The Cold of Darkness: A Jerimiah Black Adventure

By David A. King Jr

When hot spots of extreme international crisis happen and the United States government cannot intercede, nor the CIA, NSA, or military special forces cannot be seen helping, only one other completely off-the-books agency can. That agency is none other than Black Reaper. Established during the Nixon presidency, this organization has operated with an unlimited black budget and behind the scenes for decades. They always succeed, even at a great personal cost to their brave agents, both men and women alike. The best of these agents is one Jerimiah Black. He’s young, cocky, brash, but a blunt instrument that does not fail and who could care less about ruffling anyone’s feathers. This new mission may be one even he cannot complete, as both great nations of India and Pakistan stand at the precipice of all-out war over a deadly chemical weapons attack in Goa, India, that has killed over 150,000 innocent men, women, and children. The world waits to see what happens, but one thing is for certain. Even if it means his own life must end, Jerimiah will succeed where nobody else can, one way or another.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662448683

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Game Stays the Same

Thursday morning, June 20, 2019

0530 hours

Undisclosed location, just outside of Lynchburg, Virginia, and the secret black ops base and headquarters of Black Reaper

In the early morning hours, inside the workout center for Black Reaper, covert agent Jerimiah Black hits the heavy bag in the workout facility hard and often, as he always does, six days a week. Sweat pours off his forehead with every kick and hard blow that he throws. His early morning workouts mean the world to him, as does his time alone before other covert agents begin to filter in. The sounds of his blows on the heavy bag fill the facility. Just then, he hears a side door open, and he quickly spins around in an attack posture but quickly eases up when he sees just who it is. In walks, none other than the leader of Black Reaper, retired Colonel Robert Wahl. Good morning, sir, it is most agreeable to see you this morning, sir, states Black.

Am I disturbing you, Jer, I know you like your morning workout privacy, replies Wahl.

No, not at all, sir, I am just surprised to see you here so early, replies Black.

What are you trying to say, that I’m too old to be up this early? questions Wahl. Not at all, sir, replies Black. Easy, Jerimiah, I am just joking, states Wahl.

But I take it that this is just not a social call, sir, correct? questions Black.

You are astute as always, Jer, but no, it is not, replies Wahl to his subordinate.

What’s on your mind, sir? questions Black of his boss.

Want to tell me what the hell went so wrong and sideways in England? MI6 and the PM are not your biggest fans, to say the least right now, and the President and I have been getting an earful from them the last forty-eight hours, explains Wahl. "With all due respect, sir, I got the mission done, and if I upset and bruised a few egos, then so be it. After all, I did save the PM’s life, no thanks to MI6," declares Black.

I understand, Jerimiah, you did get the mission done, but we are to be discreet, unseen, like ghosts. This mission was the direct opposite of what we need to have happened in this instance and day and age, replies Wahl.

I know, sir, and for that, I apologize, but I had to do what I had to do to get this mission done successfully and in the books, sir, and I will not apologize for that, sir, declares Black to Wahl.

One of these days, that ego of yours is going to get your ass into trouble that even I may not be able to get you out of. I hope we are clear on that, mister? questions Wahl.

I completely understand, sir, replies Black. You know why else I am here, don’t you, Jerimiah? states Wahl.

The very bad situation in India, specifically the horrific chemical weapons attack that just happened in Goa, India, states Black. Yes, it is a very tenuous situation at best that could turn into full-scale nuclear war, and that, my friend, cannot be allowed to happen, under any circumstances, declares Wahl.

What do we know about the attack? questions Black. Publicly, it is being blamed on an insurgent group out of Pakistan, answers Wahl.

And behind the scenes, sir? questions Black to Wahl.

That is where it gets less clear, Jerimiah. There was no insurgent group. We believe this attack was by the phantom group known as DEATH, and they are clearly trying to start the world down a path it would not recover from, explains Wahl. I tried to warn you about them years ago with all due respect, Robert, I did. I know I didn’t have evidence then, but it is very clear now that they do indeed exist, and they mean to cause worldwide destruction if not taken out soon, replies Black to Wahl.

The President and I could not be in more agreement with you on that, Jerimiah, replies Wahl.

What are my orders, sir? questions Black.

