Rescue: Alexandra Drummond Thriller Series, #8

By T M Goble

In the electrifying eighth instalment of the Alexandra Drummond Thriller Series, "Rescue," Alexandra's defiance knows no bounds as she embarks on a perilous mission that could spell her doom. While she yearns for a quiet life, duty calls, shattering her world and propelling her into a deadly whirlwind of danger and intrigue.

Alexandra's attempt to find solace in a peaceful existence is abruptly interrupted by a desperate call and an urgent plea for help. She knows that she cannot turn her back on those in need, even if it means journeying to a foreign land she has never before set foot in.

But as she races against time to answer the call, the police and security services are hot on her trail. Can Alexandra stay one step ahead of the relentless pursuit of those who seek to control her actions and keep her secrets hidden?

In a land unknown to her, where trust is a rare commodity, Alexandra must navigate treacherous terrain, unsure of who she can confide in. As old enemies regroup and sinister forces close in, she begins to question whether even her most trusted allies are turning renegade.

In "Rescue," Alexandra Drummond's indomitable spirit is pitted against a world of shadows, deceit, and danger. Will she be able to rescue those in need without becoming a pawn in a deadly game? As she confronts her own inner turmoil and faces the chilling realization that the line between friend and foe is thin, Alexandra's journey unfolds in a high-stakes thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Join Alexandra as she battles against the forces of darkness in a foreign land, driven by a relentless sense of duty, and propelled by the defiance that has defined her character throughout the series. "Rescue" is a heart-pounding tale of redemption, trust, and the unyielding determination of a warrior who refuses to be silenced.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Creative Peak
• Release date: Feb 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224621057

Book preview

01

Alex stared at the picture of her sister Tanya that was positioned next to Vince’s smiling photo on her study desk at the Manor. The picture of Tanya had been taken just before her wedding and her smiles and excitement were clear to behold. She had placed the framed full-face picture of her sister to remind herself of the stupidity of her quest to apprehend the killers of her first husband, Matthew.

Her tactics of revenge had backfired on her and had caused mayhem and destruction to her own life and that of anyone close to her. Since then, her life had been surrounded by violence which had eventually caused the death of Vince and that of Tanya’s husband. The brief few days of her married life to Vince had ended in a gun battle where he’d been shot in the back.

The traumatic event had been re-enacted on too many occasions in the horrific nightmares which tormented her nights and woke her screaming and drenched in sweat.

The threats to kill her had never disappeared. The Brotherhood had been responsible. An organisation that dealt with assassinations and contract killings. While the terrorist group had been badly broken, had it fractured beyond repair? While she had killed many of them when she’d been threatened, it was possible that they had not been annihilated. The stragglers that remained in the organisation might be regrouping in Kazakhstan, which was where the outfit originated. Even if the smallest cell remained, she would be on their wanted list. The last attempt by a sniper was three months ago. It had failed but would there be another? Yes, without doubt and they would strike when she least expected it. An icy shiver swept through her. To calm herself she picked up the picture of Vince and gazed into his laughing eyes. Oh, how she missed him.

The Brotherhood had lost its main assassins. It would be difficult to rebuild without them, but the potential threat would never leave her mind and would follow her for the rest of her life.

Alex moved to the window and the view over the estate land. Would she ever lead a normal life? It had been a struggle, but she had made a start at leaving the violence behind. Vince had always remained positive in the most desperate situations and in respect of his memory she would do the same. Over the past two months, she had built a small business translating between English and Arabic. It gave her contacts with normal people not obsessed with spying, law enforcement and terrorism. At the request of clients, she joined in meetings, mostly on the phone, where they laughed and joked about translation misunderstandings. Resulting from a bi-lingual childhood, she was fluent in both languages. Her business was a peaceful refuge after the years of shootings and killings.

Staring at the picture of Tanya, her beloved sister, as she did every day, her mind drifted to their childhood days when they would switch between the languages when speaking with each other. But it had been six months since they had spoken. Tanya was single-minded. She had cut Alex from contact because of the violence that surrounded her. There was little chance of resolving the situation, as Tanya’s husband had been killed by a bullet intended for Alex, so she could understand her sister’s attitude.

Tanya had never visited the Manor, but she would love it. They would have enjoyed cantering through the estate together on her beloved horses. Vince had bought her the chestnut mare, Flicker, as a wedding present and had bought a black stallion, Ebony, for himself as he intended learning to ride. They’d planned riding together through the large estate, but it had never happened. Life was so cruel at times. Her sister’s silence gave her a shudder each time she contemplated her life and viewed the two pictures.

