THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FROM BRAD THOR, “QUITE POSSIBLY THE NEXT COMING OF ROBERT LUDLUM”(Chicago Tribune)
June 632 A.D.: The prophet Mohammed shares a final and startling revelation. Within days, he is assassinated.
September 1789: Thomas Jefferson uncovers a conspiracy that could change the face of Islam.
Present day: Men still kill to keep the secret hidden.
When a car bomb explodes outside a Parisian café, counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath is thrust back into the life he has tried desperately to leave behind. In a race to uncover an ancient secret with the power to stop militant Islam, Harvath will risk everything to reclaim Mohammed’s final revelation and defeat one of the deadliest evils the world has ever known.
THE LAST PATRIOT
“Brilliantly plotted and ingeniously conceived…As close to a perfect thriller as you’ll ever find.”—Providence Journal-Bulletin (RI)
ATRIA BOOKS
MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT
SimonandSchuster.com
THE SOURCE FOR READING GROUPS
BRAD THOR, a graduate of the University of Southern California, has served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Analytic Red Cell Program and is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Lucerne, Path of the Assassin, State of the Union, Blowback, Takedown, The First Commandment, The Last Patriot and The Apostle. Visit his website at www.BradThor.com.
Also by Brad Thor
The Lions of Lucerne
Path of the Assassin
State of the Union
Blowback
Takedown
The First Commandment
The Last Patriot
The Apostle
Foreign Influence
The Athena Project
Full Black
Black List
From The Lions of Lucerne to Full Black, Brad Thor delivers “high voltage entertainment reminiscent of Robert Ludlum” (Library Journal). While keeping readers riveted with heart-pounding suspense, the #1 New York Times bestselling author is also “changing the scope of the espionage novel in today’s world (Tampa Tribune).
Praise for
FOREIGN INFLUENCE
One of the Best Political Thrillers of 2010
(Suspense Magazine)
“Frightening, illuminating, and entertaining.”
—Bookreporter.com
“Intrigue, adventure, and adrenaline-rushing action….”
—New American Truth
THE APOSTLE
“An out-of-the-ballpark homerun. You won’t want to put it down.”
—Blackwater Tactical Weekly
“Powerful and convincing…. A breathtaking, edge-of-your-seat experience.”
—National Terror Alert.com
THE LAST PATRIOT
“A thriller to die for.”
—Glenn Beck
“Brilliantly plotted and ingeniously conceived.”
—Providence Journal-Bulletin (RI)
“Wow, this guy can write.”
—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
More acclaim for Brad Thor’s bestsellers featuring Scot Harvath, “the perfect all-American hero for the post—September 11th world (Nelson DeMille)
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
“An intelligent, sizzling adventure full of international intrigue.”
—Wilmington Morning Star (NC)
“Adrenaline-charged…. Brad Thor knows how to excite the senses.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Emperor’s Tomb
TAKEDOWN
“High-octane …crisp and cinematic, with …gun-blazing, gut-busting action.”
—The Tennessean
“Exciting …frightening…. [A] masterpiece.”
—Midwest Book Review
BLOWBACK
One of NPR’s top 100 “Killer Thrillers” of all time!
“Haunting, high-voltage…. One of the best thriller writers in the business.”
—Ottawa Citizen
“An incredible international thriller…. Riveting and superior.”
—Brunei Press Syndicate
STATE OF THE UNION
“Frighteningly real.”
—Ottawa Citizen
“[A] blistering, testosterone-fueled espionage thriller.”
—Publishers Weekly
PATH OF THE ASSASSIN
“The action is relentless, the pacing sublime.” —Ottawa Citizen
THE LIONS OF LUCERNE
“Fast-paced, scarily authentic—I just couldn’t put it down.”
—Vince Flynn
“A hot read for a winter night…. Bottom line: Lions roars.”
—People
Brad Thor kicks off a superb new series featuring the women of Delta Force—and the explosive action and intrigue of
THE ATHENA PROJECT
“Think 007 in stilettos…. The thriller genre just got shaken and stirred.”
