China Mission, Maxine Hart Series, Book 8

By Shirley J. Miller

Author Maxine Hart once again travels with her CIA boyfriend. This time, to China. In this story, the Ambassador at the American Embassy and two others are kidnapped by ISIS and taken prisoners to a camp in Pakistan. While Maxine does research in Beijing along with her Chicago Police friends, Jack and Harry, Riley is huddled down in Pakistan with a group of China’s Special Forces trying to locate the kidnapper’s location. Amid the friction between Trump and Xi Jinping, the team must work together to stay under the radar. While Jinping is aware of Maxine’s presence in China, he’s told it was because she was a travel writer working on a destination story. And while he has authorized troops to help Riley find his American consulate team members, Jinping has no idea that Riley is a CIA operative. Expect the usual danger and intrigue that always surrounds this couple.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shirley J. Miller
• Release date: Sep 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005652586

Shirley J. Miller

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~About Shirley J MillerAs a child, aptitude tests always suggested that Shirley Miller should go into writing. In actuality, she spent her career years in advertising and marketing for Fortune 500 companies, where most of her writing revolved around describing product attributes and persuading sales.She always dreamed of writing fiction books but never had the time. Upon early retirement, she decided to follow her dreams. You will love her simple and direct style while maintaining the mystique and action among characters from start to finish.Her work is mostly fiction, so be sure you check out The Chicago Series and the Maxine Hart Series. Ring of Deception is a book Shirley and her sister Betty dreamed up - while hiking, no less - follow-ups being considered.Shirley has also written how-to books on some of her favorite hobbies. Be sure to check out Beginning Golf for Ladies, Golf Tips Up & Over - For Intermediate Players, Freelance Writing, Owning a Silky Terrier which resulted from her love for the breed. Having owned eight Silky Terriers over her lifetime, she even hired a special dog trainer to come to her home twice a week to teach her how to train the dogs.Though she never wrote about it, she wants to Thank You for reading her books and following her writing adventures. Without you, none of this would be possible, So Thank You very much. And keep on reading. Find some of her other books on Amazon or Smashwords by checking the links below.Any reviews will certainly be appreciated. It always helps to understand more of what readers want to see, so she can speak more directly to you. To follow Shirley Miller, and be the first to learn of new releases, please check the ‘Follow Me’ Button on Amazon. For a full list of all her current works, check out these links:https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LastFlightOut1

Book preview

Chapter 1

Maxine Hart had been back from South America and her Amazon adventures now for over six months. Things in Chicago had returned to normal. She had spent the past few months finalizing her last fiction novel and her publisher, Bob Olson, was in the process of promoting it. However exciting, that trip was now over and done with and her book completed and published. She had not even picked the topic for her next book as she sat comfortably on her deck chair absorbing the comfortable June summer weather back home as she read the Chicago Tribune for the day’s latest news.

As she scanned the news, she sipped her freshly made lemonade while her two silky terriers relaxed on the terrace just enjoying the sunshine. It was 10:30 am and Maxine had already had her morning coffee earlier while she enjoyed her morning walk along the Lake Michigan pier with the dogs.

Maxine heard the phone ring and smiled over at the dogs as they lifted their heads as if to see what the disturbance was all about. A quick look at the screen told her that Harry Black was on the line. As she answered the phone, memories came back to her of the first day they had met. Harry had been an undercover DEA officer with the Chicago police and while working on a case had projected himself from a moving car as it passed her residential street. He’d landed loudly at the steps of her Superior Street brownstone home. Lying there, bleeding from the shock of his hard landing, Harry looked up to see that his partner Jack Turner had also surprisingly appeared on the scene. And so, after their telling of the details of their undercover police work, the three became friends!

Hello Harry, Maxine said as she picked up the phone. To what do I owe this honor? Not another dangerous case, I hope. We barely got out of Colombia alive when we first met and every time we’ve traveled together since then, you found plenty of trouble to get us into.

And a good morning to you too, Harry laughed as he responded to her greeting. I was just calling to let you know that Jack and I have just been assigned to work with your boyfriend, CIA Agent Riley Perkins, on a drug case that will take us to China. I just wondered if you wanted to travel along with us and get the story. Working a case is always more interesting when you are along.

Well, thank you for that. I actually haven’t talked to Riley for a couple of days, so this is the first I’m hearing of it, Maxine responded.

The Agency sent him in undercover two days ago. He probably has not been allowed to make any U.S. calls from China. It all came about pretty suddenly, and he probably couldn’t even get a phone call in before them stuck him on a private plane.

When I think of China, I think of a lot of worse things going on than drugs, Maxine simply stated. Now I’m curious as to what is so important that the CIA thought it had to interfere over there. And even more curious, I wonder why Riley would call you two for help! It’s always been my understanding that China has its drug problems well under control with some extremely strict penalties for offenders – including the death penalty. And it’s my understanding that President Trump and President Xi Jinping were working pretty closely together to stop the influx of the Fentanyl drug into the United States. Fentanyl was once a drug easily obtainable online from China. Since the two countries’ Presidents got together, China’s Communist Government has taken steps to stop the flood of those drugs. So, why on earth would the U.S. send the CIA to China for a drug problem? Maxine asked.

I’m sure only Riley knows the answer to that, DEA Officer Harry remarked. But whatever it is, Riley asked our Captain if he could borrow us for a few days to sort out a few things. So, we’re flying into the situation rather blind.

What about all the travel restrictions because of the coronavirus? Maxine asked.

Well they are sending us on a private jet paid for by the White House. So, we think it must be something big, Harry replied. Which is why we thought about you. There must be a story for you somewhere in all this.

When are you leaving? Maxine asked.

Tonight, Harry responded. Can you get a dog sitter that quickly?

I’m sure I can. My publisher’s daughter, Cathy Olson, has been house and dog sitting for me for the past few years. I’ll give her a call. I might as well tell her father, Bob, my plans as well. You know how my publisher likes to keep informed as to any of my possible writing opportunities and any trouble I may get myself into, Maxine smiled into the phone.

"We’re leaving from Midway Airport tonight at 7:00 pm. How about we just pick you up on our way, so you don’t have to leave your car at the airport?

Sounds good to me, Maxine replied. After ending the call, she looked at her two Silky dogs and said, Guess you guys are going to be staying with Cathy again my little angels.

The dogs looked up at here as if they perfectly understood every word!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chapter 2

For the rest of the day, Maxine thought about China and what Riley could possibly be up to over there. Her gut told her there was much more to this case than drugs as that was not even a problem the CIA usually got involved with. Her imagination could only run wild as she tried to guess what was really going on! It was all the more reason she had agreed to travel with Harry and Jack to Beijing.

She packed lightly. The month of June was the beginning of the Chinese summer season where temperatures averaged with highs up to 86 degrees. Thankfully, there was no need to pack any heavy winter clothing. Maxine liked to travel light.

Harry had told her that he would book them rooms at the Hilton Beijing which was a 5-star hotel on East 3rd Ring