Zero Sum Read online

  Zero Sum

  Russell Blake

  © 2011

  Copyright 2011 by Russell Blake. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law, or in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, contact [email protected].

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  CONTENTS

  Rave reviews for Russell Blake books:

  Excerpts from Russell Blake’s novels

  Introduction

  Book One ~ Kotov Syndrome

  Prologue

  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

  Book Two ~ Focal Point

  Focal Point: Chapter 1

  Focal Point: Chapter 2

  Focal Point: Chapter 3

  Focal Point: Chapter 4

  Focal Point: Chapter 5

  Focal Point: Chapter 6

  Focal Point: Chapter 7

  Focal Point: Chapter 8

  Focal Point: Chapter 9

  Focal Point: Chapter 10

  Focal Point: Chapter 11

  Focal Point: Chapter 12

  Focal Point: Chapter 13

  Focal Point: Chapter 14

  Focal Point: Chapter 15

  Focal Point: Chapter 16

  Focal Point: Chapter 17

  Focal Point: Chapter 18

  Focal Point: Chapter 19

  Focal Point: Chapter 20

  Focal Point: Chapter 21

  Focal Point: Chapter 22

  Focal Point: Chapter 23

  Focal Point: Chapter 24

  Focal Point: Chapter 25

  Focal Point: Chapter 26

  Book Three ~ Checkmate

  Checkmate: Chapter 1

  Checkmate: Chapter 2

  Checkmate: Chapter 3

  Checkmate: Chapter 4

  Checkmate: Chapter 5

  Checkmate: Chapter 6

  Checkmate: Chapter 7

  Checkmate: Chapter 8

  Checkmate: Chapter 9

  Checkmate: Chapter 10

  Checkmate: Chapter 11

  Checkmate: Chapter 12

  Checkmate: Chapter 13

  Checkmate: Chapter 14

  Checkmate: Chapter 15

  Checkmate: Chapter 16

  Checkmate: Chapter 17

  Checkmate: Chapter 18

  Checkmate: Chapter 19

  Checkmate: Chapter 20

  Checkmate: Chapter 21

  Checkmate: Chapter 22

  Checkmate: Chapter 23

  Checkmate: Chapter 24

  Checkmate: Chapter 25

  Checkmate: Chapter 26

  Excerpt from The Geronimo Breach

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Excerpt from Fatal Exchange

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Excerpt from King of Swords

  Introduction

  Prologue

  About the author

  Rave reviews for Russell Blake books:

  For "King of Swords"

  "Russell Blake is no stranger to the thriller genre. His previous thrillers have turned the headlines inside-out, with gritty, no-holds-barred, edge-of-your-seat plots. With King of Swords, Russell Blake has clearly taken the best of his previous novels and combined them into an honest, often brutal, heart-stopping thriller that left me gasping for air and squirming on my couch. I know this sounds overly dramatic, but in reader-speak...this book kept me glued to the Kindle screen.

  In King of Swords, the reader is taken on a journey through drug cartel-ruled Mexico, where violence often trumps hard cash as the dominant cultural currency. Blake clearly draws on his own knowledge of the political and cultural climate in Mexico to present a realistic and stark backdrop to a thriller in the fast-paced, intelligent tradition of Frederick Forsyth's, "Day of the Jackal." - Steven Konkoly, Amazon bestselling author of the Jakarta Pandemic and Black Flagged

  "King of Swords is a great read for anyone who enjoys thrillers like those by Forsyth and Ludlum. Forsyth's first, and best, book, Day of the Jackal, is one of my favorites. I've read it at least five times over the last thirty years, and it always gets my pulse quickening. King of Swords has the same effect and reads much faster, with surprises that keep you guessing right to the end. You want to just turn the pages as fast as you can push your kindle forward button. I have a feeling King of Swords will be one of the books I come back to again and again. It's that good. I like the author's other books, having read most or all of them, and their all good, but this one is in a different league. This is a no excuses heavyweight you could put up against any of the big names, and they'd be in trouble. Whatever kind of tequila he's drinking I'd say keep it up, because with novels like this pouring forth, I've got no need to read any of the big traditionally published names anymore. Russell Blake is an example of an Indie author who is surpassing many of the best of the name writers, and KOS should put him right in the same ranks as them." - David A

  "I've read a few of Blake's novels and found them diverse in voice and message therein. My favorite was The Geronimo Breach but this latest has a kind of will of its own. The reader can't help but respect the bad guy along with the MC. If I read the subtext right, then I realized who the real bad guys are - I'm not spoiling the plot, so you'll have to decide for yourself on that score. If you like your plots quick, deep and faithful, I'd give it a read..." - Write Into Print

  For "Fatal Exchange"

  "Fatal Exchange is a page-turning roller coaster ride of action, adventure and thrills. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this presumably debut offering from Russell Blake. It's an awesome read. I couldn't put it down, and stayed up all night to finish it, no exaggeration. Six Stars, if they had that high a review! " Katherina J.

  *****

  "This is a book that took me completely by surprise. I thought I'd give it a shot based on the Amazon description and 5 star reviews, and it quickly became a page turner I couldn't put down. The plot is complex, sort of like a Forsyth or Ludlum, and the characters are gripping. It's a real novel. Can't wait to see what Blake does next." Anthony M.

