The Ulterior Motive

The fate of the United States hangs in the balance and only a select few can prevent the impending disaster. 


Stanley Carmichael is an intelligent and hard-working member of the Central Intelligence Agency. Yet, he never expected to be named Deputy Director of the CIA so soon in his career. Nonetheless, he finds himself stepping into shoes that feel impossible to fill. 

Anna Carmichael is a legend. She's one of the fiercest ex-members of the Special Activities Division, where she saw more than enough blood and war for a lifetime. Now, she's still CIA, but stuck behind a desk and bored. Luckily for her, it seems her fieldwork isn't done yet. For as soon as Anna's partnered with rookie FBI Special Agent Blayze Phillips, she realizes his investigation is a lot more dangerous than it seems—especially when it turns its attention to the mysterious Caliph al-Maqasid. 

They know that the Caliph spent the last few years successfully uniting fractured terrorist groups in the Middle East. Now he's formed the most well-funded, strategically efficient operation that's on its way to becoming a true global caliphate. But who is the Caliph, really? Why doesn't anyone know anything about this infinitely clever, charismatic, and terrifying man? And what, exactly, is he plotting next? 


The Carmichaels will have to work together to find out because the Caliph is about to strike at the heart of America.