Ending the working day with a long exhalation that became a moan, she averted her gaze from the two photos on her desk. As she moved from the chair, she picked up her mobile phone intending to place it in her pocket. The ringing sound and vibration made her jump. The name on the screen sent a shiver down her spine. With a shaking finger and a hammering heart, she pressed the green button.

‘Tanya?’ Her voice wavered with emotion and tears filled her eyes.

The calm emotionless response echoed in her ear, ‘Yes, it’s your sister.’

Alex quivered from head to foot and slumped into the office chair. Her mind raced. Something terrible had happened, which would be the only reason for Tanya to break her self-imposed silence. ‘What is it, sis? What’s happened?’

‘Calm yourself, it is unlikely to be a serious incident, but mum and I needed to inform you.’

Alex’s mind jerked to an immediate conclusion. ‘Dad?’

Tanya’s voice remained cool and stony. ‘Yes, there is an issue concerning him.’

‘What’s happened?’

‘We are not sure.’

Alex took the signal from her sister whose voice remained composed, so she did her best to relax and waited in silence for Tanya to continue, ‘Dad has been working in Atyrau on the Caspian Sea and we have been living there. Mum and I stayed at home when he went on a golfing and walking holiday with a friend from the oil company.’

‘Where did they go?’

‘They travelled to various destinations and planned to finish in Almaty, where mum and I would join him. They were expected early yesterday, but they never appeared.’

‘Were they flying?’

‘No, driving, but the distances are vast and mobile signals poor. The police advised contacting them in three days if Dad had not returned. No incidents have been reported on their expected route.’

‘Do you want me to come there?’

‘No.’ The single word was sharp and brooked no negotiation. ‘We contacted dad’s employer; the British Oil Company and they advised caution as delays on return are common. Mum wanted me to speak with you.’

‘Tanya?’

The line went dead. Mum had requested the contact. Tanya had fulfilled her duty, but there would be no other conversation.

She stared at the silent phone in her hand. Long minutes passed as she remained motionless. What should she do? Stay calm and plan. Prepare to go to Kazakhstan was the first priority as it was impossible to remain here and do nothing. Flicking on her laptop, she found flights to Almaty. But first, she must inform the Intelligence Service that she would take a holiday from her one day a week employment. Alex flopped back in her chair. Her stomach churned. Dad had gone missing in the country where the Brotherhood was based.

02

Tanya wiped the tears from her eyes. Her stomached churned and her legs weakened. Alex’s voice had devastated her. Gulping back the tears, her determination to cut communications with Alex would not waver. The decision had been forced on her as she had feared for her life when with her sister in America, she’d had a terrible accident in a horse jumping competition. It had been a planned attack as the horse’s girth straps had been tampered with, and she had been in hospital for several months.

The next disaster had been the killing of her darling husband Malcolm. He had been gunned down as he stood next to Alex at Vince’s funeral. Alex had been the intended target.

Crossing the hotel room, she stared over the city of Almaty lit by the sun under a bright blue sky. Her mother hugged her. ‘However difficult it was for you, it was the right approach, my darling. The call had to be made. Alex had to be informed that her father had not arrived home on time. My voice would have collapsed during the phone call as I have not spoken with Alex for months.’

Tanya hugged her mother. ‘The situation is desperate with the worry about dad. Hearing her voice again, I so wanted to hug her, but my resolve will not weaken. I will not speak or meet her unless in an emergency.

Tanya’s face flushed and her hands balled into fists. She punched a cushion hard. ‘Why did she pursue that ridiculous quest as it has ruined our lives? She made me a widow.’ A shiver wracked her body as she wrapped her arms around her mother and sobbed on her shoulder.

Her mother’s gentle voice soothed her. ‘Alex has pursued a line of self-destruction and anyone near to her will be lost. While it saddens me, I fear her death will happen soon.’ Her mother stroked Tanya’s hair, but the stress caused by Alex’s voice had made her tremble. Tanya threw herself on the bed as the sobs wracked her body.

‘Come, my daughter.’ Her mother mopped up her own tears. ‘I become distraught, but you are normally calm. Do not betray me by becoming emotional as I will not cope.’

Tanya struggled from the bed and used a tissue to wipe away the tears. ‘Life is hard. Dad is out there somewhere probably wanting help and our family is broken.’

‘We must be strong, darling. There is a recent development.’

Tanya opened her eyes wide as she sniffed and sat next to her mother on the edge of the bed.

‘Is it about father or Alex?’

‘Hush, my daughter, it is not. Listen.’

Tanya settled and caught her mother’s hand.

‘I have not informed you of news from the old family in Algeria, but there have been changes.’

When her mother wanted to explain, she would listen, otherwise she would be reprimanded as though a child.

