Covert Danger: Mata Hari Series - Book 1 Read online

  Covert Danger

  Mata Hari Series - Book 1

  Jo-Ann Carson

  JRT Publications

  Nanaimo, B.C. Canada

  Covert Danger is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ©2015 Jo-Ann Terpstra

  ISBN – 978-0-9738902-1-1

  Mimi Version

  Cover design by Nina French

  Photo of NYC Metropolitan Museum of Art by Eric Baetscher

  Contents

  Introduction

  Praise for Covert Danger

  Aknowledgements

  Dedication

  1. Chapter One

  2. Chapter Two

  3. Chapter Three

  4. Chapter Four

  5. Chapter Five

  6. Chapter Six

  7. Chapter Seven

  8. Chapter Eight

  9. Chapter Nine

  10. Chapter Ten

  11. Chapter Eleven

  12. Chapter Twelve

  13. Chapter Thirteen

  14. Chapter Fourteen

  15. Chapter Fifteen

  16. Chapter Sixteen

  17. Chapter Seventeen

  18. Chapter Eighteen

  19. Chapter Nineteen

  20. Chapter Twenty

  21. Chapter Twenty-One

  22. Chapter Twenty-Two

  23. Chapter Twenty-Three

  24. Chapter Twenty-Four

  25. Chapter Twenty-Five

  26. Chapter Twenty-Six

  27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

  28. Chapter Twenty-Eight

  29. Chapter Twenty-Nine

  30. Chapter Thirty

  31. Chapter Thirty-One

  32. Chapter Thirty-Two

  33. Chapter Thirty-Three

  34. Chapter Thirty-Four

  35. Chapter Thirty-Five

  36. Chapter Thirty-Six

  37. Chapter Thirty-Seven

  38. Chapter Thirty-Eight

  39. Chapter Thirty-Nine

  40. Chapter Forty

  41. Chapter Forty-One

  42. Chapter Forty-Two

  43. Chapter Forty-Three

  A Letter from Jo-Ann

  Also by Jo-Ann Carson

  About the Author

  Excerpt from Ancient Danger

  Introduction

  Covert Danger

  Mata Hari Suspense Series, Book #1

  A single woman — A double life

  High fashion model, Sadie Stewart, is a dedicated undercover CIA agent used to getting her man. But this time she’s chasing a power-hungry, international arms dealer stealing ancient Egyptian amulets. Brilliant, ruthless and slightly wacko, he’s a hard catch. She’s willing to risk everything to stop him, but the handsome Sebastian Wilde, who looks like a modern Viking, keeps getting in her way. Her independence is shaken as he stirs feelings in her that she thought only existed in fairy tales. Can she put their attraction aside and get the job done?

  Covert Danger is the first book in the Mata Hari series. If you like Indiana Jones and Covert Affairs, you’ll love this award-winning book, which combines all of their best traits in a fast-paced, captivating and sexy, romantic suspense.

  by Jo-Ann Carson

  Smart, Sexy, Suspense

  Praise for Covert Danger

  “…Ms. Carson writes an action packed suspense with incredible pacing and well-developed characters that readers will thoroughly enjoy. Sadie is a strong and sassy heroine and is well matched with Sebastian; the chemistry between them is off the charts and the adventures they experience while traveling Europe to complete her mission are described in great detail and with fantastic imagery. Readers will not want to put this book down and will eagerly await the next installment in the series.” Molly Daniels InD’tale Magazine June 2015, 5 stars, 5 tea pots for steaminess and a crowned hart for excellence.

  “I so loved this story! It was like someone FINALLY made James Bond a female…..only made her better and badder! It was great to be able to read about a strong woman, but who isn’t afraid to walk on the wild side with Sebastian! The chemistry between Sadie and Sebastian is so hot, it jumps off the pages at you. I could not put this book down…” 5 Star review on Amazon by Gerianne Slavinsky

  “Sadie Stewart is a high fashion model who ferrets out secrets for the CIA when she’s not stealing priceless jewellery or smuggling ancient artifacts. Beautiful, bright and a bit too brave for her own good she catches the eye of Sebastian, a Dutch art dealer, just when she needs rescuing. Smitten, he makes it his priority to take care of her in bed and out. A wonderful, romantic sexy romp which takes you from the canals of Venice to the quaint streets of old Amsterdam, a palace in Cairo and then to New York city. With complex characters and steamy love scenes this is definitely a must read.” 5 Star review on Amazon by Helena Korin

  “Brave, intelligent, beautiful and witty – Sadie Stewart seems to be unbeatable in this face-paced suspense series. But like every great spy adventure the bad guys are just as cunning and complex as the good guys…” 5 Star review on Amazon by J. Read.

  Aknowledgements

  Covert Danger is my first published book. It took over a year to write. I couldn’t have done it without my family and friends’ support. There were many ups and downs during the journey and even a cancer diagnosis, but in the end my story came together and it was because of their love, friendship and generous spirits.

  How do you thank people who throw you a life-line and help you make your biggest dream come true? Words don’t seem enough, but I will try.

