Power Play, page 10
part #4.50 of Trident Deception Series
“Not exactly,” Christine replied, failing to see the humor in the situation. “He’s asked me to join him for the weekend twice before and I declined both times. He made it clear this was his final request.”
Hardison turned to Christine. “All this time in Moscow, I thought you were slacking off. It turns out you were working overtime.”
Christine overrode the urge to slap him, delivering an icy stare instead.
“You’re taking Kalinin up on his offer this time?” the president asked.
“I haven’t decided,” Christine replied, turning her attention back to the president. “I wanted to run it by legal first to make sure there isn’t a prohibition.”
“Yes, of course,” the president said. “I’ll have Hardison run it past Brooks. I think you’re fine, though. A social visit with Kalinin after you wrap things up in Moscow is well within the bounds of propriety. I’ve met Russian dignitaries at Camp David before. It’s a fair quid pro quo.”
When the president mentioned quid pro quo, Christine’s stomach tightened, recalling the death sentence the SVR agent had delivered. She considered bringing that topic up but decided otherwise. She had a year to sort through that issue.
10
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
In a sparsely populated parking garage on the outskirts of San Jose’s Japantown, Keith Vierling waited nervously in his car. As directed, he had parked on the fourth level, devoid of other vehicles at this time of night, overlooking the Guadalupe Freeway. A pair of headlights appeared in his rearview mirror, stopping after climbing the third-floor ramp. A moment later, the car moved slowly toward him.
Vierling glanced at the briefcase on the backseat. Over the past few years, he’d delivered ten identical units per the original contract. A few days ago, an eleventh unit was requested, along with a rapid delivery. Vierling had finished assembling the components this afternoon.
A black sedan parked beside him and the driver stepped out. Vierling’s passenger door opened and the man slid inside. He went by “Ed Sutton,” although Vierling was certain it wasn’t his real name. Vierling never bothered to research the issue; it wasn’t like Sutton paid by check. Since their agreement ten years ago, Vierling had scheduled several trips to Vegas each year, returning noticeably richer each time.
Sutton looked over his shoulder, examining the briefcase. “Same design as the others?”
Vierling nodded. “Same operating procedures too. I’ve included a set of instructions inside this unit as well.”
Sutton reached back and retrieved the briefcase, opening it on his lap. After inspecting the components inside, he asked, “Is there a range limitation?”
“No,” Vierling replied, trying to not sound irritated. He’d just told him the unit was identical to the previous ones, and the contract was clear: Operable from anywhere on the planet. “The signal gets routed through several satellite networks, so it’ll work anywhere.” Vierling added, “As a reminder, once you activate the algorithms, it cannot be undone.”
The man glanced at Vierling.
Vierling held his hands up. “Hey, that’s what you guys ordered. I just want to make sure you don’t forget.”
Sutton closed the briefcase. “We are aware.”
He opened the car door and Vierling grabbed the man’s forearm. Sutton stopped and slowly turned his head toward Vierling, who quickly released his grip.
“What about compensation?” Vierling asked. “This is an extra unit, not part of the original deal.”
“You will receive a ten percent bonus. Pick it up via the usual process, any time within the next year.”
Without waiting for a response, Sutton stepped from Vierling’s car. A moment later, his sedan disappeared down the parking garage ramp. Vierling took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. He had fulfilled his part of the deal and then some. He hoped he never saw Ed Sutton again.
Also by Rick Campbell
The Trident Deception
Empire Rising
Ice Station Nautilus
Blackmail
About the Author
RICK CAMPBELL is a retired Navy Commander who spent more than twenty years on multiple submarine tours. On his last tour, he was one of the two men whose permission was required to launch the submarine’s nuclear-warhead-tipped missiles. Campbell is the author of five novels in The Trident Deception series: The Trident Deception, Empire Rising, Ice Station Nautilus, Blackmail, and Treason (releasing in March 2019). He lives with his family in the greater Washington, D.C., area. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
American Characters
Russian Characters
Chapter 1. Moscow, Russia
Chapter 2. The Barents Sea
Chapter 3. Washington, D.C.
Chapter 4. USS Michigan
Chapter 5. The Bering Strait
Chapter 6. Gadzhiyevo, Russia
Chapter 7. USS Michigan
Chapter 8. The Barents Sea
Chapter 9. Newport, Rhode Island
Chapter 10. Moscow, Russia
Chapter 11. Washington, D.C.
Chapter 12. USS Michigan
Chapter 13. USS Michigan
Chapter 14. Gadzhiyevo, Russia
Chapter 15. USS Michigan
Chapter 16. Washington, D.C.
Author’s Note
Excerpt: Treason
Also by Rick Campbell
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
POWER PLAY. Copyright © 2019 by Rick Campbell. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design: Danielle Christopher
Cover photographs: sky © Andrey Oleshko/Shutterstock.com; submarine and missile © DMG Vision/Shutterstock.com; helicopter © pingvin121674/Shutterstock.com; explosion © Samuel Kornstein/Shutterstock.com;
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First Edition: January 2019
eISBN 9781250231116
First eBook edition: January 2019
Rick Campbell, Power Play
