Coin of the Realm: Jimmy Hart Series, #4

By Robert Hatting

Fast Actions, Futile Politics, and a High-Level Espionage Packed Together.

A distress call from Jimmy's boat Arc  Angel after he was rammed by submarine – the end of the third part left no one calm. Was it an accident or someone with unlimited resources played a game far away from cameras and journalists? 

After a long pause western writer and adventurer, Robert Hatting brings a resolution to all of Jimmy's admirers, the fourth part of his Jimmy Hart Series. 

For those who are new to Jimmy Hart series - the retired SEAL turned to a businessman and philanthropist, leaves his enemies always far behind his plans. With the private intelligence agency comparable to Israeli MOSSAD at his disposal, he is able to accomplish, what high politicians just promise. 

Robert Hatting with his life filled with adventures writes experiences, not a researched facts. He can pilot Gulfstream, sail schooner across Pacific, and knows how Enfield rifle fits to hand. 
Robert has a lot of supporters in Panama; he had spent part of his childhood in Canal and chose it also as his first home after retirement. 

His stories are a blend of fictional and real characters but the facts he writes about are always grounded in reality. 
Robert lives his adventures much like Hemmingway or Indiana Jones and with a big grin on his face loves every minute.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blair Pacific Publishing
• Release date: Aug 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386998075

Robert Hatting

Born in Seattle, raised in numerous locales during his youth; including many years in the Panama Canal Zone, and on his grandfather’s ranch in eastern Oregon, Hatting was worldly and rural, bilingual, and developed the ability to observe and record at an early age. He also developed a strong work ethic and bravery beyond his years. He was a gifted athlete and an above average student. Moving often because of his father’s profession, he had to adapt quickly and positively. Plus he was often called upon to defend himself, so his martial arts skills were honed in reality — not in some gym (Being a new kid in school was a constant and often bloody challenge). Rob Hatting’s novels have been read by thousands around the world.  Rob writes from experience — his locales are actual places — described true-to-form; his characters are depictions or amalgamations of real people and his stories are grounded in reality. The underpinning of each novel is the base character of the writer. An adventurer by nature, his experiences range from that of a cowboy, rancher, deep-water sailor, professional diver, rodeo performer, businessman, auctioneer, pilot, trucker, knife maker, horse-trader, commercial fisherman, beach bum, and inventor. Each craft and adventure has given him a myriad of experience from which to write.  He can pilot a plane, drive most anything with wheels, and captain/pilot a ship. He boxed, rodeoed, and competed in numerous team and individual sports. Hatting spent two tours in Vietnam as a brown shoe, (civilian contractor) ten years as a computer salesman with NCR, and has bought and sold over forty businesses throughout the world (eight were weekly newspapers, four were knife manufacturers,...). Rob attended Western College of auctioneers in 1977 to augment his business and journalism degrees from OSU; using his creativity as a ‘turn-around’ specialist. His personal adventures morphed into novel writing while working on the Alaska Pipeline in 1975. His first novel was published in 1978; his second in 1981. He wrote and published several each decade and currently has twenty-one fiction, three non-fiction, and six screenplays available to his credit.  Rob became a full-time expatriate in 2003; Mexico, Costa Rica, and finally Panama for over a decade. He moved to the Philippines in 2015 where he currently resides.

Book preview

Prologue – Adrift

Jimmy Hart felt the tide change and watched the silhouette of land drift back over the horizon; out of sight. He looked at his wife, Coreen. She was asleep; stretched on the thwart of their life raft. He opted not to disturb her with the good news. They were close. One more day and they would be on solid ground. Sixteen weeks they had been adrift; living by their wits and suffering from the elements. They’d been hiding in an often unfriendly ocean unable to call for help. They persevered, hoping and praying that eventually they would hit land.

Jimmy probed the festering wound on his thigh. It was painful to touch but he had to get the poison out. Almost four months he'd dealt with the annoyance and pain. The wound had improved immensely since the submarine rammed them and the splinter from the wooden bulwarks had pierced his thigh, but it was still a threat to his well-being. The memory of that event brought forth a flush of anger. Hart immediately purged his vindictive thoughts. He focused on their good fortune of eventually reaching land. Approaching land did not cancel the pain he was about to experience.

Hart watched the horizon as he pressed on the wound, squeezing out the poisonous puss. The pain was almost unbearable but being dead or losing the leg from gangrene was a strong motivation to hold his pain in contempt. His teary eyes glimpsed again the landfall in the distance. He knew—down deep—it was a land of substance because there were mountains on the horizon, not just a coral atoll. If it was an island, he needed to record the longitude and latitude as the current of the Pacific had control of their life raft. He reached for his sat phone next to his wife. He disconnected the solar charging device and turned on the unit.

He looked back at the horizon as his satellite phone cycled to standby. Just as he switched to the GPS application, he thought better of the idea. He didn't want to give away their position.

Coreen came wide awake. She pointed over his shoulder—in the direction of the landfall.

That's land. I thought I was dreaming! she screeched.

God, Jimmy, we're going to live! Coreen said as she began sobbing joyfully. Hart smiled and held out his hand. Coreen gently came to her husband's side and embraced him as she watched him minister to his swollen thigh.

How long, Jimmy?

I'm guessing another day. Maybe two, Jimmy answered.

No, I mean how long do we have to hide from that horrible man and his minions?

Hart pushed his wife to arms length so he could look her in the eye. We may have to be on the run the rest of our lives, darlin'. But it will be easier once we get to land.

Chapter 1 – The Mint

...who gave the order, commander? Jerry Harding asked gently. I know you know.

The injured man removed his hand from his bleeding wound and fingered the entry hole.

