The Turning: A Kalila Grey Novel, #1

By Andrew Thomas

The Turning is about one woman's journey as she embarks on a new career in four-dimensional espionage and national security with the intriguing, yet lethal, Agency of Adjustments.

 

"An intriguing mix between reality and sci-fi,"

Amazon reader

 

Kalila Grey is a new recruit in an unknown British security organisation and is about to find out if she has the nerve to survive in a government role that few people even know exists.

 

A former social worker with a gift for languages, Kalila begins a new career in what she thinks is national security for the UK government. However, when the true purpose of her role begins to appear she is soon faced with questionable ethics where hidden agendas and part-truths become issues of life or death.

Will Kalila be able to survive a profession in high-stakes homeland security when she discovers what the real purpose is of this secret agency? And who are you meant to trust when you cannot be sure if you could even trust yourself? Kalila is about to find out…

 

The Kalila Grey series is all about complicated politics, dubious motives and explosive action all taking place in locations around the globe. Who are her enemies and who can she trust? Not everything is clear and understandable in an environment that demands immediate action under pressure, and decision-making that offers no room for mistakes.

 

Andrew Thomas is the author of this new take on time travel adventures that take place in a dark and gritty world of international espionage and assassination.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Northern Quill Concepts
• Release date: Jun 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311281470

Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas was born in Middlesbrough, UK, but grew up in Zambia, and South Africa. He returned to England in his twenties to join the Parachute Regiment and served with the Second Battalion for four years. His journey into writing began as a series of blog posts before his imagination led to him writing a series of short stories, which eventually gave birth to the character of Kalila Grey. Andrew has also started collaborating with Dianne Harman, an Amazon charts number one seller and a USA Today Bestselling Author, on two brand new cozy mystery series. Andrew will also be writing about his love of ultra-running, which is how his guide on quitting smoking came to life. Andrew Thomas is also the versatile author of the gritty sci-fi drama, The Kalila Grey series. These enthralling stories explore the workings of a secret British government department that uses time travel to undertake complex missions of national security. But whose needs are they really serving, and why? Expect to see plenty of collaborated cozy mysteries coming your way soon, not to mention more informative non-fiction and further missions from Kalila Grey!

Book preview

Part One

Transcript of recording KGTT01

Female: Are you ready to do this, then?

Reporter: Yup, all set. Everything said from here onwards is being recorded and saved into a secure location on the cloud. Nobody but myself and our mutual friend will know how to access this.

Female: Good. Do you think I’m a nutter who’s gonna spin you a whole lot of fairy tales then?

Reporter: No, not at all. To be honest, I don’t know what to expect. But our shared associate has vouched for you, and he would never do that unless you were the real deal... so here I am.

Female: No, he wouldn’t, would he...

Reporter: So why are you telling me all this then? I mean, I’ve heard rumours, but I just put it down to your usual government conspiracy theories... you know, Princess Di, 911, Coronavirus, the usual stuff...

Female: Oh no, this is real alright. I mean, there is plenty of conspiracy involved if you’re into that sort of thing... we have conspiracy down to a finely tuned art-form. But this is deadly serious. You will be killed if they even suspect that this meeting is taking place. So will I, if it hasn’t already been discussed.

Reporter: So why are we here then?

Female: Self-preservation. This is my whistleblowing insurance policy, if you will. If I get adjusted before I finish what I have to do, then I want the entire house to burn down with me. I have the ammunition, I just need a few tools and a method of delivery that can be trusted. I need a person with no connection to me whatsoever that I can trust with my life.

Reporter: Me...

Female: Exactly. So, can I trust you with the last ten years of my life then? And the rest of it? Because if you ever do me over, then you won’t need to live in fear of them finding you because I’ll kill you myself.

Reporter: I know you will. And yes, you can trust me. I know we don’t know each other, and that what you are going to tell me will be nearly impossible to believe at first, but you need to know that I owe our mutual friend my life. And if he says that you need my help with something, then you have it. Totally and without reservation. I will not betray your trust because of what he did for me in France. That’s all I can offer you, but if you know him as I know him, then you should be able to trust me.