  I may not say it every day, but I should. I am grateful to my husband, Piet, who patiently listens to every wild idea I come up with, never doubts me and encourages me to “go for it.” You are my rock of strength, my star of vision.

  I am blessed with two beautiful daughters. Thanks go to J.C. McKenzie who was my critique partner. Her wicked wit and sharp eye kept me going through my first draft. Thanks go to Hannah Myles, who was an amazing beta reader and gave me solid feedback, which strengthened the plot line.

  I also have wonderful friends. (I must have done something good in my last life.) My deepest thanks go to Marisa Radcliffe, who taught me how to swear in Italian and understand men better . She’s a kick-ass beta-reader.

  Then there’s my technical team. I’d like to thank Dr. Philip Newey, my copy-editor, who straightens out my grammar. And Nina French, my cover-designer extraordinaire.

  I’d like also to acknowledge Eric Baetscher who granted me permission to use his photo of the NYC Metropolitan Museum of Art on my cover.

  And last, but never least, my heart-felt gratitude goes to my writing buddies (you know who you are) who support and inspire me every day.

  All errors are my own.

  Dedication

  to Piet

  who helped me find my voice.

  Love always…

  1

  Chapter One

  Venice, Italy, March

  Standing at the helm of his yacht, international art dealer Sebastian Wilde watched the mysterious woman roar through the dark waters of the Grand Canal in a high-speed motor boat, the Italian military police hot on her tail. He grabbed his binoculars for a better view. In the translucent morning light the stunning red head accelerated, steering around boats as if she’d been running from the Carabinieri all her life. She moved with desperate recklessness, as if she had nothing left to lose. If her hand slipped, she’d smash into one of the gondolas gliding along the famous waterway lined with fading pink pal
aces sinking slowly into the sea. One slip and someone would die.

  Horns blew, telegraphing danger, and the boats in the channel cleared a path. Sebastian shook his head. She had to be crazy. Like a savvy pirate she focused on the water in front of her and made her way.

  Unbridled and brazen, the woman dominated the scene.

  His breath caught as he waited for her to fail.

  As she roared closer he lowered his binoculars. Their eyes locked—just for a moment. A wise man would let the cops catch her, but his blood rushed south of his brain. She had the beauty of an enchantress. A smile spread across his face. And the balls of a Navy SEAL.

  As she passed his vessel her wake rocked his hull. He needed to make a split-second decision: get out of the way of the police who pursued her, or…? He swung his steering wheel and slid his yacht into their path. He might have a lot of explaining to do, but part of him wanted to help the daring woman who risked everything. Irrational and stupid—he could already hear the names he’d call himself later. But it felt right. And he trusted his gut.

  A hundred yards ahead, a small barge loaded with boxes of bananas, apples and oranges for the market moved towards the woman. The white-haired skipper yelled to the second mate, “Porta. Porta, stupido.” Cowering at the tiller, the gangly boy yanked the stick completely to starboard, steering directly towards the woman.

  Sebastian’s muscles tensed. Sweat beaded on his brow. He grabbed a life ring. At the last second, the woman maneuvered her boat around the barge in a smooth arc. He exhaled slowly.

  The boats neared the picturesque twelfth-century Rialto Bridge with its elaborate twenty four foot arch over the canal. People leaned over the sides taking pictures. Gondolas glided along the edges. Sebastian prayed no one would get hurt.

  The police boat slowed to get around his hull. They cleared him, but had to make a sharp turn to avoid the barge. Little room remained. The woman had left an obstacle course of boats scattered in her wake.

  The Carabinieri’s boat with double engines roaring at high speed didn’t have a chance. There was no space left for them to maneuver. Five times the police horn blew, the mariner’s warning of imminent disaster. “Porca Madonna… Dio.”

  The cops threw their engines into reverse to slow their momentum. But a collision with the barge carrying fruit could not be avoided. All the sailors reached for a hand-hold. The two vessels collided with a loud, solid thud followed by a grinding that made Sebastian wince.

  An officer standing on the bow of the police boat smacked his head with the palm of his hand. “Dio… Dio.” Men ran around on both boats checking for damage. The barge listed, but no one landed in the water.

  A vaporetto chugged by with a full load of people gaping at the scene. Other boats moved in to take a closer look. People shouted from the bridge. The barge captain swore and gestured with his hands. His young helmsman shook.

  Sebastian turned to look at the woman at the helm of the cocky speed boat. Watching the auburn-haired beauty wrapped in a cloak of green silk disappear into the morning mist made his pulse race.

  ***

  Sadie’s shoulders relaxed. Once again fate had saved her. She halved her speed and eased into the morning traffic.

  Hot guy on the yacht. Not many men would take a risk like that for a woman they didn’t know. He must be crazy, or a lousy sailor.

  Five minutes later, she turned into a side canal and brought her boat to the edge where her business associate Delilah waited. Tossing her the bow line, she cut the engine and pulled the drain plug.

  Dirty canal water gushed into the hull with a swishing sound. As the craft slowly sank, Sadie climbed out, holding a diamond and ruby necklace in one hand and Italian stilettos in the other. The expensive motor-boat she’d borrowed from a gentleman friend had served its purpose. Glancing over her shoulder, she grimaced as the last visible part of the bow sank below the surface into the darkness below, where it would rest on the bottom of the canal amid centuries of relics and sordid tales. She took off her designer cloak and threw it in. At least she wasn’t joining the artifacts yet.

