Brad Thor - Path Of The Assassin

“Moroccan authorities bought it, but the United States didn’t. After reviewing our extensive file on Hamdi and his funding of various terrorist organizations hostile to the United States, I have made a decision. Suffice it to say that very soon, Mr. Hamdi will cease being a problem for this country, or any other, for that matter.”

Another, more subdued round of applause swept the situation room and when it had died down, the president continued. “The FBI believes it has succeeded in tracking down almost all of the cells here in the U.S. to whom the Nidal organization had sent the components for fabricating dirty bombs. In conjunction with several NEST teams, the remaining shipments are being investigated. We have also launched a major investigation into the international shipping practices of both FedEx and UPS. Homeland Security director Driehaus has assured me that this is a hole in our national security that he intends to plug immediately.”

The president addressed a handful of additional items and then adjourned the meeting. As the attendees filed out of the situation room, he asked Harvath and Lawlor to stay behind. Once the door had clicked shut, the president looked at Harvath and said, “I want to talk with you about your promotion to director of White House Secret Service Operations.”

Here it was-the moment Harvath had known he was going to have to face eventually. “I’m glad you brought that up, Mr. President, because I would like to talk about that as well.”

“Listen to what I have to say first. As much as I hate to do it, I’m going to have to rescind my offer,” replied the president. “I don’t think your qualifications are right for the position.”

Harvath couldn’t believe his ears. “I’m not qualified?” he said. “This has got to be a joke.”

“It’s no joke,” replied the president. “This is very serious.”

“I must be missing something, because this doesn’t make any sense.”

“Scot, you’re the best agent the Secret Service has ever seen,” continued the president, “but the Secret Service isn’t the right place for you.”

“Mr. President,” interjected Harvath, “if there’s a partiuclar issue you have with my work, I’d like to know what it is.”

The mind was a funny thing. Harvath had arrived that morning fully prepared to tell the president he wouldn’t accept the position of director of White House Secret Operations, but the minute it became obvious the job was being taken away from him, he wanted to fight for it.

“Actually there’s several,” said the president.

“Several?”

“Maybe ‘not qualified’ isn’t the best way of characterizing this,” offered Gary Lawlor.

“Very true,” answered the president. “Scot, the fact of the matter is that you are over qualified for the position. You’ve done great work for the Secret Service, but your talents are being wasted. You’ve proven that.”

“Wow, fired before I’ve even started. That’s got to be a world record, even by Washington standards.”

Both President Rutledge and Gary Lawlor smiled.

“We want to offer you something else,” said Lawlor, “a way to serve your country and utilize your training and abilities to their fullest.”

“I’m listening,” replied Harvath.

“Scot, the world has changed and so must we,” said the president. “I know it sounds cliché, but the best defense the United States can mount is an exceptionally superb offense. And I want you to lead that offensive.”

“How so?”

“From here on out, America is going to be operating on a well-defined ‘strike first’ policy. We will never again wait for terror to come to us.”

“Whom would I be working for?”

“Me,” said Lawlor, drawing Harvath’s attention. “The president is creating a special international branch of the Homeland Security Department. It’s being called the Office of International Investigative Assistance, or OIIA, for short. The OIIA will represent the collective intelligence capability and full muscle of the United States government to help neutralize and prevent terrorist actions against America and American interests on a global level. As I’ve been asked to head the division, you would be reporting directly to me.”

“And what would my job be?”

“Exactly what you have been doing since the president was kidnapped-hunting down terrorists.”

“When would you want me to start?”

“Immediately,” said the president.

“Then I accept,” answered Harvath.

“Excellent,” replied the president as he nodded to Gary Lawlor.

Lawlor withdrew a folder, slid it across the table to Harvath, and said, “Marcel Hamdi will be in Havana tomorrow night for a meeting. We do not want him to leave that meeting alive.”

Harvath smiled to himself. He could already tell he was going to love this new job.

I realized when writing my first novel, that no book is created in a vacuum. An author relies heavily upon the advice, input, and feedback of many other people. Now, if an author can find people who are actually interesting, fun to be around, and prefer to share their wisdom and hard-won experience over a good bottle of wine-then so much the better. To the following, I am deeply indebted.

Chad Norberg, who was there with excellent advice and intriguing ideas for this book from day one. Though hearing, “How many pages did you write today?” gets to be a pain in the ass after a while, it’s a small price to pay for his friendship and the fact that I can call him several times a day with questions about his former profession and what happens when Americans are sent “away from the flagpole” to carry out some of this country’s most serious business.

Chuck Fretwell, whose “adventures” in his former profession are the stuff legends are made of. Not only was Chuck extremely helpful during the writing and editing phase of the manuscript, but going into the Special Operations community as his friend opened amazing doors for me, a fact for which I will always be exceedingly grateful.

Brad Thor, Sr., whose impeccable taste and wide knowledge of the finer things in life came in handy on more than one occasion while writing this book. I can’t help but cringe when I think about what it is going to take to keep this man happy in his retirement. Dad, you were only kidding when you said you expected me to fund your “Platinum Years,” right? Thanks for all of the exceptional help with the writing and promoting of my novels.

Gary Penrith, FBI (retired), a great friend of our family, who continues to be my guide through local, federal, and international law-enforcement agencies. I have come to believe that there is not a single door that Gary can’t open. His ongoing help in my writing career has been invaluable. Trish and I look forward every year to our “law enforcement” trip to Sun Valley and getting to spend quality time with Gary and his lovely wife, Lynne.

Scott Hill, Ph.D., who helped me right into the hospital! The terrible lunch he took me to (which I know pushed me over the edge into emergency surgery during the writing of this book) notwithstanding, his help in developing the psychological aspects of the book, exploring character motivation, providing insightful commentary on the manuscript, and his friendship are all greatly appreciated.

Ancil Sparks, FBI, who I am convinced has had so many wonderful things said about him that it is impossible to come up with something new. Ancil opened the FBI Academy at Quantico to me, and as his charge, I had access to literally anything I wanted to learn more about. Being the kind of guy I am, I chose to spend half the time shooting Glocks and MP5s with the very knowledgeable Wade Jackson, Chief of the Firearms Training Unit, and the other half with the very accommodating Hostage Rescue Team, who brought me along on some intense helicopter fast-roping exercises. After spending time with these guys, it’s easy to see how people become “addicted” to the lifestyle. Many, many thanks.