ALSO BY ANDREW BRITTON
The American
THE ASSASSIN
ANDREW BRITTON
For my sister, Roxanne,
and my cousins in Camlough, Yasmin Gene and
Leah Madeline Britton
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To Kristine Murphy at Wood TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for answering all my questions about live reporting (with a detailed written report, no less). To Pete Pagano and everybody at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in Raleigh, NC, for putting together a great publicity party in March 2006. To the Raleigh-based Irish community at large, for throwing their support behind my work. To D.G. Martin at UNC-TV’s Bookwatch, for including me on his excellent show. To Paddy Gibney, an outstanding musician and a great guy in general, for putting me in touch with all the right people. Be sure to check out his website (www.paddygibneymusic.com).
Special thanks go to Officer Jack Libby of the Raleigh Police Department, for taking time out of his busy schedule to show me the ins and outs of police work. To Brad Thor and Stephen Frey, two extremely talented authors who took time from their own writing to read The American and offer some praise; I’m indebted to both of them. To Carol Fitzgerald and her extraordinary team at www.bookreporter.com, for setting up an outstanding website and supporting my work in general.
As always, thanks to the talented team at Kensington: Steven Zacharius, Laurie Parkin, Joan Schulhafer, Maureen Cuddy, Robin E. Cook, and Meryl Earl in particular, for the amazing work she’s done with foreign rights to The American. Also, sincere thanks to my exceptionally patient, hardworking editor, Audrey LaFehr. It’s a privilege to work with such a dedicated group of individuals.
And to my literary agent, Nancy Coffey, for her unwavering support and encouragement; I couldn’t have done it without you.
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
BAGHDAD
CHAPTER 1
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 2
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 3
FALLUJAH
CHAPTER 4
LONDON
CHAPTER 5
FALLUJAH
CHAPTER 6
FALLUJAH
CHAPTER 7
SYRIA
CHAPTER 8
LONDON
CHAPTER 9
ALEPPO • LONDON
CHAPTER 10
LANGLEY, VIRGINIA • IRAQ
CHAPTER 11
LATTAKIA
CHAPTER 12
WASHINGTON, D.C. • VIRGINIA
CHAPTER 13
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
CHAPTER 14
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
CHAPTER 15
PARIS • ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
CHAPTER 16
PARIS • LANGLEY, VIRGINIA
CHAPTER 17
PARIS
CHAPTER 18
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 19
DORDOGNE, FRANCE
CHAPTER 20
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 21
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA
CHAPTER 22
WASHINGTON, D.C. • PARIS
CHAPTER 23
WASHINGTON, D.C. • VIRGINIA • PARIS
CHAPTER 24
WASHINGTON, D.C. • VIRGINIA
CHAPTER 25
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 26
CALAIS • WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 27
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 28
CALAIS
CHAPTER 29
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 30
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 31
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 32
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 33
LONDON
CHAPTER 34
LANGLEY, VIRGINIA
CHAPTER 35
WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHAPTER 36
POTSDAM, GERMANY
CHAPTER 37
NEW YORK CITY
CHAPTER 38
BERLIN
CHAPTER 39
