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  BRAINBENDER

  BOOK 9 IN THE SPIES LIE SERIES

  DS KANE

  ([email protected])

  Copyright © 2018 DS Kane

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-0-9996554-4-3 (paperback)

  ISBN: 978-0-9996554-2-9 (Kindle)

  ISBN: 978-0-9996554-3-6 (ePub)

  Cover design by Jeroen Ten Berge

  [www.jeroentenberge.com]

  Print and ebook layout by eBooks By Barb

  for booknook.biz

  Praise for DS Kane’s Spies Lie Series

  Bloodridge

  “A globe-trotting spy thriller dense with intriguing insider’s knowledge.”—Kirkus Reviews

  “I thoroughly enjoyed this book… It is definitely a page-turner.”—Judge, 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

  “This is a sizzler torn straight from tomorrow’s headlines. Bloodridge by D.S. Kane is one you won’t want to miss.”

  —John Reinhard Dizon, author of Nightcrawler and Wolf Man

  “What a wild ride! Filled with adventure and suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat. There wasn’t a slow moment in it. Reminiscent of Ludlum and Follett.”

  — Sharon Law Tucker, author of How to Be a BadAss: A Survival Guide for Women

  DeathByte

  “Readers who adore action-packed thrillers in the vein of Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series will enjoy its many double-crossings.”—Kirkus Reviews

  “This was a great thriller… and the speed of the plot was breathtaking.”—Judge, 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

  Swiftshadow

  “A must read for lovers of this genre.” —Sheri A. Wilkinson, book blogger

  “The high stakes and dizzily paced action will hook genre fans from the first page.”—Kirkus Reviews

  GrayNet

  “Conspiracy theorists are sure to devour this novel.”

  —Mallory Heart Reviews

  “Nonstop action and suspense starring the definition of a strong female lead.”—Kirkus Reviews

  Baksheesh (Bribes)

  “More wild, violent adventures in the world of international espionage.”—Kirkus Reviews

  “This Story Should be an Audible Selection… Could be a Major Motion Picture…”—Charles W, TOP 500 REVIEWER

  ProxyWar

  “The latest adventure in a series that only grows more engaging with each installment.”—Kirkus Reviews

  “Mr. Kane saved the best for last of course he left open the next installment. And he brought back accidental spy Jon Sommers to finish things up. Please write fast Mr Kane so we can see what happens next!” —Richard L. Cooper, Amazon Reviewer

  CypherGhost

  “After working as a covert operative for over a decade and travelling the globe, DS Kane now writes fictions about how intelligence agencies craft lies to sway and manipulate their national policy. His latest techno-thriller CypherGhost is a fast-paced and gripping story which will keep you up reading the whole night. DS Kane, without a doubt, is a great storyteller. When we picked up the latest installment of Kane’s Spies Lies series, we got hooked from the beginning. The author does a wonderful job of fictionalizing the crossroads of politics, technology and national security in an entertaining plot.

  The book is written is a very easy language and can be read in one sitting. Although we can categorize this novel as a thriller, the author has toyed to some extent with some science fiction themes which make the story more absorbing. Overall, a highly recommended read for the lovers of popular thrillers.”—Mystery Tribune

  “Packed with enough terrifying detail to feel at least moderately plausible, if not horrifyingly prescient.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “If you are into spy novels then look no further. The 7th book in the Spies Lie series is every bit as good as the 6 that preceded it. D.S. Kane is the pseudonym of a former CIA covert operative who clearly knows what he is talking about. Characters are well developed and plots are exciting and not far removed from what the operations of a modern intelligence agency might get up to. Do yourself a huge favour and read the book, you won’t be disappointed… then once you have finished that you have 6 other books in the series that you need to get your hands on as soon as possible! Other books in the series are as follows 1. Bloodridge, 2. DeathByte, 3. Swiftshadow, 4. GrayNet, 5. Baksheesh, 6. ProxyWar. They are all available from Amazon. Do yourself a huge favour and read them now!” —N G McKenzie

  MindField

  “In the eighth installment of Kane’s (CypherGhost, 2016, etc.) Spies Lie series, a hacker and her parents aim to uncover the truth about a CIA conspiracy.

  A fast-paced thriller with an empowered young female protagonist. —Kirkus Reviews

  BOOKS IN THE SPIES LIE SERIES

  Bloodridge, Book 1

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K0029J0)

  DeathByte, Book 2

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2LLKSC)

  Swiftshadow, Book 3

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJ5KXKG)

  GrayNet, Book 4

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P8HRT9U)

  Baksheesh (Bribes), Book 5

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NR3RD6)

  ProxyWar, Book 6

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018YS91CM)

  CypherGhost, Book 7

  (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTPXRZ5)

  MindField, Book 8

  (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077X44RR9

  brAInbender, Book 9 …with more to come.

  For my spouse, Andrea Brown,

  who has made my life an incredible adventure.

