The Spy Devils by Joe Goldberg (top rated books of all time .TXT) 📕

Yes, I spoke to the president about that. He would also like them eliminated. Teach the American CIA a lesson, too.”

Li Chu lowered his gun, but he didn’t tuck it back in his waistband. He walked toward the table, picked up the beer, finished off the contents, and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. His facial expressions changed as his mind ran the thought process.

Is this real? He could be lying, but why? I need to get the Spy Devils. This might be my only chance. If he is lying, I will kill him.

“What do you need?”

“I need you in Ukraine.”

“Ukraine? Why would we go to Ukraine?”

“There has been an incident. Two MSS officers have been killed. They were retrieving an important piece of equipment—a case—from an American business asset. They were successful, we believe, but they were ambushed and killed. The equipment is lost.”

“It is not my concern.” He walked to the window and stood to one side. The sky was turning to dusk. The lights of the city and night market were beginning to glow.

“The Silk Road Belt relationship between China and Ukraine is very important to the president. We must establish the trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa to offset Russian aggression. Retrieving the case increases the goodwill between our governments. It will help China.”

“I do not care,” Li Chu said, his face emotionless, as he casually waved his gun in his hand like a baton.

“I have reason to believe the Spy Devils are also looking for this device.”

Li Chu pushed away from the wall and took a quick step toward Chen.

“The Spy Devils are in Ukraine?”

“Are, or soon will be. That is what my intelligence sources have reported. More information will be waiting for you in Kyiv.” Chen stood. He knew the discussion was over. “The emergency account remains open. And remember, you report to me. Only me.” Chen pulled an envelope from his inside suit pocket. “Here are the logistics. Get to Ukraine immediately.”

Li Chu’s mind was utterly fixated on revenge against the Devils. He would get his vengeance.

“I will need more men,” Li Chu said.

“I can arrange that.” Chen extended his arm. They shook hands.

“Yes, thank you, sir.” Li Chu bowed and helped the man unlock the doors.

“Good luck with this mission,” Chen said as Li Chu closed and re-latched the door.

This is for me. My mission, not yours. I will kill the Devil.

Two cars pulled up on the street outside the apartment. A guard opened the back door of the second car. Chen got in.

Chen understood why Li Chu didn’t care about China’s initiatives. He didn’t care either. Helping China had never interested Chen. In fact, he joined the MSS specifically to do the opposite.

It started as a youth in the 1960s during the last horrible days of Mao’s Cultural Revolution. In 1989, when the army cracked down on the Tiananmen pro-democracy protests, he was a low-level officer in the MSS. That was when his eyes fully opened to a country built for the suppression of political and religious freedom.

It took planning, perseverance, and two anxious years of frustration, but Chen finally convinced an American intelligence officer that he wanted to spy against his country. Then another year of vetting and polygraphs followed. Finally, Chen became a double agent on behalf of the United States.

More years followed as he rose through the hierarchy of the MSS.

Now, as Deputy Minister, Chen was one major intelligence achievement and political maneuver away from being appointed The Minister of State Security. He needed Li Chu operational to complete his part of the deal to get the case. If it cost Li Chu and the rest of Bureau X their lives, that was acceptable. The other side was risking more—much more.

He dialed his mobile phone and waited.

“Yes?” answered a voice with a New England accent.

“He is going.”

“Good. Does he know they are there?” May Currier asked.

“Yes.”

“Excellent. Move to the next phase.”

“You know he is very upset,” Chen said. “This could be very hazardous for all involved—and you agree?”

“Yes,” she answered after a millisecond of hesitation. “Yes, I do.”

28

Quadrangle Investment Group, LLC

Kirkwood Industries

Over the months, George MacLean convinced himself he would stop spying for Chen and the Chinese.

The core of his successful espionage for China was built upon MacLean introducing Kirkwood officials to Mourning Dove Investments as a means to help Kirkwood with new business. Mourning Dove was one in a matrix of Chinese government-backed entities that used seed money, startup, early-stage, buyouts, and growth capital investments to penetrate markets worldwide.

Kirkwood International Industries became a valued customer.

Mourning Dove Investment’s direct connection to the Chinese government was an open secret. By extension, that meant Chinese intelligence services were active in its business operations as well—and the business of its partners.

Sam Kirkwood and the senior leadership liked the idea of Mourning Dove playing a lead role in Kirkwood’s business expansion. It immediately paid dividends to the corporate bottom line. With Mourning Dove acting as lead investor, the company made inroads into the African and South American markets. New revenues quickly flowed into Kirkwood.

The stress and guilt of being a traitor kept building in his substantial gut. Six months in a white-collar prison started to look better than a lifetime of spying. But the money issue could not be ignored. With two expensive ex-wives to pay off monthly to finance their wish to never see him again, mounting debt, and razor-thin credit lines, he was up against the wall. MacLean tried more than once to kick his gambling habit, but it never worked. Not even close.

He was trying to also kick the habit of the payments from Chen, which, if he included some extras provided for good work, were totaling nearly half a million dollars. Tax-free. On top of his real salary and perks, it had been a good deal. He was as addicted to the Chinese money as he was to the poker tables.

When the chance to cut ties