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  LAKE OF BONES

  A JAMES ACTON THRILLER

  J. ROBERT KENNEDY

  About the James Acton Thrillers

  "James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"

  Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without reading the other installments.

  What readers are saying about the James Acton Thrillers Series:

  “A great blend of history and current headlines.”

  “You stop breathing from the first page.”

  “If you like Indiana Jones then you will love these stories.”

  “The Acton series is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable series I have read.”

  “Non-stop action that is impossible to put down.”

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  BOOKS BY J. ROBERT KENNEDY

  * Also available in audio

  The Templar Detective Thrillers

  The Templar Detective

  The Templar Detective and the Parisian Adulteress

  The Templar Detective and the Sergeant's Secret

  The Templar Detective and the Unholy Exorcist

  The Templar Detective and the Code Breaker

  The Templar Detective and the Black Scourge

  The Templar Detective and the Lost Children

  The James Acton Thrillers

  The Protocol *

  Brass Monkey *

  Broken Dove

  The Templar’s Relic

  Flags of Sin

  The Arab Fall

  The Circle of Eight

  The Venice Code

  Pompeii’s Ghosts

  Amazon Burning

  The Riddle

  Blood Relics

  Sins of the Titanic

  Saint Peter’s Soldiers

  The Thirteenth Legion

  Raging Sun

  Wages of Sin

  Wrath of the Gods

  The Templar’s Revenge

  The Nazi’s Engineer

  Atlantis Lost

  The Cylon Curse

  The Viking Deception

  Keepers of the Lost Ark

  The Tomb of Genghis Khan

  The Manila Deception

  The Fourth Bible

  Embassy of the Empire

  Armageddon

  No Good Deed

  The Last Soviet

  Lake of Bones

  The Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers

  Rogue Operator *

  Containment Failure *

  Cold Warriors *

  Death to America

  Black Widow

  The Agenda

  Retribution

  State Sanctioned

  Extraordinary Rendition

  Red Eagle

  The Messenger

  The Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers

  Payback

  Infidels

  The Lazarus Moment

  Kill Chain

  Forgotten

  The Cuban Incident

  Rampage

  The Detective Shakespeare Mysteries

  Depraved Difference

  Tick Tock

  The Redeemer

  The Kriminalinspektor Wolfgang Vogel Mysteries

  The Colonel’s Wife

  Sins of the Child

  Zander Varga, Vampire Detective Series

  The Turned

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Table of Contents

  The Novel

  Preface

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Acknowledgments

  Don't Miss Out!

  Thank You!

  About the Author

  Also by the Author

  For Jim Dunn, a good friend to the family.

  You will be missed.

  “Our country has never bowed down and will never bow down to any world power.”

  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a border clash between Indian and Chinese troops July 3, 2020

  “Over the past year-and-a-half, the India-China bilateral relationship has deteriorated like never before and it will continue to deteriorate further. So the country has to be prepared for the change that is coming.”

  Gautam Bambawale, former Indian Ambassador to China October 2021

  PREFACE

  On June 15, 2020, an outrageous border incident occurred where Chinese and Indian troops were involved in a melee near the Galwan River. No shots were fired, however reports indicate Chinese troops that had previously crossed the border, set upon an Indian patrol with iron rods, clubs, and batons wrapped in barbed wire. The hand-to-hand combat took place in the pitch dark and lasted over six hours before reinforcements arrived from the Indian side. The battle eventually involved over 600 soldiers, some of whom were tossed in the fast-flowing river, leading to their deaths.

  The final toll is disputed, however it is believed the Chinese lost 43 troops and the Indians 20. Prisoners were taken by both sides, though were quickly released after de-escalation meetings.

  This was all triggered by the Indians building a road on their side of the border, in undisputed land, likely because it would allow the Indians to respond quickly to any Chinese incursions. Over the decades, there have been many incidents in this region, including all-out war. The area is a powder keg waiting for one more match to be struck, and the belligerent Chinese show no signs of backing down.

  China is challenging the world not only in this region, but in the South China Sea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and more. Eventually, they will cross a line that the nations of the world cannot ignore, when China overreacts to yet another threat perceived only by themselves.

  Perhaps today is that day.

