New Identity: The Thrilling Conclusion to 'The Identity Thrillers' Read online

  New Identity

  Also by Ray Green

  Buyout – A Roy Groves Thriller (1)

  For five ordinary guys and one rather extraordinary woman, the only escape from the corporate rat-race is to buy the company they’re working for: take it all to a new level, save hundreds of jobs and make some serious money.

  But it quickly becomes clear that nothing is as easy as it seems. The bid is quickly undercut as twisted corporate politics and personal vendettas take over.

  When the buyout becomes all or nothing for the management buyout team, it all spins out of control: marriages fall apart, lurid secrets are discovered; life savings are spent on the stock market; illegal insider dealing becomes a matter of fact; and blackmail, theft, betrayal and manipulation are the new rules of the game.

  A once-in-a-life-time opportunity turns into a lurid nightmare.

  BUYOUT is a gripping and compulsive page-turner about the power of money to unveil the deepest in human nature. It’s also a story about chasing one extraordinary dream. At an extraordinary price.

  Also by Ray Green

  Payback – A Roy Groves Thriller (2)

  Roy Groves is Operations Director of a successful company manufacturing dashboard instruments for luxury cars.

  A fatal motorway fire is traced back to a fault in the product supplied by Roy’s company. Was it a tragic accident or something more sinister? As Roy and his colleagues battle to establish the cause of the fire, and save the company from bankruptcy, they discover that they have been the victims of sabotage.

  Eventually, it emerges that an old enemy of Roy and the rest of the team has reappeared and is intent on destroying the company and every member of its management team. Once just a business adversary, their nemesis is now so consumed with hatred that he is on the edge of insanity; he resorts to blackmail and even murder in the pursuit of his goal.

  PAYBACK is a chilling tale of how hatred can twist and corrupt the human soul.

  Also by Ray Green

  Chinese Whispers – A Roy Groves Thriller (3)

  Chuck Kabel is on a business trip to China, visiting the factory to which his UK-based company subcontracts the manufacture of its products. He unexpectedly collapses and dies at the airport before he is able to report on his visit. When the Chinese authorities are evasive about the exact cause of death, the suspicions of his boss, Roy Groves, are raised.

  Roy decides to investigate further; it soon becomes clear that there are serious financial irregularities within the Chinese company, and that dark forces are in play, intent on ensuring that these do not come to light. When Roy edges closer to uncovering the truth, he is warned off but refuses to back down, unaware that he is about to confront the Chinese Mafia, who will stop at nothing to achieve their objectives.

  When his own family are targeted by his opponents, Roy embarks on a desperate battle to protect them, now well aware that if he should turn to the police, their lives will be in even greater danger.

  CHINESE WHISPERS is a frightening tale of organised crime and the way in which it uses and abuses legitimate business for its own illegal purposes, relentlessly destroying the lives of anyone who stands in the way.

  Also by Ray Green

  Horizontal Living: A Tale of Expats Abroad - A Roy Groves Thriller (4)

  Roy Groves has led a colourful career in business, during which he battled with corporate politics, deception, and even vicious criminals. But now Roy has retired and he is looking forward to a quieter life. He and his wife, Donna, have bought an apartment in an exclusive development on Spain’s Costa del Sol.

  He soon learns, however, that there are financial problems: the community is, in effect, bankrupt. Roy is persuaded to take on the role of President of the community, confident that, with his extensive business experience, he should easily be able to sort things out. It soon becomes clear, however, that nothing is as simple as it seems. As he tries to come up with a rescue plan, Roy discovers that a poorly-constructed retaining wall has begun to collapse, threatening the development with a landslide. And this is just the start …

  As the problems mount up, Roy becomes entangled with an astonishingly diverse cast of characters: the devious building developer; the vengeful former President; the Russian prostitute, and her mafia minders; the deranged Middle-Eastern doctor; the devastatingly glamorous French girl next door; and many more ...

  HORIZONTAL LIVING is an illuminating insight into the shenanigans which pervade an ex-pat community abroad: sometimes hilarious, sometimes hard to believe, but sometimes darkly disturbing.

  Also by Ray Green

  Lost Identity - The Identity Thrillers Series – Book 1

  When research scientist, Stephen Lewis, wakes from a coma in a Miami hospital bed, he remembers nothing about his head injury, how he came to be in Florida, or even who he really is.