Simple, I want you on the first plane out of here, over to India, track this group, gather all the intel on this group, and report back to me directly as soon as possible, orders Wahl to Black.

And do I have permission to expel lethal findings on its members going forward, sir? questions Black.

No, not yet. I know you do not want to hear that, but that order comes from our commander in chief himself, Jerimiah, and that is not open to debate, am I clear? questions Wahl to Black. Jerimiah quickly makes a face which does not agree with what he has been just instructed, but he will follow orders, especially from his boss and mentor. I understand, sir, no lethal findings, for now, understood clearly, replies Black back to Wahl.

Thank you for understanding, Jerimiah. Now that doesn’t mean that won’t change going forward, but right now, what the President and I are after is intel on this damn group. They exist, and we know nothing about them, not their size, age, strength, members, or capabilities, states Wahl.

I won’t fail you or the President, sir, I swear it, declares Black. Glad to hear, Jerimiah, now I want you to leave right away, but stop by the weapons pool and get yourself armored up as usual and squared away as soon as possible, orders Wahl of Black. On my way, sir, replies Black as he quickly heads to the men’s locker room to change and shower quickly, and then he will head out of the training facility and over to the weapons pool.

Meanwhile over at the weapons pool target range, Agent Samantha Sam Sager is shooting her personal weapon of choice, her Walter PPK, downrange as she practices her weapons firing. Her aim is deadly accurate, putting every shot virtually center mass, and one into the perfect center of the head outline of her target. In walks Jerimiah Black, and his attention is immediately drawn to Sam’s shooting, among other things. He walks right up behind her and watches her intently. That’s some real nice shooting and a real fine view, Sam, states Jerimiah to Sam.

Really, Jerimiah, could you be any more of a typical male pig. I can feel your eyes on my ass, you know, replies Sam. You know me so well, Sam, replies Jerimiah.

That is not saying much, she says as she gives him a very mean dirty look, which, after a few seconds, turns to a big smile as she puts down her empty gun and she jumps into Jerimiah’s arms for a hug.

You look well, Sam. I take it the last mission went very well? questions Jerimiah.

As well as I had hoped for. I hear you were not so lucky, and the Brits want your you-know-what’s in a sling if you get my meaning, replies Sam.

I am not so worried about a few stiff-ass Brits, especially MI6, the PM, or the queen, for that matter. They will just have to get over it, replies Black to Sam.

One of these days, you are going to get yourself in a hole you will not be able to get out of, you do realize that, Jerimiah? questions Sam.

And, Sam, that is why I always carry my own shovel, jokes Jerimiah.

And yet you laugh when I point that out to you, replies Sam.

I can’t help it. You know it is my coping mechanism, replies Jerimiah.

Believe me, Jer, you know, if we were not coworkers and agents, you would never have gotten the time of day from me, you do know that, right? questions Sam.

That’s just cold, Sam, damn cold, replies Jerimiah to Sam.

You’re lucky to know a gal like me, boasts Sam to Jerimiah. Just then, Jerimiah moves in real close to Sam. Ah, what do you think you’re doing, mister? questions Sam.

Relax and act normal, it isn’t that. Don’t make it obvious, but take a quick gander at those two men who just walked in and took up positions downrange to apparently shoot, states Jerimiah to Sam.

Jerimiah, you do realize this is a black ops government covert, off-the-books site, and other agents and military personnel come and go all the time, around this place, you do realize that, right? questions Sam to Jerimiah.

I get that, Sam, but something is off with these two. For starters, they both look identical, and they have been eyeing me up hard, and you, too, by the way, ever since they walked in, states Jerimiah.

Okay, you do realize twins do exist in the world. It could be just coincidence, replies Sam to Jerimiah.

With all due respect, Sam, I do not believe in coincidences, and to be honest, being paranoid all this time has served me well and has kept me alive also, states Jerimiah to Sam.

Okay, I will give you that one, replies Sam. She covertly looks at both men, and her senses soon tell her that Black is deadly right. Something is definitely not right with these two unknown men on the range. You just had to go and ruin my day, huh, Jer. I hate it when you are right, but yeah, there is something most definitely off about them two, and look at the pistols they are using to shoot downrange, states Sam. Jerimiah quickly looks at both pistols with his eyes and then very quickly identifies them as a pair of Berettas PX4 Storm pistols. Those are definitely not standard-issue carry pistols, not last time I checked, Sam, states Jerimiah.

