Inside the Wire Read online

  INSIDE THE WIRE

  A DELTA FORCE UNLEASHED THRILLER

  J. ROBERT KENNEDY

  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

  Inside the Wire

  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

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Chapter 72

  Chapter 73

  Chapter 74

  Chapter 75

  Acknowledgments

  Don't Miss Out!

  Thank You!

  About the Author

  Also by the Author

  For the girls still missing.

  “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”

  George Orwell

  “Allah said: ‘The rulers of the infidels, their leaders, must be killed. They must be killed because they doubt your religion.’ If you kill the leaders, they will subside. Among those who doubt your religion, you must find the highest leaders and cut their throats because they don’t keep their word. Find the leaders and kill them because they doubt your religion. Allah said: ‘That’s how they will stop doubting your religion.’”

  Mohammed Yusuf, Founder of Boko Haram

  PREFACE

  Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād is one of the most brutal terrorist groups in the world. Translated, their name is Group of the People of Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad. It is a name known to few outside the intelligence community. Instead, the world knows them by a far simpler name.

  Boko Haram.

  The name is a combination of Hausa and Arabic. Many will recognize the Arabic ‘Haram’ as meaning ‘forbidden,’ but Boko is a little more difficult. It literally means ‘fake.’ Culturally, however, it takes on a different meaning. In the region, for decades, ‘ilimin boko’ means ‘fake education’ and referred to Western education. Over the years, it was shortened to simply ‘boko’ and has now been coopted by these lunatics.

  For they are lunatics.

  Founded in 2002, they are directly responsible for over 35,000 deaths, and the strife they have caused in the region has resulted in the death of over 300,000 children and the displacement of over 2.3 million people. In the 2010s, they were declared the world’s deadliest terror group according to the Global Terrorism Index.

  Their most notorious attack took place over two days, starting April 14, 2014. Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria, and announced they intended to sell them all into slavery. It would not be the last time they kidnapped large numbers of young girls to be sold into the sex trade, married off to their members, or exchanged for large ransoms.

  With as many as 20,000 members, this vicious organization is opposed by multiple nations in the region, with the assistance of the United States, United Kingdom, and France.

  Yet as always, politics gets in the way.

  And today, it just might cost the lives of hundreds of innocents, including Bravo Team.

  1 |

  North of FOB Ugurun, Nigeria Two days from now

  Sergeant Carl “Niner” Sung grinned as he guided Sergeant Zach “Wings” Hauser in for a landing using two glowsticks in the dim light, the ancient Bell Huey helicopter beating at the air, the sound no doubt carrying for miles. It was the entire poin
t of this secondary LZ he had set up, away from any prying eyes that might be watching the vulnerable Forward Operating Base they were trapped at with hundreds of defenseless civilians.

  They needed manpower, supplies, and most importantly, time. Boko Haram was gathering hundreds to throw against their barely two dozen. The arrival of this chopper meant another eleven were entering the fight, and if they could successfully begin ferrying soldiers and supplies in, and the civilians out, it could be a game-changer.

  “Get those wounded ready!” he ordered, three of the Nigerians shot earlier the first to be evacuated. No one wanted to risk the civilians, especially the children, until they had proven this lifeline safe.

  The chopper landed with a bounce and idled down slightly. There was no time to waste. The doors were thrown open and the rest of Bravo Team along with six Nigerians poured out, lugging three large crates of ammo for the unavoidable fight ahead. The team’s second-in-command, Master Sergeant Mike “Red” Belme and Wings had a brief conversation inside the cockpit as the wounded were loaded aboard before Red stepped out.

  “Clear the LZ!” ordered Niner, then once he had confirmed everyone was safely out of the way, he indicated Wings was clear to depart. The chopper rose then banked away, quickly lost in the dark, though the hammering of the rotors could still be heard. Niner tossed the glowsticks on the ground then used his boot to cover them with dirt—there was no point giving their enemy a juicy illuminated target.

  Wings’ voice squawked in his ear as his friend contacted Control. “Control, One-Two. I’d appreciate it if you’d thread this needle, over.”

  “Copy that, One-Two. Proceed west, bearing two-seven-zero. The Reaper is overhead and we’re showing no heat signatures in your direct path, over.”

  Niner pointed at two troop transports nearby. “Your chariots await, Sergeant.”

  Red turned to the others. “Everyone load up. I want to be inside the wire ASAP.”

  A round of “Yes, Sergeant!” responded as Red and Niner peered into the distance, attempting to pick the chopper out in the night sky. With each passing second, Niner rested a little easier, then something flashed and he grabbed Red’s arm.

  “Oh shit!”

  His comms squawked. “One-Two, RPG coming in from your six o’clock. Take evasive action immediately. Repeat, RPG coming in from your six o’clock. Take evasive action immediately.”

  Niner spotted a point of light racing skyward, the rocket propellant carrying the unguided but deadly Rocket Propelled Grenade into the air. Everyone turned to face the action, every breath held as they waited to hear the all-clear.

  But it wasn’t to be.

  “Control, tell my family—”

  Niner’s stomach churned and his heart pounded at the brilliant flash on the horizon as the RPG’s warhead found its mark.

  Killing one of his best friends.

  And any hope of making it out of their situation alive.

  2 |

  Behind 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta HQ Fort Bragg, North Carolina A.k.a. “The Unit” Today

  “It only hurts when I breathe.”

  Sergeant Leon “Atlas” James regarded his best friend with concern. “I tried to warn you, but instead you decided to be an idiot.”

  Niner wiped the tears from his eyes. “You didn’t warn me, you merely baited her trap.”

