Operation Bank Withdrawal

A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story BY James Moushon

Operation Bank Withdrawal

A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story 

Author: James Moushon





A bank robbery in downtown LA is one in a series of heists being investigated by the FBI. As FBI Agent Jodi Shannon tries to catch the robbers, a fingerprint in the wrong place gets Jonathon Stone involved. The history of old town Los Angeles provides the key to solving the crime and preventing a National Security disaster.

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Excerpt from Operation Bank Withdrawal

The morning came way to fast. Russ and I had this thing once a week. He liked to brief me on the CIA activities. Since I was based in Long Beach, most of this was just footnotes. My assignments for the last year were overnighters and some local area stuff. I would leave town, take care of business, and return to the beautiful weather in Southern California.

We were about half an hour into the briefing when we were interrupted by Wiley, the head of technical support for DOT. That was our call letters for the CIA domestic operation, an ‘off the books’ division of the Agency.

“Excuse me, Mr. Evans. Do you still have Agent Stone on the line?”

“Yes Wiley,” Russ responded.

“Wiley, what’s up?”

“I’m monitoring the FBI’s internal communication network and we just had a hit.”

“Wiley, is that legal?”

I always gave him a hard time and he occasionally returned the favor.

“The FBI is working a bank robbery in downtown LA. They have just requested a fingerprint search for Charlie Soo. He is on our watch list.”

Russ interrupted. “Isn’t Soo the North Korean national who is suspected of blowing up an American Café in Seoul, Korea last year?”

“Yes sir. We have a team over there searching for him but he is very elusive.”

“It sounds like he is stateside. When we get done with my briefing here, I will make a few calls,” I said.

“You mean the FBI chick?” Wiley asked.

He always called Jodi Shannon that. She was the head agent for the Los Angeles FBI office.

“It’s all professional,” I said.

There was dead silence. Russ and Wiley didn’t buy that. Jodi and I had gotten real close a couple of times so I guess I deserved that. Finally, Russ finished our briefing.

Charlie Soo, a known terrorist, was in the LA area but bank robbery and terrorism just don’t match up. I needed to call Jodi and see what was cooking. I dialed her cell phone.

Moments later she was on the line. “Jon, what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I’m just checking in. How are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” she said slowly.

“I’m headed your way and I thought I would swing by and pick you up. How about some seafood for lunch?” I asked.

“What are you up to Jon?”

She could always read me. That is why she was lead-agent, I guess.

“You don’t want to hang out?”

She hesitated. “I’m working a bank robbery… Of course, you knew that, didn’t you? Why would the CIA be interested in a robbery in downtown LA? What am I missing?”

“Do you have any suspects?”

“Actually, we do but they have mob connections. We believe this is their third bank heist in the last three months. I don’t get the connection to you guys?”

I had dangled her long enough.

“Did you come up with any prints?”

“Just a second. I’m in the lobby of the bank. Let me check.”

She put me on hold. I didn’t know how far ahead of them Wiley was. He would have picked up on the search and probably had the results before they did.

Jodi returned. “The vault was wiped clean except for a print on a table in the center of the vault. We are running it against our domestic databases but so far no match. Why do you ask?”

“Let me save you some time. Have them check the International Databases.”

“And you know this how?”

Now it was my time to hesitate. She was cool with Wiley and what I was up to domestically.

“I just got off the phone with Wiley. Your print belongs to a guy by the name of Charlie Soo. He is a known Korean terrorist. Until this morning, we thought he was operating in Asia.”

“How did you know about the fingerprint, Jon?’

“I’m sorry that’s classified besides you know Wiley has his hands into everything.”

“He’s monitoring our communication, right?”

“I don’t know anything about that,” I lied. “Can I join you? I’d like to tag along on this one.”

“Sure. I’m at the Textile Bank and Trust in the garment district.”

A Note from Jonathon

My name is Jonathon Stone. Like a lot of single, All-American men I enjoy gambling, drinking, and the ladies.

I am a writer for Real Sportsman Magazine.

Being a writer is a realistic, workable cover but, in reality, I am a Special Agent for the CIA. I am assigned to the West Coast-based – Far East Operation Center located in San Francisco.

At one time our offices were in downtown Long Beach, CA. On the main floor was a complete magazine group with secretaries and a writing staff that produced a monthly hunting magazine.

In the basement of that office building was a full-blown CIA operation with security set up and computer center.

Eventually, our cover was blown, and the staff was scattered to the wind. My boss, Russ Evans, changed my status to At-Large and kept me in the Long Beach area. I live in Belmont Shore, if you want to be more specific.

I am what my fellow agents call an Asset-On-Call. I may just show up anywhere in the world.

As a footnote, we also handle the Domestic Operation - Terrorism (DOT) division. It was formed to handle terrorist threats inside the U.S. after DHS took control of intelligence.

This group is not on the Company’s organization chart.

Jonathon Stone

Author: James Moushon

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Satire

Website: James Moushon - Mystery Writer / Author Advocate
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Author Description: 

James Moushon is a Mystery writer and an Author Advocate.

Starting over 15 years ago, he helped lead the startup of the electronic forms industry in the creation, conversion and usage of electronic forms by supplying that industry with a continuing source of published literature, software products and training seminars.

In 2003, Moushon changed his focus to ebooks and their development.

James is currently wearing two Hats. He is a Mystery Writer and a Book Publishing Blogger. You can find his blogs at:

HBS Author’s Spotlight
The blog's purpose is to help authors get exposure in the book publishing industry. He has interviewed and showcased over 600 authors to date.

Indie Author's Corner
The Corner is a collection of Author advice and studies including Marketing, Social Media and other major topics created to help writers in today's ever changing world of book publishing.

He has spent the majority of his adult life developing computer systems and thinking about writing mysteries.

His website is: JAMES MOUSHON - MYSTERY WRITER / BOOK INDUSTRY BLOGGER

To contact him, e-mail: james.moushon@gmail.com

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