Again, Jer, I hate it when you are right, and I see by the way they are firing downrange that they are both, without question, more than likely both militarily trained, for sure, replies back Sam.

What do you want to do here? We have other people here on the range, and they cannot be allowed to get caught up in any kind of potential cross fire here. That would be unacceptable, adds Sam to Jerimiah.

I get that, Sam, now get your firearm reloaded and be ready to follow my lead, orders Jerimiah to Sam.

Already reloaded and ready to go, Jer, but wait, where the hell did those two go? questions Sam. Suddenly, the two men have disappeared completely out of sight. Sam has her Walter PPK drawn as Jerimiah has his personal weapon of choice also drawn, his own Browning high-powered single-action semiautomatic 40-caliber pistol. Sam nods to the range master to quickly get everyone out of the range. Jerimiah looks around very worriedly but still cannot lock eyes on the two men, who were, just moments ago, firing their weapons downrange. Suddenly and without warning, nonstop weapons fire erupts from behind the targets down the other end of the weapons range. Jerimiah grabs Sam around her waist and, without hesitation, quickly throws her completely clear over the range check-in counter just as bullets rip through the top part of the range counter, shredding it completely to pieces. The unfortunate base personnel as well as the other agents who didn’t make it out of the range in time are all cut down without hesitation and without mercy. A few screams are heard throughout the range, and then nothing as the gunfire stops. Sam, you okay? questions Jerimiah.

Aside from my ass hurting after you threw me over the counter like that, yeah, I am all good, replies Sam. Sorry, it was either that or you would’ve ate a bullet, and suffice to say, that isn’t happening when I am around, replies Jerimiah. Well then, Jer, I guess it is good I let you stay around the high-class lady that I am, jokes Sam. They are definitely hiding behind the body targets down the other end of the range. They are both clearly crack shots, ’cause I count at least eight bodies down around us, throughout the weapons range, and they are all dead via crack head and center mass body shots, so these two clearly are not playing around, states Jerimiah to Sam. I already got a message out to the Colonel, via text, just after you threw my ass over that counter. He is locking down this place and keeping everyone out for now, states Sam.

Thanks for letting him know, Sam. Now we need to at least capture one of these bastards and find out why they are here! states Jerimiah to Sam.

Meanwhile, behind the body targets downrange, the two highly trained mercenaries sent to kill Jerimiah Black are figuring out as to how to draw Black and Sam back out and into the open so as to eliminate the both of them permanently. Both male mercenaries don’t speak. They just reload and give each other a nod as they continue to scan what is left of the bullet-riddled range looking for their two targets, that being the one and only Jerimiah Black and Samantha Sam Sager.

So, how do you propose we draw them out, Jer, huh? questions Sam.

I have an idea. I know the range master always kept a small supply of explosives just under the counter. I figure I will liberate a few fragmentation grenades, fire a couple downrange, and that should rattle them enough to get them out into the open, and we kill one and take the other down for questioning. Sound good to you, Sam? questions Jerimiah to Sam. I’m ready to roll if you are, Jer, let’s do it, replies Sam. Jerimiah stays down and crawls his way to the other end of the range counter to the hidden stash of fragmentation grenades the range master always kept on hand for a just-in-case emergency, and this is definitely an emergency, to say the least. Just as Jerimiah quickly grabs two fragmentation grenades and pulls the pins, Sam yells out, I’ve got movement from downrange, Jer. Suddenly, both mercenaries race up from downrange firing at point-blank range at Sam’s position. Let’s go, Jer. Whatever the hell you’re going to do, do it now! shouts out Sam. Just then Jerimiah rolls both fragmentation grenades across the floor and downrange at both incoming mercenaries. They barely see them in time and try to jump out of the way. The accompanying combined blasts catch both of them and send them flying hard into the range wall. Jerimiah does not waste any time, and neither does Sam as they both open fire both mercenary attackers. The first one stumbles to his feet firing his Beretta PX4 Storm pistol widely in the direction of Black. His bullets miss badly; however, Jerimiah’s and Sam’s do not. Both Sam’s and Jerimiah’s bullets find their deadly mark. Four bullets rip through the first mercenary attacker’s torso while one final one goes straight through his right eye and blows the complete back of his skull out. He is dead before his lifeless body crashes hard to the ground. The second mercenary looks on in horror as his comrade has been permanently ventilated. He now realizes his bad tactical situation and makes a quick decision to exit the weapons range building as fast as possible. There is a lull in the weapons fire exchange between the lone mercenary and both Sam and Jerimiah. The second mercenary bolts straight out of the weapons range main doors, and as he exits, he opens fire at point-blank range at four Black Reaper agents who are rapidly closing in on his position. He catches all four of the guards and kills all four with lethal and very brutal efficiency. The first two die from single gunshot wounds to the head, the third takes two rounds right through the heart and dies instantly, and the last one takes three shots to the torso and ends up bleeding to death. Once he finishes up with them, he spots a running Humvee nearby with only a driver in it.

