Blood Note Read online

  “Does he still have skills?”

  “All three of my men are down. Drake will need some jaw surgery.” She sounded remote.

  “You need to take your people and return to England. My team will take it from here.” There was no hesitation in the man’s authoritative voice.

  “What happens next?” she asked.

  “That is not your concern. You have done well. Leave it alone now.”

  “As you say.”

  The man paused for a fraction of a second. He grabbed the girl’s wrist. She felt his urgency.

  “Will he do what we need?” he asked.

  The girl looked into his dark eyes. Whatever she was looking for was not there.

  “He won’t want to. His sense of morality is strong. It will be difficult for him to abandon that. He came for me because he had to. He is driven.”

  “That will not matter,” said the man. “I will be able to persuade him.”

  “You mean the woman and the girl?”

  The man nodded.

  “One last thing … Is he ready?” the man asked.

  A moment of silence. The girl stared out the car window. The morning light bathed the street, but she felt only a sad darkness.

  “Yes, he is ready.”

  About the Author

  Mark Mannock was born in Melbourne, Australia. He has had an extensive career in the music industry including supporting, recording with or writing for Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, The Eurythmics, Irene Cara and David Hudson. His recorded work with Lia Scallon has twice been long-listed for Grammy Awards. As a composer/songwriter Mark’s music has been used across the world in countless television and theatre contexts, including the ‘American Survivor’ TV series and ‘Sleuth’ playwright Anthony Shaffer’s later productions.

  Mark has also been active in music education across Australia promoting student’s ownership and voice in their own educational music journeys. He has won several awards for his endeavours in this area.

  Mark is presently writing the ‘Nicholas Sharp’ thriller series about a disillusioned former U.S. sniper whose past plagues him as he makes his way in the contemporary music industry. Sharp is a man whose insatiable curiosity and embedded moral compass lead him into situations fraught with danger.

  Mark lives on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula with his wife, two teenage children, three dogs and two cats. His travels around the globe act as inspirations for his writing.

  Mark enjoys hearing from his readers, so please feel free to contact him.

  You can connect with me on:

  https://markmannock.com

  https://www.facebook.com/markmannockbooks

  Subscribe to my newsletter:

  https://markmannock.com

  Also by Mark Mannock

  The Nicholas Sharp Thriller Series

  The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing…for Nicholas Sharp, doing nothing is not an option.

  ' a witty, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable thriller’

  ‘ticks all the boxes, flicks all the psychological switches’

  ‘a first class thriller’…reader comments

  ‘Nicholas Sharp’ is a disillusioned former U.S. sniper whose past plagues him as he makes his way in the contemporary music industry. Sharp is a man whose insatiable curiosity and embedded moral compass lead him into situations fraught with danger.

  Somewhere between Lee Child’s Jack Reacher and Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole, Nicholas Sharp may be a flawed human, but you certainly want him on your side!

  KILLSONG

  Nicholas Sharp Thriller Number 1

  Nicholas Sharp knew there would be blood on his hands. It was just a question of how much.

  The death of a child and her mother, or the loss of countless thousands. Sharp is ordered to choose, but the former Marine Sniper gave up following orders long ago.

  Turning his back on the military system that turned him into a killer when he shot an innocent man, Sharp is grateful to have now found refuge in a career as a successful musician. But while he is preparing to back well-known former rock star Robbie West on a USO tour of Iraq, a close friend and her daughter disappear.

  Nicholas Sharp has survived by not believing in coincidence.

  He is now compelled to act.

  One wrong decision, one misstep, and the consequences could be disastrous.

  LETHAL SCORE

  Nicholas Sharp Thriller Number 2

  Coming Late 2020

  How could he not follow the girl as she broke into the nuclear power station? Is it even possible for Nicholas Sharp to turn his back when lives are in danger?

  Sharp is on a tour through Europe, the concerts are sold out and the former Marine sniper turned musician is living in luxury thanks to promoter Antonio Ascardi.

  Suddenly it all goes wrong. People are dying along the way and Sharp is blamed. Now a hunted man, accused of terrorist crimes across the continent, Nicholas Sharp must fight for his life and freedom.

  HELL’S CHOIR

  Nicholas Sharp Thriller Number 3

  Coming late 2020

  A goodwill visit to Sudan, what could possibly go wrong?

  Nicholas Sharp is performing as part of a political and cultural group representing the U.S.. Suddenly caught up in the middle of a political coup, the leader of the American contingent who also happens to be Vice President of the United States, goes missing and his security staff murdered.

  Communication with the outside world is cut off. It falls to Sharp and Greatrex to track their missing leader down.

  But then things get really complicated…

  PLAY OUT

  A Nicholas Sharp Origin Novella

  Set five years before KILLSONG

  Available free to mailing list subscribers late 2020

  A Terrorist attack on the London Underground. Nicholas Sharp doesn’t think so.

  While on leave from Iraq, the U.S. Marine Sniper finds himself intervening when innocent lives are threatened. Afterwards he walks away, but for Sharp it’s never that easy. Something doesn’t feel right. Twenty-four hours later everything is wrong.

  The brief solace he finds in his beloved piano is shattered when Sharp becomes the attacker’s next target. Step up or step away. Nicholas Sharp doesn’t like to kill, but he sure as hell knows how to.

  Table of Contents

  Preface

  Midnight

  1:45 a.m.

  2:25 a.m.

  3:15 a.m.

  4:22 a.m.

  5:40 a.m.

  6:10 a.m.

  About the Author

  Also by Mark Mannock