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

the same Bridger-supplied copy. The bright red ‘Breaking News’ banner blared - Kirkwood International Suspected of Accounting Fraud.

Before Kirkwood’s communications staff could answer the tidal wave of text messages, calls, and emails looking for a comment, he released the next story: Kirkwood CEO Linked to Chinese Intelligence.

Later in the evening, armed with a stack of emergency search warrants, FBI agents, supported by SEC officials, raided Kirkwood headquarters. The images of FBI agents clad in dark jackets with yellow block letters across the back, were added to the developing story. They hauled out boxes and computers as anxious employees looked on.

In an emergency board meeting vote the next day, Samuel Kirkwood was removed as Chairman and CEO. Walter Jessup retired immediately. Tom MacBride was put on leave.

Peter received a package the next afternoon.

He ripped the tab open, pulled out the bubble wrap, and dumped the contents on the table—a white envelope and a mobile phone. He set the phone aside, opened the envelope, pulled out a few sheets of paper, and read.

Peter:

I hope you don’t mind receiving a letter from the Devil. My wrist is recovering nicely, thanks for asking.

You did well in Kyiv. Unfortunately, your former employer, Kirkwood, is not doing as well. They will not be bothering you further.

As you might remember, I have an opening. If you are interested, I have a company in my network called EDR&J that needs to fill a position.  It is an international political consulting firm in need of a “business development manager” with experience in the public and private sectors. You will get a package to finalize all the details.

You will find attached some invoices dated over the next year and a signing bonus totaling $2.1 million. They are made out to the company with the catchy name Peter Schaeffer and Associates, LLC.

I took the liberty of setting up a few accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands on your behalf. The access codes and contact details are attached.

You might find it coincidental that $2.1 million is the exact amount I found in one of the numerous private accounts of Viktor Bondar. Viktor was not thrilled to know I took them. I told him just before he shot poor Ira.

The phone is for Spy Devils work only. Keep it on you. Be prepared.

The rest of the gang says hello. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn they have already chosen a name for you.

Welcome to the Spy Devils, Angel.

The Devil.

Peter set the letter on the table and looked at the next sheet listing bank accounts and access information. He put down that paper and smiled at the thought of being a Spy Devil.

He picked up the phone Bridger sent and powered it on.

It blinked to life.

So did he.

60

Don’t Call Me

Great Falls, Virginia

Snake covered the fifty feet from the shore in a low crouch. He scooted around the trees and thick brush and stopped behind a bush where the well-kept lawn sloped gently up to the large colonial home. Light came through the windows on the lower level.

More like a colonial mansion, he thought as he flipped down his night-vision goggles.

The area was large and secluded. The magnificent two-story house had a veranda that encircled the house on all sides, framed with a white railing on all sides. Square windows with black shutters. Paths led down from the house to a stable. On the far side, a long one-lane drive circled up to the front door. A flag pole with an American flag flooded by lights was in the center of the circle.

“Milton?” Bridger asked, from his prone position behind some bushes next to the circular drive.

“Guard coming around the front—pacing along the porch,” Milton’s southern accent whispered through the secure comm system. He adjusted the camera of the Devilbot hovering above them. “Two guards on the west veranda, walking in overlapping patterns. Another…hang on standing far side. I think.”

“You think? You think?” Demon scowled.

“Enough,” Bridger interrupted. “Imp?”

“As usual, due to my incredible skills, we are all clear. They are quiet, except for a brief chat about each other’s small reproductive organs. Shameful to talk about their colleagues that way.”

“You should know, pencil dick,” Demon cracked.

Some laughs over the comm.

“Beatrice?”

“I’m ready,” she replied.

“Okay, Imp. Kill all the security systems, cameras, and alarms. Jam their communications. Let’s go.”

Demon crept up behind one sentry.

“Hey,” he whispered.

The guard wheeled around as Demon rose from his crouched position. He coiled, then swung his Devil Stick backhanded full force across the face of the sentry.

The guard made a soft “Oooomp,” followed by the crunching sound of his shattering nose and cheekbones. Demon caught the unconscious man before he hit the ground—not to be polite, but to avoid the loud noise of his body thudding to the patio.

Demon looked up to see another guard turn the corner ten feet away. The sentry instinctively crouched and raised his weapon. Demon was ready and released the Taser dart electrodes. They struck the chest of the man above his heart. Demon covered the distance in two seconds and sent a fist squarely into the shaking, defenseless man’s face. His twitching, unconscious body flew back and over the rail. He crashed into some bushes, snapping branches as he sunk.

“Geez. This is what passes for security now?”

“What’s your status?” Bridger whispered, exasperation and tension in his voice.

“Two down and in need of a dentist and plastic surgeon.”

Beatrice stood as a guard who must have heard the branches break quickly turned the corner of the veranda on the far side of the house. She released a full dose of gas into the face of the unsuspecting man. The capsaicin neurotoxin was so strong he didn’t even react. He simply dropped to the ground like his bones had been removed.

“Three down,” Beatrice reported.

Snake rose from his location and did the same to the guard in front.

“Four.”

“Imp, unlock the doors.”

“What would you do without me?”

Bridger adjusted the soft cast on his left wrist and stepped out of the darkness onto the porch