‘The axis of the Algerian side of my family had been those we met in Egypt. My father, who was the patriarch, died a few months ago.’

‘I do not remember you telling me.’

She flicked her hand in annoyance. ‘As far as I can remember, you never met him and Alex only once. He would not expect sadness from someone who he didn’t know.’

Tanya felt the full reprimand of her mother. Protesting or commenting would be dismissed, so she held her mother’s hand, focused on her and sat silent.

‘The new patriarch is from my generation, Chabane, but we have never been friends as he is a strict Arab.’

Tanya remained silent, otherwise she would receive a lecture about family relationships. She would wait as her mother made regular calls to Algeria but never spoke about them.

‘Chabane wishes for a daily call, after I informed him that my husband had gone missing, so we will ring him on the speaker phone.’

Placing the phone on a low table she punched in the numbers and they waited. ‘Hello.’ The deep, gruff voice reverberated through the hotel room.

‘Chabane. It is your cousin, Marwa.’

‘Is there news?’

‘No, he has not turned up.’

‘Ring me every day. I will allow five days then we will arrive in Kazakhstan.’

Tanya licked her lips. The words sounded like a threat.

Her mother drew in a deep breath. ‘Chabane, stay in Algeria. The police will investigate the disappearance.’

‘Do not argue with me, woman. I decide what happens in the family. Females have no say.’

The line went dead.

Tanya, with wide eyes, peered at her mother.

‘It is the Arab way, my darling.’

03

Azamat renewed his vow to kill Alexandra Drummond as he reached for the vodka in his kitchen cupboard. The bullet he had fired, some months ago in England, had missed and struck one of Alexandra’s friends, but it had only been a superficial wound. In the next few months, he would organise another planned attack, like those he had undertaken in the old days. He pursed his lips in irritation.

Without doubt she would die by his hand. It was her fault as she had gunned down so many of his key assassins and denied him a comfortable later life. Now he had to return to his warrior status by training a new recruit. It was not what he wanted at his time of life. Clenching his jaw, he turned to face the kitchen table in his flat and the three faces that stared silently at him.

For such a meeting they would not sit in the soft furnishing of the lounge, preferring the harsh fluorescent light and the hard chairs. It would focus their concentration on the matters which must be addressed. The heating had ensured his visitors had removed their anoraks, as the advancing winter chill had gripped Almaty in its first tendrils.

He wanted to gather his friends’ ideas on his new proposal for taking the Brotherhood forward now that the numbers in the organisation had dwindled.

Placing an unopened bottle of Black Death Vodka on the table and four small glasses, he opened his hand to his lifelong friend, Zangar. The old man acknowledged the custom between them. As youngsters in the slums and on the Steppes, they had offered sustenance to their friend before taking their own. A tradition that would never be abandoned.

The determination of Zangar to grip the bottle despite his arthritic wrist showed on his face. The seal broke. With a two-handed pour as his old limbs shook, he half-filled each glass. Zangar raised his glass. ‘The Brotherhood.’ Tradition dictated they stood for the first toast. Three elderly men levered themselves from their chairs in discomfort. The younger man, Miras, in his late forties, leapt to his feet. The glasses clinked and they simultaneously downed the shots.

Rasul, the quietest of the three elders, but the most thoughtful, stared at Azamat. ‘This is not a family gathering. The younger generation have deserted us.’

Azamat bowed his head. ‘That is true, my dear friend. While seven straws were removed at the last meeting when I outlined the new proposals, two of the youthful generation withdrew and will pursue computerised blackmail in the hope of acquiring money.’

Zangar snarled, ‘How could we understand what they were doing? It makes no sense, so we are better off without them.’

‘Miras is the only loyal friend from the younger generation.’

Rasul picked up the bottle and poured the vodka. ‘What about Elnara and Sarsen, Azamat? She is your granddaughter and has always sworn allegiance to your cause.’

‘Bad news.’ Azamat would never tell the truth about Elnara and her husband. They had been cowards who deserted the cause at a crucial time. But he had framed the words in his mind when asked about them. ‘Despite not being trained, they volunteered for action to attack Alexandra Drummond. I visited London at Zangar’s suggestion, and they joined me. Our aim was to kill the major threat to the Brotherhood.’

Rasul dipped his head, ‘Good man, Azamat. I knew you would not fail us in our hour of need.’

‘Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in the assassination. Elnara and Sarsen lost their lives.’ His jaw clenched and he pressed his lips together in anger. ‘The attack did not go according to plan and they were killed by Alexandra Drummond.’ Just saying the name of that dreadful woman made his whole body tense. Somehow, he intended to destroy her. It would be such a pleasure.

