It’s a Long, Long Way. . . .

By Richard Jay ll

Louis Garbo fled the Middle East with a bounty on his head because of his identity and sniping operations were known. The shadow government operation he’d worked for gave him a new identity and a sequestered lifestyle.
After two years, he was suddenly called upon to do another hit on Mustique Island. The target was a Saudi prince and Garbo’s secret arrival on Mustique was arranged. He had to survey the island in stealth mode to find a suitable site for his one shot and to acquire the sustaining water and food needed.
When the shot was made, survival would be dependent on his wit, as no aid was possible in the secret operation. Saudi security patrols and island police would be covering the island in a search for the sniper.
Beatrice, the lovely romantic, was ordered to assist in his preparation, disobeyed orders. She follows Garbo to Mustique in an attempt to help if the hit was made.
A chance romance creates a break in the tale while Garbo silently tries to avoid capture and escape the island.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781984578969

Richard Jay ll

Richard Jay II is living an active life. After serving in WWII, he retired after 45 years as President of manufacturing firm and then proceeded to build and fly two full sized experimental aircraft. He then returned to his hobby of writing fiction. He feels that any tale of value should bring some new information on to the scene. Logan’s League is his fifth novel of action and drama. A list of his other contemporary novels are available at Xlibris or on Kindle: The Ferrari Vendetta Stalking the Evil Eye The Strange Incident at Quail Center Lady Bane

Book preview

IT’S A LONG,

LONG WAY… .

Richard Jay ll

Copyright © 2020 by Richard Jay ll.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 05/11/2020

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 1

Years ago, soon after his inauguration, President Ford signed an executive Order # 118905 in Feb. 1976 that stated: U.S. personnel will no longer engage in or conspire to commit foreign political assassinations. The directive remains in place to this date, but it has carried little weight ever since. Clandestine operations are still being secretly funded and carried out, presidential postures aside.

Louis Garbo knocked on the door of 87-C, the residence of Mrs. B. Coker. Her was overseer of the 92 flats of the Gracie Rest complex. He arranged for electrical or plumbing contractors to handle system repairs. He tended to minor complaints when possible.

A distraught lady, Mrs. Coker, opened the door and exclaimed, It’s about time Mr. Garbo, I called about an hour ago.

I’m sorry. I just read your voice message. I was out for breakfast. What is your problem Mrs. Coker?

That was rather late in the day for breakfast… no matter. I’ve had an emergency and had to ask Mrs. Shultz to use her bathroom as I couldn’t open the door to my own. You can imagine the stress I was under with a pressing need and my bathroom door was locked. For the life of me, I don’t know how that occurred. I hope you can get the door opened.

I’ll do my best. In a few moments he stood before the door and tried the knob with no result. He reached up and ran his fingers along the wooden frame trim above the door. He showed his clean fingers to Mrs. C. I have to complement you on your house cleaning.

I don’t have much else to do so I clean and dust twice a week.

A commendable pursuit…no doubt you are a very good cook also. Do you make shish kabob?

Oh, the best, but what does this have to do with my obstinate door?

Please get me one of your shish kebab skewers and you will see.

Garbo turned on the hall light and waited. The skewer she brought was the simple one, made of round wire. He inserted the point into the small hole in the knob and a metal click was heard. Your door is now unlocked, try it.

The door opened. Amazing. Please explain the mumbo jumbo about cleaning.

When a bath door is installed the carpenter must leave a small rod on the ledge above the door for emergency use. The cleaning process often displaces it and it is lost."

Why was the door locked?

You must have accidentally pushed the button upon leaving the room last time.

My grateful thanks Mr. Garbo. When I make shish kebab, I’ll invite you.

Oh, I couldn’t accept…company rules, but thank you.

Upon return to his supervisors flat he snagged a longnecked brew from the fridge. He uncapped it and was about to claim his recliner chair when he noticed the small envelope that had been slipped under his door.

After a sip of beer, he slit open the plain envelope expecting a request for a donation to help fund some event in the building, but was brought up short as the envelope contained a single sheet of green notepaper. A chill ran down his spine as this was the form he’d always received orders in.

The note had two lines and was signed W.

Greetings G, has boredom attacked?

A solution is near. 2 at loc. 5, W.

The translation of a typical message from W read, meeting tomorrow, area 5. 10:00 pm. (always at ten) The area 5 is in a grid marked on a N.Y.C map.