  As fragments of his memory return, Stephen is shocked to find that even those closest to him seem not to know him. And when another man turns up, claiming to be the real Stephen Lewis, he begins to doubt his own sanity.

  Desperate to learn the truth, Stephen is unwittingly drawn into a murky web of drug trafficking and murder. At its heart lies a terrifying conspiracy and a secret so appalling that, even if he survives, he knows his life can never be the same again.

  Also by Ray Green

  Identity Found - The Identity Thrillers Series – Book 2

  Stephen Lewis and Carla Fernandez fled from Miami, Florida a year ago, to escape a terrifying battle with drug trafficking cartels and professional assassins. Now they are living a quiet life in Canada, under false identities.

  But when a young female journalist is murdered in New York City, Stephen recognises that the killing has all the hallmarks of one of the world’s most highly paid and notorious assassins. Why should this man, who can command a fee of millions of dollars for a single hit, be hired for such a seemingly insignificant contract? He concludes that the journalist must have been investigating something big – very big – and had been murdered to shut her up.

  The police seem not to have made this link, and Stephen cannot approach them directly, as he is wanted in connection with the events in Miami. Fearful that there may be some terrible plot underway, possibly with many lives at stake, he decides to investigate. Carla insists on helping him.

  Before long, Stephen and Carla find themselves battling for their lives once again.

  New Identity

  The Identity Thrillers – Book 3

  By Ray Green

  Published in Great Britain by Mainsail Books in 2020

  First Edition

  Copyright © Ray Green 2020

  Ray Green has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination, unless otherwise stated, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author, nor to be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  ISBN 978-1-9999406-8-3

  Published by Mainsai
l Books

  www.mainsailbooks.co.uk

  Cover design by Ana Grigoriu-Voicu

  [email protected]

  Contents

  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

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Ray Green

  Chapter 1

  New York City – A Thursday Evening in August

  Mark Bowman, NYPD detective, gazed out of the floor-to-ceiling picture window of his eighteenth-floor apartment – not one of New York City’s highest viewing points by any means, but high enough to afford an impressive view across Manhattan and much of the city. As the twilight began to fade, the sky took on a deeper shade of blue, and the myriad of city lights gradually began to assert themselves over nature’s own illumination. He loved this time of day; it was when he did most of his best thinking, sitting in his favourite chair taking in the glittering cityscape, smooth jazz playing softly in the background. On more than one occasion, this had been the environment in which he had made the critical link which had led to his cracking a difficult case.

  Tonight, though, he was in a troubled, contemplative mood. He lifted the tumbler from the table alongside his chair and took a sip of single malt Scotch whisky, swirling it in his mouth, savouring the smoky, peaty taste for several seconds before allowing the fiery liquid to course down his throat.

  He sighed deeply as he thought back to that fateful day, some sixteen months earlier, when his beloved girlfriend, Julia, had been brutally murdered on the very day he had planned to propose to her. He had vowed to bring her killer to justice – and he did, working under the radar of the official police investigation until he was able to track the bastard down and administer his own raw, primitive brand of justice. Fortunately, his superiors never found out what he had done, for if they had, he would have found himself up on a murder charge.

  And yet the grim satisfaction he had felt from avenging Julia’s death had never led to any real closure. Her death had been so pointless that killing her murderer just didn’t somehow seem enough. Gradually though, he began to come to terms with what had happened and slowly, painfully, began to rebuild his life. A big factor – no, the biggest factor – in his rehabilitation had been the unstinting compassion and support shown to him by his friend and colleague at the NYPD, Detective Alexis Miller.

  But Alexis was more than just a colleague; there had always been something of a spark in the air between the two of them, before Mark had even met Julia, but when he did, Alexis could see he had fallen head over heels for the newcomer and backed off. Their fledgling romance seemed destined to come to nothing. Nevertheless, she and Mark remained firm friends, often going for a drink together after work while comparing notes on the cases they were working on.

  When Julia was so cruelly murdered, Alexis was there to comfort her grief-stricken friend, always ready to listen when he wanted to talk, or just be there when he didn’t.

  Weeks and months passed and, little by little, Mark began to emerge from the suffocating cloak of grief which had enveloped him, always encouraged by Alexis’s empathetic support. Gradually, reluctantly, he began to accept that Julia was gone, and he had to move on with his life. His friendship with Alexis grew stronger and stronger until, finally, they became lovers. She had never once pushed him, but he had just become inexorably more and more drawn to her until the inevitable had happened. He had finally found some sort of peace, and the two of them were now planning to move in together.

