No Good Deed: James Acton Thrillers, #30

By J. Robert Kennedy

"James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"

 

*** FROM USA TODAY & MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR J. ROBERT KENNEDY ***

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED

In pre-World War II Austria, nine-year-old Daniel's innocence is shattered when the Nazis march into his homeland unopposed, forcing his Jewish parents to make an impossible choice to save him from an inevitable fate.

 

And today, when Archaeology Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer are invited to a charity event in Vienna by the man who bought her late brother's company years ago, they eagerly accept, for it is the philanthropic event of a lifetime. In a gala to be televised around the world, the billionaire will donate the bulk of his wealth to various causes before he dies.

 

But when the climactic transfer is about to occur, the unthinkable happens.

 

And in the chaos that ensues, the professors see something they shouldn't, and with so much at stake, they decide to take action, once again putting their lives at risk for the sake of others.

 

In No Good Deed, award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy once again takes the reader on a wild ride, mixing history and the problems of today, sure to leave you burning through the pages late into the night. If you enjoy fast-paced adventures in the style of Dan Brown, Clive Cussler, and James Rollins, then you'll love this thrilling tale of intrigue.

Get your copy of No Good Deed now, and join the race to bring to justice those responsible for one of the most audacious thefts in history.

 

 

About the James Acton Thrillers:

★★★★★ "James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"

Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without having read any other installments.

★★★★★ "Non-stop action that is impossible to put down."

The James Acton Thrillers series and its spin-offs, the Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers and the Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers, have sold over one million copies. If you love non-stop action and intrigue with a healthy dose of humor, try James Acton today!

★★★★★ "A great blend of history and current headlines."

• Language: English
• Publisher: UnderMill Press
• Release date: Apr 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393978572

J. Robert Kennedy

With millions of books sold, award-winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has been ranked by Amazon as the #1 Bestselling Action Adventure novelist based upon combined sales. He is a full-time writer and the author of over seventy international bestsellers including the smash hit James Acton Thrillers.

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Award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has sold over one million books, and is now giving some away for free! Join The Insider’s Club to be notified when new books are released, and as a thank you, get his 5 book Starter Library for free along with other bonus materials available nowhere else!

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BOOKS BY J. ROBERT KENNEDY

* Also available in audio

The Templar Detective Thrillers

The Templar Detective

The Templar Detective and the Parisian Adulteress

The Templar Detective and the Sergeant's Secret

The Templar Detective and the Unholy Exorcist

The Templar Detective and the Code Breaker

The Templar Detective and the Black Scourge

The Templar Detective and the Lost Children

The James Acton Thrillers

The Protocol *

Brass Monkey *

Broken Dove

The Templar’s Relic

Flags of Sin

The Arab Fall

The Circle of Eight

The Venice Code

Pompeii’s Ghosts

Amazon Burning

The Riddle

Blood Relics

Sins of the Titanic

Saint Peter’s Soldiers

The Thirteenth Legion

Raging Sun

Wages of Sin

Wrath of the Gods

The Templar’s Revenge

The Nazi’s Engineer

Atlantis Lost

The Cylon Curse

The Viking Deception

Keepers of the Lost Ark

The Tomb of Genghis Khan

The Manila Deception

The Fourth Bible

Embassy of the Empire

Armageddon

No Good Deed

The Last Soviet

The Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers

Rogue Operator *

Containment Failure *

Cold Warriors *

Death to America

Black Widow

The Agenda

Retribution

State Sanctioned

Extraordinary Rendition

Red Eagle

The Messenger

The Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers

Payback

Infidels

The Lazarus Moment

Kill Chain

Forgotten

The Cuban Incident

The Detective Shakespeare Mysteries

Depraved Difference

Tick Tock

The Redeemer

The Kriminalinspektor Wolfgang Vogel Mysteries

The Colonel’s Wife

Sins of the Child

Zander Varga, Vampire Detective Series

The Turned

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

The Novel

Preface

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

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Acknowledgments

Sample of Next Book

Don't Miss Out!

Thank You!

About the Author

Also by the Author

For Brian Fraser.