Female: Good. So do you know what you’re doing with this regression-hypnosis then? You’re not gonna brainwash me in my sleep, are you? Make me run around your flat squawking like a chicken?

Reporter: (Laughter) No, not at all! I was practising regressive hypnosis long before I started freelance journalism. I’m a bit of an oddity in this regard. But I know what I’m doing.

Female: We’ll see...

(Pause)

Reporter: Is it like the rumours say it is then?

Female: No. It’s far worse. It messes with your head in ways that you can’t even begin to fathom. I mean, not at first. Initially, it is an amazing experience and you feel extremely privileged to have been selected to work for the Agency. But with time, that feeling changes.

Reporter: Didn’t you see it all as an immensely valuable development in world history? I mean, the stories we started hearing were unbelievable!

Female: Yes, I suppose it can be seen as a service to the world. If it’s used properly. It’s brutal, extremely effective, and it removes evil from society beautifully. But with every single job that you complete, another part of your soul dies inside of you. Until you become like me.

Reporter: Well, this is your show, so whenever you’re ready, the floor’s all yours. Only, I need to ask you something before we both commit to this. Is that okay?

Female: Go on.

Reporter: If you want this to work, you need to bare your soul to me. If you hold back and try to colour the picture a certain way, you will lose all your impact and credibility – I can’t do my job without full honesty about every single detail. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time and mine, and I will walk away from this... deal?

Female: Yeah... it’s a deal.

Reporter: So, just for the record, it is December 2026. What is your name, and why are we here?

Female: My name is Kalila Grey, and I used to work for the British government at the Agency of Adjustments. I pursued criminals and other high-value targets that were a threat to national or global security for a living. And then I killed them. I did this using time travel... and this is my story...

Chapter 1

Adjusted Reality: February 2016

Iwas walking through the packed bar as fast as I could manage, but it was a Friday night and the place was jammed full of drinkers, trendy couples, and students from the local university who were all in search of a good night out. The music was loud, and the bar was bouncing. There was a happy vibe surrounding us, and under any other circumstances, I would usually have a great evening in this sort of venue. It was a pity I was just about to seriously ruin the mood in here. I had to leave as quickly as possible.

The man who was currently with me had his hand placed on the small of my back and was guiding me towards the exit with a firm push, trying to get us both outside before the inevitable chaos that was about to ensue. Although I was trying my best, I was losing focus fast as we moved through the dense pack of customers around us. I felt drunk.

My guide was a short man in his mid-forties, but he was powerful and was weaving a path through the crowds deftly and with no fuss. He had definitely done this before. The man had just fetched me from where I had been sitting before anybody started asking us extremely awkward questions.

The bar we were in was one of those modern, upmarket types in a spacious pedestrianised square dedicated to pubs and restaurants, and was next to the local river which split the town centre in two. The area was well known for its animated nightlife, and as expected, the square and encompassing bars and food joints were rammed full of partygoers, eager to spend their wages or student grants on a boozy night out. This made the location perfect for disappearing into the nightlife while remaining anonymous. A crucial cover for us, because it might be very tricky later on if someone recalled any minor details in a police enquiry. I couldn’t worry about that now though–the primary aim was to exit the bar and get out of the immediate area, back into the safety of the office.

Easier said than done in my current condition, as I was slipping away quickly. I used the huddle of door staff as a marker to aim for, as my wayward legs were feeling very sluggish now. My eyes were also starting to get blurry, and as I continued plodding towards the exit, I felt like I was trying to keep balance on one of those wobble boards you get in a gym. For some reason, I felt unsteady, although I hadn’t drunk that much alcohol that evening. I just thought to myself that once I was outside, the fresh air would revive me a bit.

I can remember approaching the main door of the building and looking vacantly at the security staff. There were four of them, giant hulks of violence for hire, who were controlling admission to the pub. Their demeanours announced to anyone that cared to notice that they were eagerly awaiting an incident to handle. They would soon get their wish.

