Today, I’d like to
introduce you to AJ Bruce, one of the stars of Colombian Betrayal: A Bruce
& Smith Thriller-Book One. She’s a no-nonsense type of character, not
afraid to share her thoughts, but at the same time, doesn’t go out of her way
to rock the boat unless she feels there’s a need to do so. We don’t know much
about her life before she began working with the CIA. Information about her
background will be revealed in the sequel, Revenge: A Bruce & Smith
Thriller-Book Two.
“So,
AJ, how did you end up working for the CIA?”
She
shrugged. “I’m somewhat following in my father’s footsteps. He was an
ambassador in two countries. I decided to avoid the State Department as I
didn’t want any hint of favoritism, and applied to the CIA. After I was
accepted, I went through the normal training regime for a field officer.”
“Tell
us a bit about yourself, if you don’t mind sharing.”
“Sure.
There are a few things I can share without breaking any laws or regulations.
First, I love coffee! Hot, black, and strong! Second, I can be a bit impatient.
Nothing drives me crazier than trying to get from point A to point B and
traffic slows me down. Third—I thrive on the thrill of field operations.”
“I
understand you normally work alone during field operations, utilizing whatever
support might be needed, but only when necessary. How did you feel about having
Colonel Javier Smith shoved on you by your boss, Lintstone?”
“Lintstone
can be a bit of a jerk. I voiced my opinion, but he told me I had no choice. As
it turned out, Javier and I worked well together, our skills complimenting each
other when needed, to ensure successful completion of our anti-terrorism
mission. As an added bonus, we even rescued two kidnapped girls and returned
them to their family.”
“Is
there any chemistry between you and Javier?”
“He’s
certainly not hard on the eyes. We’ve had our brief moments, but we’re both
concentrating on our careers. Who knows what will happen in the future?” AJ
laughed. “Watch this space.”
“What
do you have planned next? With the termination of Lintstone and being named as
his replacement I’m trying to make the adjustment from part-time
headquarters/part-time field agent to being fulltime at headquarters.
Definitely a challenge to leading from a distance, rather than being in the
middle of the action. If this doesn’t work out, Javier is cooking up a possible
solution with his idea of an investigative agency taking on international
cases. That’s all I can share at the moment. You’ll have to wait for the
release of Revenge to find out more.”
“Good luck in your
future endeavors, and thank you for spending some time with us.”
Colombian Betrayal
A Bruce and Smith Thriller
Book One
Randall Krzak
Genre: action-adventure thriller, political thriller, suspense thriller
Publisher: Randall Krzak Books
Date of Publication: March 30, 2020 (Kindle)
A Bruce and Smith Thriller
Book One
Randall Krzak
Genre: action-adventure thriller, political thriller, suspense thriller
Publisher: Randall Krzak Books
Date of Publication: March 30, 2020 (Kindle)
ISBN: 0978944100
ISBN-13: 978-0978944100
ASIN: B0854CFJTV
Number of pages: 330
Word Count: 82,039
Cover Artist: Matt at www.darngoodcovers.com
Tagline: Colombian Betrayal exposes the death and violence behind the entangled interactions between governments, revolutionaries, terrorists, and drug lords.
Book Description:
Colombian Betrayal tears the cover off the drug trade and exposes the death, and violence behind the twisted connections between governments, revolutionaries, terrorists, and drug lords.
Watch as an unholy alliance is formed when the profits of a Columbian drug lord Olivia Moreno, begin disappearing and deadly new international competitors appear on the horizon.
Moreno, head of the Barranquilla Cartel, strikes a deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Little does she know she is signing her own death warrant! FARC has a group wanting a foothold in South America—the Islamic State, and she is in the way.
On the run, Moreno is captured by a CIA team. She spins a tale to use her money and manpower to destroy ISIS in an effort to save herself. Laws and rules of engagement are meaningless to Moreno, her life and her family are her only concern. Will the CIA leader fall for her offer?