Meanwhile back inside the weapons range building, Jerimiah reloads his gun and begins to head toward the main door. Watch your ass, Jerimiah, states Sam to Jerimiah.

Don’t I always. Besides, I need you to contact the Colonel, tell him to warn off all local and states LEOs. I will bring this bastard in alive myself, one way or the other, replies Jerimiah to Sam.

Remember, Jer, alive, or the Colonel is going to kick your ass, replies Sam. As Jerimiah nods back, he then races to the main weapons range doors. He exits them, and something tells him to duck. It is a good thing, too, as five near-perfect shots from the second mercenary barely miss hitting Jerimiah. Mercenary number two pulls open the driver side door and then shoots the Black Reaper agent driver directly in the face, the wounded Black Reaper agent cries out and then falls to the ground directly next to the Humvee. The Black Reaper agent begs for his life, even proclaiming he has a new baby girl at home. The mercenary just smiles and shoots the defenseless agent in the head two more times before climbing into the unmarked Black Reaper Humvee and racing off. Jerimiah races up to his fallen fellow agent, and upon seeing the young agent (cannot be more than twenty-one to twenty-two years of age at most), he becomes enraged. He quickly looks around and spots a jet-black-colored Ducati sports bike and races over and jumps on it. Before starting the bike up, he puts in his earpiece just in time to hear retired Colonel Wahl already in his ear. Jerimiah, can you hear me? Come in, Jerimiah? questions Wahl. Copy, sir, I am here, Colonel. I am on my way off-site to run down that bastard surviving mercenary who just tried to kill me and Sam, replies Jerimiah as he starts up the Ducati and races off the undisclosed Black Reaper black site location, just outside of Lynchburg, Virginia. I want him alive, Jerimiah, I mean it. No lethal finding, run him down, but I want him alive, am I clear, mister? questions Wahl to Jerimiah. Understood, sir, replies Jerimiah back to Wahl. Colonel, keep those local and state LEOs out of this. We do not need any kind of local LEO or civilian casualties, states Jerimiah. Agreed, Jer, be careful, soldier, replies Wahl. The surviving mercenary in the stolen Black Reaper Humvee is able to take the early lead on Jerimiah, but in quick fashion on his Ducati, Jerimiah is able to close the gap with lightning speed. The mercenary sees Jerimiah closing fast on his vehicle, and he quickly turns and fires off three quick shots at Jerimiah, who is now doing near ninety-five miles per hour as he continues to close fast. All three shots miss widely as Jerimiah swerves to dodge them. The Humvee quickly exits onto a major freeway, and the mercenary floors it, pushing the Humvee to its absolute limits. Shit, Jerimiah says to himself. The last thing he wanted to do was to potentially endanger any innocent civilians, he thinks to himself. Jerimiah takes out his Browning high-powered single-action semiautomatic 40-caliber pistol and begins taking well-placed shots at the Humvee’s tires; however, all his shots come up short of their mark. All of a sudden, the Humvee waits till the last second to veer off the highway and races down off the next off-ramp heading right for a local industrial complex park. Dammit, that was close, says Jerimiah to himself as he just misses eating the guardrail and manages to race down the same off-ramp as the mercenary. Update, Jerimiah, calls out the Colonel. That merc has raced down into the Meyers Industrial Complex, sir. No doubt, he wants me to come in after him, so I am going to kindly oblige him, sir, replies Jerimiah to the Colonel. No doubt, it is most definitely a trap, Jerimiah. Be careful and remember, I want him alive, declares the Colonel to Jerimiah. Copy that, sir, I will be in touch, replies Jerimiah.