—Sandra Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tough Customer
“Thor nails it. A thriller both men and women will love.”
—James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Colony
“Pulse-pounding.”
—New York Post
“Fun, fast, and will suck you into the sequels.”
—Blackfive.net
Brad Thor’s titles are also available from Simon & Schuster Audio
Thank you for purchasing this Atria Books eBook.
Sign up for our newsletter and receive special offers, access to bonus content, and info on the latest new releases and other great eBooks from Atria Books and Simon & Schuster.
or visit us online to sign up at
eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com
ATRIA BOOKS
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2008 by Brad Thor
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Atria Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
This Atria Books paperback edition July 2011
ATRIA BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.
Cover design by Alan Dingman
ISBN 978-1-4516-5146-1
ISBN 978-1-4165-8039-3 (ebook)
For Jeff and Jennifer, Jean and Dan—four of the most courageous people I know
“Let no one of you say that he has acquired the entire Koran, for how does he know that it is all? Much of the Koran has been lost; thus let him say, ‘I have acquired of it what is available.’ ”
—Ibn Umar al-Khattab, 7th-century companion of Mohammed and 2nd Muslim Caliph
CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
> Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
‘Black List’ excerpt
Reader’s Companion
About the Author
About Emily Bestler Books
About Atria Books
Ask Atria
PROLOGUE
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL
WASHINGTON, D.C.
SUNDAY EVENING
Andrew Salam stepped out from behind the bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson and asked, “Are you alone?”
Twenty-three-year-old Nura Khalifa nodded.
Her thick, dark hair spilled over her shoulders, stopping just above her breasts. Beneath her thin jacket, he could make out the curves of her body, the narrowness of her waist. For a moment, he believed he could even smell her perfume, though it was more likely the scent of cherry blossoms blown by a faint breeze across the tidal basin. He shouldn’t be meeting her at night and alone like this. It was a mistake.
Actually, the mistake was allowing his lust for her to cloud his judgment. Salam knew better. She was a gorgeous, desirable woman, but she was also his asset. He had recruited her and he was responsible for the tenor of their relationship. No matter how perfect he thought they could be for each other, no matter how badly he wanted to feel, just once, her lips and that body pressed against his as he buried his nose in the nape of her neck and drank in the smell of her, he couldn’t crumble. FBI agents controlled their emotions, not the other way around.
Shutting out his desire, Andrew Salam remained professional. “Why did you contact me?”
“Because I needed to see you,” said Nura as she moved toward him.
He thought about holding out his hand to stop her. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control himself if she got any closer. Then he saw the tears that stained her face and, without thinking, opened up his arms.
Nura came to him and he pulled her into his chest. As she sobbed, his head fell to the crown of her head and he allowed his face to brush against her hair. He was playing with fire.
As quickly as he had allowed her to come to him, he knew it was wrong and he gently pushed her away until he was holding her by both shoulders at arm’s length. “What happened?”
“My uncle’s the target,” she stammered.
Salam was stunned. “Are you sure?”
“I think they’ve already hired the assassin.”
“Hold on, Nura. People just don’t go out and hire assassins,” began Salam, but she interrupted him.
“They said the threat has grown too great and it needs to be dealt with, now.”
Salam bent down so he could look into her eyes. “Did they mention your uncle by name?”
“No, but they didn’t have to. I know he’s the target.”
“How do you know?”
“They’ve been asking lots of questions about him and what he’s working on. Andrew, we have to do something. We have to find him and warn him. Please.”
“We will,” said Salam as he looked around. “I promise. But first, I need to know everything you’ve heard, no matter how small.”
Nura was trembling.
“How did you get here?” he asked as he removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
“I took the Metro, why?”
Though the couple had the memorial all to themselves at this time of night, Salam was uncomfortable about being out in the open. He had a strange feeling that they were being watched. “I’d feel better if we went someplace else. My car is parked nearby. Are you up to taking a walk?”
Nura nodded and Salam put his arm around her as they exited the statue chamber.