  *****

  "A woman on the airplane sitting next to me was entranced with the book and recommended it to me, and I have to say it's a great read by a complete unknown. Kind of like caramel pop-corn in the guilty pleasure department. It tastes so good you don't want to stop munching. A must read for action or intrigue junkies." David A.

  *****

  "Fatal Exchange is a gritty," edge of your seat" thriller by first time author Russell Blake. The author cleverly combines a well paced, CSI styled crime thriller, with a "no holds barred", plausible international conspiracy. The story centers around Tess, a spunky, misplaced bicycle messenger, tirelessly working the Manhattan courier, who becomes entangled in both conflicts. Set squarely in the sights of a elusive serial killer and pursued doggedly by a ruthless, clandestine interrogation/murder team, Tess weaves her way through both worlds, as everyone around her starts to fall victim to the two very different, yet equally deadly threats. Detective Ron Stanford is stuck in the middle both conspiracy. A youngish detective assigned to a "special homicide" i
nvestigative unit, he initially meets Tess through his investigation of a set of serial murders targeting bicycle messengers, and soon becomes enmeshed another set of bizarre murders popping up throughout the city, all linked to a mysterious transaction completed by Tess's father.

  I can honestly say, that if I could find more books like Fatal Exchange, I would be left with absolutely no reason to read some of the "Brand" name authors on the market today." Steven K.

  *****

  "I really enjoyed this book! Started it yesterday and have spent every spare moment finishing it today. This author is going on my fave list!" Tux

  *****

  "My only regret about this book? Not purchasing it earlier. One of the best reads I've had this summer! I mean, where else can you find bike messengers, counterfeiters, and scalpers all in one book? I literally could NOT put it down, I was so drawn in... Waiting with baited breath for the next novel by Blake.... very impatiently I might add!" Amber N.

  *****

  " This book is in a class by itself. The main plot of the book is exciting and scary (and maybe a little graphic). The pacing is fast, the descriptions are visceral and the twists are unexpected." Stacy K.

  For "How To Sell A Gazillion eBooks In No Time (even if drunk, high or incarcerated)"

  “How to Sell a Gazillion eBooks In a Year is by far the most important book ever written on any topic, although I exclude the Bible since the Bible wasn’t exactly written in the way we mean the word “written.” But other than that, Gazillion does it all. For everyone. A can’t miss, sure fire Gazillion hit-a-thon from the master of them all.”

  - John Lescroart, NY Times bestselling author of over 20 novels, including The Vig, The 13th Juror, Treasure Hunt, Damage, Second Chair and a host of others

  “…a joyously vicious satire and parody that makes sport of John Locke, and indeed of the whole brave new world of self–publishing and self–promotion. If you don’t find Mr. Blake outrageous, and indeed offensive, you would seem to be missing the point. And the same thing goes if you only find him outrageous and offensive.”

  - Lawrence Block, bestselling author of Telling Lies For Fun & Profit, The Liar’s Bible, A Drop Of The Hard Stuff, and Getting Off

  "Anybody who's ever read a self-help book will appreciate the cynical humor from the nimble mind of Russell Blake in this parody. Piercing sarcasm, the ability to turn a phrase into a missile and an impressive vocabulary (he makes up words if he doesn't know an appropriate one - I've asked him, but still don't know what a Gazillion is) combine into a book that is alternately rant, grovel, trash-talk and Bizarro-world counsel. Irreverent fun."

  - David Lender, bestselling author of Vaccine Nation, The Gravy Train, Bull Street and Trojan Horse.

  For "The Geronimo Breach"

  "The best thriller I've ever read. How often do you hear a review say that? Well. that's what I'm saying. Other reviews describing it as near perfection and incredibly well written aren't lying. Russell Blake is on par with the biggest names in the business. And I mean Grisham, Turrow, Ludlum, Forsyth, Brown. The plot is intricate and completely unexpected at every turn. Al Ross is a hateful, extremely well-written character with believable complexity and nuance, plunged into a global conspiracy nightmare he's ill-equipped to survive. Don't want to spoil the end, but it's a barn-burner. Overall, the best read ever." jennifer989

  *****

  "The artistry in this work as the brush strokes build layers, brings you to wonder if something like this could be true! That's the work of a true artist. Many works of fiction have a main character that is so scrubbed up that he no longer resembles a human male. No problems with this one. You start out despising him, then start to feel sorry for him, until finally you almost like him and wish him well - although that outcome seems unlikely, the way the story develops. This is almost a 'How to..' for budding writers. How to write without one word or one sentence that could be edited out! Tight narrative, great story, scary scenario. I almost never give five stars, but this has earned it!" K. McDicken

  *****

  "I've read dozens of adventure and thriller books over the last year from all the big name writers, and I can honestly say Geronimo Breach is by far the best. This book is a blockbuster in the true sense of the word. The plot is completely original, the characters are richly crafted, and the tension just keeps cranking up until the climax, which is a mindblower. I've always wondered what it would be like to discover the next big author before anyone else has heard of him - whether I'd know I was reading something destined for the bestseller lists or not. Now I know, and I can recommend Geronimo with complete confidence. The only downside is now I need to find the time to read his other books." Kathy Lynn Hall

  Excerpts from Russell Blake’s novels

  The Geronimo Breach By Russell Blake

  The Geronimo Breach is a breakneck-paced thrill ride that pits a despicable protagonist against the world's deadliest adversaries. When a pilfered object goes missing, he unwittingly becomes the object of a murderous jungle manhunt to retrieve a stolen secret so shocking it would alter the world's balance of power.

