Book Blurb
The latest espionage thriller from L. J. Morris, the best-selling author of the Ali Sinclair series. When photographs of a missing Russian missile scientist show he is still alive, and a Soviet era nuclear warhead goes missing in Iraq, ex-marine Logan Palmer must track them both down before the Plutonium can be turned into a devastating, terrorist weapon. But, with thousands of lives at risk, Palmer doesn’t realise that the only person in the world he cares about is the one that’s in the most danger. Neither does he know whether he'll survive long enough to save anyone.
Book Extract
Palmer had spent every waking hour with Duval over the last month, getting to know her, her routines, her habits. If he was going to provide her with protection, she needed to trust him implicitly. She needed to do what he said without question or hesitation. Her life could depend on it.
Duval and Palmer got on well from day one. They were from similar, working-class backgrounds and shared many likes and dislikes. They often chatted into the small hours about music and literature. Away from the glare of the spotlight and the intrusions of the press, they had become quite close. Close enough for rumours of a relationship to start being whispered within Palmer’s team. Rumours that Duval did little to discourage, a relationship that some wouldn’t allow to flourish.
The limo slowed as it approached the entrance. Palmer and the driver were hyper vigilant, constantly checking in all directions for a potential threat. Palmer spoke into the microphone that was concealed in his hand. ‘Delta Two, Delta One, over.’
There was no response.
‘Delta Two, Delta One . . . over!’
Still nothing.
‘Delta Three, where is Delta Two?’
‘Delta One, Delta Three. Two is checking one of the rooftops opposite your position, over.’
The limo drew to a halt at the end of the red carpet which had been rolled down the steps from the conference centre’s ornate entrance. ‘Delta Two, this is Delta One. Where are you? Over.’
‘Delta Two. Keep your hair on, Logan. We’re good to go.’
Palmer lowered his mic. ‘Prick!’
Duval leaned forwards in the back seat. ‘Is something wrong, Logan?’
‘Nothing I can’t deal with. Be ready to go, but don’t move until I open the door. Okay, Yvette?’
‘Okay. I still think it’s a lot of fuss over nothing.’
Palmer opened his door and climbed out. He looked around at the small gathered crowed of dignitaries, checked the rest of the team were in place and scanned the rooftops. ‘Delta Three, Delta One over.’
‘Delta Three clear.’
‘Delta Two, Delta One, over.’
‘Delta Two clear.’
Palmer took hold of the handle, had one last look around him, and opened the door.
Duval climbed out, opening a small umbrella over her head as she did.
The crack that Palmer heard wasn’t the sound of a sniper’s weapon, it was the sound of the bullet hitting Duval in the chest.
Palmer stepped forwards and caught her as she fell, pushing her back into the car. The second bullet carved a groove in Palmer’s shoulder as he closed the door. ‘Go, go, go!’
The driver put his foot down and sped off as people scattered all around them.
Palmer looked down at Duval. She was staring at him, eyes wide. The Kevlar vest she wore wasn’t thick enough to stop the high velocity, large calibre round. The damage was massive. Duval struggled to breathe; blood pouring from her mouth.
Palmer took off his jacket, balled it up and held it over the wound. ‘Stay with me, Yvette.’ He pressed hard to try and stop the bleeding, but he knew it was too late. He had seen wounds like this before and they were always fatal.
As the limo sped back under the security barrier and skidded out onto the main road, Palmer looked down at Duval. ‘Yvette.’
Her eyes remained wide open but she gave no response.
She stopped breathing and slumped in his arms.
She was gone.
Author Bio
L. J. Morris was born in Cold War, West Germany, but grew up in the North of England. During his childhood, books were always an important part of his life. He read everything he could get his hands on but always found himself drawn towards the thriller genre. At 16, eager to see the world he had read about, he left school and spent most of the 80s and 90s serving in the Royal Navy.
After his military service, he continued to live and work across Europe, The USA, and Southeast Asia for several more years. It was during this time that his love of storytelling resurfaced. He jotted down ideas, using the locations he found himself in as a backdrop, and added in details from his own experiences to make the stories feel authentic.
He now lives back in the North of England, with his wife and two sons, where he still works in the defence industry. His short stories have appeared in several anthologies and the first of his Ali Sinclair thriller novels, Desperate Ground, was published in 2018 by Bloodhound Books. The sequel, Hunting Ground, followed a year later.
Follow him at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LesJMorris
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LesJMorris
Website: https://ljmorrisauthor.com/
Purchase Link
Amazon: https://geni.us/JCaByx