Will team leader AJ Bruce strike a deal to turn the tables on Islamic State? Can she stop them from launching an attack on the United States? Or will she be too late?
Is it worth trading control of Afghanistan’s poppy fields with Moreno as a reward for her cooperation? Or is Bruce playing her in an attempt to double-cross her and kill two birds with one stone?
Get your copy today, and watch this high stakes game of kill or be killed.
Excerpt
2 (947 words)
AJ Bruce weaved
through heavy traffic on the Capital Beltway. She alternated between leaning on
the horn and cursing at slower motorists.
“Late again. I
don’t need this!” She slammed a hand on the steering wheel of her gunmetal gray
Honda Pilot. “Boss is gonna kill me.”
She slipped to
the right around a banged-up clunker, her vehicle bouncing on the rough
shoulder. AJ spotted her exit and sped along the edge of the freeway and flew
down the ramp. She raced through a red light and whipped her vehicle toward the
security checkpoint at the CIA facility in Langley, skidding to a halt at the
end of a line of cars waiting for access.
“C’mon, c’mon!”
AJ urged the cars in front to move faster. At last, her turn came. She flashed
her badge at the sensor and shot past the barricade. She grabbed a pass from
the console, flung the placard on the dash, jumped out of her car, and raced
inside.
Once through the
turnstile, she rushed to the elevator, the one-inch heels of her black leather
shoes clicking on the tiled floor. Two minutes later, AJ waltzed into her
section and made her way to the boss’s office, stopping at a kiosk on the way
for a cup of black coffee.
“AJ, so glad you
could join us today.” Robert Lintstone, head of the counter-terrorism division
responsible for tracking terrorists in Latin America, sneered as he half-bowed
and waved her to a seat. “What’s your excuse this time?”
Prick. As if I’d
tell him in front of others. He’s always talking about the need to know.
Staying out all night after the class reunion is my own business. Flicking her
long, brown hair, AJ slid into a chair and glanced around the table. Four of
her staff occupied seats, with empty coffee mugs in front of them. Within easy
reach, notepads were covered with several lines of writing. Damn! I’m really
late—wonder what they already covered? She tried to sneak a peek at the pad
nearest her. The person smiled and turned it so she could read.
A stranger with
black hair in a military cut, piercing green eyes, and olive complexion sat
opposite her. Silver eagles of a full colonel adorned the epaulets of his
uniform. His nametag read Smith.
Lintstone rubbed
a hand through his thinning gray hair and cleared his throat. “There are
indications the Islamic State is attempting to gain a foothold in our
territory. They’ve already infiltrated a number of countries around the world.
We’re trying to ascertain the validity of the intel before we make a move.”
“What’s the
source?” AJ scribbled on a notepad while her boss spoke.
“Two sensitive
contacts, both unconfirmed. One reported Islamic State purchased an old
freighter from an Iranian corporation through a cutout. They’re using the
Liberian-flagged ship as a floating command post. The other stated IS training
camps are being set up in Colombia and Panama.” He shook his head before
peering at them through thick glasses. “It might be a smart move on their part
since no one would believe they had willing conscripts in these countries.”
Lintstone pounded
a fist on his desk. The civilians flinched. “Dammit, people! We need
collaborative intel. Fast! Someone check with NSA and Homeland Security. Find
out if they can help. Call State as well, but I doubt they’ll be of any use.”
A tall, thin man
with receding gray hair vaulted from his chair. “On it, sir.” He hurried from
the room before Lintstone added any further instructions.
“Contact the
British and the Canadians, too. Perhaps they’ll share with us, although
there’ll be a quid pro quo.”
A bald man, on
the heavy side, lumbered to his feet with the use of a cane. “Will do, chief.”
“Don’t offer any
more than necessary.”
“Yes, sir.” The
man limped through the doorway, banging the door shut behind him.
Lintstone glared
at two women sitting at the end of the table. “Well, what are you waiting for?