  Go to The Geronimo Breach excerpt

  Purchase The Geronimo Breach

  Fatal Exchange By Russell Blake

  Fatal Exchange is the story of Tess Gideon, an iconoclastic female Manhattan bike messenger with an appetite for the wild side embroiled in a rogue nation’s Byzantine scheme to destabilize the U.S. financial system. As the body count climes, Tess is targeted for extermination by a rogue nation's torture squad while being stalked by a brutal serial killer.

  Go to the Fatal Exchange excerpt

  Purchase Fatal Exchange

  King of Swords By Russell Blake

  King of Swords is an epic assassination thriller set in modern Mexico against a backdrop of cartel violence. Captain Romero Cruz discovers an assassination plot to kill the Mexican and U.S. presidents at the G-20 conference in Cabo by "El Rey" - a super assassin responsible for some of the world's most shocking killings.

  Go to King of Swords excerpt

  Purchase King of Swords

  Introduction

  The Zero Sum trilogy is a serial trilogy that chronicles the saga of one man's struggle against a corrupt Wall Street predator. The story is fiction. The following facts are not. A comprehensive list of all documented examples of the intersection of Wall Street and organized crime, clandestine government agencies, hostile rogue nations, and Jihadists/terrorist financiers would require hundreds of pages. It is beyond the scope of this novel to catalog the extensive labyrinth of criminality that is the reality of the modern market system, however the facts are available to anyone interested in researching them.

  ~ ~ ~

  In 2009, Bernard Madoff was convicted for operating the largest Ponzi scheme in history. A former co-chairman of the NASD and a Wall Street icon, his fraudulent activities cost his investors over fifty billion dollars. Among those who claimed to have been defrauded were several Russian Oligarchs, who were invested in Madoff’s scheme via an Austrian brokerage whose owner subsequently went missing. In reality, none of the Russians lost any money; they actually made billions from their participation. The list of connected criminal entities who participated in Madoff’s fraudulent activities is too lengthy for inclusion in this introduction.

  During the 2008 financial meltdown, shares of major banks like Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns were sold in massive quantities (many multiples of typical trading volume) via a few small brokerage houses during the week leading up to their collapses. During Congressional testimony, the heads of those banks stated point blank that the massive naked short selling (where sell orders are placed, but no shares exist to settle the trades) of the banks' stocks was an obvious manipulation effort largely responsible for their stock price collapse. To date, the SEC has never investigated these trades, nor has anyone ever been prosecuted for them, in spite of the fact that it was the collapse of those two banks that took the global market system to the brink of financ
ial catastrophe.

  A.B. ‘Buzzy’ Krongard became head of the CIA after departing Deutsche Bank-Nicholas Brown in 1998, where he ran the private client group which handles the accounts of many high net worth offshore clients. He was also Vice Chairman of the Board for Bankers Trust, and resigned from that position at the same time. Bankers Trust subsequently pleaded guilty to having created a slush fund and misappropriating unclaimed client funds to prop up their underperforming divisions. It is not unusual for this type of slush fund to be used for transactions where complete anonymity of the client is required.

  Several funds, including Lancer, Anthony Elgindy’s, and those of Mark Valentine have been investigated by the Department of Justice, which revealed they have ties to organized crime figures, Middle Eastern arms money, and corrupt government officials. In the Lancer case, $650 million was lost via a scheme wherein the fund invested in largely worthless penny stock associated with a known organized crime figure. Where the money went from there is unknown. The Lancer directors were never prosecuted. In the Mark Valentine case – Operation Bermuda Short – one of the main perpetrators fled the country after ostensibly receiving a warning of his impending prosecution. The list of La Cosa Nostra, Russian Mafiya and terrorist financiers connected to Valentine is so lengthy as to require a non-fiction book of its own.

  Refco, a brokerage house that was shut down in a huge IPO scandal involving hundreds of millions of hidden debt (believed to have been largely embezzled by CEO, Bennett), was involved in negotiations with the SEC to determine the amount of fines to be paid in the aforementioned Operation Bermuda Short case when the accounting scandal came to light. Some of the largest creditors and customers of Refco were a Russian fund and a major Austrian bank; to be later embroiled in a massive fraud case emanating from the Refco blowup. Hedge funds were used to conceal Refco debt from the company’s auditors – in a series of sham transactions – and there are multi-billion dollar transactions that appear to be large-scale money laundering. The SEC allowed Refco to go public even though the top managers were involved in this prior stock manipulation scheme, and sanctioned for it. No explanation for this remarkable decision has ever been offered by the Commission.