Arctic Wargame (Justin Hall # 1) Read Free

weapon. He shouldered it with a swing, struggling for balance on one knee, and then he pulled the trigger, just as the Toyota veered to the left.
    The projectile screamed out of the weapon. A plume of gray smoke billowing from the weapon’s blast cone engulfed the truck. Justin coughed and heaved. As the smoke cleared, he saw the grenade exploding into the dome of the town’s mosque, tearing it to shreds. The six-story-high minaret came tumbling down to the ground like a sandcastle swept away by a strong wave.
    “The Jeep,” Abdul shouted. “That’s the target.”
    “Thank you. What was I thinking?”
    The Jeep was now about eighty yards behind them. Before Justin could reach for another grenade, sparks flared up from bullets thumping against the truck. Rifle muzzles flashed from two assailants firing from both sides of the Jeep. A bullet ricocheted off the rail and grazed his left leg.
    Justin screwed another warhead to the launcher. He readied the RPG for the next round of fire. Abdul steered the truck around a corner, the last one inside the town. They raced through a narrow tunnel, the main gate of Ghadames. Two black Nissans were parked about one hundred yards outside the town walls. Three silhouettes stood by the vehicles. One of them, slimmer than the others, sported a long ponytail.
    “Bashir’s cars,” Abdul said.
    “So those should be the freed hostages.”
    Abdul peered for a long moment before answering, “Yes, they are.”
    “And I see Carrie too,” Justin said, his joy clear in his voice after seeing his partner was safe. “Now stop the car.”
    “Why?”
    “So I can aim the RPG.”
    Abdul stopped. Justin aimed at the mouth of the tunnel and pressed the launcher firmly against his right shoulder. As soon as the Jeep appeared halfway through the gate, he fired the RPG. The grenade barreled toward the target with a swishing screech. The warhead slammed into the Jeep. The vehicle burst into a massive, fiery explosion. The entire tunnel caved in over the burning hulk.
    “We’re home free now.” Justin dropped the launcher by his feet and collapsed against the cabin.
    “Yes, brother, we are,” Abdul said.
    He waited until Justin was back in his passenger’s seat before saying, “My boss won’t be pleased with you blowing up the mosque and destroying the gate.”
    “He might change his mind once he learns the terrorists are crushed and the hostages are free.”
    The truck growled while its tires spun over loose sand. Abdul eased off the gas pedal, allowing the tires to regain traction. They covered the short distance to Bashir’s cars, and Justin jumped out of the truck, right into Carrie’s arms.
    “Are you OK?” she asked.
    “Yes. So happy to see you.” Justin enjoyed the safety and the comfort of her embrace. “And you guys.” He nodded at the two doctors.
    The former hostages’ faces were pale, but they gave Justin bright smiles.
    “Sorry it took the cavalry some time to get here,” Carrie said.
    “It’s all good. Let’s go.” Justin headed toward one of the Nissans.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter One
     
     
    Canadian Intelligence Service Headquarters, Ottawa, Canada
    April 10, 7:50 a.m.
    Present day
     
    “Good morning, Justin.” Carrie smiled as she entered his sparsely furnished office bearing a tray holding coffee cups and a brown paper bag. A foot-high stack of bank transaction printouts took up most of the space on his desk, with very little room for Justin’s laptop. He was sitting behind it.
    “Hi, Carrie. How are you?” He took one of the cups from the tray. “Thanks for this,” he said before taking a small sip. “What do you have in there?” He pointed at the paper bag she placed precariously over the bank records.
    “Breakfast. I bet you haven’t eaten anything yet.” Carrie took one of the seats across from his desk.
    “No time. Couldn’t wait to come to the office and pore over these financial statements. As a child, this is what I