four
  30. Chapter Twenty-Five
  31. Chapter Twenty-Six
  32. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  33. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  34. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  35. Part VI Spy versus Spy
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Part VII Winds of War and Flame
  41. Chapter Thirty-Four
  42. Chapter Thirty-Five
  43. Chapter Thirty-Six
  44. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  45. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  46. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Part VIII Strong to the Finish
  50. Chapter Forty-Two
  51. Chapter Forty-Three
  52. Part IX Spy Games
  53. Chapter Forty-Four
  54. Chapter Forty-Five
  55. Chapter Forty-Six
  56. Part X What Goes Around
  57. Chapter Forty-Seven
  58. Chapter Forty-Eight
  59. About the Author

But Malta was different. Deputy Director Harper had told him directly, “No matter what you do, those two do not leave Malta alive. Do this job, and I guarantee that one day, sooner rather than later, this chair will be yours.” Griffin hadn’t shared that insight with his team, as it was his cross to bear, albeit on their backs.

What made it all the more infuriating as he stared through a military-grade pair of tan binoculars was that it was so simple, so easy. Trigger the EFP and kill the remaining targets. But instead, due to the arrogance of Zachary Chambers, he was at half strength, with only Charles, whom he trusted only slightly more, by his side. Fucking Chambers. Always has to be the white knight. Zachary Chambers had a better chance of swimming home than preventing Griffin from eliminating the targets. Come hell or high water, as Noah would say, there would be death on the road below.

Griffin glanced at the IBM Toughbook, the image tracking the two-vehicle convoy as it navigated the desolate plains beyond the western outskirts of Valetta. The two SUVs were just south of the Santa Maria Estate and Ta’ Bragg areas. “They’ll be here within minutes. Let’s get ready.”

Griffin held the remote control in his right hand, waiting to flip the metal switch upward to arm the weapons. The button below would send a radio signal to both IEDs, simultaneously detonating them. While he didn’t want to kill the women or children, if he were being honest with himself, he didn’t care if they died. But Moretti and Belyakov had to meet their fate. His career depended upon it.

“There has to be another way,” Charles said, inhaling deeply as the warm sea breeze poured over their position. He scanned the horizon, a vast flat table of blue that stretched endlessly in all directions. This place is too goddamn scenic for an assassination. But what can you do? He’s the man, and we’ve got orders.

Not you too, Griffin thought, but suppressed the anger he felt surging at Charles’s doubts. “Listen. I know this isn’t ideal, but these two have to be brought to justice for what they did.” He smirked internally, amused at invoking the catchphrase his government brandished to justify questionable actions. You’re sounding more and more like a senior executive at Langley every day. “And we’re the ones entrusted to do it. It’s the job, Charles. You know that. Now cowboy up, as Noah would say, and get ready to do your job.”