  Contents

  PART 2

  CHAPTER 1 • CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3 • CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5 • CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7 • CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9 • CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11 • CHAPTER 12

  PART 2

  CHAPTER 13 • CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15 • CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17 • CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19 • CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21 • CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23 • CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25 • CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  PART 3

  CHAPTER 28 • CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30 • CHAPTER 31

  PART 4

  CHAPTER 32 • CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34 • CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36 • CHAPTER 37

  Appendix A: Cast of Characters

  Glossary B: Terms Used in the Spies Lie Series

  Glossary C: Terms Related Specifically to Hacking

  Appendix D: Bibliography and Further Reading

  Acknowledgments

  About DS Kane

  Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters and events depicted here are the work of the author’s mind. Most but not all of the places are real.

  PART 1

  CHAPTER 1

  51st Floor, Strumler Tower Capital Hotel,

  Washington, DC

  November 21, 2:09 p.m.

  United States president-elect Daniel Strumler ate a toasted-cheese sandwich overstuffed with heirloom tomatoes while he watched the afternoon news. A Fox News commentator said that the new Israeli ambassador to the United Nations was speaking about Strumler. During the presidential campaign, Strumler had told his supporters that he would rather develop jobs in America than ship arms to defend Israel. He feared this speech might be a vehicle for Israel’s payback.

  He immediately changed the channel to watch the speech.

  The man addressing the General Assembly dwarfed the two Israeli bodyguards at the edges of the stage. He was huge and his uniform couldn’t hide his mu
scles. But, thought Strumler, this man isn’t the Israeli UN Ambassador. He’d been told the ambassador was a woman. And, since when did a diplomat wear a military uniform? Strumler examined the man’s face and decided that the man seemed too young to be seasoned. I wonder if this new ambassador is former Mossad?

  He turned up the volume.

  “…for you today. First, I have urgent information concerning a set of messages Israel intercepted about an impending attempt to assassinate the president-elect of the United States. We discovered this intelligence threat while we were tracking Russian communications. As a result, I also have evidence to present. Convincing evidence. We believe the American president-elect is compromised by the Russians and that they want to keep him from being arrested and tried as a traitor. Moving to the first of these items, here is the evidence…”

  As Strumler watched the “ambassador” speak, his rage turned to acid in his throat. He grabbed his ever-present bottle of antacid tablets and popped them into his mouth, one after another.

  The television screen finally displayed the name of the speaker: “Israeli Acting Ambassador, Avram Shimmel.” The huge man continued speaking and Strumler stood riveted in place, facing the screen. He watched the screen change to display documents he had no idea existed. He listened to tapes of him and a man Shimmel described as “the president-elect’s Russian handler,” conversations he couldn’t even remember having. At first he felt confused. But the threat roused him back into a fit of anger. He rose and began throwing things around the room. Vases, lamps and even the remains of the toasted-cheese sandwich and the plate it was delivered on—all went flying through the air.

  Secret Service and Strumler’s private bodyguards crashed through the door in response to the commotion. “Sorry, sir,” said one of the Secret Service agents. “We heard noise. We thought it might be some threat.”

  “Leave me be!” Strumler’s eyes were nearly popping out of his head.

  * * *

  Ann Sashakovich reached the UN Secretariat Building and waited in its lobby for Avram Shimmel to return her call.

  She paced the lobby of the tall tower, her notebook computer on, a hacking page reflecting the program’s results. Her notebook buzzed. She examined the screen and saw the backtrace she’d initiated while waiting for a taxi at JFK. The backtrace covered all telephone calls originating from or received by the cellphone or landline of Nikolai Puchenko, a Russian FSB officer. Since her first attempt at reading his messages from the Kremlin, Ann had downloaded and installed a Russian-to-English translator app onto her notebook. The backtrace had intercepted a new message from Puchenko’s voicemail. She read the text:

  Puchenko, it’s your boss. Your ultimate boss. I have decided to send a small assassination team to terminate the existence of your American puppy. Do not have any further contact with the president-elect. The team should be arriving in Washington any time now. I decided not to tell you until after they arrived and were on the ground. Don’t worry. I’ll not punish you for your own failure.

  Ann realized her vision of the events now in progress was incorrect. Damn! I’m in the wrong city! She exited the building and ran toward the street to flag a taxi.

  On the sidewalk in front of her, she saw a throng of people surrounding a very tall man. It was Avram! She scooted through the people flinging questions at Avram. When she was face-to-face with him, Ann yelled “Avram!”

  He stopped and faced her. “Ann, what are you doing here?”

  “I left you a voicemail. Didn’t—”

  “I was speaking before the General Assembly.”

  The throng of reporters remained silent, focusing on the exchange between the two.

  Ann closed the distance so the reporters would have difficulty hearing their conversation. “I’m on my way to Washington, DC. Listen to the message. Decide how you want to handle the problem. I’m sure you’ll do the right thing. And, don’t worry, I’ll tell Cassie and Lee.” She backed away and headed to the curbside where she flagged down a taxi and bounced into the back seat. “JFK, any domestic terminal.”

  The cab rocketed up First Avenue toward the 59th Street Bridge.

  While the taxi driver drove Ann down the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway, she called her parents. The call dropped into Cassie’s voicemail. “It’s Ann. I’m headed toward JFK to take a flight to DC. You guys all need to be there, too. A team of Russian assassins is on its way to Strumler’s Washington hotel to kill him. We need to save him so he can be tried for treason. Get yourselves from the United Nations to Strumler’s hotel in DC. Call me back when you’re en route.”