  But at that moment, Mark was grappling with the possible meaning of the revelations which he had just discovered about an old, supposedly closed case. His mind just went around and around in circles as he tried to process the incredible possibilities. If his suspicions were correct, the implications could be monumental. He needed a sounding board against which to bounce his thoughts, and there was none he trusted more than Alexis. He wasn’t due to see her until the following day, but this just couldn’t wait. He picked up the phone.

  She answered after two rings. ‘Hi Hon – what’s up? Didn’t expect to hear from you tonight.’

  ‘Hi … lovely to hear your voice too,’ he quipped.

  ‘Hey, c’mon … you know I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that I know you and phones; you never ever call for just a general chat, do you?’

  ‘I guess not. It’s just that …’

  ‘OK … what’s on your mind?’

  ‘Well, I’ve been running over some new info on an old closed case and there are some things which just don’t add up … look, it’s kinda complicated. Have you eaten yet?’

  She laughed – a lovely, tuneful sound. ‘You sure know how to make a girl feel special. How about something more like, “I’ve been just longing to see you, honey. I can’t wait any longer; I want to take you to one of the best restaurants in town and whisper sweet nothings in your ear”?’

  Now it was his turn to laugh. ‘I was thinking of a home-delivery pizza round at my place.’

  ‘Close, I guess.’

  ‘I’ll make it worth your while.’

  ‘How’s that then?’

  ‘I have a bottle of Chardonnay in the fridge.’

  ‘Getting better.’

  ‘And you can stay over if you’d like to.’

  ‘In that case … how could I possibly refuse? See you in about an hour.’

  ‘An hour? But you’re only a couple of blocks away.’

  ‘Gotta make myself look a bit special for a date like this one, huh? See you soon.’

  He hung up, before re-dialling to order the pizza. He smiled as he busied himself setting the table for dinner; it had taken Alex no longer than a few seconds to figure out that he needed to chew something over with her. She knew him better than he knew himself.

  He switched the oven on at a low heat, in case their meal arrived early and needed to be kept hot until Alexis arrived.

  ***

  Thirty minutes later, he was sitting in his armchair once more, contemplating the ever-changing cityscape; the sky was completely dark now, but the city pulsed with light and life. He never tired of this captivating spectacle.

  He was, however, no closer to resolving the conundrum which was occupying his mind when the buzzer by the door disturbed his thoughts. He levered himself from the chair and went over to the intercom.

  ‘Pizza for Mark Bowman,’ came the electronically distorted voice.

  He pressed the button to unlock the main entrance to the block. ‘Come on up … it’s 1804.’

  A couple of minutes later, the doorbell sounded. Mark took a quick look through the security peephole to see a dark-haired girl in what looked like motorbike leathers holding a large pizza box. He opened the door to reveal a strikingly attractive girl smiling at him: tall; slim, shapely figure; finely sculpted features; s
trong, straight nose; long, glossy, black hair, and most arresting of all, startlingly intense green eyes. This definitely wasn’t your average pizza delivery girl.

  ‘Shall I set this down on the table there?’ she said, looking past him.

  ‘Uh, sure … I’ll just get my wallet.’

  He stepped aside to let her in and went to get his wallet. When he turned around, she had set down the pizza box on the table and was in the process of opening it.

  ‘Oh, no need to …' he began, but his voice tailed off as she withdrew from the box a handgun, its muzzle elongated by the fitment of a silencer.

  Without uttering a word, she levelled the gun and shot him in the right knee. The shock and surprise were so intense that he didn’t even cry out; he just dropped like a stone to the floor, clutching his shattered knee. She stepped calmly past him and gently closed the door, before turning back to face him once more. Now the delayed hit of the pain set in.

  ‘Wh-why?’ he stammered.

  ‘Not sure, exactly,’ she said, pulling a chair from under the dining table and sitting down. ‘I have my orders, but it’s all on a “need to know” basis, you see.’

  Mark’s eyes flickered to where his holstered service pistol hung over the back of a chair. She picked up his sidelong glance in an instant.

  ‘Oh, I wouldn’t advise that. How quickly do you think you could get over there with a broken knee, grab the gun, aim, and get a shot off? Four seconds … five?’ She waved her gun back and forth, pointing it alternately at Mark and his weapon, frustratingly out of reach. ‘I think I’d be considerably quicker … don’t you?’