The Sixth Day

A Brit in the FBI #5

Special agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine take on a ruthless mastermind in the fifth highly anticipated thriller in the New York Times bestselling A Brit in the FBI series.

When several major political figures die mysteriously, officials declare the deaths are from natural causes. Then the German Vice-Chancellor dies on the steps of 10 Downing Street, and a drone is spotted hovering over the scene. The truth becomes clear—these high-profile deaths are well-constructed assassinations, and the Covert Eyes team is tasked to investigate.

With the help of Dr. Isabella Marin, a young expert in the enigmatic Voynich Manuscript and cryptophasia (twin language), Nicholas and Michaela home in on a wealthy cybersecurity genius who's a descendant of fifteenth century Romanian Vlad the Impaler—often romanticized as Dracula. 

Along with MI5, the Covert Eyes team must race against the clock to find before he unleashes a devastating attack on London intended to destroy those he believes betrayed him.




More Information

  • Publisher: Gallery Books

  • Original Release Date: April 10, 2018

  • Formats: Hardcover, eBook

  • Print ISBN: 9781501138171


Praise for A Brit in the FBI Series
 

"Completely gripping from the first page to the last. This book adds another outstanding chapter to this phenomenally thrilling series. Not to be missed!"
– RT Book Reviews, Five Star Gold rating, on THE SIXTH DAY
 

"Excellent . . . Coulter and Ellison smoothly mix contemporary political issues with eerie historical legend in this fast-paced outing sure to appeal to fans and newcomers alike." 
Publishers Weekly on THE SIXTH DAY


"It is difficult to think of anything more exciting than “The Covert Eyes Team” that writers Coulter and Ellison have created. And after delving into this newest title in A Brit in the FBI series, that fact goes from difficult to virtually impossible."
Suspense Magazine on THE SIXTH DAY
 

"This fourth in the A Brit in the FBI series is hard to put down . . . as Coulter and Ellison continue, on a roll."
–  Booklist, Starred Review, on THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE


"Coulter and Ellison are really on an amazing roll with their outstanding A Brit in the FBI series. Wildly creative and twisty plots that take readers on crazy rides around the world are anchored by a core cast of unforgettable characters . . . Thrillers do not get better than this!"
– RT Book Reviews on THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE


An "adventure-filled fourth thriller in the Brit in the FBI series . . . Fans of popular culture will appreciate the references to such icons as the Star Trek Romulans, Harry Potter, and Sherlock Holmes."
– Publishers Weekly on THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE


"There are action and thrills aplenty in Coulter and Ellison’s new addition to their Brit in the FBI series." 
– Kirkus Reviews on THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE



10 Downing Street
London

The trip from the Savoy Hotel to the prime minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street normally took eight minutes, but the diplomatic run—the police escort clearing the streets before his black SUV—was faster. Heinrich Hemmler had only five minutes of silence to pull on the mask of the diplomat to give a good show to the PM, and that meant, of course, he had to hide his own excitement at what was going to happen. For three years, he’d kowtowed to the chancellor, the silly cow, and worked tirelessly behind the scenes, making contacts on the sly with those who had the power and the money. And now, all his plans were coming to fruition. The chancellor had sent him here to convince the PM to allow more refugees per year into the United Kingdom. Oh yes, he would give his spiel to the PM and then he would leave. No one knew what Hemmler was really doing in London, except his two personal security guards, who were paid handsomely to keep their mouths shut. There were five more guards in the car front and back, and he was as safe, probably safer, than England’s PM, always.

After his meeting with the PM he would meet with a radical imam in absolute privacy, to discuss another agreement to add to his wealth. Soon, he would drape his wife, Marta, in jewels, send his children to the best private schools in the world, pay off his jewel-of-an-estate snuggled in the midst of the Schwarzwald, and have more than enough euros left over to send his young mistress, Krista, to visit her bed-ridden mother in Geneva.

The deal he’d made with ISIS was excellent, for him, of course, but not such a good deal for those who might die in the process. But that was life, wasn’t it? You never knew when your own might come to an abrupt end. And anyway, who cared about those people he didn’t know, had never seen? They were of no consequence—they didn’t matter.

The agreement he’d made with the splinter Irish group was excellent, as well, but since his contact, Chapman Donovan, had died yesterday—dropped dead of a heart attack right outside his home, the British news had reported—Hemmler would need to find a new partner. He’d liked Chappy Donovan, always up for a Cuban cigar and a little cheat on his wife.

He needed the weapons to hand over to his friend the imam, but he wasn’t worried. In this world, weapons were easy to come by. Weapons brokers were a dime a dozen.

No matter, he’d positioned himself perfectly in the government so when the chancellor’s policies of open borders backfired as a result of multiple deadly terrorist attacks, she would be blamed and the country’s confidence in her would plummet. And he, Vice Chancellor Heinrich Hemmler, would have no choice but to call for a special election to replace her. He would, of course, be elected in her place. And then he would discreetly settle his ISIS brethren in a small town in Bavaria as their foothold in Europe. They’d paid him a lot of money and given him their word there would be no further acts of violence in Germany once the chancellor was gone.

It was a pity no one would ever know how he’d pulled off secret negotiations with terrorist leaders. No one would ever know it was he who had protected Germany—only a small number of sacrifices to be made along the way. That he was making himself rich in the process was only fitting. He was his country’s savior. The deal he’d made was brilliant.

A gentlemen’s agreement, if one could call those rapacious deathmongering murderers gentlemen, but he trusted them to keep their word. Money had already been deposited in one of his private bank accounts. After the bombings in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Munich, the tide would turn irrevocably against the chancellor, and no one else would have to die, at least no more Germans. He slid a hand down his yellow silk tie and hummed, low in his throat. Nothing but silk and Savile Row for him from now on.

The car pulled onto Downing Street and stopped. Heinrich waited for a beat, as his security team built a protective wedge for him to step into.

Let’s go, let’s go, let’s get this ridiculous business over with.

“All clear,” one of his guards said as he opened the door and allowed Hemmler to step into the wedge onto the street. He moved fast, as always.

There were only five steps to the entrance. He took the first step into a very un-English warm and clear day.

Second step.

Third.

Something bit his neck, almost a lover’s bite, as Krista liked to do. He slapped his hand to the spot, but nothing was there. White-hot pain, everywhere, he staggered. His eyes bulged as he dropped to his knees, clawing at himself as a burst of hellish fire coursed through him, burning him up from the inside.

He heard shouts, felt hands lifting him, dragging him to the doors, his knees scraping the cement, as he was manhandled inside Downing Street. He heard the grand doors slam shut behind him. He clearly heard shouts for help, but he couldn’t talk, couldn’t move. Or breathe. They laid him on the carpet in the foyer. It felt so soft under his cheek, but only for an instant, because the flames were consuming him, making him want to scream, only he couldn’t.

Heinrich knew he was dying. He had no chance to pray for forgiveness, nor did his life flash before his eyes. He only had a brief thought of his wife and his mistress before he actually felt his heart slowing and the softness of the rug beneath his cheek, and then he was gone.