Deep Cover (The Extractor Series Book 4) by Mike Ryan (best novels to read to improve english txt) 📗

their cover well with this place,” Nicole said.

“That’s the idea.” Bridge looked around as scores of people walked past them. “Blend in.”

They knocked on the door, and a man in his late twenties soon answered. He looked the part of a CIA agent. Big, muscular, short haircut, though dressed in shorts and a T-shirt.

“Help you?”

“I’m an American tourist,” Bridge answered.

“Aren’t we all?” the man looked at the two of them. “Both of you?”

“We’re a package deal.”

“Hey, the more the merrier. Come on in.”

They went inside and followed the man upstairs to the second floor. They had a nice window view on the backside of the floor. Bridge and Nicole went over to it.

“Lovely view,” Nicole said.

“Isn’t it? Love working here.” The man stuck his hand out to greet both of them. “I’m Steve.”

“Luke. This is Nicole.”

“Glad to meet both of you.” Steve then introduced the other five members of the team who were all working at their desks.

“This all of you?”

“Yeah, we’re a pretty small operation here, but we do a pretty good job of gathering intel.”

“I’m assuming you were told we were coming,” Bridge said.

“Absolutely. Pinnacle One told me himself. I’ve already been informed about the mission.”

“How long you been stationed here?” Nicole asked.

“Two years. Best two years of my life.”

“Lots of action?”

“Eh, some. The weather’s the best, though. Can get a little hot at times during the summer, but I don’t mind. Better than those crazy North Dakota winters where I’m from, that’s for sure.”

“You able to tell us anything about what we’re here for?” Bridge asked.

“Well, I’ve been doing some digging. I wasn’t brought into it before now. Was working on some other things.”

“Find anything new?”

“Not as yet, but we’re working on it.”

“Any ideas on what they would be doing here?”

“Well, there’s a few big issues here,” Steve replied. “Greece is a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling drugs, cocaine, heroin, and some other stuff from the Middle East and southwest Asia. Then you also have chemicals going to the east. Then you also have some money laundering from organized crime and drug trafficking.”

“What’s the terrorist situation here?”

“Not much. There’s the Revolutionary Struggle, a local group known for some government attacks, as well as at the American Embassy. The RS has been largely inactive the last couple years, though. A few shootouts with local police and all, but they haven’t been much of a factor outside of that.”

“You don’t think they would be involved in this?” Nicole asked.

“I would doubt it. They’re mostly a local group. They only operate inside Greece, and mostly in Athens. I can’t see them being involved in all this other stuff that I’m hearing.”

“What’s your best guess?” Bridge asked.

“They don’t pay me for guesses.”

“They don’t pay you to sit on your hands either.”

Steve laughed. “True.” He sat in his computer chair, put his elbow on the arm of the chair, and his hand over his mouth as he thought about it. “Based on what I know so far, if I had to guess, I’d say it has to do with some type of money laundering. Or just money in general.”

“Why?”

“Well, does anything that you’ve come across so far indicate there’s drugs involved?”

Bridge shook his head. “None.”

“Then there you go. If they’re coming to Greece, and there’s no drugs, then it has to be about money. How long you guys figuring on staying?”

“Till it’s done.”

“Could be a long stay.”

“I don’t think so. People like this usually have a short timeline. They don’t drag things out.”

Steve nodded. “Maybe so. I noticed you had some bags with you. Find a place to stay yet?”

“No, we came here first. Wanted to see if you had anything for us yet.”

“Oh. Sorry to disappoint. Why don’t you guys get settled, then come back over?”

“Where’s a good place to go?”

“Well, we’re all within twenty minutes walking distance of here, spread out. You know how it is about everyone staying in the same location.”

“Yeah.”

“Anyway, there’s a spot up the street if you like. Maybe ten minutes away. I’ll take you over.”

“Sounds good.”

Kenny was the first to arrive at the house. He went inside and checked it out to make sure there were no surprise visitors waiting for them. With it being clear, he went out front to wait for the others. Another car pulled up about twenty minutes later. Dalton, Magareth, Abbott, and the man that picked them up at the airport arrived. His name was Argus Kanelos, a native of Greece. He was the first to be brought in on the scheme that Dalton and Gary Abbott had developed.

Once they were all out of the car, Magareth shoved a rifle into Abbott’s back to get him moving.

“Took you long enough,” Kenny said.

“You’ve been here maybe twenty minutes, tops,” Dalton said. “I don’t wanna hear how long you’ve been waiting.”

She led the others inside. “Nice place,” Magareth said, looking around. “I’m digging it.”

“It’s been in the family for three generations,” Kanelos said. “So please, don’t make a mess.”

They went out back where there was a large rectangular-shaped in-ground swimming pool.

“Let’s get this over with,” Kenny said.

“I’ve told you repeatedly,” Dalton said. “We have two days before we’re able to retrieve the money. We can’t take it out before then.”

“I don’t see what difference it makes.”

“Because there are codes and rules that must be abided by. They will be honored.”

“Honor among thieves?”

“Something like that.”

“How much money are we talking, anyway?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Dalton answered. “You’ve been promised your cut, and you shall get it. All you need to do is provide security. Everything else is on me.”

Everyone started going down their separate paths. Magareth stayed close to Abbott to make sure he didn’t try to escape. Dalton was somewhat sympathetic to Abbott’s situation, even though she was the one who was responsible for it, and waved Magareth off his post.

“You can ease up,” Dalton said. “He’s not going anywhere. Go have a sandwich or something.”

Magareth was chewing on some gum. He looked down at Abbott for a second. The