  Delilah, a short, buxom brunette who looked a Botox thirty-five in good light helped her onto dry land. The woman smelled of Cuban cigars. Her knowing eyes scanned Sadie as they walked, arm in arm, down the narrow back street like sisters out for a stroll.

  The crowds thickened as people came out of their hotels to find breakfast. The smell of espresso and fresh pastry floated in the air.

  Delilah leaned towards her. “You’re one crazy bitch.” As usual, the hard edge in her tone cut deeper than her words.

  “Just tell me what the necklace is worth.”

  “A quarter million, at most. It’s a well-known piece. I’ll have to take it apart to get anything.”

  Sadie released the woman’s arm and took a step back. “Two hundred and fifty thousand Euro. That’s all?” She pressed her lips together.

  “Dollars.”

  Sadie shook her head. That was even worse. They walked in a brooding silence. She kicked a pebble with her toe. “I’ve got to find a better way to make money.”

  “Are you in trouble… drugs or something?” Delilah’s eyes softened.

  “Not exactly.” Sadie hesitated. “I’m turning thirty.”

  Delilah broke into a throaty bar laugh. “Honey, it happens to us all.”

  “But not like it happens to me. When I turn thirty, my modeling contracts will dry up. The Luscious Lips campaign already dropped me for a fifteen-year-old. The lipstick writing is on the wall. I’m running out of cat walk. No one wants a model with wrinkles.

  The world wants fresh meat. No matter how much I diet, I’m going to be yesterday’s cover girl and worse—I’m going to be a penniless one.”

  Delilah’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand why you steal. You’ve made heaps of money.”

  “And spent even more.” Sadie kicked at another pebble. “Yeah, my modeling career’s been great. I’ve been on lots of covers, traveled the world and met interesting people. Problem is, soon I won’t be able to afford the life I’m used to. Modeling is a short term career. You come in hailed as a beauty queen and in a blink of a false eyelash you end up tossed aside like yesterday’s salad. The money I made I spent, or invested in stocks that sank faster than that boat.

  I suck at saving money.” She shook her head like a dumb dame. “The bucks came so easy in the beginning, but now that I’m older, things are changing.”

  Her insides cringed. It took a lot to sound so whiny. But she wanted to convince the woman. Sadie gave her a doe-eyed look. Delilah needed to buy the whole image: Sadie Stewart, international model—empty-headed bimbo—willing to do anything for pretty shoes.

  She could never let the fence suspect her real reason for turning to a life of crime.

  A mischievous glint came into Delilah’s eyes. “So, find a man to pay your bills. Beautiful women have been doing that since the dawn of time.” She did her version of the Gallic shrug, which on her looked awkward and out of place. “What’s the problem? You could probably snare royalty with your mane of red hair, not to mention the rest of you.”

  Sadie rolled her eyes. “There’s no way. No way on God’s green earth I’ll resort to relying on a man—for anything. Been there, done that. Being married is like being caged. There’s no room to be yourself. And there’s the stinky-sock-washing expectations to boot. Let’s not even talk about what happens to romance. Marriage is not for me.” A shudder ran through her body. She didn’t need to act this part.

  “Sadie, sweet Sadie, do you really think you can keep evading the police by sneaking around, or leading them on spectacular boat chases? Get a grip, woman. I give you six months as a jewel thief and then you’ll be in some cold European jail cell with Bessy.”

  “Bessy?”

  “A big girlfriend you don’t want to meet.”

  “Oh. You gotta help me, Delilah. You know people. There’s got to be a better way. I figure I need twenty million Euro to r
etire in style. That’s all—twenty mill.”

  Delilah smiled her gotcha-smile. “If you’re not going to marry it, honey, you’re going to have to steal it or…”

  “Or what?”

  “Smuggle it.”

  2

  Chapter Two

  Amsterdam, The Netherlands, March

  With a nod of his head Bakari al-Sharif motioned for his two bodyguards to stay on the cobblestoned street lined with seventeenth century, canal houses. He scanned the horizon one more time before descending a rope ladder down the steep, brick, canal wall to the barge below. His feet hit the metal deck with a thump and he turned towards the door.

  Candle light flickered through a burlap covered window on the side of the cabin. The faint smell of incense hung in the air. His scalp tingled just as it did the first time he saw the great seer twenty years ago. He’d only been a teenager then.

  He clenched his jaw. She could evade him no longer.

  As he opened the cabin door without knocking, the pungent smell of the ancient Egyptian incense, kyphi, swamped his senses. He swallowed. Learning about the mysteries of life could be both elevating and terrifying, but he trusted the way Djeserit took great care of him. The kyphi she prepared combined twenty-eight ingredients and had been blessed with an ancient incantation known by few. The aromas of wine, honey and raisins brought memories of his childhood in Cairo rushing back. So long ago, and yet so near when he sat with her. She was more than a woman—more like a timeless portal to the past, present and future. Once he’d been awed by her gift. Not anymore.