The First Time

By Mike Winter

Tom Black is the Government's newest recruit. He is an agent working for a top secret anti terrorist group. Troubled by his past, Black enters the dark, cold world of espionage vowing to make up for his past misdemeanours by serving his country.
Black's first mission is to locate a consignment of weapons, and those responsible for smuggling them into the country.
He will soon learn that his new occupation is filled with deception, and those who control him will stop at nothing to ensure the job is done.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mike Winter
• Release date: Jun 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370275984

Book preview

Mike Winter

The First Time

First published by DN Publishing in 2016

Copyright © Mike Winter, 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

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Contents

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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

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1

December 1st 2008 – M4 – Swindon, 17:30

Tom Black had been stuck in traffic close to the junction he needed for almost thirty minutes. The rain pounded on the windscreen, the wipers working overtime to clear the water that was obstructing the view of the target in the car in front. The series of blue flashing lights which had passed him on the hard shoulder five minutes ago indicated there had been an accident somewhere in front of him.

His target was driving a silver Ford Mondeo, which blended in perfectly with the driving rain and the clouds which had descended earlier that afternoon.

This was Black’s first official mission as an agent working for TEP (Threat Elimination and Prevention). The remit was to follow Ross Scott, a member of the local CID, who was suspected in assisting an Islamist terror suspect in the supply of weapons, as well as a little drug dealing on the side. Once at Scott’s home, the order was simple: confirm the location of the terror suspect, eliminate them both and secure the weapons.

Black began his training with TEP six months ago, after spending four years in the armed forces. Late-twenties, he was considered naïve by his superiors, but with undoubted talent, hence his selection despite his young age and troubled upbringing. Drink, drugs and petty crime had seen Black through his teenage years fuelled by the unexplained disappearance of his father on his twelfth birthday which set him on a path to almost complete destruction.

Agents with fucked up backgrounds make the best recruits, was the statement uttered to him a few weeks into his training. They rarely have anything left to lose, which suits us fine. Will Hamilton, head of TEP didn’t have a sensitive side. He was brutal with the facts, and delivered them with a chilling honesty. Nothing was held back. You’ve lost your father, wife, daughter, and your mother can’t remember your name. Your country is all you have left, you may as well try and save that hadn’t you? As heartless as it sounded, Black agreed. It was his escape. If it hadn’t been for TEP, he’d probably have died from alcohol or drug abuse; either that or serving a lengthy prison sentence for car theft, or worse.

It was all true. Black returned from Afghanistan every bit as troubled as he had been after his father disappeared. His family took the brunt of his frustrations on a daily basis, and when the offer from TEP was put to him, he decided it would be best for everyone. He would no longer have to see his daughter cry or his wife tremble every time he became agitated.

The traffic ahead starting to move, albeit at a snail’s pace. Black let out the clutch slowly, and the car inched forwards, ensuring the gap between him and the Mondeo stayed at just a few feet. The torrential downpour wasn’t subsiding and the build-up of water on the tarmac was almost lake like. Cars on the opposite carriageway were misjudging the depth, aquaplaning on their way past. Gradually the junction to the motorway appeared and the Mondeo in front signalled to exit. Black pressed down his indicator and followed it down the slip road.

2

TEP Headquarters, Tower Gateway – London, 17:45

Black is almost on target,