  She could see the terminals of JFK flashing by outside the cab’s windows. She packed away her phone and notebook. When the cab stopped, she tossed a Franklin to the driver and bolted from the cab.

  Inside the terminal, Ann approached a check-in desk and waited her turn in line. “Hi. I just received word that my mama had a heart attack. I have to get to Washington, DC, as soon as I can. Please sell me a ticket on the next available flight.”

  She offered her credit card, grabbed the boarding pass, and hurried to the TSA Pre-Check security gate.

  As she passed through security and trotted toward the departure gate, her cell buzzed. Ann stopped and pulled her cell from her pocket. She examined the screen while she ran. “Mom! Where are you and dad?”

  “We’re in New York. We got your message. We also got a message from Avram. We’ll be meeting up at the private air terminal at JFK. He was able to muster fifty of the two hundred paramilitary he commands in New York at the United Nations. We also have Jon with us. Avram has a Cessna about to take off. Look, Ann, I’m not comfortable with your engaging in a military operation. Go home to Stanford and your studies.”

  “No way, mom. I’m the best hacker you have available and I can help by telling you where the assassins are located in real time. Remember, I can hack them without a computer. I can use the Bug-Loks the CypherGhost fed me. So use me! I promise I’ll stay out of the line of fire.”

  “Ann, no. Avram called the Secret Service and they’re coordinating the op together. You aren’t needed. Let the professionals handle this.”

  Ann thought about her vision of pending events. It had re-formed, accommodating the new set of facts that had emerged. She was sure this new ability would stay with her. “If I’m close enough, I think I may be able to envision their conversations. Don’t know how it happened, but I’ll know where the assassins are. You need me.”

  She heard Cassie and Lee talking softly in the background. “Okay. But you’ll take orders from Lee and me. You agree?”

  Ann smiled. “Yes!”

  “We’ll meet you inside the Strumler Tower lobby.”

  She had become a member of the paramilitary team.

  * * *

  After Ann’s flight landed, she took a taxi to the Strumler Tower. Seeing the group of nearly two hundred mercenaries streaming up the stairwells of the building, Ann cast a questioning look at Avram. He said, “These are my UN Paramilitary Force, here courtesy of the local police, the FBI, and the Secret Service. I arranged it all during the flight.”

  Avram deployed Cassie, Lee, the mercenaries, and himself into strategic locations within the building.

  Cassie ordered Ann to sit in the stairwell on the forty-ninth floor, out of harm’s way.

  Ann found no further trace of the assassination team. It made sense that the team would go dark before their op, so she was sure they had already assumed their positions somewhere within the hotel.

  She constantly monitored the security feeds throughout the hotel from her position two floors below Strumler’s suite on the fifty-first floor. Half of Avram’s paramilitary force was scattered through the hotel’s fire stairways. The other half were hidden within the four stairwells leading up to Strumler’s suite. Jon was with that group. Cassie and Lee were at Avram’s command station in the hotel’s delivery platform behind the lobby.

  All they could do now was wait.

&n
bsp; * * *

  Five hours ago, Victor Kreslin and his Russian assassin squad arrived at Strumler Tower. One of his team pointed to a pizza-delivery truck near the side entrance to the building and his second, Igor Nelovich, nodded. Nelovich mugged the pizza-delivery worker in the truck and stole his hat and a pizza in a box.

  Then they all rushed twenty floors up the staircase and the “pizza delivery man” knocked on a door in one of the hotel suites. When its occupant said he hadn’t ordered any pizza, the “delivery man” told the occupant, “Could be a mistake but the pizza is getting cold. You might as well accept the delivery.”

  The occupant opened the door.

  Kreslin pointed his silenced handgun at the room’s two occupants, who both appeared to be tourists. They both held their hands high in the air, but Kreslin shot them each in the head.

  The team entered and closed the door behind them.

  Sitting in the hotel room, Kreslin and Nelovich reviewed the plan as they waited for the cover of nightfall.

  * * *

  Kreslin stood by the window, watching the sun descend. “Use the restroom and then eat a slice of the pizza. Once we leave this room at dusk, we can expect things may have changed since we constructed our battle plan. So, be prepared to adjust.”

  The other seven Russians each nodded, then lined up to use the room’s single bathroom.

  * * *

  Ann’s notebook computer buzzed. She examined the screen and sent a text out. All her texts were addressed to Cassie, Lee, Avram, and Jon Sommers:

  Russians moving up SW stairwell. Now on 41.

  Now she had a fix on where they were. She closed her eyes, and her brain’s connection to the hotel network’s security cams in the stairs enabled her to watch them climb the stairs. She texted a revision:

  They’re still heading up the SW staircase. Now at 44. Eight in total. One with a Dragunov sniper rifle. Others armed with semiautomatic handguns.

  Although she’d agreed to stay out of combat, Ann’s feet moved her, unbidden, to the hallway outside the southwest stairwell on the fiftieth floor. She sought cover at a spot where the hallway turned a corner.