  1 |

  Indian Army Northern Command Communications Center Uttarakhand, India Present Day

  Interpol Agent Hugh Reading gripped Laura Palmer’s hand as they rushed down the steps. An alarm blared behind them indicating what they had feared had now begun. Wa
r had broken out, and everyone inside the new state-of-the-art communications facility built on the Indian side of the border with China, only had minutes to live. The man he was proud to call one of his best friends, if not his best friend, hailed them as he rushed from another door. James Acton was probably the bravest man he had ever met, and his wife Laura by far the bravest woman. They were the best of people, and he had to save them somehow.

  His eyes scanned for a solution. The parking lot was overflowing with vehicles, both military and civilian, here for the opening ceremony. Acton had gone to find their driver but had returned alone, which meant he had been unsuccessful, and if Chinese cruise missiles were inbound, there was no time to find another vehicle. They would have to make a run for it, though there was no way he’d be fast enough.

  He wasn’t surviving this, but his younger friends still could.

  He continued to search for a solution as his friends talked, then another problem introduced itself as the first of the guests inside rushed through the doors in a panic, racing toward the parked cars.

  “Can we get far enough away on foot?” asked Laura.

  Reading shook his head. “I can’t, but you two might be able to.” He grabbed them each by the arm, hugging them hard, then pointed toward the gate as he struggled to control his emotions. “Go now. Don’t waste a moment. I’ll try to get us a vehicle and pick you up.”

  “Bullshit to that!” protested his friend. “If you think for a second―”

  “Look!” Laura pointed at the roof and they all turned to see Senator Simmons’ chopper lifting off before banking away from the facility. “Thank God, Tommy and Mai are safe.”

  Reading pushed the two of them away. “And now it’s time for you two to get safe. That’s an order. Don’t let your stubbornness get you killed. You sacrificed your seats to save them. Let me sacrifice myself to save you. Now go!”

  Laura sobbed and grabbed him, holding him tight as Acton stared into his eyes, the pain his friend held back speaking volumes. Reading reached out and squeezed his friend’s shoulder, his heart aching with the knowledge he would never see them or anyone he loved again.

  “Tell Spencer I love him.” His voice cracked at the mention of his son, and Acton gripped his hand.

  “You can count on it.” Acton pointed at the parking lot. “Steal a car if you have to. I expect to see you soon.”

  Reading watched as his friends sprinted down the road toward the gates. He wasn’t certain what the blast radius would be nor how many missiles the Chinese might send at the complex, mostly buried inside the side of the mountain, but if they ran quickly, they stood a chance of surviving. Civilians in formal attire here for the opening ceremony rushed past him and he ignored them, instead beginning a slow walk toward the gate, never feeling so old as he did now.

  Five years ago, he would have been running with his friends, but not anymore. His joints were too stiff, his muscles too sore, his Interpol desk job he had been relegated to after a long proud career at Scotland Yard, had killed him in a way he had never expected. At least the Chinese were putting him out of his misery. His only regret was that he wouldn’t get a chance to say goodbye to his son, but at least he’d die knowing the others had survived.

  Acton and Laura were nearing the gate now, and the helicopter carrying their young friends, Tommy and Mai, along with Senator Simmons who had got them into this mess, was almost out of sight. He stared at the lone chopper then scanned the skies for the second one that had been promised for him and the others.

  And found nothing.

  A massive explosion tore through the air. He spun to hear Laura scream and his jaw dropped at the sight of the helicopter carrying the oh-so innocent Tommy and Mai fall from the sky. He collapsed to his knees, his shoulders slumping as he lost all will to live, and begged God for the Chinese missiles to end his sorrow.

  2 |

  Outside Esztergom, Kingdom of Hungary AD 1252

  “Your mother was a heretic. The price for her entry into the Kingdom of Heaven will be steep.”

  Oldamur stared at Father Tamas. The man was new, not here a year, a replacement sent by Rome after the death of the village priest, the only man who had ever tended to Oldamur’s religious needs. Father Miklos had been a good man, a caring man, a man who attended every birth, who conducted every funeral, every baptism, who knew every name in their small community.

  But Tamas was different. While he couldn’t expect to have the history, he didn’t conduct himself in a manner Oldamur felt was required by a priest. Tamas showed no interest in learning their names, was gruff, and made no effort to proactively tend to the needs of his flock. He seemed more concerned with the tithe collection each Sunday, making it a point to mention whenever the previous week’s donations were light.

