Incognito - Lewis Terry

INCOGNITO'S MISSION IS TO ASSASSINATE LEADERS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS IN 1776.

As the colonies begin to talk openly of political separation from England, a coded letter is deciphered. It suggests that an assassin, code name Incognito, is headed to Philadelphia to assassinate key leaders of the Continental Congress. The assassin may have co-conspirators in the city, and in the Congress itself.

Will Harrell, the young man who decoded the letter, is tasked with investigating the matter, uncovering the identity of the assassin and his confederates, and foiling the plot. While he works feverishly against the clock, he must deal with some skeptical and uncooperative delegates, an abundance of suspects but a scarcity of hard evidence, his own self-doubt, and a widening plot that includes a planned assassination of General George Washington in New York.

Will is determined to thwart the assassin, but his adversary is creative and resourceful, a master of disguise, handsome, charming, and thoroughly ruthless. The price Will must pay to stop him may prove too dear.

Excerpt

John Hancock gaveled the session of the Continental Congress to order and then recognized Richard Henry Lee.

The thin, long-limbed delegate from Virginia rose slowly from his seat. He pulled down on the sleeves of his shirt, adjusted his coat and looked around the room. "I have two related resolutions to offer." All eyes were on him and a penetrating silence invaded the space as he removed the notes from his vest pocket, opened them up and began to read.

"That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

Everyone in the room knew this was coming, some with great anticipation, some with a cold dread, but only a select few were privy to the exact timing, or the exact wording. And now, even those who had done everything in their power to bring the body to this point sat in stunned silence, as Lee's sparse, eloquent words hung in the air. A low murmur began in the chamber, and Lee waved his black silk-gloved hand to indicate he was not finished.