The CFRA Nation will miss you.

In the past, millions of German men shed their blood for this Reich. How merciful a fate to be allowed to create this Reich today without a suffering. Now, rise, German Volk, subscribe to it, hold it tightly in your hands! I wish to thank Him who allowed me to return to my homeland so that I could return it to my German Reich! May every German realize the importance of the hour tomorrow, assess it and then bow his head in reverence before the will of the Almighty who has wrought this miracle in all of us within these past few weeks.

Adolf Hitler, addressing the annexation of Austria.

Vienna, Austria, April 9, 1938

The man who dies thus rich, dies disgraced.

Andrew Carnegie

1889

PREFACE

In June 2010, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, two of the world’s richest people, started a campaign called The Giving Pledge. It was meant to encourage the world’s wealthiest to donate the bulk of their fortunes to charities and other philanthropic causes, either before or after their deaths.

As of this writing, there are 220 pledgers from 25 countries, who have committed to donating over $600 billion. It’s a massive commitment, and if followed through, could change the lives of millions if not billions of people around the world.

It would also represent one of the greatest transfers of wealth in history.

Many laud the effort, though some oppose it. All have their reasons, but when billions are involved, the question begs to be asked.

How far would someone go to get their share?

Especially when they feel justified in taking it.

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Grieshof Alley

Vienna, Austria

Present Day

Officer Heike Karner lazily guided the squad car toward the service yard. Her senior partner had noticed a wobble toward the end of their shift, and she had volunteered to take their unit to the garage. It meant an extra hour added to her shift, but what did that matter? Her husband was with the children at his parents’ place for the weekend. She was supposed to have gone with them, but then everyone was called in because of the charity event and the added security required. She hadn’t minded. Her in-laws weren’t big fans of hers, not since she had become a police officer, and she could use the overtime to pay down some bills.

Everything seemed more expensive these days. If inflation were running at 2% a year, why did everything that mattered seem to be going up by ten? Her father was convinced it was a government conspiracy. If they admitted what the actual inflation rate was, then all the pensions and government programs indexed to it would go up by more than they could afford.

Her eyes were burning from fatigue when the calls started coming in about the detonations. She wasn’t sure what to do. She was off duty, her car might have a problem, and she was well away from the action. She had radioed in and was ordered to return the vehicle then report back to her station in case she was needed.

A black SUV with tinted windows blasted through the intersection. She glanced up to see the traffic light was red, though so was hers, suggesting the light had just changed. She could forgive that at this time of night, but he had to be doing double the speed limit, and that was too damn dangerous.

She eased out into the intersection, checking to the left. Another SUV was heading toward her, but there was plenty of space and they had a red light. She gunned the engine and took off in pursuit. She reached over and threw on her lights and sirens, then radioed in the call. She received a quick acknowledgment and nothing more. They were obviously too busy dealing with whatever was happening in the city. From the bits and pieces on the radio, it would appear her family being away for the weekend was fortuitous timing.

Something caught her attention and she glanced in her rearview mirror. There was another vehicle behind her, closing in, its lights flashing. She rolled her window down slightly and the blaring of a horn could clearly be heard.

What the hell is that all about?

She stared ahead at the speeder, still driving dangerously, but now, so was the person behind her, and they appeared to be trying to get her attention. She cursed. She was chasing a reckless driver, though this person could urgently need help. She weighed her options and decided she had only one choice. She radioed in that she was breaking off the pursuit, then pulled her vehicle over to the side, putting it in Park and throwing open the door. She directed them to pull over and the SUV stopped behind her unit. The engine shut off and its tinted windows dropped.

Her heart rate picked up a few beats as she gripped her pistol, still in its holster. What has you chasing down a police cruiser?

A woman leaned out the window, speaking English. I’m sorry, we had to get your attention.

Why?

The vehicle you’re pursuing is involved in the bombings, and there are armed men inside. They would have shot you if you stopped them.

Heike’s eyes bulged and she paused for a moment. Tires squealed ahead and a man in the passenger seat pointed.

Call for back-up!

