JMPO - A Different Look at November Echo...and Talanov... Pitted Against the CIA Team Leader...

Upstairs in the casino's darkened security center, 
agent Glenda Bixler and her team had been
 watching Talanov on a TV monitor. Bixler was
 the CIA's European Chief of Operations. 
With her was agent Donna Pilgrim and
 Spanish interpreter, Paul Franco. 
In front of them were other monitors 
connected  to feeds from various cameras 
located  in the foyer, corridors, and
throughout the hotel and casino.
The room was filled with the quiet hum of
 electronic equipment.
     "Did you see the way he looked up
 at us just then?" Bixler said.
 "It's as if he knows we're watching."
    A women's rowing champion from
 Dartmouth who majored in European history,
 the blond-haired Bixler was a competitive
 woman of twenty-nine who spoke fluent
 Russian and German. Her hair was
 cut in a classic bob and she was dressed in
 a dark blue slack suit and white shirt.
An identification badge was
clipped to her lapel.
~~~

Yesterday, I added a carousel at the top of Book Readers Heaven which contained the top read articles in the past year...all had over 600 page hits...

I was a little surprised at first that November Echo popped up on my statistics, since I'd only had one announcement up earlier and my review has just gone up this week... The announcement got well over 1000 hits... Talanov is famous! And his Fans are multiplying fast!

Please realize that this article is not a review and that my professional, official review has been published...

Buttttt, as I was thinking about the book...and its characters...well, I just had to start thinking of this book being made into a movie! And who would play one particular character...

Well, after you read the book, I'm sure you will agree that my choice is perfect. After all, she's already playing the role on television...And her name is Annie. I happen to know that the middle name for this new character is Ann, so that works out, right?

Now listen, I'm not closed to my choice, so if you have other suggestions, just jot them below... I guess I'll have to let the author James Houston Turner...and, of course, the leading man Talanov, help choose...but I'm sure they won't mind if we do some brainstorming and give them our own thoughts...

After all, a Talanov movie is going to bring in lots and lots of Fans!

Now, I have to admit that hot tamale, as Franco called her, was indeed....ah...intimidating, shall we say. But for myself, I preferred the blond CIA leader, what about you?

Besides, there's a pic of this woman already, remember I showed her in my review who may be considered for that character. Besides, we've got to have the CIA team leader somebody we know will win over the Russian spy...LOL

Now, you realize that my interest is in Talanov, so I was surprised that this agent showed a similar interest in what Talanov is all about...

"He knows, all right," said Bixler. "I can tell by that cocky smirk."

"He does come across as a bit of a show pony," Pilgrim replied, "throwing money around the way he has. If he's supposed to be some super-secret top-notch spy, he's doing a lousy job. He even made reservations here at the hotel in his own name."

"Which is exactly the reason I'm worried," said Bixler. 

"Who's the glam there with him?" asked Franco. 

"Man, she is one hot tamale. Definitely thetallest tamale I've ever seen, but totally bombdigity bitchin." 

Bixler stared at Franco with incredulity, "Bombdigity bitchin?"

"What's wrong with that?" 

"Nothing, if you happen to be fifteen years old."

~~~

"But why?"     

"Talanov hasn't exactly been following protocol," said Pilgrim.

     "Meaning he may have pissed off some of the permafrosts in Moscow with his extravagant living?"

     "It's possible," answered Pilgrim

. "We have to assume Talanov is here because of Gorev's defection, obviously to prevent it. We also have to assume the Soviets would send someone like Babikov to take out Gorev if it looks like Talanov can't stop the defection."

     "What I don't get is Talanov's flamboyant behavior," said Bixler, looking back at the roulette monitor. "Look at him down there, living it up. Why would he be drawing attention to himself like that?"

     Pilgrim scooted over in front of the roulette table monitor, where the white ball was starting to bounce on the frets while everyone looked eagerly on.

 "Maybe Talanov's a diversion? Maybe Moscow wants us to be watching him while Babikov slips in unnoticed?"

     "To do what?" asked Bixler. 

    "Kill Gorev."

     "If that were the case, Babikov wouldn't be following Talanov. He'd be honing in on Gorev. But according to what you just said, Babikov's following Talanov, right?"

     "Affirmative." 

    "Could Talanov be the target?"

     "Maybe," said Pilgrim.

 "Another scenario is that Moscow believes Talanov knows what he's doing and will eventually locate Gorev, so the hitman is tagging along to see what happens. One thing is certain: no way will the KGB allow Gorev to tell us what he knows. Nor will they allow his family to live, since they can't risk them telling us anything, either. They're walking dead people, all of them, and Babikov may well be their killer." 

    On the roulette table monitor, the white ball bounced several more times before settling into a slot.     A loud moan went up from the crowd.     "He lost, Talanov lost!" exclaimed Franco, his excitement broadcasting loud and clear over the speaker.     Upstairs, Bixler laughed and clapped her hands. 

On the monitor, people were patting Talanov consolingly on the back while the croupier raked in the two stacks of money.     "This guy is too much," continued Franco. "He bets a cool fifty grand, and with one bounce of the ball, loses all of that money. And he didn't even flinch. He simply shrugged like he'd just lost two bucks at the race track."

     "How can he lose that much money and not throw a tantrum?" asked Bixler.

     "Uh, because he's not you?" asked Franco.

     "Shut up!" growled Bixler while Franco chuckled.

~~~

I don't mind telling you that I was impatiently waiting for Talanov to meet with the CIA agent...If you haven't figured out why by now, you're not a regular reader of mine, are you? LOL... Anyway, I figured somehow, because Talanov was not the type to murder the Soviet defector, that there would be an amiable meet, even hopefully cordial...
NOT...


"Bixler slowly raised her hands. "But you you're supposed to be---" she began just as another police car raced past out front. "Inside," commanded Talanov, who was dressed in black fatigues and rubber-soled boots. 
"Bixler noticed several scuff marks and rips on Talanov's fatigues, as if he had been in a fight.  After herding everyone into the house, Talanov shut the door and motioned for Sofia to search the rest of the house. Sofia placed her aluminum briefcase on the floor and crept quickly down the hallway, leading with her pistol, moving silently from room to room. Talanov directed everyone into the living room and told them to sit in front of the fireplace. On each side of the fireplace were built-in bookcases and cabinets. Couches and stuffed chairs were positioned against the walls, with a colorful, mosaic-tiled coffee table in between.     
"When she sat, Bixler saw Talanov using the back of his hand to blot a cut on the side of his forehead. There had been no cut there before, she thought, recalling the CCTV footage.
"Talanov saw Bixler studying him.
"For the record," he said, his eyes combing the group, "we are not here to hurt anyone, so I hope none of you attempts to interfere. If you do, these Makarovs are loaded with cartridges that can penetrate 4mm titanium body armor, which none of you is wearing. In other words, you would not survive. Nor would anyone hear the shots. Our suppressors would reduce the muzzle noise to roughly that of a hairdryer." Talanov looked each person directly in the eye to make sure they understood. He then directed his attention back to Gorev. "Dr. Gorev, my name is Colonel Aleksandr Talanov of the KGB. I am here to escort you and your family back to the Soviet Union. If you cooperate, I will make sure your family is not executed. Everything hinges on your good behavior. Do I make myself clear?"
"A terrified Gorev looked over at Bixler.     
"Agent Bixler will be unable to assist you," Talanov continued. "In fact, Agent Bixler is now your enemy as her orders will be to kill you and your family now that we are stopping your defection."     
"That's a lie!" yelled Bixler. "You've been sent here to kill him."
~~~


Well, I don't mind telling you that I was very disappointed that they didn't get along... But, then, you don't know what's going to happen later, do you?  Let's just say if Annie plays the part, I hope she's faster in the movie...

Sooo, what do you think? Is our Covert Affairs star, Annie Walker, the one to play this new character in November Echo???

You all know, of course, that this is all Just My Personal Opinion...