The Italian Divide

Praise for
The Washington Lawyer
by Allan Topol

“Pity the poor political novelist. After all the real-world skullduggery of recent decades—Nixon’s Watergate, Clinton’s intern—how can fiction possibly compete with reality? Washington lawyer Allan Topol can’t beat those odds, but in
The Washington Lawyer
he’s given us a lively insider’s portrait of political mischief featuring a senator who is a traitor and perhaps a murderer, a nominee for chief justice of the United States who is desperately trying to cover up his own misdeeds and a gang of Chinese spies eager to bribe or, if necessary, kill our politicians to obtain the Pentagon’s innermost secrets … Topol’s version is entertaining and at times has the ring of truth.”

—
Patrick Anderson
“Book World,”
The Washington Post

“Archeologist professor Allison Boyd doesn’t believe her beautiful twin sister, congressional aid Vanessa Boyd, drowned in the Caribbean while away for the weekend alone. Vanessa was many things but ‘alone’ was never one of them. Convinced Vanessa was murdered, Allison heads to Washington to uncover the truth. As she finds herself caught up in a tangled web of power players, she begins to realize how far some people will go to keep a secret. No matter the cost.

Fast-paced and action-packed, Topol’s novel expertly weaves together power, murder, and intrigue to paint a chilling picture of the sinister underbelly of Washington politics. A thrill ride that doesn’t let up.”

—
Beth McMullen
Author of
Original Sin
and
Spy Mom

“Morals, ethics, values, and integrity often go out the window when temptations come your way. What happens when two men let their greed and desire for wealth and power overtake their moral compasses, and find that one simple indiscretion leading to one wrong choice can bring down your entire world? …

Once again author Allan Topol delivers a plot and storyline that will keep readers in suspense from start to finish … When the truth is revealed whose damage control wins out? Find out when you read this five-star novel.”

—
Fran Lewis
Author, creator and editor of
MJ
magazine, and host on Red River Radio Show and World of Ink Network

“
The Washington Lawyer
is a thrilling tale of intrigue and revenge at the highest levels in the American government—told from an insider’s point of view. The action is nonstop, from the gripping prologue to the satisfying end. Not to be missed!”

—
Joan Johnston
New York Times
best-selling author of
Sinful

“Rich with international intrigue,
The Washington Lawyer
bristles with insider details, heart-stopping action, and memorable characters. This is Washington politics at its most revealing, told by a top attorney who knows where the truth—and the bodies—are buried.”

—
Gayle Lynds
New York Times
best-selling author of
The Assassins

“
The Washington Lawyer
is a fast moving thriller from a very articulate writer. A tangled web showing the corrupt and selfish Washington elite and the tarnished government officials that will stop at nothing to reach their goals and pay any price to succeed. You can’t put this spy-adventure down until the last thrilling pages. Allan Topol knows the Washington scene and is masterful in his depiction.”

—
Pat Pascale
FreshFiction.com

“A lawyer, Andrew Martin, who is a longtime friend of Senator William Jasper, needs help. A sex tryst at Martin’s beach house in Anguilla has gone awry, and congressional staffer and former model, Vanessa Boyd, is dead. Martin must decide how to best protect his reputation and the senator’s. What unfolds are hairpin plot turns as human vice and power collide and race toward catastrophe for both men. Here’s an intriguing and entertaining look inside the circles of power… . If you’re looking for a great read, you will find it in this novel.”

Fiction

N
ON
-F
ICTION

Copyright © 2016 by Allan Topol

All rights reserved. Published in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher.

This edition published by SelectBooks, Inc.

For information address SelectBooks, Inc., New York, New York.

First Edition

ISBN 978-1-59079-366-4
eISBN: 978-1-59079-341-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Topol, Allan.

The Italian divide / Allan Topol. – First edition.

pages ; cm. – (Craig Page ; 4)

ISBN 978-1-59079-366-4 (softcover)

1. United States. Central Intelligence Agency–Officials and employees–Fiction. 2. Women journalists–Fiction. 3.

Murder–Investigation–Fiction. 4. Political fiction. I. Title.

PS3570.O64I87 2016

813’.54–dc23

2015032960

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Acknowledgments

I
owe a great thanks to Kenzi Sugihara, who founded SelectBooks. This is our fourth novel together, and I could not ask for more support and encouragement from a publisher. Kenzi was enthusiastic from the first time I broached the idea of doing a book about Italy, and he offered valuable comments to help shape the concept for the novel.

Nancy Sugihara did a wonderful job of editing. Kenichi Sugihara is outstanding as the Marketing Director, and again he developed a superb cover.

My agent, Pam Ahearn, provided critical advice on the story and structure of the novel as well as editorial suggestions. It is a pleasure working with Pam.

My wife, Barbara, traveled with me throughout Italy, offering insights into the country and the people as I shaped the ideas in the novel. She then read draft after draft and offered valuable suggestions, particularly for the characters.

A
t two thirty in the morning, Qing Li was carrying a briefcase stuffed with 500,000 euros. He walked down three cracked concrete steps into the Volga nightclub. The lights were dim. It took a few seconds for him to see through the haze of cigarette and cigar smoke. The room was jammed with people, many speaking Russian loudly and sounding drunk.

A silver coated ball twirled from the ceiling in the center of the room. A Russian singing voice on tape blared from a loud speaker. Straight ahead was a small stage. A busty blond in a G-string went through the motions of dancing.

To the left was a bar. Qing, who was six foot four and walked ramrod straight, as they had taught him in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, headed toward the bar. He had gotten his instructions from Sergei in Moscow a few hours ago. He knew what to do.

Qing saw two empty seats at the bar. He took one of them, put the briefcase at his feet, and ordered a drink. “Macallan’s 12 year old on ice.”

Ten minutes later, as he was sipping his drink, Qing felt a tap on the shoulder. He whirled around to see a tall man about six-six, with a shaved head and sandpaper beard, standing behind him. The man was wearing a dark jacket unbuttoned to reveal a gun holstered at his chest over a black turtleneck shirt.

“I’m Radovich,” the man said in English with a Russian accent.

“Mao’s my name.”

Radovich didn’t crack a smile. “Come with me,” the Russian said.

Qing grabbed his briefcase and followed Radovich to an office in the back. Only one man was in the room. He was short and stocky.

“This is Boris,” Radovich said. “He’ll be working with me.”

Qing nodded and sat down at a table cluttered with papers and photos of strippers.

“Let’s talk about the job,” Qing said.

“No. First the money,” Radovich said sharply.

Just like Russians, Qing thought. They don’t care about the work. Only about money.

Qing pointed to the briefcase on the floor. “I have 500,000 euros in there. I’ll leave it with you. The bag is a gift.”

Again, no smile.

“And the second 500,000 euros?”

“It’ll be wired to your Biarritz account from Moscow twenty-four hours after you finish the job.”

“Show me the money.”

Qing hoisted the bag onto the table and snapped it open. The euros were old and all with totally different numbers. It would be impossible to trace them.

Qing was watching Radovich. The Russian stared greedily at the money. Boris leaned over the bag, eyes wide open.

Qing guessed what Radovich was thinking: one bullet was all it would take to kill Qing. It would be easy to dump the body in the sea. No risk of getting caught. Why take a chance for another 500,000?

Qing had a switchblade knife in his jacket pocket. And a gun in an ankle holster.