When are your medics arriving? This wound needs attention!

Harding reached over and loosened the tourniquet on the man's calf. He allowed blood to flow for a moment and then re-tightened the commander's belt.

It was a through and through. You’re in no immediate danger, Leon. Please answer my question while we have privacy, Harding urged.

Commander Shiffler hesitated and then tuned in to the distinctive sounds of an approaching helicopter. He grimaced and then spoke: It came from the top... the highest level according to my boss, Admiral Fox.

Harding pulled his sat phone from a cargo pocket in his shorts and speed dialed Jimmy Hart. He pointed to the approaching helicopter.

They'll take good care of you, commander. Thank you for your cooperation. My men will notify the Embassy in Fort Clayton, Jerry said as he focused on his phone connection.

Harding moved away from the injured man so he could speak freely. He scanned his immediate vicinity of Jimmy Hart's ranch, making sure no one could hear his discussion with his best friend. He waited several moments as the multiple encryptions took place, and the connection was made. The orange grove located above him, sparkled in the morning sun. The same early morning sun reflected off the roofs of the buildings and the rotors of the helicopter as it landed behind the house that served as Jimmy's coin mint.

I just confirmed again what you suspected, Jimmy. Shiffler says it came from the top through his boss Admiral Fox, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. That means either the CIA or the president.

Harding glanced back at the landing helicopter. He could see two of his people, one a trained medic plus his replacement for Segundo, Salty Saltine who was off on a vacation. He waved as he listened to Jimmy’s reaction from half a world away.

It amazes me how stupid that man in power can be at times. Sending an embassy attaché to do a covert operation shows how much of an idiot he is, Hart proclaimed. Amateur hour—just like Nixon's Watergate. Tell me again why he led his men to my ranch and tried to breach my security.

Harding watched the medic begin attending to the inept burglar. Jerry had known the commander in better times when Hart ruled and the world wasn't upside down. Now all their actions were subject to extreme scrutiny. They had made everyone's watch list. A lot of the Hart empire had eroded due Jimmy's war of words with the leader of the free world.

Shiffler was supposed to steal some of the coins being minted, photograph them and send the photos to Langley...without going through channels, Harding related. I can't figure out why. All one has to do is convert a couple of hundred US dollars to a Panamanian Golden Balboa and they have what is being minted.

●▪●▪●

Hart listened intently to his friend and associate, Jerry Harding. Coreen sat beside him on the veranda of their rented cabin. She could hear both sides of the conversation because Jimmy had the sat phone volume on high. It was almost midnight, a half a world away. Jimmy visualized the events that had taken place at their high mountain ranch in Panama, a contrast to their seaside location in the back country of Negros Oriental, Philippines.

Keep me informed, Jerry. Thanks for the call.

Coreen rose to leave the veranda. Jimmy reached out and pulled her on to his lap.

Was anyone hurt other than the commander? Coreen asked as Hart canceled the connection.

Jimmy nuzzled her neck and delayed the answer. He wanted to purge his thoughts of the incident and his natural reaction to their situation. Coreen returned his embrace and then suddenly stiffened. You cannot have your way with me until you answer my question, Mister Hart, she demanded in a whisper.

Jimmy squirmed and then held her away at arm’s length. None of our people were even scratched, but Chicho Guerrero, the captain of our security detail was arrested.

Couldn't Jerry keep that from happening? I assume Chicho was the one who wounded the commander.

Actually, the commander took a bullet from one of the booby traps I designed. No one shot him but Chicho was selected because he was in charge, Jimmy explained.

That wouldn't have happened if we were there, Coreen said gruffly.

Jimmy chuckled as he motioned her off his lap.

No, it would be one of us; maybe both of us who would be placed in custody. Jerry was lucky he had just driven in when it happened. Had he been in the stone house as planned, they would have arrested him instead of Chicho. The political climate has really changed since we were rammed and presumed lost at sea.

Coreen knew her husband was wrestling with their changed lives. No longer did they occupy the political status or enjoy the friendly governmental posture which prevailed under the previous administration. In fact, just the opposite had occurred. The new Panamanian president was a handpicked candidate of the US president, and had received copious amounts of campaign dollars plus an entire team of election experts bent on dethroning Martinelli and his political party. The staff of experts were supplied and funded by the sitting president of the United States, Barnaby Suerto. The interference by POTUS had been successful and now the newly elected Panamanian president was on a witch hunt; undoing everything and prosecuting everyone who was associated or sympathetic to the previous administration. The embassy lock-down had been lifted, the USA/Panama treaties were reinstated and Hart's businesses and circle of friends were on the defensive.

Jerry Harding's intelligence company had been replaced by the CIA within weeks of the Panamanian election. Although he had lost a sizable contract, the operatives were still in place and his team was privy to most all of the happenings in Central and South America. His company had the advantage when the double for Hugo Chavez was murdered. Harding and his group had the inside track on the Venezuela upheaval. Since the diplomatic ties between the US and Venezuela had all but been severed, the US State Department was willing to contract Harding’s company on an unofficial basis. Jerry deferred his decision until he spoke with Hart. Although it was a sweet cash infusion, and perhaps a foot in the door for the next administration, Jerry knew his good friend could advise without prejudice.

Hart was considering Jerry's dilemma and the attempted breach of their private mint by Leon Shiffler as he and Coreen enjoyed the solitude and peace of their current environment. Hart looked across the small yard of their beach cabin. The tide wall covered in moss and creeping vines hid the waves crashing on the beach only a few yards past the rock wall. The inky darkness lightened to light grey as he looked further out to sea, a phenomenon most seafarers experienced but didn’t totally understand.

Coreen watched her husband living in his head;