Phoenix Rising: by William W. Johnstone Read Free Book Online Page A

smiled. “Don’t worry about the GPS.”
    â€œBannister is one of us?”
    â€œYes, but don’t acknowledge it, not even to him,” Frazier cautioned.
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œWhat do you know about Amar Shihad?” Frazier asked.
    â€œI don’t know much about him. I know he is the Grand Ayatollah of Dallas.”
    â€œHe is the one who put the Jews into the concentration camps, including David and Leah Rosewell.” Frazier paused before he spoke again. “He is also the one who is responsible for the murder of way over a thousand men, women, and children at the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex.”
    Buck whistled. “Damn, I knew he was an evil bastard, I guess I just didn’t know how evil.”
    â€œDay after tomorrow the Grand Ayatollah is going to the Addison airport to take a business jet to Washington, D.C. where he is to be given some sort of award by Ohmshidi.”
    â€œWhat’s he being awarded for?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” Frazier said. “He’ll never get the award because we are going to kill the son of a bitch just before he gets to the airport.”
    â€œHow are you going to get to him? Isn’t he always surrounded by bodyguards?” Buck asked.
    â€œHe never has guards, he rides alone in an open car with just his driver,” Novotny said.
    â€œShihad isn’t that stupid, is he?” Buck asked. “To travel around without body guards? Why would he do such a foolish thing?”
    â€œHe’s not stupid, but he is foolish. He has become arrogant with his absolute power, and he likes to demonstrate his complete control of the city by riding around in his open-topped green Mercedes, with no guard,” Frazier said. “He can’t believe that anyone would actually make an attempt on his life.” Frazier opened another beer. “Only we aren’t just making an attempt, we’re going to do it. And you are a part of the plan.”
    â€œYou mean just by sitting on Dooley Road with the doors open to my trailer?”
    â€œYes.”
    Buck smiled. “I don’t know how that makes me a part of the plan, but if it winds up getting that bastard killed, I’m all for it.”
    Addison, Texas
    There were two cars in the road at the corner of Jimmy Doolittle Drive and Keller Springs. From the position of the two cars it appeared as if there had been a minor collision and they had the road effectively blocked. Frazier Nelson and Dean Pollard were standing in the road between the two cars, yelling at each other, gesticulating wildly.
    That was what greeted Amar Shihad and his driver as they approached.
    â€œGrand Ayatollah,” the driver said. “Our way is blocked.”
    â€œWell, get out and tell the fools who I am,” Shihad said. “Tell them to make way.”
    â€œYes, Grand Ayatollah,” the driver said.
    When the driver opened the door, Frazier and Dean could be heard yelling at each other.
    â€œYou dumbass!” Frazier was shouting. “Where did you learn to drive? Haven’t you ever heard of a turn signal?”
    â€œWell if you hadn’t been going so fast, you would have seen that I was turning. I had plenty of time to turn in front of you, if you hadn’t been speeding.”
    â€œDriver,” Shihad called. “Tell them I’ve no wish to listen to their foolish quarrels. I am an important man and I have business to attend to.”
    The driver looked back toward Frazier and David, and an imperceptible nod of acknowledgement passed between them. The driver turned and suddenly ran to the side of the road.
    â€œWhat are you doing? Get back here at once!” Shihad shouted angrily.
    With Shihad’s attention diverted Frazier and Dean reached through the open windows of the two cars and grabbed AK-47s.
    â€œWhat? What are you—?” Shihad shouted, but his shout was cut off by the staccato bark of automatic weapons