Don Pendleton: Shadow Search

Bolan heard the slug whack into the wall behind him, felt chunks of clay strike his shoulders. He took evasive action, going down on one knee and returning fire. The shadowy figure on the far side of the room flew backward, becoming entangled with a chair and fell hard, blood coursing from his chest and throat. He lay for a while choking on blood and sucking air through his shredded windpipe.

Bolan stayed alert, scanning the room until he was satisfied he was alone. He moved from man to man, checking for signs of life. There were none. He picked up the dropped weapons and threw them in a corner after pulling the magazines.

Then he turned and stepped outside, feeling the heat of the sun as he crossed to the old truck—and the figure bound to it.

#227 Blood Circle

#228 Terminal Option

#229 Zero Tolerance

#230 Deep Attack

#231 Slaughter Squad

#232 Jackal Hunt

#233 Tough Justice

#234 Target Command

#235 Plague Wind

#236 Vengeance Rising

#237 Hellfire Trigger

#238 Crimson Tide

#239 Hostile Proximity

#240 Devil’s Guard

#241 Evil Reborn

#242 Doomsday Conspiracy

#243 Assault Reflex

#244 Judas Kill

#245 Virtual Destruction

#246 Blood of the Earth

#247 Black Dawn Rising

#248 Rolling Death

#249 Shadow Target

#250 Warning Shot

#251 Kill Radius

#252 Death Line

#253 Risk Factor

#254 Chill Effect

#255 War Bird

#256 Point of Impact

#257 Precision Play

#258 Target Lock

#259 Nightfire

#260 Dayhunt

#261 Dawnkill

#262 Trigger Point

#263 Skysniper

#264 Iron Fist

#265 Freedom Force

#266 Ultimate Price

#267 Invisible Invader

#268 Shattered Trust

#269 Shifting Shadows

#270 Judgment Day

#271 Cyberhunt

#272 Stealth Striker

#273 UForce

#274 Rogue Target

#275 Crossed Borders

#276 Leviathan

#277 Dirty Mission

#278 Triple Reverse

#279 Fire Wind

#280 Fear Rally

#281 Blood Stone

#282 Jungle Conflict

#283 Ring of Retaliation

#284 Devil’s Army

#285 Final Strike

#286 Armageddon Exit

#287 Rogue Warrior

#288 Arctic Blast

#289 Vendetta Force

#290 Pursued

#291 Blood Trade

#292 Savage Game

#293 Death Merchants

#294 Scorpion Rising

#295 Hostile Alliance

#296 Nuclear Game

#297 Deadly Pursuit

#298 Final Play

#299 Dangerous Encounter

#300 Warrior’s Requiem

#301 Blast Radius

#302 Shadow Search

Shadow Search

Don Pendleton

Wrongdoing can only be avoided if those who are not wronged feel the same indignation at it as those who are.

—Solon, Athenian Statesman c.638 B.C.

The salvation of mankind lies only in making everything the concern of everyone.

—Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Nobel Prize winner

To those who prey on the defenseless and the weak—beware. I have seen that despair and weakness in your victims and I will not stand aside and abandon them, or allow it to continue.

—Mack Bolan

To all of the coalition military personnel who have been, or are, serving in the Middle East. Thanks.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Epilogue

Tempala Airport, West Africa.

Phil McReady wasn’t a nervous type but he felt slightly uneasy in the presence of the man he knew only as Mike Belasko. Since his introduction to the man at the airport just outside Tempala City, McReady had sensed there was far more to Belasko than the quiet-spoken, reserved persona he displayed. Belasko had stepped off the plane, checking the corner of the airfield that had been allocated to the U.S. team led by Ambassador Leland Cartwright. His manner was that of a man who didn’t trust any situation until he had checked it out personally. Because of the presidential authorization given to Cartwright’s organization, McReady had been able to take Belasko straight to the waiting car and out of the airport.

Belasko moved with the confidence of a man who knew his way around. His manner belied his physical appearance. Over six foot in height, with a solid physical build, he weighed around two hundred pounds, none of it wasted on fat. He made no play about his appearance. He didn’t need to. McReady had also noticed the quiet way Belasko spoke. He didn’t raise his voice, yet there was something in his manner that drew good responses from those he did talk to.

As far as McReady was concerned, Belasko was another addition to the U.S. government team in Tempala. That was how he had been told to view Belasko, and to ask no questions. Belasko was also to be given all the cooperation he required—again with no questions asked. It was all on a need-to-know basis. McReady had been given his orders and that was it. The moment Belasko had stepped off the plane, his eyes checking out the area as he walked across the apron to meet McReady, he showed his true calling. This was no man to fool with. McReady made a mental note to keep his curiosity in check. Plain and simple, the message was, do not ask questions and do not get on the wrong side of this man. On the other hand, McReady wasn’t an idiot. He knew why Belasko was there. It irritated him because his insider knowledge allowed him the privilege of knowing what had happened to start all this off. The frantic calls to Washington and the U.S. President. McReady had been in on all of it, and then Cartwright had started getting tight-lipped about the whole thing.

In the air-conditioned comfort of the car on the way from the airport to the city, McReady concentrated on his driving.

“So what the hell did they tell you about me, Phil?” Belasko asked. “The way you’re avoiding talking, somebody must have laid down the rules pretty hard.”

“My boss, Leland Cartwright. He said to meet you at the plane, take you to the hotel and when you’re settled in, drive you to meet President Karima. Apart from that I don’t question you.”

Belasko laughed. “What does he think I’m going to do? Shoot you if I don’t like what you ask?”

“I guess we’re all a little touchy, Mike. Since Karima’s kids were kidnapped things have been a little tense.”

“I can see why. Has the lid been kept closed on the situation?”

McReady drew breath, unsure how to handle the question.

“We all know why I’m here,” Belasko said. “Karima’s children have been taken and the kidnappers are using them as a threat. They don’t want Karima signing the agreement with the U.S. because that gives our military a foot in the door in this part of the world. The opposition see that as a means of imposing Karima’s authority on the country. They say he’ll use the American military to put down any opposition. That won’t happen. All we’re looking for are deep-water facilities at Rugendi Bay. Refueling and repair units. It will bring in a steady source of income for the country. Karima is also looking for financial backing to regenerate the copper-mining business. Tempala has vast copper deposits and Karima wants to get the business working again. The old regimes have let the business fall apart. I know that and you know that, so talk to me, Phil. I need some intel if I’m going to get those kids back.”