Free Forest Park: A Zombie Novel by Jamie Marks Page A

in a trusted position who talks too much. That is what he is.”
    “I’m not comfortable revealing who he is---”
    “I don’t care --- continue.”
    “I believe the man arrested in London is a member of the group from Anatolia, and I think he was trying to use whatever Bragin had sold to the group, after Bragin murdered both Shapinkov and Levy, and then destroyed Batumi.”
    Close enough is good enough --- he can have Bragin , thought Harris. “This group from Anatolia; who leads it?”
    “A man named Al Rashid,” Ambrose answered.
    “I doubt he’d have the network to organize a bio-attack on London,” Harris said, knowing exactly how large and dangerous Rashid’s network was. “Before you ask, I am familiar with his name. I’ve been in the business a while, you know.”
    “He also has links in the United States. It may be bigger than just London,” Ambrose said.
    Harris shrugged and said, “Just London. I would have thought that big enough.”
    “Before 9-11, so would I,” Ambrose answered.
    Harris considered his options. Ambrose wasn’t going to stop digging anytime soon, what did he have to lose? Harris sighed. “All right, investigate. However, no SWAT teams or dawn raids. Just investigate.” Ambrose understood. “Now, tell me that man’s name.”
     
     
    NEW YORK
    EARLY MORNING
     
    It was an old, six-story, brownstone apartment building.
    Each apartment had two windows with street views.
    The basic floor plan of the building was two apartments per floor with a main central staircase.  One street that was facing and rear alley exit had access to the upper floors via a roof emergency door. The use of the fire escape wasn’t an option, with much of it being eaten away by rust and deemed too unsafe to climb.
    SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams had surrounded the building while sniper teams watched from a building directly across the street. There were three teams selected for the raid on the old brownstone building, Alpha, Beta and Charlie teams. Alpha team was to enter through the main doors at the front of the building and then ascend the staircase to assault apartment three.
    Beta team was to follow Alpha into the building after a small delay, and then they were to offer support if required. Charlie team was to enter through the roof access door and then descend the main staircase to give flanking support to Alpha and Beta teams.
    Each sniper team was to provide support where available and on request.
    It was a very simple plan.
    Ambrose watched both the Alpha and Beta teams from his position several buildings away, as they readied for their assault., The SWAT commander and his support team were nearby Ambrose.
    After last minute checks of equipment and signals, each team member called in their final positions and readiness.
    Deep down, Ambrose felt excited, but he tried to keep up a cool demeanor. He had a lot to lose if this went pear-shaped, maybe even more than just his career.
    The timeline outlined for the raid, aimed for it being completed in less than five minutes, including firefights and target acquisition.
    Each assault team member wore a black, fire-resistant Nomex combat suit, with extra body armor protection, including an outer tactical vest that held flash bangs and tear gas.
    Kevlar helmets covered their heads, and gas masks hid their faces. They looked more like machines than men.
    Each assault team member was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and a 9mm Heckler and Koch MP5, which was capable of firing 800 rounds per minute, while one member of each team also carried a FRAG-12, or 12 gauge, high explosive firing shotgun.
    Ambrose saw the squad leader of Alpha team raise his thumb.
    “Go!” Ambrose said to the SWAT commander who relayed the message on. Alpha team stormed into the building in single file. Alpha Point felt the pressure of his Heckler & Koch pushing tightly into his shoulder as the team entered the worn and dirty lobby, scanning the room for