  Murmurs around the village among those who would dare gossip about their religious leader suggested others had noticed what he had—their new priest sent from Rome was more obsessed with money than with the spiritual wellbeing of those he was responsible for.

  And this latest statement removed all doubt.

  “She was not a heretic,” he replied through clenched teeth.

  “I don’t recall seeing your mother at church in the entire time I’ve been here. And in speaking with others, they’ve informed me that she never attended services. If that’s the case, then she hasn’t confessed her sins, therefore she now suffers in purgatory, waiting for her family to attend to the matter.”

  Oldamur growled, pulling at his hair as he spun, his back now facing the frustrating man. He held his breath, calming himself lest he say something truly egregious. He exhaled. “Ask anyone in the village. My mother was a God-fearing woman, the kindest soul you could ever hope to meet.”

  “If she was a God-fearing woman, then why did she not attend church?”

  Oldamur turned to face the rotund man, who likely hadn’t put in a hard day’s work in his entire life. “When she was a little girl, her father died helping build this very church. Coming here was simply too painful, so she and my aunts and uncles vowed never to set foot inside, and instead worshipped in their own way.”

  Tamas’ eyebrows rose and he leaned forward on his desk, reaching for his pen and ink. “And the names of these aunts and uncles?”

  Oldamur bristled. “Are irrelevant to this discussion as they are already dead.”

  “Then they too suffer in purgatory. Give me their names and I’ll speak with their families to absolve them of their sins committed while they were alive.”

  “We’re here to discuss my mother. You had one of your altar boys fetch me from the farm indicating it involved my mother’s soul. Now you tell me a fee must be paid to the Church for you to grant an indulgence to forgive her for sins I’m certain God would have already forgiven her for, considering how minor they were.”

  “Sin is sin. And who are you to judge what God considers minor?”

  Oldamur sighed. There was no point arguing the matter with the man. The Church said his mother was condemned, perhaps for eternity, to suffer in a state of purgatory, but there was the possibility he could free her from such a horror and gain her entry into Heaven if he purchased an indulgence. If there were a chance to save her, then it was his responsibility to do so, for Tamas was right—how could he know what God wanted? He was just a man who had lost his mother, and the spiritual guidance being given to him, no matter how he felt about the man providing it, was nothing he hadn’t heard before.

  He closed his eyes. “How much? How much will it take to ensure my mother gains entry into Heaven?”

  “I’ve already prepared the indulgence. All it requires is my signature, and your mother’s soul will be unburdened. I fear, however, the price will be steep.”

  When Oldamur heard the amount, he collapsed.

  3 |

  The Oval Office, The White House Washington, D.C. Present Day, Three Days Earlier

  “Pardon my French, sir, but frankly, the Chinese are going apeshit over this.”


  The president grunted at Leif Morrison’s assessment. The National Clandestine Service Chief of the CIA was an uncommonly blunt man, and Senator Joseph Simmons liked him for that very reason. The president’s inner circle couched their advice in political terms, which far too often made a serious situation appear not so much so. There was no risk of that when Morrison was in the room—he could always be counted on to give the straight dirt.

  The president turned to him. “Well, what do you think, Joe? Are the Chinese going ‘apeshit’ like Leif says?” Air quotes were delivered.

  Simmons chuckled. “They are, sir. The question is whether it’s for domestic consumption or if they actually mean to follow through. They are claiming the construction of the communications facility is a hostile act.”

  “It is,” said Morrison. “If you believe the best offense is a good defense.”

  The president regarded him. “Isn’t it usually the other way around?”

  Morrison shrugged. “In my experience, it goes either way. Mr. President, we knew this was going to piss the Chinese off. Everything pisses the Chinese off, and if we continually give in to them, they’ll quickly dominate the region. They have to be shown that what happens outside their borders is beyond their control. India setting up a communications facility near a border the Chinese have crossed on multiple occasions is only provocative because the Chinese choose to view it that way. The Indians have a right to secure their borders, and that facility will provide them with far superior communications capabilities in the region than they currently have. The Chinese don’t like that if they did choose to invade, every corner of India would know immediately, negating some of the advantages they now have. It’s too easy for them to jam communications under the current setup. This facility addresses that gap in their infrastructure. It’s no different than the three centers the Chinese have on their side of the border.”