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

Bridger picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “Just your average spy disguise.”

“Why him?” Demon asked. He pointed his finger at Peter like a gun.

“Relax. Peter is the client, sort of, so he can be in on this. And barring any problems, we are home tomorrow morning.”

40

The Day

Kyiv, Ukraine

At 5 a.m., Li Chu’s driver backed the Renault Logan onto the sidewalk and wedged it between a tree and some scooters. Across the street was the Ukraine Standard Bank—the bank of Viktor Bondar.

He told his man to turn the car off. The heat would have been nice, but idling exhaust and dashboard lights could give away their position. His Chen-supplied rookie Dragon Fire men had lost Pavlo and the woman hours ago at the bar—inexperience, coupled with the rain and darkness—worked to his opponent’s advantage.

Today is the day I will get him, he thought.

Li Chu knew the Spy Devils would arrive soon with Pavlo in tow. It was what he would have done, but he knew the Spy Devils were CIA—and the CIA always make their plans too elaborate and challenging. It was what Americans did. Make things hard.

His goal was simple—capture and kill the leader of the Spy Devils. He decided to retrieve the mysterious case that everyone seemed to be seeking. Why not take advantage of it? He wondered what was in it. He would use whatever it was for whatever he decided whenever he decided. Or, maybe he would sell it and go independent and provide his services to those in need of a Chinese assassin.

His plan was fluid. Surprise and violence were the best tools at his disposal. The other, more palpable tool, was vengeance. Vengeance for destroying Dragon Fire. Vengeance for forcing him to kill members of his team.

Three of the new men were on scooters positioned at the main intersections around the bank. Two were on foot, strolling separately along the streets. Two were in a car, waiting for a signal to use the vehicle to block the north exit onto the street. One was next to him in the driver’s seat. He wanted snipers on the building’s roofs but feared another encounter with the drones that killed his men and chased him in Taiwan.

Whatever happened, whoever came out of the bank with a case, would be attacked. Li Chu wanted to take Bridger alive. He wanted to interrogate him—before he killed him.

Li Chu couldn’t suppress the nervous tension he felt throughout his body. His men were unproven, but they were still MSS officers for what it was worth in these days of incompetence and self-preservation. He had never used the 9mm Makarov PM Chen had left for them. When he distributed the favored weapon of the Russian Spetsnaz units to the men, he wished they could spend a few days practicing at a range. Instead, they had a few hours before they went operational.

Totally unacceptable were the portable Motorola 2-way digital radios Chen left for their communications system. But his options were limited. He had distributed burner mobile phones to the men, but texting and calling were awkward in the middle of an ambush. He reset the frequency and privacy codes to reduce the odds of someone listening to any conversations. He ordered them to use phones first and radios only as needed. His radio was powered on and rested in the cup holder of the center console.

“Mr. Li Chu, are you there?” said the American-accented voice.

Li Chu couldn’t help but flinch at the unexpected words cutting the silence within the car. Momentarily staring at each other with perplexed expressions on their faces, Li Chu and the other MSS officer in the car quickly regained their composure. Raising their Makarovs to the windows, they flipped off the safeties and slid down in the seats. The Chinese assassins turned their bodies to scan in all directions for movement. In the dim light of the street lamps, the only shapes visible were the nearby buildings, cars, and scooters.

“Mr. Li Chu. Are you there? My name is Danforth Chapel. Perhaps you have heard of me? I would like to make a proposal. Please respond.” The voice paused. “I would like to provide you some information to assist with your planned action this morning. Please respond. We need to discuss this before they arrive. Which will be soon.”

Li Chu looked at the driver, then turned his head to look at the bank. Lights came on in the restaurant across the street. He used the added light to look for any threats. People were in the building, but nothing seemed out of place.

He knew the name Chapel. Everyone in the world did. The fact he was calling on a radio at this time was incomprehensible—almost. There was only one answer. Li Chu picked up the radio with his left hand. His right hand still held the Makarov pointed toward the window.

He depressed the push to talk button.

“Yes?”

“Good. Good. I know these radios are not very secure, so I suggest you provide me a number of a disposable phone, and we can discuss my proposal. Deal?”

Li Chu gave his phone number and set the radio back in the console. It rang two seconds later.

He pushed the answer button.

“Yes?” He said slowly. He listened, then replied to each question. “Yes, I do. Why?” More silence. “Text me the address.”

He stared at the blank mobile screen for a moment, set down his phone, and keyed his radio.

“Cease surveillance immediately. Meet at the address I will send.” He put the radio on the car seat. The Makarov went back into its holster. A moment later, after sending a group text to his team, the Renault Logan rolled off the sidewalk onto Dilova Street.

Today is still the day.

Danforth Capel slid his phone into the breast pocket of his Gieves & Hawkes suit. He felt at ease in the familiar communications center on the lower floor of The Danforth Chapel