Special Counsel

A deadly EMP attack is planned for the United States with catastrophic consequences.

Anarchy, looting and the ultimate breakdown of law & order will surely follow the mass disruption of electronic systems.

Russia and Iran have joined forces, training Hezbollah to launch the offensive from an unlikely location in the Southern Hemisphere. Adam Drake stumbles upon the plot while negotiating a contract in Nicaragua.

Spotting suspicious missile launchers disguised as cargo containers, Drake’s warnings go unheeded by the U.S. embassy. As an armed convoy departs with the containers, heading north, Drake realizes he’s the only one who can stop the imminent attack. With time running out, he must rely on his skills to prevent the unthinkable.

A fast-paced, action-packed thriller with a plot that could be tomorrow’s headline.

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Praise

“I have now read all five of the Adam Drake series and literally couldn't put them down. They are fast paced, well constructed and the dialogue is highly intelligent. All the characters have full background stories and are fully fleshed out. I am not a lover of doom and gloom books, although the author finds current world topics and uses these to bring together the material for the next thrillers Highly recommend this book, Special Counsel, and the other four books in this series. Superbly written”

-- Amazon Reviewer, July 13, 2016

“I was very excited to read the 5th book in this series. So far in this series each book gets better than the last. This is by far my favorite in the series and I am looking forward to the next. The book is very hard to put down, each chapter ends leaving you wanting to start the next. I read books daily when I go to bed and there are several authors that seem to write in this method that makes it very hard to just put it down. The character development since the beginning of the series has been great. Each book gives you a little more insight into the characters and over the last three books there have been introductions of a few new characters and I am anticipating what role they will play in this series. As a veteran I am always looking for authors who do not put the time and research in to their books so that the information is accurate, and that has been a sticking point in other books. This series has been very accurate so far and I appreciate the accuracy that has been put into the book. I am very excited for the next book in the series! One chilling aspect is at the end of the book the author adds in real world news and information that ties in to what is in the book. Keep up the good work so I can continue the series!”

-- Amazon Reviewer, March 29, 2016

“I have read all six of the Adam Drake books, my only complaint is that there isn't a number 7 yet. I thoroughly enjoy this series of books.”

-- Amazon Reviewer, November 28, 2017

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Chapter One

The picture clipped to the inside of the file showed a satellite view of Corinto, a Pacific port on the coast of Nicaragua. The port was one of the new bases Russia was developing in Central America for its navy.

Adam Drake flipped through the pages of the skimpy file, then dropped it on the corner of his friend’s desk.

“When I agreed to be your special counsel, I didn’t see myself flying to Nicaragua to help one of your clients.”

Mike Casey, the CEO of Puget Sound Security, just shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “Just think of it as a short vacation in the land of lakes and volcanoes. You should be in and out in a couple of days.”

Drake returned a tight little smile. “You said the same thing a couple of times in Afghanistan, and we were lucky to get out at all.”

“And that’s why you’re perfect for this,” he said, reassuring him with a smile. “Trans World Marine is the largest marine infrastructure contractor in the world and one of my oldest clients. Developing ports and marine infrastructure is what they do. But Nicaragua is linking arms with Russia. The investors for this project are a couple of Russian oligarchs, and Nicaraguan officials have their hands out for bribes at every turn. My client wants to make sure they aren’t sailing too far into dangerous waters. You know how to navigate through those kinds of waters.”

Despite the obvious attempt at flattery, Drake knew Casey was right. Together they’d taken the fight to the enemy after 9/11. More than once they’d been cut off and on their own in enemy territory. Making it back to base alive had required all of their tactical skills.

“Do I get to take an investigation team with me?” Drake asked.

“That’s up to you. We have an appointment with Trans World Marine after lunch. You’ll know how much they want you to do and who you’ll need after that.”

Drake got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window with a view of Lake Washington. The new three-story Puget Sound Security corporate headquarters was designed with a band of wrap-around windows on the top two floors. The ground floor’s exterior walls were solid, fortified concrete with a vertical overlay of stamped black concrete in an interlocking stone pattern. Underground parking was accessed by a reinforced vertical lift gate with a security code that changed on a random basis. In addition to offices, conference and training rooms, the headquarters also had a firing range, armory, and machine shop.

“I’m proud of you, buddy,” Drake said. “This is a hell of a company you’ve built since we left the army.”

Casey joined him at the window. “It’s been a lot of work, but I was in the right place at the right time. The two men who started the company were ready to retire about the time I started here. When Mom and Dad sold the ranch in Montana, I was able to borrow enough money from them to buy a controlling interest.”

“And now you’re an international security firm, with your own Gulfstream G450! Which I’ll need to borrow for my “vacation” in Nicaragua, by the way.”

“That’s what it’s there for,” Casey said, throwing an arm over Drake’s shoulder. “Let’s go get something to eat on our way to Trans World Marine. You can drive me in your new company car.”

To convince Drake to become special counsel for the company, Casey had leased a new Porsche Cayman GTS for Drake’s commute from Portland, Oregon to Seattle one day a week. It replaced—at least for traveling up and down I-5—the old silver Porsche 911 Drake drove lovingly every other day of the week.

Before they left the underground parking garage, Casey asked Drake to set the GPS navigator for 81 Pike Street and the public market.

“I have reservations for us at Place Pigalle. I know how much you like crab cakes,” Casey said dryly.

Drake drove up the ramp and paused before pulling out onto the street. “Would you let up on the crab cake thing,” he said as he waited for an approaching car. “Liz invited me to her condo for dinner when we were in D.C. and prepared some incredible crab cakes. You’re just jealous because she didn’t invite you.”

“You must have feasted on those crab cakes for hours, getting back to the hotel as late as you did; that’s all I’m saying. I guess I’m also trying to let you know I really like Liz and that I’m happy you’re seeing someone. I wasn’t sure you’d ever be happy again after you lost Kay.”

They stopped at the next light and Drake was quiet for a moment before he turned to his friend. “I didn’t think so either. Kay was the love of my life. Losing her to cancer crushed me. But it’s been three years. Liz is making me smile again, so I guess that’s a step forward.”

“Well, I just wanted you to know I’m happy for you, however it turns out. And that I’m glad you like her crab cakes.”

Drake swung his right arm and slapped Casey across the chest before he accelerated away when the light changed. He had enjoyed more than good food that night, and he still wasn’t sure how he should feel about it.