Microchip Murder - A Katla KillFile: Amsterdam Assassin Series, #2

By Martyn V. Halm

Assassin Katla has to kill an industrial spy and retrieve the stolen item...

The Microchip Murder KillFile (8,600 words) follows freelance assassin Katla Sieltjes executing a contract on an industrial spy, who is in the process of selling a stolen microchip with valuable software to the competition. Katla’s client wants the stolen microchip and research materials returned to him, but her target is wary and the unscrupulous buyers are prepared to kill for the stolen software.

The Katla KillFile short stories chronologically precede the novels in the Amsterdam Assassin Series.

Each KillFile features Katla Sieltjes, expert in disguising homicide, executing one of her contracts. While not mandatory reading, each KillFile provides insight both in Katla’s work methods and skill, and additional background information in her character and personal history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pushdagger Publishing Limited
• Release date: Oct 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9789491623028

Martyn V. Halm

Martyn V. Halm lives in Amsterdam with his wife Maaike, two children, two cats, and countless imaginary characters vying for attention.   Writing realistic crime fiction is hard work, especially when you're a stickler for verisimilitude. When your protagonist is a seasoned killer, research can take you right up to Nietzsche’s abyss. Luckily, things get easier after the first few killings... Apart from being an accomplished prevaricator, Martyn already possessed an eclectic variety of skills that qualified him to write the Amsterdam Assassin Series. Skills he shares with his deadly fictional characters...

Book preview

AMSTERDAM ASSASSIN SERIES

Microchip Murder

[A Katla KillFile]

By

Martyn V. Halm

Pushdagger Publishing Limited

Microchip Murder - A Katla KillFile (Amsterdam Assassin Series)

ISBN: 978-94-91623-02-8 (ePub)

ASIN: B00A4LKSYI (mobi)

Copyright: Martyn V. Halm

Published: November 10, 2012

Publisher: Pushdagger Publishing Limited

Cover design: Farah Evers

The right to be identified as author of this Work has been asserted by Martyn V. Halm in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher.

Please do not circulate this book in any format without express consent.

Assassin Katla has to kill an industrial spy and retrieve the stolen item...

The Microchip Murder KillFile (8,600 words) follows freelance assassin Katla Sieltjes executing a contract on an industrial spy, who is in the process of selling a stolen microchip with valuable software to the competition. Katla’s client wants the stolen microchip and research materials returned to him, but her target is wary and the unscrupulous buyers are prepared to kill for the stolen software.

The Katla KillFile short stories chronologically precede the novels in the Amsterdam Assassin Series.

Each KillFile features Katla Sieltjes, expert in disguising homicide, executing one of her contracts. While not mandatory reading, each KillFile provides insight both in Katla’s work methods and skill, and additional background information in her character and personal history.

For Maaike, the love and light of my life.

And to Tycho Thelonious and Nica Hilke, thankfully still too young to read my work.

Also available from this author:

AMSTERDAM ASSASSIN SERIES:

Novels:

Reprobate

Peccadillo

Rogue

Ghosting

KillFiles:

Locked Room

Microchip Murder

Fundamental Error

Aconite Attack

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MICROCHIP MURDER

Dark clouds sailed low across the sky over the Westerpark, where Katla Sieltjes sat on a bench at the top of the artificial hill, her all-terrain bicycle leaning against the backrest. Behind her, a train rumbled past, gathering speed on its way to Amsterdam Sloterdijk railway station. The slight drizzle weeping from the dark sky coated her black windbreaker, but her thermal underwear kept her warm and dry.

Through her binoculars, Katla checked the tiny figure stepping from a car parked near the Haarlemmerstraat entrance. A black umbrella unfolded, virtually removing him from view, then the umbrella started moving towards the artificial hill.

As Katla watched his laborious progress, ambling all the way around the artificial lake to climb the bicycle path to the top of the hill, she studied the few people visiting the park. None of them seemed to pay the midget any attention.

One of the advantages of living in Amsterdam was that the locals considered staring or being impressed to be uncool, so both the grotesque and the celebrated found the Dutch capital a place to relax from the pressure of being stared at or fawned over. One of the reasons why Amsterdam was hugely popular with foreign celebrities. That and the abundance of legalised drugs and prostitution, of course.

The midget was puffing as he made it up the hill. As he came closer, Katla could see he was dressed impeccably in a two-piece Italian