Suddenly, although not unexpectedly, I heard a woman screaming behind me in the distance, and I could see one of the security guys shouting urgently into his collar microphone and barking commands at the other three bouncers – he must have been informed that their services were finally needed. The group leader and one of his sidekicks abruptly sprung into action while the other two men locked themselves into position at the entrance and started refusing to admit any more customers into the bar. Subtlety was not high on their list of priorities.

Before I knew it, they had manhandled my partner and me out of the way as they flew straight past us and towards the back of the pub. Specifically, towards the table I had just been sitting at, which was huddled away into one of the darkened corners of the premises. The sort of table you would sit at if you had a date and wanted to be out of the way for a kiss and a bit of fun, which was exactly why my date and I had sat there in the first place. Just not the sort of table that you would expect to find the body of a customer drooling at the mouth, struggling to inhale his last few breaths on earth.

I could hear more commotion and I felt a jolt of panic shock my senses, but I knew better than to stop and turn around to gawp at the scene. Leaving quickly and quietly was my only aim in life now... if only I could concentrate more and move a bit quicker...

When we eventually reached the main entrance, we came to a standstill because of the general confusion caused by comers and goers, and my partner took the opportunity to talk to me. He leaned his head forward over my shoulder and spoke directly into my ear.

‘Kalila, move quicker. We need to get out of this location and back to the rendezvous point right away. I’ll sort out the security camera footage tomorrow. But you need to stay conscious and keep moving long enough to get back to the office before you pass out.’

‘Yeah, I’m trying... I just feel like I’m gonna be sick,’ I replied.

‘Well, try and save it till we get outside. And don’t be retching over the bouncers either – that could kinda mess things up a bit. We’re nearly there now, so just don’t cream in yet, alright?’

I just mumbled something back to him as we finally left the crowded bar, passing between the remaining door staff who were still brusquely preventing any further drinkers from entering the premises. My companion nodded to them as we scooted past, although they didn’t seem at all interested in us, as they were too engaged explaining to thirsty punters that they had to go somewhere else for a pint until they had sorted out the ruckus inside. As instructed, I managed not to throw up over the bouncers...

OUTSIDE, THE COOL DURHAM air offered me a few moments respite from the claustrophobic conditions of the bar, but it didn’t last very long, as a wave of nausea soon smothered me entirely, and it became a real battle for me to keep from being sick. I kept listening to my partner’s voice as he continued to command me, but my brain kept tripping up over itself. I couldn’t think straight anymore, and I started getting this overwhelming urge to lie down and sleep. I could barely stand, let alone walk around Durham city centre in the middle of the night.

I knew what I had just done, and where I was meant to be going, it was just very hard to concentrate anymore, as everything had become confusing and hazy in the last few minutes, and I could not work out what was going on coherently anymore. I felt guilty and numb, but I knew that I couldn’t hang around any longer. I also knew that the man pushing me away from the disturbance inside the bar meant me no harm, but I still felt terrified about my safety... Why was that? I couldn’t even remember his name anymore.

‘What’s going on?’ I asked the man who was now dragging me by my arm away from the pub and into the crowds of people outside smoking and moving from bar to bar. Unlike me, they seemed to be having a good night out.

‘Stop talking and start walking. We get caught, and this mission is ruined – now link my arm and come with me. Quickly!’

His instructions were terse, clear, and urgent. I was in no state to argue, so I obeyed him without question. We sped through the busy courtyard and the crowds of late-night revellers, my companion subtly pushing and pulling me through the throngs of people, his grip on my arm never letting up once.

‘Have I done it yet?’ I asked him. My voice didn’t sound like my own. I couldn’t get my words out properly and my mind was twirling in a dizzy haze, but somehow I knew that I had to produce one last performance for the evening before I could switch off.

