Spy Hunter

By Lauren VanBeek

Spy Hunter is an exciting thriller about a young secret agent and his beloved partner, a trained Jack Russell terrier named Dahlia. Dahlia and Jamie have just received the most difficult mission of their careers. Both of Jamie’s adoptive brothers have gone missing, and one is suspected of treason against the government. Jamie and Dahlia are assigned to hunt down and capture Jamie's brother at any cost, but Jamie knows his brother would never betray their country. If he is missing, that means he is in danger and needs help.

Carter is an eighteen-year-old Bible smuggler. To his shock he is arrested without cause or explanation while at his home in Canada. Carter knows that with God’s help he has the strength to overcome the challenges ahead, but why was he taken? How will he survive when the most aggressive inmate decides that the prison would be better off without Carter in it?

When Jamie and Carter find themselves under attack by the same dangerous rogue spy, will they be able to survive the evil that hunts them and find a way to save their friends and stop the rising threat? First, they must learn to trust one another and to rely on God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: May 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781489744340

Lauren VanBeek

Lauren VanBeek is a Christian fiction author. Her previous works include Jack: The Ice Dog and Jack: The Jack Frost Festival. She is an avid animal lover as well as a great fan of mysteries. When not writing, Lauren can be found kayaking, exploring abandoned buildings, traveling with her dog Phallen, or reading from one of the novels stacked in random piles on her floor with her Jack Russell sitting impatiently somewhere close by.

Book preview

Spy Hunter

LAUREN VANBEEK

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Copyright © 2023 Lauren VanBeek.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

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LifeRich Publishing

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-4433-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4434-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022918100

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 05/18/2023

Contents

Enter Dahlia

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About the Author

Enter Dahlia

Whimpers emerged from a shallow box, and I realized that the sound was coming from me. It had been over a day since I had last eaten, which was far too long for a three-week-old puppy to go without food. I had been left a small tin of milk and had eaten it the day before; now I had nothing left. The dark street was illuminated unnaturally by several sets of neon lights. My eyes had opened two days ago, just in time for me to see the eyes of the monster—which I now know to have been the taillights of a car—disappear in the distance. The sounds were all strange, the smells made me sick, and the light hurt my eyes, but they were gone, and no one cared, or so I thought. God saw me being dumped like unwanted refuse in a dank alleyway near West Edmonton Mall. He heard me whimper as cold and fear settled in.

I had been fighting to get out of my box. My body barely squirmed when I told it to run or jump. I whined and grunted as I fought to be stronger than the weak creature I was at that moment. I finally managed to break the side of the box down enough with my constant barrage of scraping and climbing that I could poke my head over the side and see straight across the litter-coated alleyway to the road beyond. Before all I could see were the top halves of tall things that walked and part of the monsters that were called cars as they drove by. If I looked the other way, I could see what I now know to be fire escapes and the shine off of windows as the small fragments of sun caused them to reflect like square stars. If anyone in those windows had noticed me, they hadn’t cared enough to help. Past that was nothing but walls. But now I could see the bottom halves of the walking trees, which of course were people, and the shrieking feet of the cars. I whimpered some more as I tried to climb over the side of the box. Suddenly the edge gave way completely and my rear tumbled over my head and exited the box before the rest of me. I braced for pain as I landed, but I found none; instead my back lay against softness and string as I looked up into a pair of eyes that were the greenest green I had ever known. Blond fur flopped over the eyes, and something showed gentleness on the face of this strange creature. He bent down and cupped his hands under me, lifting me up off of his shoes. Oops, you almost landed an intense wipeout didn’t you, kid?

At the time, I didn’t understand his words, because I hadn’t been around people much, but somehow I knew they meant me no harm. He took me into one hand, and my whole body fit there snugly as he stroked me with a finger. Suddenly my body did something completely foreign to me; it began to wag my tail. I had never wagged my tail before that I could remember; it felt as though my heart had hold of it and was sliding it back and forth, causing it to brush the man’s hand. Then he made a sound that took away all of my fear and sadness. He laughed. Then he tucked me gently under one side of his coat, and I could feel his heartbeat. It made me sleepy like my mom’s heartbeat used to before I was taken away from her. His warmth eased its way into my bones, and I fell asleep in his cupped hand.

