The Rich Guardian

By E. Clay

The Rich Guardian is the story of one man sleepwalking through life without a sense of purpose or destiny. However, on 6 June 2018, his life is forever altered after an unexpected encounter with a foreigner who has a dark and secret past. Clay's new acquaintance puts him in the crosshairs of a superpower with unlimited reach.

There is nowhere to hide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. Clay
• Release date: May 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463156292

E. Clay

Never in a million years did I ever think I would become a writer, or that I would find it so fullfilling and rewarding. If the test of a true passion is the love of its drudgery, then I am certifiably hooked. The entire writing experience is a joy.I created this webpage so you can follow my works and hear the latest news on my progress. I enjoy communicating with my readers and reviewers about my characters, my plots and most importanly my message. If you ask me a question, I will make every effort to respond in a timely manner.

Book preview

The Rich Guardian

A Novella

E. Clay

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to a person or persons is purely coincidental.

This publication was the subject of a Department of Defense pre-publication review on 20 December 2017, by a DoD Counterintelligence representative.

The Rich Guardian

Copyright © E. Clay 2018

New Paradigm Publishers

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 978-1-7321028-0-4 (paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-1-7321028-1-1 (ebook)

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by photocopying or any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from both the copyright owner and the publisher of the book.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all the men and women of the US intelligence/law enforcement community who work very hard, day in and day out, to keep this great country safe.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1: Friendly Fire

Chapter 2: Speculate to Accumulate

Chapter 3: The Widow Maker

Chapter 4: The Stars in His Eyes

Chapter 5: Caveat Venditor—Seller Beware

Chapter 6: The Good Shepherd

Chapter 7: Dollars and Sins

Chapter 8: Return to Sender

Chapter 9: No Way Out

Chapter 10: The Awakening

Author’s Corner

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

FSB: Russian Federal Security Service, akin to the FBI with broader powers to include border security

KGB: Predecessor to the FSB, disbanded in 1991

GRU: Russian military intelligence

Oligarch: A very rich business leader with a great deal of political influence (especially in Russia)

SVR: Russian External Security Service, akin to the CIA

Chekist: A period after the Bolshevik revolution where Russian state police had free reign to torture, murder, and conduct large scale deportations to crush political dissidence

NSA: The National Security Agency is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence Wikipedia

GCHQ: The Government Communications Headquarters is an intelligence and security organization responsible for providing signals intelligence and information assurance to the government and armed forces of the United Kingdom Wikipedia

Ops: Abbreviation for operations

RPG: Rocket-propelled grenade

Tradecraft: Tradecraft, within the intelligence community, refers to the techniques, methods, and technologies used in modern espionage (spying), and generally, as part of the activity of intelligence Wikipedia

Double agent: In the field of counterintelligence, a double agent is an employee of an intelligence service, whose primary purpose is to spy on a different target organization, but who, in fact, is a member of the target organization Wikipedia

VPN: A virtual private network affords a caller anonymity

Prologue

The Rich Guardian is the story of one man sleepwalking through life without a sense of purpose or destiny. However, on 6 June 2018, his life is forever altered after an unexpected encounter with a foreigner who has a dark and secret past.

Clay’s new acquaintance puts him in the crosshairs of a superpower with unlimited reach. There is nowhere to hide.

Chapter 1: Friendly Fire

January 1, 2018 10:30 a.m.

FSB Research and Development lab,

St. Petersburg, Russia, secure location

Good morning, prime minister, director, and most welcomed guests. Today, I am honored to have managed such a talented team, unlike any ever assembled. The brightest scientists, engineers and innovators the world has to offer.

The keynote speaker confidently walked from the podium to engage his distinguished audience with VIP seating in the first two rows. In the center of the room was a long, oblong object with the Russian flag draped over it, almost touching the floor.

What the world offered in safety, we’ve surpassed. What the world lacked in style and comfort, we’ve improved. And what the world achieved in lethality, we’ve transcended. Ladies and gentleman, prime minister, director… behold modern innovation without peer, he said with a raised fist.

With a loud clap, the Russian flag draping the object vanished and reappeared hanging high from the rafters for all to see.

Standing ovation.

Please remain standing for our great country’s national anthem.

Following the conclusion of the Russian national anthem the guests took their seats. The keynote speaker broke his salute and stepped near the exhibit. He delicately stroked the beautiful contours… of the new presidential limousine.

The limousine was a sleek, black armored Mercedes loaded with Russian innovation: state-of-the-art technology designed to withstand an RPG attack or a roadside bomb intended for a tank, a communications package that could not be deciphered by the NSA or the British GCHQ, and the ability to function as a mobile command and control center in the event of a coup or in a time of war, capable of launching a nuclear strike with global reach.

Inside, the limousine was unsurpassed sumptuousness, complimented by the most expensive materials in the world. Seams in the woodgrain door panels were accented by ambient white lighting. The scent of leather was masked by a light floral fragrance. The wing mirrors relayed information to a large LCD in the dash.

The most distinguishable feature in the rear cabin was the Russian Presidential Seal perfectly embossed in the ivory marble center console in the rear seating area.

In the front cabin, one of the more noteworthy features was a gold-plated keypad positioned on driver’s side door. The buttons were color-coded, some having extraordinary offensive capability.

The limousine was assessed to be critical to Russia’s national security and needed to be protected at any and all costs.

Later that evening

To celebrate the unveiling of the new presidential limousine, the guests were treated to a formal evening banquet in the west wing of the FSB complex. A Russian classical quartet and a ballet troupe conducted last-minute warm-ups prior to the commencement of the festivities. Waiters and staff scurried about to ensure starters and ample bottles of vodka were on every table. Above the plush red carpet, the chandelier slowly spun, creating a subtle, almost hypnotic, glitter effect across the room.

The prime minister stood and tapped his spoon against his crystal shot glass and cleared his throat. The room fell silent.

Good evening, most distinguished guests. I would like to propose a toast to mark this most memorable occasion. Please rise with glass in hand.

With his glass filled to the brim and raised high, the prime minister shouted, To Mother Russia and our fallen comrades!

За здоровье! the audience responded.

The prime minister gestured to the FSB director to his left for the next round of toasts. All eyes focused on the revered and feared director.

Comrades! I’d like to make a toast to family. We are in a constant state of war, and the adversary is formidable, not to be taken lightly. To persevere, we need the strongest unit to be unbreakable: the family unit.

The guests responded with a standing ovation.

So, here’s to family! The director raised his glass with a smile and took a drink. May our sons have rich fathers and beautiful mothers. And finally, here’s to our wives and girlfriends, may they never meet.

The guests erupted into laughter and shouted Заздоровье! Moments later the sounds of joviality subsided.

Who will lead us in our final round of toasts? the director asked.

Many senior officials in black tie raised their hands to