Moonlight Over Monte Carlo: Scabbers, #4

By Justin L. Smith

Ben Specter and Idris Abbas of the FLAK-MEMA unit attempt to finally have concise evidence against smuggler Amir Tariq at the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Unfortunately for the duo, Amir may have found his latest victim; the recently divorced Rosetta. Will Amir ever face justice or has luck ran out for Ben, Idris, and Rosetta?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Justin L. Smith
• Release date: Aug 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223514558

Justin L. Smith

Justin L. Smith is an independent author from North Carolina. If you are interested in his free short stories related to The Great Remembering from the Scabbers series. They are not on Amazon as they are too short to upload. You can find them on Google, Apple, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble.

Book preview

Chapter One: Play Your Cards Right

The Casino de Monte -Carlo in Monaco. Ritzy. Elegant. Clean. The sort of place where Major Benjamin Specter of the US Army and Colonel Idris Abbas of the Moroccan Royal Army rarely find themselves. But that is where their latest mission is taking place. They lead what Interpol refers to as a Humanitarian Task Force. Fighting terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking isn’t enough. So, the FLAK-MEMA unit was born. Freedom Liberty And Kindness-Middle East, Mediterranean, Africa. Between the two of them they speak over 30 languages and dialects. Between the two of them they also have over 40 confirmed kills. Their first skill set allows them to operate easily throughout the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Africa. By all means they could be anywhere in the world, but they focus on their circuit of hot spots helping people all along the way. And the second skill set helps them survive and fight for others in their circuit. Benjamin’s usually uses his dual US-Israeli citizenship to pose as a tourist from whichever country would be suitable or as a scientific researcher. His background in forensics helping him to know what word salads need to be served. Idris usually poses as a refugee or business man. His father being an international financier helps him know what buzzwords to use. The two commonly find themselves in places that don’t even have electricity. But tonight, it’s glitz and glamour. Tonight, it’s not firefights. Tonight, the only shooting will be at Craps tables. And tonight, they don’t have to pose as anyone or keep up a front. They just command an Interpol team from a nice air-conditioned security room in the hopes of bugging Amir Tariq. A human trafficker and drug smuggler, who poses as a multi-national playboy. Amir operates mostly from the Middle East, as his areas of main distribution. The farther away you get from these areas of operation, the easier it is to bust the small rings of local gangs who can rarely ever be connected to Amir. So far the only thing ever connected to Amir is powerful people. This is why Ben and Idris must be careful. If they screw up, they have no idea who was just chance meeting or who is an ally of Amir. Nothing has ever stuck to Amir. Hopefully that changes after tonight. After years of work the duo may have found a way to get to him. Amir has a penchant for keeping chips from casinos he visits. After having checked the travel plans for his yacht at another port, the team knew he would be here. The idea is simple enough. Get a bunch of bugged chips into Amir’s hands. Make sure dealers at tables help Amir have a good night of gambling, then at least one of those chips leaves with Amir.

Benjamin comfortably sitting in a chair asks, Why can’t it always be this swanky, Idris?

Most of our targets do not have Amir’s taste or his bank account. I’m sure if they did, we would find them in such cushy locales.

"I’d settle for dollar slots on the Vegas Strip. The desert is too dry for mosquitoes. Stage magicians are the only ones that have to worry about lions. Oh, and the