An invitation? Back to your computers and analyze. Contact NGA—see if the
geospatial folks know more than they’ve shared. Find me something—anything to
point us in the right direction.”
The women nodded
and left.
“What about us,
boss?” AJ gestured toward the colonel to include him in her question.
“This is Colonel
Javier Smith, First Special Forces Operational Detachment. He’s here as an
advisor. Colonel, meet AJ Bruce, my troubleshooter.”
AJ gazed at the
colonel. “So you’re Delta Force?”
“Yes, but I’m
not just here to advise.” He glanced at Lintstone. “This will be my last time
in the field before taking up a new assignment at the Pentagon. That’s why I’m
in uniform today. I met with my new commander earlier, and he’s a stickler for
proper military etiquette and attire. Didn’t have time to change before this
meeting.”
Both stood and
walked around the table to shake hands. The colonel dwarfed AJ’s
five-foot-ten-inch frame by six inches. AJ noted a thin scar running from his
left ear to his chin. After a firm squeeze, both returned to their seats.
“You’ll be
working togeth—”
AJ pursed her
lips. “Sir, I work alone.” Oh great. Just what I need—a special forces
guerrilla tagging along. But, least he’s cute.
“Not this time.
Orders from above.”
“Don’t worry,
AJ, you won’t slow me down.” His bass voice resonating, Colonel Smith smiled.
“Excuse me,
Colonel, I don’t want you to be in my way.” AJ crossed her arms. A frown etched
her face.
“You two
finished?” Lintstone glanced at both of them. “Good. You’re working together—no
debate.”
“Yes, boss.” AJ
dragged the words out.
About the Author:
Randall Krzak is a U.S. Army veteran and retired senior civil servant, spending thirty years in Europe, Africa, Central America, and the Middle East. His residency abroad qualifies him to build rich worlds in his action-adventure novels and short stories. Familiar with customs, laws, and social norms, he promotes these to create authentic characters and scenery.
His first novel, The Kurdish Connection, was published in 2017, and the sequel, Dangerous Alliance, was released in November2018. Both placed in the 2018 Global Thriller Book Awards sponsored by Chanticleer International Book Awards, with The Kurdish Connection finishing as a semi-finalist and Dangerous Alliance being selected as one of seven first in category winners. The third novel in the series, Carnage in Singapore, was released in August 2019, and is currently a semi-finalist in the 2019 Chanticleer International Book Awards. He also penned "A Dangerous Occupation," a winning entry in the August 2016Wild Sound Writing and Film Festival Review short story category.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and a general Master in Business Administration (MBA) and a MBA with an emphasis in Strategic Focus, both from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. He currently resides with his wife, Sylvia, and six cats in Dunfermline, Scotland. He's originally from Michigan, while Sylvia is a proud Scot. In addition to writing, he enjoys hiking, reading, candle making, pyrography, and sightseeing.
His first novel, The Kurdish Connection, was published in 2017, and the sequel, Dangerous Alliance, was released in November2018. Both placed in the 2018 Global Thriller Book Awards sponsored by Chanticleer International Book Awards, with The Kurdish Connection finishing as a semi-finalist and Dangerous Alliance being selected as one of seven first in category winners. The third novel in the series, Carnage in Singapore, was released in August 2019, and is currently a semi-finalist in the 2019 Chanticleer International Book Awards. He also penned "A Dangerous Occupation," a winning entry in the August 2016Wild Sound Writing and Film Festival Review short story category.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and a general Master in Business Administration (MBA) and a MBA with an emphasis in Strategic Focus, both from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. He currently resides with his wife, Sylvia, and six cats in Dunfermline, Scotland. He's originally from Michigan, while Sylvia is a proud Scot. In addition to writing, he enjoys hiking, reading, candle making, pyrography, and sightseeing.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjkrzak
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1 comment:
This looks like an intriguing story. I would love to read more.
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