by Jack Mars
Her family had several plans in the event of various emergencies. One of them was the event that they would be separated, cut off from help or resources, and needed to find each other. Maya had found a relatively unknown Chinese messaging app that allowed its users almost complete anonymity. She had created an account, using none of her real information, and shared the user name with her dad, Sara, Mischa, Maria, and Alan.
She had turned the phone on each morning and each night and checked the app. Morning and night, there was nothing. But this morning, she had turned the phone on and opened the app, and there was something.
It was a foreign telephone number, beginning with the country dialing code 2-0. For Egypt. And then a time: 3:00 p.m. EST.
Finally the clock struck 2 p.m. They were in Missouri; it was three o’clock on the East Coast, and ten at night in Egypt.
Maya powered the phone on. She called the number. She put it on speaker as Sara crowded at her shoulder and Trent leaned forward to hear.
The line rang once. Then twice. A third time.
Then: “Hello.”
“Mischa. Oh my god.” Maya had never breathed a sigh of relief so heavy before. “You’re okay? Where are you?”
“I’m okay. Currently I am at a payphone in Egypt. We are out of Cairo, but I would rather not say where. We were tracked before.”
“I understand—”
“And Dad?” Sara blurted out.
“He is with me. He was in a helicopter accident…”
“Sorry?” This time it was Maya who blurted. “A helicopter accident?”
“Yes. Krauss is dead.”
Maya and Sara exchanged a glance. She should have felt some pleasure at the statement, some relief that he was gone. But in the moment Maya didn’t feel anything but worry for her family.
“Zero is recovering. After the crash he was found by rescue workers and taken to the hospital. He had suffered smoke inhalation and a minor spinal cord contusion. But he could walk, so I broke him out of the hospital—”
“Broke him out…?”
“And we fled the city. That’s why it took me so long to contact you. He is not well enough to travel yet. But as soon as he is, we will find a way back.”
Maya felt her sister’s hand on her shoulder. Four days of worrying and not knowing, but they were alive. Maybe not healthy, but alive.
“Listen,” Maya said. “We’re holed up in a—”
“Don’t tell me where you are,” Mischa interrupted. “And we shouldn’t stay on the phone long. Zero and I will keep moving. You should do the same.”
“We will.” They weren’t staying at the cabin long. Now that they knew Mischa and their dad were safe, they would form a plan and move to another location. “It’s good to hear your voice, Mischa.”
“It is good to hear yours too. And perhaps you would like to hear this one.”
There was a pause on the line.
“Hi, girls.”
“Dad.” Maya almost shed a tear; his voice sounded so hoarse, weak.
“Can’t talk much,” he said. “But… will see you soon. Love you both.”
“I love you too,” Maya told him.
“Love you,” Sara murmured behind her.
Then Mischa was back on the line. “We will find a way to come together. Then we will end this. Until then, stay hidden, trust no one, keep moving.”
“We will,” Maya promised. “Stay safe.”
“You too.”
The call ended. Maya shut the phone off.
She was right. They would find a way to come together. And then they would end this.
NOW AVAILABLE!
ABSOLUTE ZERO
(An Agent Zero Spy Thriller—Book #12)
“You will not sleep until you are finished with AGENT ZERO. A superb job creating a set of characters who are fully developed and very much enjoyable. The description of the action scenes transport us into a reality that is almost like sitting in a movie theater with surround sound and 3D (it would make an incredible Hollywood movie). I can hardly wait for the sequel.”
--Roberto Mattos, Books and Movie Reviews
ABSOLUTE ZERO is book #12—and the series finale—in the #1 bestselling AGENT ZERO series, which begins with AGENT ZERO (Book #1), a free download with over 500 five-star reviews.
In the shocking series finale, Agent Zero learns of a powerful thermonuclear bomb which, set off in the right place, could kill tens of millions. In a breathtaking twist, he learns of something else that will make it even more deadly.
The fate of the world is literally at stake as Agent Zero finds himself in a mad race against time, the only person on the planet with a capacity to find the weapon.
Yet, while Zero races to find the location, he is up against other formidable forces: dozens of assassins are dispatched to kill him.
And in the midst of all this, the time has come for Zero to have a final reckoning with his own deteriorating health.
Full circle from his original discovery of the memory chip, Agent Zero is given one last chance to save the planet—if only he can keep from destroying himself—and everything in his path—in his wake.
ABSOLUTE ZERO (Book #12) is an un-putdownable espionage thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night, and the satisfying and stunning climax to a masterful 12-book espionage action series.
“Thriller writing at its best.”
--Midwest Book Review (re Any Means Necessary)
“One of the best thrillers I have read this year.”
--Books and Movie Reviews (re Any Means Necessary)
Also available is Jack Mars’ #1 bestselling LUKE STONE THRILLER series (7 books), which begins with Any Means Necessary (Book #1), a free download with over 800 five star reviews!
ABSOLUTE ZERO
(An Agent Zero Spy Thriller—Book #12)
Jack Mars
Jack Mars is the USA Today bestselling author of the LUKE STONE thriller series, which includes seven books. He is also the author of the new FORGING OF LUKE STONE prequel series, comprising six books; and of the AGENT ZERO spy thriller series, comprising twelve books.
Jack loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.Jackmarsauthor.com to join the email list, receive a free book, receive free giveaways, connect on Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch!
BOOKS BY JACK MARS
LUKE STONE THRILLER SERIES
ANY MEANS NECESSARY (Book #1)
OATH OF OFFICE (Book #2)
SITUATION ROOM (Book #3)
OPPOSE ANY FOE (Book #4)
PRESIDENT ELECT (Book #5)
OUR SACRED HONOR (Book #6)
HOUSE DIVIDED (Book #7)
FORGING OF LUKE STONE PREQUEL SERIES
PRIMARY TARGET (Book #1)
PRIMARY COMMAND (Book #2)
PRIMARY THREAT (Book #3)
PRIMARY GLORY (Book #4)
PRIMARY VALOR (Book #5)
PRIMARY DUTY (Book #6)
AN AGENT ZERO SPY THRILLER SERIES
AGENT ZERO (Book #1)
TARGET ZERO (Book #2)
HUNTING ZERO (Book #3)
TRAPPING ZERO (Book #4)
FILE ZERO (Book #5)
RECALL ZERO (Book #6)
ASSASSIN ZERO (Book #7)
DECOY ZERO (Book #8)
CHASING ZERO (Book #9)
VENGEANCE ZERO (Book #10)
ZERO ZERO (Book #11)
ABSOLUTE ZERO (Book #12)