Garbo never expected to hear from W again in his forced retirement. He’d been roving the world in his capacity of contract sniper for a clandestine government organization. He was an independent operator paid by the contract. His world collapsed in Afghanistan as he was identified by a surveillance camera and narrowly escaped. A wild ride through the desert in a stolen vehicle to an extraction point by helicopter brought him to safety and eventually to the United States. A price was now on his head so he was given the safe house employment at Gracie Rest where as manager his Puerto Rican skin tones blended well. He had three rooms on the premises and needed not venture far as the street level of Gracie Rest had a full complement of stores and restaurants.

Garbo had no choice but to accede to the request of a meeting with W. If he declined, his employment and safety would be removed. The monthly stipend here was generous and at risk. His sniper contract payments were very large but were secreted away in a numbered account and would be difficult to access while on the run.

He finished the beer and opened another, it would be a long night considering what would be required of him, certainly not returning to Arab countries. He turned on the TV and watched sports reruns and a movie until he dozed off.

In the morning he made the usual inspection rounds of the complex. Children with back packs were off to school and waved to him. He stopped for donuts and coffee and then remained on call for the rest of the day.

In the evening Garbo dressed in faded Jeans, a denim shirt. His worn leather jacket, Adidas and Chicago Bears logo cap completed his unremarkable appearance as he began walking the two miles to the bus depot that was in area 5. Owning a car or riding public transportation were avoided as they gave away too much information. Tradecraft methods had rules as now he checked around him as he walked along. He was secure. The time was 9:55.

The bus depot was the obvious place to check in area 5. He spent ten minutes inside the press of travelers in the waiting room and the washroom. He received no signal of any kind so he moved out of the depot. Precise locations were never written down. The parking garage next door was a possibility. He walked into level one and then up to level two with no result. As he entered level three a car flashed its headlight twice at him. He approached cautiously to the open door of a limo with his hand on the gun in his jacket pocket. A voice he recognized said, What took you so long?

I’m a little out of practice. It’s been three years Garbo took the soft leather seat next to W and closed the door. Why are you disturbing my well-earned retirement?

Move out Jax. W addressed his driver. Garbo, you’re retired when I say you are. You’re needed here for a contract.

I always worked in the middle east, why here?

Not precisely here but in this hemisphere. You have the look and the skills that are required for the job. He ran the connecting glass up to isolate the driver. I’ll explain the problem: The legislator who supplies the funds for my organization has a problem. His wife is a very active leader in the international women’s rights organization. She is very angry that the advances made in Saudi Arabia will be lost very soon.

So what, Garbo interrupted.

"Save the stupid remarks. The Saudi king has a terminal disease and with only a few months to live, he has given in to the pressure from his four wives. Women in his kingdom have been given the right to drive autos and to speak in public on children’s issues.

However, a sad change will take place when the King dies. The eldest son, the Crown Prince, will take over. He favors the Muslim traditions, so the old ways will return. To negate this result it will be necessary to eliminate the Prince.

Wait, with four wives there must be other sons to follow their brother’s sentiments.

"On the contrary. The other two sons attended UCLA and have adopted American attitudes…so take my word this operation must be completed. However, the U.S. must not be suspected of having any part in this hit. That would be totally unacceptable as the Saudis are deep pocket allies. St.Vincent in the Grenadines where his Jet can be accommodated. He will commute from there to Mustique Island for an inspection tour in consideration of buying the private island from the wealthy owners. We assume that the Prince wants a presence in the Grenadines suitable for development. A foot in the door of the West, so to speak.

"My people have studied maps and satellite photos and come up with a basic plan. Mustique has a short runway so the Prince’s arrival would be by small commuter plane or by ocean cruiser. Saudi security people will probably raise a fuss over a small plane. Best guess is that the Prince will arrive by boat. You will be advised by sat phone of the schedule.

"Your transport will be by air to Canouan Isle because it has a runway that accommodates a Gulfstream G 280 arrival there after dark. From there a fishing cruiser will take you close to Mustique at night.

What do you mean close? I have to swim in? Garbo moaned.

The seal training in your youth will come in handy.

That was twenty-five years ago. My record of Seal service was excised. How did you find it?

"Our information sources are very good. To continue; you will swim ashore with your floating equipment bag to a secluded rocky area. There may be small caverns to use as a base if wildlife allows it. You’ll be notified by sat phone of the Prince’s arrival so you can get in position with the Russian sniper rifle to make the shot…Before you complain we’ll set you up at the range for orientation and firing of the rifle at long range. ‘B’ a female member of our group will deliver the rifle to you later tonight. She will take you to the range tomorrow and the day after if you require it. I’ll get a report of your marksmanship.

"On D day ‘B’