Cold Shot: A Novel

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Cold Shot: A Novel Page 38

by Henshaw, Mark


  “Just the star,” Jon confirmed. Cooke couldn’t sign off on this one. Not until Avila was dead or rotting in a Venezuelan jail and maybe not even then, depending on who replaced him.

  The star, singular. Just one, then. He looked up at Stryker. She was trying not to cry, and failing. “You knew him, didn’t you?”

  “We were there,” Kyra said with a shaky nod.

  “Who was he?”

  “She,” Jonathan corrected him. “Marisa Mills.” Kyra’s face broke out in a sad smile and tears finally started to roll.

  “At least you two made it out,” Stanton said. “At least I only have to draw one.”

  “There will always be more,” Jon said.

  “I wish you were wrong.” Stanton reached down, picked up the ruler and the pencil, and leaned over the Book.

  Acknowledgments

  Any list of supporters must begin with my wife, Janna, whose willingness to be a single mother for months at a time makes writing a book possible; whose faith in my writing exceeds my own; and who keeps my head on straight. I love you.

  As always, the professionals at Simon & Schuster—Lauren Spiegel, Miya Kumangai, Shida Carr, Norma Hoffman, and many others who work so hard to make every book the best it can be, and far better than I could make them by myself. I live in fear of the day that I have to work with a different team because this one has set a high bar that any other will be hard pressed to meet.

  Jason Yarn and Ken Freimann, who help filter the ideas that are working from the ones that are failing. Brutal honesty can be bitter medicine but this patient appreciates the results of the unsparing diagnoses these gentlemen deliver.

  The CIA Publications Review Board, which makes a potentially difficult process as painless as possible. Despite accusations to the contrary, I’ve never found them to be difficult or bent on unfair censorship.

  Finally, Rachel Hanig-Grunspan, one of the great friends of my life. You accepted a hard decision that helped me but hurt you far more than I ever intended. I hope someday to find a way to make it up to you.

  Photo by Janna Henshaw

  MARK HENSHAW is the author of Red Cell and a decorated active CIA analyst with more than eleven years of service. He is the recipient of the Director of National Intelligence Galileo Award for innovation in intelligence analysis. A former member of the Agency’s Red Cell think tank, Henshaw lives with his family in Leesburg, Virginia.

  www.MarkHenshaw.com

  MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT

  SimonandSchuster.com

  authors.simonandschuster.com/Mark-Henshaw

  Also by Mark Henshaw

  Red Cell

  We hope you enjoyed reading this Touchstone eBook.

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  Touchstone

  A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  1230 Avenue of the Americas

  New York, NY 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the agency or any other US Government agency. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying US Government authentication of information or agency endorsement of the author's views. This material has been reviewed by the agency to prevent the disclosure of classified information.

  Copyright © 2014 by Mark Henshaw

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Touchstone Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

  First Touchstone hardcover edition May 2014

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  Interior design by Robert E. Ettlin

  Jacket design by Ervin Serrano

  Jacket photographs: ocean and sky © Kuzma/Shutterstock;

  ship © Natali Glado/Shutterstock;

  helicopters © RGB Ventures LLC dba SuperStock/Alamy

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Henshaw, Mark. 1970–

  Cold shot / Mark Henshaw.—First Touchstone hardcover edition.

  pages cm.

  “A Touchstone book.”

  1. United States. Central Intelligence Agency—Fiction.

  2. International relations—Fiction. 3. Suspense fiction. I. Title.

  PS3608.E586C65 2014

  813’.6—dc23

  2014004929

  ISBN 978-1-4767-4557-2

  ISBN 978-1-4767-4565-7 (ebook)

  Contents

  * * *

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Coldshot

  Twelve Years Later

  Day One

  Day Two

  Day Three

  Day Four

  Day Five

  Day Six

  Day Seven

  Day Eight

  Day Nine

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

 

 

 


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