She spun and reached for her radio as the vehicle she had been pursuing returned then came to a halt, all the doors opening. Four men stepped out with weapons, and the passenger shouted, Get down!

Gunfire erupted and something slammed into Heike’s shoulder, sending her to the ground in a heap of pain. As the bullets continued, she dragged herself behind her cruiser when the passenger grabbed her and pulled her the rest of the way. He reached for her gun and she panicked, struggling to fight him off, but she was rapidly losing strength and couldn’t resist when he pressed her back down with a hand to her chest.

I’m here to help you.

The woman arrived a moment later and hauled her by her vest, pulling her farther from the gunfire as the man retreated along with them, now in possession of her weapon, but holding fire.

Ammo, he whispered.

Heike had to trust them. She had no choice. She tapped one of her pockets and the woman retrieved her two spare magazines, handing them to the man.

Do you have a backup weapon? she asked.

This isn’t America.

Three of them are coming. They’re going to try to flank us, said the man.

Heike closed her eyes. This was it. She was going to die. She reached up and grabbed the woman’s arm, opening her eyes and staring at her. Leave me. Save yourselves.

The woman clasped her hand. That’s not who we are, dear. She pulled the baton off Heike’s belt and extended it, crouching behind the rear bumper.

Then the unthinkable happened. The man engaged the gunmen, expertly, rapidly firing in bursts of two shots. One’s coming around the front, he warned, and the woman readied the baton.

Just who are you people? gasped Heike. Are you law enforcement?

No, dear. We’re archaeologists. I’m Laura Palmer, and this is my husband, James Acton.

Archaeologists? What the hell kind of archaeologists, dressed as if they were going to some fancy function, act like soldiers?

Her eyes bulged as she realized what was going on. They must have been at the charity gala that was attacked, and these assailants must be the terrorists responsible for the bombings across her city.

The man leaned out to fire when another torrent of gunfire erupted, unlike anything she had ever heard. He cried out and retreated, shaking his now empty hand. A man appeared with the most terrifying weapon she had ever seen, aiming it at them.

Drop the weapon, the man ordered, and the woman dropped the baton. She indicated Heike.

She needs medical attention.

The man with the gun raised it toward Heike and she opened her mouth to scream as the trigger squeezed, leaving a husband without a wife, two children without a mother, and a wounded city without one of its selfless defenders.

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Vienna, Austria

March 9, 1938

"I’m scared."

Those two words out of all spoken finally gained Daniel’s attention. The toy car he had been racing around the oval patterned rug froze as he listened to the conversation between his mother and father in the next room. Something was going on. What, he didn’t know, but everyone was on edge. When his father had friends visiting, they would be in his office for hours, the conversations sometimes whispered, other times heated. His mother had cried more in the past several weeks than he had ever known her to, and it was disturbing, but the bits and pieces he could remember being said meant nothing to him, so he ignored it.

His mother and father would take care of it.

They always did.

He was nine years old. The world’s troubles were nothing to him, but this was the first time he had heard either of them say they were scared. If his mother were, then something terrible was going on.

I’m scared too, said his father.

Tears welled in Daniel’s eyes. If his father were scared, something truly horrible must be happening, for his father wasn’t afraid of anything. He was the strongest man he knew.

He crept closer to the door, his toy forgotten, the conversation more interesting than any handcrafted car.

His father continued. We’re all scared, but we have to keep calm in order to think straight.

Maybe we’re just panicking over nothing. Maybe it won’t happen.

The referendum has been announced. This is happening. It’s inevitable, even if the government doesn’t want it to happen. There’s no stopping that man.

Do we know when?

Daniel crept a little farther ahead, peering around the corner of the door, just catching sight of his parents sitting in the drawing room, facing each other.

His father shook his head. The referendum is in four days. How long after that, I don’t know, but it will be soon. Days, maybe weeks, but definitely not months. Peter says shipments of flags have already arrived for the occasion and are being distributed throughout the country.

His mother’s chin dropped to her chest and she closed her eyes. I can’t believe this is happening. She sniffed. What are we going to do? You know how they feel about us here. In Germany, it’s even worse. If they bring their hatred with them, how will we survive?