  Atlas’ girlfriend, Vanessa Moore, rushed up with a small carton of milk pilfered from the children’s table. She handed it to Niner. “I’m so sorry. I must have overdone it with the hot peppers.” Niner took a large swig of the milk, swishing it around his mouth in a desperate attempt to neutralize the ungodly hot chili he had just sampled.

  Command Sergeant Major Burt “Big Dog” Dawson shook his head. “You know, one of these days somebody’s going to get hurt.”

  “Somebody did get hurt,” protested Niner. “And tomorrow it’s going to be worse.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Because my colon’s going to get to taste that again on the way out.”

  Several better halves groaned in disgust, including Niner’s girlfriend, Angela Henwood. “Carl, be polite!”

  He gave her a look. “I thought I was. You don’t want to know what I was going to say.”

  “I probably don’t.” Angela took another spoonful of her chili, labeled prominently as ‘mild.’ Vanessa, an aspiring chef, was experimenting on Bravo Team, an elite group of warriors, members of 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta, commonly known to the public as the Delta Force. The families were gathered behind the Unit on a beautiful Saturday, everyone here except for Sergeant Will “Spock” Lightman, who had recently lost his wife. He had bowed out. It was just too soon to have fun, and his daughter wasn’t ready. Apparently, she was taking things extremely hard, which was understandable at her age. Dawson didn’t press him, and was pleased when Vanessa said she would drop off a care package so Spock wouldn’t miss out.

  And while Spock’s loss was in the back of everyone’s mind, today was a day to relax, enjoy each other’s company, and forget their troubles. When Vanessa had asked if she could test out some chili recipes, everyone was eager to accept. The woman was a phenomenal cook, and the last chili Dawson had eaten was from a can. In fact, he could not remember the last time he had had homemade chili.

  He took a bite of cornbread, one of his absolute favorite foods in the world. He moaned. His fiancée, Maggie Harris, smiled at him. “I didn’t realize you liked cornbread.”

  “Love it, but I rarely see it anywhere.”

  “I’ll get the recipe from Vanessa.”

  He tapped what remained of his piece. “If you learn how to make this, I’ll figure out some way to love you even more.”

  Red, Dawson’s second-in-command and best friend, groaned. “Would you two love birds knock it off. You’re making us old married men look bad.”

  Dawson leaned forward in his lawn chair so he could catch Red’s wife Shirley’s eye. “Learn to make this, and you might just get that romance back in your life.”

  Shirley patted Red’s hand. “Oh, he still knows how to romance me.”

  Red gave Dawson a toothy grin. “Thank you, dear.”

  “Besides, he doesn’t like cornbread.”

  Dawson eyed his friend. “Since when do you not like cornbread?”

  Red shrugged. “Never have, never will.”

  “Really?”

  “Have you ever seen me eat cornbread?”

  “Can’t say that I have. Huh. I’m not sure we can be friends anymore.”

  Red shrugged and extended a hand. “Well, it’s been a good run.”

  Dawson shook it. “It had its ups and downs. In fact, now that I think about it, we’ve got nothing in common but the job. How we’ve been friends for so many years, I have no idea.”

  “That’s what happens when you’re forced to work together. You overlook all the things that annoy you.”

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “Will you two stop it? You two have so much in common, both on and off the job, that I swear if Shirley and I weren’t in the picture, you’d be dating.”

  Red tilted his head forward, looking up at Dawson. “He could do worse.”

  Dawson reached out and clasped Red’s hand. “But I could never do better.”

  They both roared with laughter, Shirley and Maggie joining in, Maggie’s laugh cut short with a gasp. Dawson spun toward her, immediately concerned. “Are you all right?”

  She rubbed her jaw. “I guess I’m not fully recovered.”

  Dawson ran his hand through her hair with a sympathetic smile. She had been brutally beaten not even two months ago. She was recovering, her physical reminders mostly gone, but it was the emotional scars that had him concerned. She was tormented by nightmares and would flinch at the slightest, unexpected sound. What had happened to her should never have happened, but at least she was alive.

  Unlike Spock’s wife, Joanne, who had lost her life that day.

  “C
an I get you anything?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine. Just take it easy on the jokes. Apparently laughing too hard still hurts.”

  He chuckled. “Well then, we’ll leave the jokes to Niner. Those usually fall flat with the ladies.”

  Niner’s head spun toward them. “I heard my name. You better have been saying nice things about me.”

  Red grunted. “Why start now?”

  Niner and Atlas continued to shovel chili into their mouths. Sergeant Eugene “Jagger” Thomas pointed at one of the large pots. “This is my favorite. It’s got that perfect blend of meatiness and heat. Satisfying, but not too overpowering.”

  Vanessa smiled at him. “Thanks, Jagger, that’s helpful.”

  Jagger jutted his large lips toward the two competing friends. “I don’t know how you’re going to get any useful feedback out of those two. They’re going to lose their taste buds if they keep scarfing down that hot batch.”

  Sergeant Trip “Mickey” McDonald frowned. “If you two don’t slow down, when we get on that tin can of a Herc tomorrow, it’s going to be a recreation of Blazing Saddles.”

  Niner giggled, as did Atlas, and even Dawson had to join in. One of the all-time classic scenes in the history of movies was the farting around the campfire chili scene. “I can hold it in,” said Niner, noticeably slowing his spoon, apparently not so confident.

  “You better,” said Dawson. “Save it for when you two zip your sleeping bags together tomorrow night.”

  Vanessa’s eyes shot wide. “You two zip your sleeping bags together?”

  Wings snickered. “We established that fact in India when they refused to deny it.”

  Atlas held up a massive hand, a lone finger held up in defense. “That’s BS, and you know it. We just didn’t get a chance to deny it, what with the Chinese missiles that were inbound.”

  Angela leaned in and gave Niner a kiss on the cheek. “I think it’s sweet.”