Jerimiah slowly enters the Meyers Industrial Complex at about five miles per hour on his borrowed Ducati sports bike. He quickly spots the stolen and now wrecked Humvee. He quickly hops off the borrowed Ducati sports bike in a heightened state of readiness, looking around for the second mercenary who nearly killed both him and Sam back at the weapons range. Suddenly a glint of metal catches his eye, and Jerimiah hits the ground fast as two quick shots ring out, both hitting the Ducati, which starts leaking gasoline badly. Jerimiah quickly gets up and makes his way toward the nearest building just as the Ducati explodes in a bright orange fireball. The resulting explosion sends Jerimiah flying and then crashing hard into the side of the building wall, which completely knocks the wind out of him. Just as he gets back to his one knee, he receives a crushing blow to the side of his face, causing his head to bounce hard against the cement surface of the side of the building. Dazed and struggling to get to his feet to defend himself, more blows rain down on him as well as a hard kick to the back of his one knee. The so-called legendary Jerimiah Black, you are nothing, for today you will die at my hands, and remember, death prevails always, declares the unknown mercenary to Black. You talk too damn much, states Jerimiah to the mercenary, and with that momentary distraction, Jerimiah delivers a thunderous and devastating blow to the mercenary’s kidney. This causes him to gasp for air, and both of his knees buckle. Jerimiah follows it up with a powerful uppercut that sends the mercenary crumbling to the ground. Jerimiah wastes no time and proceeds to mount the unknown mercenary and begins to rain down massive bone-crunching blow after blow upon him. He breaks his nose, then fractures his left orbital eye socket, and with his final blow, he even manages to fracture his skull. That’s enough, Jerimiah, stand down, mister, or so help me God, your ass is benched! shouts the Colonel into Jerimiah’s earpiece. The voice of the Colonel snaps him out of his bloodlust-filled rage. Jerimiah stands up and steps away from the unknown mercenary. Just then, he can hear a faint laughter coming from him. You think you have won, huh, you think you have defeated DEATH. Remember, Jerimiah, those close to you like Sam and the Colonel will die, as death prevails always, warns the mercenary, just as he bites down on his false back left molar filled with cyanide, killing him within seconds. No! screams out Jerimiah. Jerimiah, what is it? questions the Colonel. I am sorry, sir, but he wouldn’t be taken alive, states Jerimiah. What the hell do you mean? questions the Colonel. It would appear he had some kind of false tooth in his mouth, and it was full of a most lethal dose of cyanide. I am sorry, sir, apologizes Black to the Colonel. Nothing more you can do, Jer. Get back here to the base and posthaste. I have a cleanup crew coming for that body. Maybe our medical examiner can tell us something, hell, anything about either of these two unknown mercenaries, states the Colonel to Jerimiah. Copy that, sir, I be on my way back as soon as I can, sir. Black out, replies Jerimiah. As Jerimiah stands alone next to the body of the mercenary who, along with his partner, just tried so very hard to kill him and Sam both, and the mercenary’s words still ringing in his ears, he knows in his heart that this was a hit squad team sent by the rogue group known only as DEATH. One way or another, Jerimiah thinks he is going to bring this group down. Somehow and someway, he will get it done, as he always has, does now, and always will.

Chapter 2

The Face of Evil

Thursday morning, June 20, 2019

0830 hours

Undisclosed location, the northern Ural Mountains of Russia, secret hidden base of the covert terrorist organization known only as DEATH

This remote, massive, and unknown base to the rest of the world is some 14.5 million square feet in size. This has been the original main base of operations for the covert terrorist organization known only as DEATH ever since its creation some forty-seven years ago. Nobody knows how many people are stationed here at any one time, and that is deliberate. The base is in a constant state of flux and readiness, with unknown numbers of people coming and going at all hours day or night, every day of the week.