I’ve already put all my business affairs in order, and I’ve handed all my cases to other partners in the firm. I’ve begun liquidating as many of our assets as I can without raising suspicions. If they think we’re going to run, we’ll be the first they come after. We can’t trust anyone anymore.

His mother’s eyes widened in shock. Do you really think someone at the firm would betray us?

His father grunted. We’re Jewish. They’ve barely tolerated me this long. I’m there just to get the Jewish clientele. Once the Nazis arrive, I fear that clientele will be rounded up and they’ll no longer need my services. Most of my coworkers will be happy to hand me over.

His mother wailed, falling into his father’s arms. But these people are supposed to be our friends!

He hugged her, patting her head. You’re old enough to know by now that the only real friend a Jew ever has is another Jew. He released his embrace and handed her his handkerchief. She dabbed her eyes dry as she sniffled.

What are we going to do? she finally asked.

He shook his head slowly. I don’t know. There’s really nowhere for us to go. It’s too late. The border is already closed, probably to stop people like us from fleeing. You know they’ve rejected our application to leave the country every time I’ve applied. I don’t know why, but I must be on a list for some reason.

Could we hide somewhere?

And just where would you propose we hide? Our Jewish friends are just as much a target as we are, and none of our Austrian friends have offered to help, nor can we risk asking them.

We could rent a room somewhere. An apartment under different names.

And when the money runs out, or they ask us for our identification papers?

Well, we can’t just do nothing. We have to at least try.

I know, my dear, but I just don’t know what we can do. Once the Nazis are here…

His mother looked away. I’ve heard stories about how they treat Jews. They’re horrible. They’re destroying Jewish businesses, beating Jews in the street, blaming us for everything from the Depression to the common cold. If you can’t work, then we’ll starve, we’ll lose our home, and we’ll need to live off the charity of others in a country where there is no charity for people like us. And the prospects of being beaten, raped, or murdered by some Nazi in a black SS uniform is not a future I want to be a part of.

What are you saying? asked his father, his voice barely a whisper.

His mother stared into his father’s eyes, tears flowing freely. I’m saying there’s another way.

You don’t mean…

Can you think of a better way, a way that protects us all from the horrors to come?

His father’s shoulders slumped. No.

Will you take care of it?

I’ll talk to Peter. He held up a finger. But we use it only as a last resort. Only if it looks like the worst is going to happen. Agreed?

His mother responded with a trembling nod, her eyes closed, her shoulders shaking. They held each other tight, and Daniel retreated back into the dining room where he had been playing, wondering what his parents had just agreed to do.

And what a Nazi was.

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Acton/Palmer Residence

St. Paul, Maryland

Present Day, Four Weeks Earlier

Archaeology Professor Laura Palmer sat curled up in her favorite chair as her husband, James Acton, prepared the ingredients for taco night with Tommy Granger. Tommy’s girlfriend, Mai Trinh, sat in the corner of the couch, stretching, wincing each time.

What’s with you today? asked Laura.

Mai rolled her neck. I started Vovinam classes last night.

James’ knife paused. Vovinam? What’s that?

It’s a Vietnamese martial art. I didn’t know there was a school in the area, but I found one a couple of weeks ago, so I signed up and started last night. I used to do it when I was a kid, but I haven’t even thought of it in years. I figured it might be a good idea to learn some self-defense techniques, considering what you two are always getting us into. She flashed a smile.

Laura regarded the young woman who had helped save their lives in Vietnam, paying a very high price, now exiled to the United States. But she had embraced her new life, obtained her citizenship, and now lived with Tommy, a young man who absolutely adored her.

James returned to slicing a green pepper, glancing over at Tommy. Are you taking the lessons as well?

Tommy shook his head. No. If I did, I wouldn’t have an excuse for when she kicked my ass.

James laughed. Your choice. But I will say that some of the best times Laura and I have had together have been during training, and when you’re all done and sore all over, nothing beats rubbing each other down. His eyebrows bobbed suggestively.

Laura gave him a look. Behave, James.

Who? Me?