While they walked, Nura began to fill him in on what she had learned. Salam listened, but his mind was drifting.
Had he been paying attention to more than just how good she felt pressed up against him, he might have had time to react to the two men who sprung from the shadows.
CHAPTER 1
ROME, ITALY
MONDAY EVENING
The Italian Centre for Photoreproduction, Binding, and Restoration of State Archives, also known as the CFLR, was located in an unassuming postmodern office building three blocks from the Tiber River at 14 Via Costanza Baudana Vaccolini. It boasted one of the world’s leading archival preservation facilities, as well as a young deputy assistant director named Alessandro Lombardi who was eager to begin his evening.
“Dottore, mi scusi,” said Lombardi.
Dr. Marwan Khalifa, a distinguished Koranic scholar in his early sixties with a handsome face and neatly trimmed beard, looked up from the desk he was working at. “Yes, Alessandro?”
The Italian adopted his most charming smile and asked, “Tonight, we finish early?”
Dr. Khalifa laughed and set down his pen. “You have another date this evening?”
Lombardi approached and showed the visiting scholar a picture on his mobile phone.
“What happened to the blond woman?”
Lombardi shrugged. “That was last week.”
Khalifa picked his pen back up. “I suppose I can be done in an hour.”
“An hour?” exclaimed Lombardi as he pressed his hands together in mock prayer. “Dottore, if I don’t leave now, all of the good tables outside will be gone. Please. When the weather is this nice, Italians are not allowed to work late. It’s state policy.”
Khalifa knew better. No matter what the weather, there were always people working late in the CFLR building—maybe not in the Research and Preservation department, but there was almost always a light burning somewhere. “If you want to leave your keys, I’ll lock up the office when I go.”
“And my time card?” asked Lombardi, pressing his luck.
“You get paid for the time you work, my friend.”
“Va bene,” replied the young man as he fished a set of keys for the department from his pocket and set them on the desk. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Have fun,” said Khalifa.
Lombardi flashed him
the smile once more and then made his way toward the exit, turning off any unnecessary lights along his way.
Dr. Khalifa’s desk was a large drafting-style table, illuminated by two adjustable lamps. His time as well as Lombardi’s was being paid for by the Yemeni Antiquities Authority.
In 1972, workers in Yemen had made a startling discovery. Restoring the aging Great Mosque at Sana’a, said to have been one of the first architectural projects of Islam commissioned by the prophet Mohammed himself, the workers uncovered a hidden loft between the mosque’s inner and outer roofs. Inside the loft was a mound of parchments and pages of Arabic texts that at some point had been secreted away, and were now melded together through centuries of exposure to rain and dampness. In archeological circles, such a discovery was referred to as a “paper grave.”
Cursory examinations suggested that what the grave contained were tens of thousands of fragments from at least a thousand early parchment codices of the Koran.
Access to the full breadth of the find had never been allowed. Bits and pieces had been made available to a handful of scholars over the years, but out of respect for the sanctity of the documents, no one had ever been permitted to study the entire discovery. No one, that is, until Dr. Marwan Khalifa.
Khalifa was one of the world’s preeminent Koranic scholars and had spent the majority of his professional career building relationships with the Yemeni Antiquities Authority and politely petitioning it to allow him to review the find. Finally, there was a changing of the guard and the new president of the Antiquities Authority, a significantly younger and more progressive man, invited Khalifa to study the entirety of what the workers at Sana’a had uncovered.
It didn’t take long for Khalifa to realize the magnitude of the find.
As Yemen didn’t have the proper facilities to preserve and study the fragments and as the Yemeni government was absolutely opposed to Khalifa taking the items back to the United States, an arrangement was made for the complete contents of the grave to be transferred to the CFLR in Rome where they could be preserved and studied before being returned to Yemen.
With the blessing of the new Antiquities Authority president, Khalifa oversaw the entire process, including the technical side which included such things as edge detection, document degradation, global and adaptive thresholding, color clustering, and image processing.