The next time I woke up, I was in a basket, covered with blankets. The man saw I was awake and came over to me. He smiled and touched my ears gently before going and getting a funny thing with another funny thing on the end. He poked the funny thing at my mouth, and I whined. He poked again, and I turned my head away. Then he put some of what was in the funny thing on his finger and put it against my lips. I licked it to make it go away and then realized that it was milk! I licked all of it off of the man’s finger and then took the end of the funny thing in my mouth. For some reason, it reminded me of my mom, and I cried as I ate my fill of the milk. The man stroked me with his finger again, and I knew he was trying to make me feel better. I finished eating, and a knock sounded at the door. The man opened it, and a woman walked in. She smelled odd, like rotten milk or something. She touched me gently too, and the way she rubbed my neck made me happy, so I decided to like her. The way she spoke to the man sounded like they were close to each other. Then she did something I will never forget! She lifted me up, turned me around, and stuck something in my rear! The horror and indignity! If someone my age could have pride, I would say for certain it had been bruised. Then she rubbed my back and put me down and showed the stick she had used to disrespect me with to the man. He smiled and looked relieved, then she gave him some things I didn’t recognize, hugged him, and left. He lay down on the floor next to me and rubbed my tiny ear between his thumb and forefinger. You’re going to be okay, kid; Tenshi says that you don’t have a fever and that with some love you will grow into a healthy dog.

I still didn’t understand a word of what he said, but he made me feel better when he spoke. Actually, that isn’t true; I did understand one word—love. He said that one often, and I took from his tone that it meant something nice, so I wagged my tail whenever I heard him say it. In the stuff she had given him was a small animal. It was not real, but the man put it in the basket next to me, and I slept cuddled against it; its presence made me feel safe.

I know that taking time away from work to care for me must have been hard on him, but he never complained. As I got bigger, more and more people came over to the man’s (whose name, I learned, was Jamie) house. I met all sorts of kind faces and was picked up to the point that I decided I didn’t like it. Two men came over often, and I realized they must be Jamie’s littermates—or siblings, as humans call them. They were always very kind to me. Another man came over once in a while too. He was very, nice to me and always smelled like another dog, yet I found myself afraid when he was around. Later I would learn that it was because of the type of work he did for the government that I found him unsettling. Many women came over, and they squealed over me softly. One woman, I learned, was Jamie’s adoptive mom. She decided I should be named Dahlia. One woman came over more often than the others; she was the one who had taken my temperature, and Jamie called her Tenshi. I could tell from the way he acted and spoke when she was around that Jamie had a special place in his heart for Tenshi, and it seemed that she felt the same way about him, though none of it made sense to me at the time. Then I met the loud man who made kissy faces—Cass. I didn’t like him at all, probably because he kept bugging Jamie to buy a new dog. I don’t know whether he wanted me replaced or simply wanted Jamie to have two pets, but either way, it made me not like him. Jamie, on the other hand, would scold him and take me in his arms and tell Cass that I was the only dog for him. Then, after I turned one and my floppy, awkward stage was almost over, instead of Jamie disappearing for long periods of time and leaving me with Tenshi or one of his friends, he started taking me with him, and suddenly I was in a new world—a world of obstacle courses and other dogs and people. Now I couldn’t have a snack without it being in a tube or container of some kind. I learned various smells and how to find them, what was dangerous and what was not, then I learned how to identify people by their scents. I was always good at telling whether people were telling the truth or not, and Jamie worked with me at learning to signal him if I knew someone was lying, once he realized that I could do it. The work was hard, but every day I got to be with Jamie, so I was happy. Eventually I graduated, whatever that means, and I became the first ever spy hunter Jack Russell terrier.

1

MY NAME IS DAHLIA, AND MY MASTER IS A SPY hunter. As the name suggests, we hunt spies. Insurgents who flee to other countries to avoid prosecution are our prey. We work for the government, though you would never find any documentation on us. Dangerous and difficult, yet thrilling and fantastic, our job takes us all over the world with many different identities and many different targets, but Jamie and I are always ready for the adventure Of course I hunger for thrill; I’m a Jack Russell, after all.