‘Yes,’ the man answered me. ‘You’ve killed him. And if you don’t start walking much quicker, I’m gonna kill you! So push through the drugs and get a move on. We’re practically there now. I’ll give you a full mission debrief in the morning. Assuming we don’t both get arrested before then...’

‘Drugs? Wha’ dru’s?’ I was fading fast now.

‘Never mind. I’ll tell you tomorrow,’ he said.

The nightlife quietened down as we left the square with its lights and noise, and approached a steep set of stairs that led down to a dark riverside walkway. Below was blackness, and I couldn’t see much of my immediate surroundings. My companion grabbed me by the waist and pulled me in close to his side, which might have looked very caring and supportive to the odd couple that we walked past, but I knew that he was only stopping me from executing a high-rise face plant into the concrete below, as I was now just about totally out of it.

We had not finished our work for the evening just yet, and I knew he wouldn’t allow me to hold things up just because I had somehow fallen ill. He had mentioned drugs earlier, but I didn’t understand what he had meant. I didn’t use any type of substance and was always careful when I was out and...

The little thinking I could manage abruptly ended as I somehow still managed to slip and roll my ankle on the pavement at the bottom of the stairs.

‘Whoa... watch yourself, Kalila! Next time you do a job with me, try wearing a pair of flat shoes. I don’t know why you women insist on wearing high heels on the lash... it’s a good job nobody has started chasing us yet!’

All I could do was grunt out some sort of acknowledgement to the man for stopping me from falling over onto my backside while trying to ignore the searing pain that now engulfed my ankle. We followed the walkway along the side of the river that led towards a budget hotel and a large car park, which had very little activity in it at this time of night. There would probably be some couple getting it on in one of the parked cars later during the evening, but at the moment nobody was hanging around.

I still instinctively huddled my face down into my coat as I had learned on The Program, as I couldn’t remember where any of the city’s CCTV cameras were anymore, or what they could and couldn’t see, even though my partner had briefed me up on them before I had gone live on this operation. I tried to stay ghostlike so I could swiftly vanish upon completion of my assignment.

The man with me had been my backup support on my job tonight, but I just couldn’t work out the finer details at the moment because my head was throbbing and all I wanted to do was sleep. Or vomit. Or both.

Once we had left the lively half of town and walked along to the quieter side, which had no nightlife and where nobody was walking about, I remember relaxing a bit. We were just about safe. I was nearly out on my feet now, but could still feel the steel-like grip of this man who was propelling me forwards, preventing me from stopping and passing out on the pavement. I felt like I knew him quite well, only I still couldn’t remember his name... I didn’t feel like he wanted to hurt me either. In fact, I felt pretty safe with him. I just couldn’t piece together everything that had happened in the last few hours.

And then suddenly we were outside the building that we had begun the evening from. We left the street and started walking up some stairs, heading towards its entrance.

Are we going up into this extensive building? How come we can get inside it at this time of night?

There is a security guard on duty who knows ‘my man’.

Wait... I’ve been here before... I recognise the office area we are in now... the man knows this place too.

The man had a brief conversation with the guard before we proceeded any further, and then he guided me into a lift, which we exited and then walked through a maze of featureless corridors. He finally dragged me into a bright office where he started telling me what to do again.

‘Lie down on the couch and I’ll go get a doss bag for you.’ Again, I did as I was told. The man had a few words with another person in the room who stayed with me, presumably to stop me from passing out and choking on my own tongue. I remember staring up at him and trying to smile while he just looked back at me, bemused. My companion soon returned with a sleeping bag, which he draped over me unceremoniously and made sure I was laid on my side.

‘Good skills Kalila, you can get your head down now. Your brain will be in bits, but you’ll be fine in the morning. We’ll send you back to HQ in the afternoon after you’ve recovered properly. First job in the bag – congratulations girl!’

‘Girl? Wha’ the fu’... I’m norra bloody dog...’

He had a bit of a giggle. ‘No, you’re not.’

I must have passed out after that.

Chapter 2

Unbroken Reality: