Operation Tango Two-Two

Operation #4

by D.J. Stutley

Andrew showed Joanna the small photograph. "This picture of you was found in a purse today, and I am hoping you can tell me who owns the purse." Joanna looked at the photo briefly then shook her head. She was lying, and he knew it. "This is very important, Joanna," he said softly. "This morning the owner of the purse with this photograph in it was involved in an accident." Joanna's face froze in disbelief. "A car hit her as she walked through a car park. The driver didn't stop." Joanna's eyes filled with tears, and she began to shake. "She is dead?" she cried as the first tear spilled over and ran down one cheek. "No, she is not dead," he said quickly. "She is badly injured." Reaching for the box of tissues on the desk, he watched as she took several and buried her face in them. "Joanna...please tell me who she is." "It is my mother," came the muffled words. When thirteen-year-old Kelly Smith first meets Joanna Acosta, an attractive newcomer to her class, she is intrigued by the new girl's secrecy and timidity. But as soon as Kelly befriends Joanna, she becomes entangled in an international saga involving bodyguards, electronic surveillance, and a mysterious "Death Squad." Determined to do her bit and protect her friend, Kelly soon crosses paths with the Smith kids' guardian, Detective Sergeant Scott Backer. Why is Scott coming between Kelly and her new friend? Why does Joanna need a bodyguard?

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelly wants to hang out with her friends at the Mall. Her guardian, police officer Scott Backer, says 'no'. He doesn't like the company she's keeping and he doesn't want her going out unsupervised with a group of young teens into town. Maybe he'd have been better off saying 'yes', given the dangers of knowing the nicer of her schoolmates.

Kelly's life intersects a police investigation when her new classmate, Joanna, is identified as the daughter of a hit-and-run victim. When it is discovered that Joanna has no one to care for her while her mother is in hospital, Scott comes to the rescue.

But then mysteries keep mounting up. Joanna and her mother Rosa are new immigrants. But there's no record of them anywhere. Anywhere. And Joanna's attitude towards seeing her injured mother is perplexing. She doesn't want to take any opportunity to go to the hospital. Then she freaks out when she discovers that Scott is no ordinary guardian - but a police officer. Her poor English creates continual misunderstandings.

Andrew Hallen, Scott's partner, feels he's being followed. But can't understand why or what it has to do with Joanna.

Then Scott discovers a mysterious DVD hidden between 2 books in the lounge room. Although the audio track is in another language, Scott can pick up enough of what's going on to realise it's the record of a funeral. The funeral of an entire family. A very wealthy and obviously very powerful family.

This thriller features a brief cameo appearance of Piper and 'the Band' from Operation Alpha Papa. That was a treat!