Jamie had the option of a more common crime-fighting breed, like a Doberman or a shepherd, but when he found me in a cardboard box on the side of the road, he chose me as his partner.

Our breed is one of the smartest in the world, according to Jamie, and even I was surprised by the things he was able to teach me, such as screwing off lids and opening doors. He was a clever boy, always putting my treats in something impossible for a dog to get into, so I had to figure out how to do the impossible. He also trained me in combat. He taught me to use my size and speed as weapons. Even a full-grown man is no threat to me anymore. Jack Russells’ noses are their biggest asset, so Jamie worked hard with the sniffer dog task force to help me learn how to separate and identify scents. Eventually I earned my license, and Jamie and I became part of the Spy Hunter (SH) ace teams.

My day started with the sound of a jet engine preparing for descent. I braced for the jerk of impact as the wheels hit the tarmac, and I listened for Jamie’s usual You okay, kid? that he always gives me whenever we land. (We fly a lot.)

Jamie reached down and unzipped the top of the soft-sided kennel I was resting in as soon as the seat belt sign turned off.

You okay, kid?

I looked up and wagged my tail; Jamie grinned. His sandy blond hair fell into his emerald-green eyes as he looked past his knees at me. It had been another long flight after another crazy adventure, and the man was happy to get home in one piece. At age twenty-one, Jamie was one of the youngest spy hunters available, and thanks to his boyish looks and gentle demeanor, most of his targets didn’t even notice him until it was too late. His faithful and slightly badly behaved at times (ahem) Jack Russell (who is me) is always at his side, ready for my defend or attack commands. Small but fiery, I am an unexpected weapon. But that’s enough about me.

Speaking of weapons, Jamie has his fair share. My boy always caries a Sig with extra rounds no matter where he’s going. Why a Sig? Because He grew up on old crime movies, and all the best characters had Sigs. When fully decked out, Jamie carries a hunting knife against his right leg, a case that resembles a regular wallet but is full of nerve-numbing darts, and his favorite tool, a spring-assisted flip knife five inches long and slender. Of course, he has his gun filled with nonlethal rounds, better known as tranquilizers. Jamie’s friends in the SH always tease him, saying it looks like he’s a kid playing dress up. Jamie’s handler, Cass, will come over and laugh as Jamie straps his gear to his body.

Playing spy today, Jamie? Cass will say.

Jamie will slice a vibrant green stare at his friend and grin. Something like that.

Presently I am being lifted into Jamie’s truck, a long-box lowrider with large-rimmed tires and four-wheel drive—the kind of truck that’s ready for anything. It’s not like Jamie could drive a Corvette; that would just look stupid. Try chasing a criminal through the backcountry in a sports car.

I watched Jamie load his backpack into his truck and slide into the driver’s seat. Looking at him more closely, I could see that he was worn out, but in a good way. He was that kind of worn out you feel after a day well spent, and to be honest, I was rather glad to hear the truck engine turn over and feel the bump of the road as we drove home.

Home is an artist’s loft studio apartment with big windows overlooking the sleeping mountains of Banff, Alberta—not the usual place you find a spy hunter, so the perfect place for us to live. As a side job, Jamie is an artist; brush in hand, he will spend hours capturing a moment on canvas. As a paying side job, Jamie works at an adventure guide company. There he does caving, white-water rafting, mountain climbing—all that stuff that the company won’t allow me to go with him to do.

If only they knew the extent of my training and that I’ve climbed many mountains while strapped to Jamie and I’ve been in boat, car, and helicopter chases. (Don’t ask about the helicopter chase; we try not to mention it.) I’ve navigated catacombs, and you’ll never believe it, but I’ve been inside Egyptian tombs as well. I’m very well traveled.

As Jamie approached his apartment, I could hear someone’s breathing coming from inside. I gave a low growl, and Jamie quickly released me from my kennel and drew his gun. Together we maneuvered around to the hidden side door and silently entered the dark room. Suddenly a movement from behind us caught my eye and I turned, not waiting for a command. My teeth sunk deep into the intruder’s pant leg as I used my angle to pull him off balance and throw him to the ground. Suddenly Jamie’s hand was on my collar, telling me to release my prisoner. I relinquished my prey with a growl. To my surprise, Jamie was doubled over laughing as the man on the floor moved to a sitting position. Cass gave me an irritated sidelong glance before laughing as well.