Tommy smiled then looked at Mai. Maybe I should join you.

She perked up at this development. That would be wonderful! I think you’d really enjoy it. It’s tough, especially at first, but once you get in shape, it’s a lot of fun.

Tommy groaned. In shape? This is starting to sound more and more like exercise.

James stared at him. What did you think it was, a video game?

Tommy blushed then offered a weak rebuttal. Who? Me?

James shook his head. Dude, you gotta get your head out from behind a screen every once in a while.

Laura’s phone vibrated with a message. She brought up the email and gasped at who it was from.

James, concerned, put down his knife, rounding the kitchen island. What is it?

It’s an email from Mr. Meitner.

Who?

You know, the founder of Meitner Telecom, the company that bought out my brother’s.

Oh. Does he want his money back?

Tommy snickered and fist bumps were exchanged between him and her husband. She finished reading the message then filled in her wisecracking partner. He’s inviting us to a charity event in Vienna. Apparently, he’s giving away the bulk of his fortune before he dies.

Just how much is that fortune?

Laura Googled the man’s name. Over twenty billion, according to this.

Tommy whistled. Do you think he’d donate to the Granger-Trinh House Down Payment Fund?

Laura put her phone down. You two are saving for a house?

Mai nodded. We don’t want to pay rent forever, so we’ve started setting a little bit aside each month. It’s not much, obviously, but it’s a start. Maybe in five or ten years, we’ll have enough.

Laura glanced at James, who gave her a surreptitious wink. She leaned toward Mai. If you two want to buy a house, then we’ll give you the down payment.

Tommy’s jaw dropped. Oh my God, thank you!

Mai’s eyes shot wide. Hell no!

Laura almost laughed at the reactions, the vernacular she would normally expect from each of them swapped. Why not?

You two have done too much for us already. That’s just too much.

Laura pointed at the phone. You do know how much that man paid for my brother’s company, don’t you? And that I inherited everything when he died?

Mai shook her head. No, I don’t know, though I imagine it was a lot.

It was. It’s enough that few can understand what it’s like to have the fortune we do, and nothing gives us greater pleasure than to help others, especially our friends. Now, if we thought for a moment you two were irresponsible and couldn’t afford your own home merely because you’re squandering your money, then we wouldn’t make the offer. But we know you. You are two young, hard-working adults who have brought so much joy to our lives, that we would love to do this for you.

Mai looked over at Tommy, his mouth still agape. He shrugged at her as James reached over and pushed Tommy’s jaw up, the teeth clicking in the silence. Mai’s shoulders slumped, her voice dropping to barely a whisper. I don’t know what to say.

You say, ‘thank you!’ cried Tommy. You say, ‘thank you so much!’

Tears rolled down Mai’s cheeks. You have no idea what this means to us, what it means to me. I never thought I’d own my own home. I always figured I’d just be living with my father until he died, and then whatever family I had would continue in the same space we had for generations. She sighed. I just wish my family could be here with us. I know my mother is looking down upon us, thanking God that I found you. Not only have you two become two of the best friends I’ve ever had, you’ve taken care of me like… She hesitated, her chin dropping to her chest and her voice cracking. Like you were my parents.

Laura burst into tears and held out her arms. Mai bolted from her seat, rushing into them. They hugged each other hard, both sobbing. You know we think of you as our daughter, and we’d do anything for you. We love you. She glanced over at Tommy, whose eyes glistened. We love both of you.

James punched Tommy on the shoulder. I’d say like a son, but it would come off as incestuous, since you’d be boinking your sister.

Tommy’s eyes shot wide. Huh, I never thought of that.

James squeezed the back of Tommy’s neck, giving him a shake.

Laura let go of Mai and grabbed a tissue from the end table, handing it to the young woman, then pulling one for herself. Noses were blown, eyes were wiped, and the moment of bonding continued in silence until the timer rang on the oven, signaling the chicken breasts were ready. Awkward giggles and smiles were exchanged as the moment was ended without anyone having to be the first to do so. James pulled the steaming tray out of the oven, then set the meat on the stovetop to allow it to rest.

So, are we going to this charity event? he