CHASING THE WHITE LION
(Talia Inger, Book Two)
by
JAMES R. HANNIBAL
Date of Publication: March 3, 2020
Number of Pages: 384
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Young CIA officer Talia Inger has reconciled with the man who assassinated her father, but that doesn't mean she wants him hovering over her every move and unearthing the painful past she's trying to put behind her. Still, she'll need him--and the help of his star grifter, Valkyrie--if she hopes to infiltrate the Jungle, the first ever crowdsourced crime syndicate, to rescue a group of kidnapped refugee children.
But as Talia and her elite team of thieves con their way into the heart of the Jungle, inching ever closer to syndicate boss the White Lion, she'll run right up against the ragged edge of her family's dark past. In this game of cat and mouse, it's win . . . or die. And in times like that, it's always good to have someone watching your back.
Former tactical deception officer and stealth pilot James Hannibal takes you deep undercover into the criminal underworld where everyone has an angle, and no one escapes unscathed.
WANT TO BE A REAL HERO?
Want to be a real hero? Compassion International, a real organization fighting child poverty, stars in Chasing the White Lion. By giving hope and a sense of identity to these kids, they're helping families slam the door on human traffickers. A portion of every book sold will go to support Compassion's work. You can join the fight simply by buying a copy of Chasing the White Lion.
CHAPTER ONE, PART TWO OF
CHASING THE WHITE LION
BY JAMES R. HANNIBAL
VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA
WHARF DISTRICT
PRESENT DAY
Moments later, he returned from the bar with a bottle of vodka and two tumblers, which he filled well past the customary level. “Zdoróvye.” He tossed his drink back in one gulp.
Talia slid hers aside with the back of her hand. “Nice place you picked. A lot of . . . atmosphere. What kind of name is Catfish for a bar?”
“It is good name. In Volga River, catfish is king. He is top of food chain, up to five meters long and three hundred fifty kilograms.” The rat took her tumbler, swallowed its contents, and poured two more. When Talia’s flat expression didn’t change, he spread his hands. “Three hundred fifty kilograms, Vera. The Som, Volga catfish, is bigger than mako shark.”
“The Mako. Now that is a good name for a bar.”
“You Americans. No imagination.” Oleg slid the tumbler in front of her. Talia pushed it aside again.
He frowned. “Fine. Business. What can best forger in Russia do for Vera?”
“The question you should ask is, What can Vera do for you?”
“Okay. I bite. What can Vera do for me?”
“Make your bank account grow.” Talia produced an envelope, fat with cash.
The flaring of Oleg’s nostrils told her she had his full attention. “I am listening.” He leaned across the pocked tabletop, bringing with him the stench of cigarette breath and perfumed hair, and reached for the cash.
Talia snatched the envelope away. “Not so fast. This is one hundred thousand US, a good- faith payment to show that my employer is serious. First I want to know you’re serious as well.”
“What kind of relationship?”
“The profitable kind.”
Oleg let his eyes drift around the bar in poorly feigned disinterest. “I have many such relationships. My identities are best in Russia.” He pressed his thumb and forefinger together and kissed them with a loud smack. “Best in Russia. I am not copy- shop hack making fake passports. I build complete identities. Documents. Digital histories. Life stories. A hundred thousand will buy your boss five identities.” He raised his chin. “In fact, make it ten. I give him new customer discount.”
“Her. My boss is a woman.”
The rat raised an eyebrow. “How modern. I cannot wait to meet her.”
“You never will. And she doesn’t want new identities. She wants copies of the identities you create for others.”
The leer dropped from Oleg’s face. “Perhaps my English fails me. It sound like you want me to betray my clients.”
“Don’t think of it as betrayal.” Talia lifted her hand, revealing the full thickness of the envelope— the weight of all that money— and watched Oleg lick his lips. “Think of it as a bonus. You’ll get paid twice for every identity you create.”
The rat’s Adam’s apple dipped. “A bonus. Yes. I like that.” His fingers crept across the table, seeking her permission.
“Go ahead, Oleg. The money’s yours.” She owned him.
Oleg drew back the lapel of his blue leather jacket and tucked the envelope away. “It is very good deal. But tell your boss I pass.”
As if the statement were a command, all the rough patrons at the bar swiveled their stools to glare at Talia. Others emerged from the booths.
Oleg laughed, zipped up the jacket, and patted the envelope inside. “Did you think I would not find out who you were, Miss C- I- A? Identities are my business.” He slapped both hands down on the table. “Like I said. You Americans. No imagination.”
GIVEAWAY:
GRAND PRIZE: Copy of Both Books in the Talia Inger Series
+ Bookstore Candle + $10 Starbucks Gift Card;
SECOND PRIZE: Copy of Both Books in the Talia Inger Series
+ $20 Barnes and Noble Gift Card;
THIRD PRIZE: Copy of Both Books in the Talia Inger Series + $10 Starbucks Gift Card
(U.S. Only)
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I liked the excerpt. The book sounds very intriguing. Thank you for sharing.
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