Rasul had refilled the glasses. The tradition dictated that they stood for the toast to those who had died. With gasps and grunts, they once again staggered to their feet. The glasses clinked over the table. ‘Elnara. Sarsen.’

Resuming their seats, Miras studied the group of elderly men. ‘While I accept the bad news? Is there hope for us and the Brotherhood, Azamat, otherwise we are condemned to poverty?’

‘Yes, my friend, there is a chance as I recruited two people with potential while in London.’ Glancing across at his old friend his eyes narrowed, ‘They will not please Zangar.’

Zangar thumped his fist on the table. ‘Are they women? I hate it when they become involved.’

Azamat leaned forward. ‘They are our hope for the future and to acquire money for our later life. One requires training, the other is skilled in firearms, a good planner, is ruthless and can drive fast.’

Zangar leaned back in his chair. ‘Are you expecting us to accept them into our inner circle on your word, not that I doubt your good intentions?’

‘No. We always agree jointly. They will arrive in Almaty soon and I will bring them to this meeting. Then we four can make a judgement.’

04

‘Alex, you have a detailed knowledge of how the security services operate,’ The sharp insistent voice rang out loud and clear as Gwendoline tapped her polished red nails on the desk in a gesture of irritation. ‘Use your common sense for once. It prevents you from a visit to Kazakhstan.’ Gwendoline, Humphrey’s replacement, sat behind her desk in Intelligence Headquarters and scrutinised her computer screen as a plastic smile creased her lips.

Alex blinked at the surprise statement and the hostility which had crept into Gwendoline’s voice. Her temper rose and a flush warmed her cheeks. Not wishing to instigate a confrontation with her boss she remained silent and studied the clenched hands in her lap.

Gwendoline flapped her hand in an irritated gesture, ‘In addition, your own reports suggest, although there is no proof, that the outlawed terrorist organisation, the Brotherhood, is resident in Kazakhstan. You have pursued them for years, so even a family visit to the country is not permitted.’ The words ticked through her head like a time bomb as she struggled to control her temper. Did this woman have any compassion or understanding of how she was feeling about the disappearance of her father? Gwendoline continued, ‘While I might accept you do not intend to pursue the Brotherhood while in that country, a slight clue could bring your gung-ho spirit to the fore and I cannot permit your presence which could trigger an international incident.’

‘That is totally ridiculous. I wish to find my father.’ Alex banged her fist on the desk and glared at Gwendoline, who remained unmoved by the aggression.

The slight smirk which hovered on her lips annoyed Alex and she wanted to flatten this infuriating woman.

‘You are highly intelligent. Your father has disappeared in Kazakhstan and the Brotherhood, your enemies are there.’

‘Okay,’ Alex threw her arms into the air in a gesture of defiance, ‘I resign and will present you the documented papers within ten minutes.’

Completely impassive, Gwendoline’s voice stayed on its monotone level, ‘It makes no difference. As you work or have worked for the security services, even if no longer employed, we can restrain visits to countries that the foreign securities committee deem inappropriate. And do not even ask, as I chair that committee. Now stop the histrionics, as they do not wash with me. Sit still and listen.’

Alex had been outmanoeuvred. In her wildest dreams she had not expected a refusal. Words of warning, perhaps, but not a categorical ban. Could she contrive to circumvent Gwendoline’s decision? Trying to swallow her temper and irritation would be hard but it would serve no useful purpose in this meeting.

‘Has he been declared a missing person?’

Alex shook her head.

‘So, at present, you have made a request for a family visit, which I’m not prepared to accept. If the incident is raised to an official level, I would wish to help, as the escalation would concern you.’

The change of attitude unnerved Alex who remained unresponsive and stared at the awkward manipulative woman who appeared disinterested in the emotional turmoil the disappearance of her father had caused. All she was interested in was the success of her career. Her ambitions came first.

Gwendoline nodded towards the computer screen, ‘I have read the NATO reports, Kazakhstan is attempting to up its international profile, which it is building successfully and each NATO country has been asked to support their initiative.’

Alex had no interest in international politics and didn’t comment but remained glaring at Gwendoline through narrowed eyes.

The woman’s hard steely eyes focused on her. ‘In order to help you, Alex, I will suggest we send a police liaison officer to assist in the search and location of a missing British citizen. We will propose that the police officer would be happy to spend time there advising on operational procedures and exchanging ideas. It would need to be an Inspector or Sergeant, so the Kazakhs do not feel threatened.’ The slightest of smiles crossed her face but disappeared in an instant. ‘You know the expression, a good honest copper.’

Alex had learned from Vince. His words of wisdom often filled her mind when presented with a problem. Do not batter your head against a brick wall. Accept any offering and engage in a different approach.

Although difficult to swallow her anger at