Read Out of the Shadows (Akira and Deane Thriller Series Book 1) for Free Online

reveal a dark and winding corridor. A small
lobby presented itself, with grey tiles and bare white walls
seemingly for as far as the eye could see.
    Olsen rushed down the corridor
and came to a set of heavy wooden doors. He swiped his ID card
through the reader once more, waited for the expected clearance,
and smiled at the assistant who was sitting near the door. ‘He’s
expecting me.’ The strikingly tall young man opened the final door;
a heavy steel-plated one, and walked into a slighter darker room
than that of any other in the building. To his surprise, someone
else was sitting at the large mahogany desk.
    Kevin Ramsey
had been covering the job of Chief of MI6 from the legendary
Richard Elliott for just a few hours. Since the latter’s sudden
trip to Europe, the 45-year-old second in command had spent every
available moment acquainting himself with the latest developments.
Looking younger than his years, the tall, heavyset dark skinned man
stood up from his chair and ushered in the agent at the door. ‘Our
superior is away for the next fortnight. Take a seat,
Olsen.’
    Sunlight broke through the
semi-dark room as it streamed in from two nearby windows. Whereas
the rest of the building was modern in its design, almost cold in
places, the Chief’s office seemed detached from time itself. A
large grandfather clock ticked away slowly on one side, with the
entire décor a heavy mahogany brown. Bookcases were on either side
of the door, both stacked with dusty looking hardbacks. Unlike the
rest of the building, no fluorescent lights were hanging from the
ceiling. Instead, several quaint looking lamps were dotted around
the room. A deep noise filtered through the room as the grandfather
clock chimed 10 a.m.
    Olsen
remembered the low point of the last operation and felt on edge. He
focussed his dark brown eyes on his superior and waited.
    Ramsey clasped
his large hands together and placed both elbows on the desk.
‘Something has come up. I’m assigning you to Operation Safeguard.
You’ll be flying out to Oman on Wednesday, heading to Muscat, the
nation’s capital.’
    Olsen sat
motionless in a state of shock. His heart sank like a stone. Oman.
The very mention of the place sent a shiver down his spine and made
his mouth feel dry. Oman had been the country where his father,
Geoff Olsen, had died years before. He had never been there or had
the urge to do so before. ‘Related to the British Royal visit
then?’ He said, in an unusually quiet tone.
    ‘That’s right.
As I’m sure you’ve read in the press, our own Prince David is going
to Oman on a three-day goodwill tour, focussing mainly on the
capital of Muscat, with some visits to other parts of the country.
Naturally, the usual team of security agents will accompany the
Prince. However, OMA1: Thomas Deane, will also play a part in
offering additional covert support. He was adamant about working on
his own but I don’t agree. I’m sending you to partner him.’ The
acting Chief of MI6 saw the furrowed brow of Olsen. ‘Now, obviously
this is a sensitive issue. The last time there was a British Royal
visit to Oman, we lost an agent. Not just any agent Olsen, but your
father.’ Ramsey shifted in his chair, looking uncomfortable. I
won’t force you to take this operation Sam, but I don’t want to
leave Deane alone to carry out the work either. If you decline,
I’ll find someone else. It’s not a problem.’
    Dense, dark
black eyebrows moved slightly as a reply came. ‘I must admit, sir,
I wasn’t expecting you to ask me to go to Oman. It’s a bit of a
shock.’ Olsen paused and thought about the decision. There was no
doubt in his heart, he didn’t want to go to Oman but turning down
an operation was not his style. To do so would damage his career,
no matter what the circumstance. At the same time, did he not have
a duty, no matter what? He felt physically sick as he prepared to
reply, knowing all too well what he was committing to. ‘I’ll do