DEATH agent Sorcha Lynn Sarasawa makes her way quickly up the long road that heads up to and directly to the main door of this hidden base. The bitter cold of this area has always appealed to her. She enjoys the solitude. She has been summoned by the head of DEATH itself, Magnus Xander Patton. Magnus has been the unquestioned leader of this organization for exactly twenty years, and he shows no signs of slowing down or giving up control anytime in the future. Sarasawa, through her own personal connections, has done some digging on her own and has come to know that in the last ten years, only two other individuals tried to overthrow Magnus. In both cases, Magnus defeated them, and in each case, each man was punished by being forced to watch as Magnus had each man’s wife burned alive in front of them as well as having each man’s children dismembered while still alive in front of them also, and finally, he had each man lowered into vats of acid while still alive. Magnus clearly has no heart, no conscience, no morals, and clearly no empathy. Sarasawa knows that digging into Magnus’s past could potentially get her killed, but she covers her tracks well and knows when to quit, especially for her own good. She makes her way to the front entrance of the base, only to be greeted by several teams of very heavily armed and unfriendly guards. They do their job and thoroughly check her out from top to bottom. After some thirty minutes, she has been cleared and is allowed to enter the base.

Once inside, a female guard comes up to Sarasawa and hands her a small note. It directs her to quickly settle into her personal quarters and then come directly to Magnus’s main tactical planning room or TPR. She knows it would not be wise to keep Magnus waiting, so she forgoes heading to her private quarters and heads directly to the TPR. The corridors within the massive base are purposely kept dim as this is how Magnus wants it always. She finally makes her way to the main corridor, and at the end of it is Magnus’s TPR. She knocks twice on the door. A voice calls out, Enter. It is Magnus himself. Sarasawa quickly enters the room. As she enters, she can make out not only Magnus but also Dante Michael Ryan and Mina Noelle Pendragon. She has come to know both other agents very well over the years, though she has always detected a noticeable hint of rivalry with Mina, especially with her being Magnus’s lover and all. Welcome, Sorcha, say all three members of DEATH. Thank you for having me here, replies Sarasawa to the gathered group. It is us gathered here who are honored, Sorcha, for your résumé is extensive and yet most impressive, states Magnus. Thank you, sir, I was surprised to get your invitation, states Sarasawa. We are here to discuss the future, our potential new targets, blackmail opportunities, assassinations, white slavery, political extortion, and oh yes, Jerimiah Black, states Magnus. Upon hearing Black’s name, Sorcha’s face turns from a pleasant smile to a downright nasty look of total disdain when it comes to Jerimiah Black and Black Reaper, as she hates both Jerimiah Black and the Black Reaper organization and, above all, else wants to see them both destroyed, preferably at her hands and nobody else’s. I see Jerimiah Black seems to bring out that look of hatred from all my current veteran operatives, says Magnus, laughing. Your last encounter with Black didn’t go quite the way you had foreseen, now did it, Sorcha, states Magnus. No, no, it did not, I had him in a bad way as we were fighting, and at the last second, he delivered a blow to me that I was not expecting, and it unfortunately disabled me, sir, explains Sorcha to Magnus. Disabled you, how, may I ask, Sorcha? questions Magnus. Let’s just say, without going into graphic details, he hit me where no man should never ever, and I mean ever, hit a woman, states a bitter Sorcha to the group. Magnus thinks for a second, then the expression on his face says it all. My, my, that is dirty, replies Magnus. When next I see him, he is going to pay most dear for that one, declares Sorcha to Magnus. May I continue now Magnus? questions Mina Noelle Pendragon. Yes, Mina, please continue, and now, where were we? questions Magnus. The Mexico issue, sir, has grown more troublesome. As a result, the Suarez cartel has taken exactly three hundred hostages as you directly ordered, sir, a hundred children, a hundred women, and a hundred men, explains Mina. What kind of message do you want to send to the people and country of Mexico? They must be taught that the Suarez cartel owns the country and the military, and no more uprisings will be tolerated, states Dante Michael Ryan to the group. Magnus takes a few seconds to think about the situation. He then responds to Mina. Here is what we are going to do with the Mexico situation. Reach out to our man working for the Suarez cartel, advise him this is what the cartel is now going to do, Mina. I want all of the children hostages beheaded, and then I want all of their bodies strung up by the ankles from as many streetlamps all around Mexico City as possible, and I want the remaining heads left rolling in the gutters of Mexico City. Next, I want all of the women hostages raped, beaten, and then tied to poles on the outskirts of Mexico City, and I want them set on fire to be burned to death in public for all to