Jamie smiled. You okay, gramps? The lady didn’t hurt you, did she?

I put my ears back.

Only banged up my pride, but she was so cute while doing it. Cass gave me a kissy face, making my fur stand up on end. Cass annoys me; did I already say that? And who are you calling gramps? I’m only forty! Cass grumbled as my boy helped his friend to his feet. Jamie patted Cass’s shoulder sympathetically, then walked over to his couch and lay down, his blond hair flopping into his eyes.

Cass leaned over the back of the couch and looked at Jamie. You look beat.

Jamie groaned.

Want me to get you anything?

Two days of doing nothing, and then I will be bored to tears and ready to have another adventure.

Cass laughed before going to Jamie’s laptop and opening it.

You narrate, and I will type.

What? Jamie’s green eyes stared at Cass from behind a blond curtain of hair.

Let me type up your report of the case so you can rest; that way you get some R and R, and I won’t have to attend the debriefing of your case later.

Jamie smiled. Thanks, Cass. He closed his eyes and began to narrate. I jumped up onto his stomach, causing him to grunt offensively. I’m not heavy! I growled softly as I lay down on top of Jamie and wished once again that we had a bigger couch. Slowly the tap of Cass’s fingers on the laptop keys and Jamie’s gentle breathing caused me to get drowsy, and the story of our latest adventure began to play in my head.

2

Off duty. 2:50 p.m. Wednesday

JAMIE SAT AT HIS BISTRO, WHICH OVERLOOKED the mountains, and silently sipped his coffee while reading one of his novels. I sat at his feet, begging shamelessly. Jamie had biscotti on the side of his plate, and right now that was my main goal. If I tilt my head just right and open my eyes wide enough, I should be heartbreakingly cute. Jamie looked down at me. Success! For the finishing touch, I put a single paw tenderly on his pant leg and let my body droop a little, as though I hadn’t been fed in days. Jamie grinned pityingly at me. I wiggled my nose just a tiny bit, reaching ultimate cuteness. That biscotti was all mine! Jamie reached down a hand and tousled my fur.

You think I’m going to fall for that?

I was crushed. He had seen right through my ploy.

Dahlia, I’m trained to handle being interrogated by professionals. Even though those big eyes cause me great pain, they aren’t enough to break me, and you know that dogs shouldn’t have sugar.

He was not going to win; my cuteness was undefined! I knew how to get into his heart; I just had to play the right role. I wagged my tail as if agreeing with him and stood on my hind legs, feigning that I wanted another pet. Jamie slid his chair back and lifted me onto his knee. Just about there. I eyed the biscotti. Suddenly Jamie slid the plate to the other side of the table and out of my reach. I put my ears back and gave up. He had won again. I felt maybe I could coax some other kind of snack out of him. I reached up to nibble on his chin; no human could stand a cutie like me nibbling on his or her chin.

Oh really.

Jamie wasn’t buying it. His gentle hands pulled me away so he could look into my eyes.

You are shameless when it comes to a snack, aren’t you?

I whimpered and tried to look sad. Jamie snickered softly. He looked like a little kid when he laughed. Closing his piercing green eyes and crinkling up his face, he drew me into a hug and petted my head. Okay, I forgive him. If there’s one thing I like more than a snack, it’s a cuddle from my master. I’m a dog; I can’t help it. Now if he pulled out my favorite squeaky teddy bear, I would be in true bliss.

Suddenly a knock came at the door. Jamie put me down and called out for the person to enter. I groaned as Cass walked in with his German shepherd, Butch. The large dog automatically went to my food dish. He would pay for that. I put up my fur and growled, but he ignored me. He was not going to have the luxury of ignoring me for long.

I lunged and caught the larger dog by the ankle and pulled him off his feet. Butch snarled and fought back as he tried to use his weight against me. I may be smaller, but Butch needed to realize he was outmatched. The larger dog jumped up and stared me down before freezing. My icy glare was even more powerful than my cute stare. I curled my lips, making sure the younger dog knew who the alpha