
Part of Series
“So you want me to fly to Colombia and commit what basically amounts to a political assassination on foreign soil?” Not making the mistake of firing back too quickly, responding with something heated or that he might not be able to take back, he waits. A pause of several seconds, ending with him sighing deeply. “We’re not asking you to incite an international incident. We just want justice.” Six nights ago, disaster struck as the Cattaneo crime family gathered at its headquarters in the suburbs of Boston to enjoy the Feast of San Gennaro. An annual rite that was supposed to be a moment of reflection and celebration on the heels of an especially difficult summer, seeing massive upheaval in their ranks. Turmoil that turned out to be just the beginning, as they were targeted by a hitman just moments after sitting down to eat. A sudden and vicious attack that claimed the lives of not just half a dozen of their own, but the life of a responding officer as well. More tallies on a months-long spree, all attributable to the man hiding behind the protection of diplomatic immunity. The proverbial get-out-of-jail free card that many across the city could not abide, leading them to put in a call to Ham with the request that she do what they could not. Fly to Colombia and end the man responsible for so much destruction and chaos. What was supposed to be a relatively simple assignment turns into anything but as Ham arrives, discovering that the man’s role was just one tiny aspect of a much larger scheme. A plan years in the making, sending her scrambling across multiple countries and continents in a mad dash to unravel it. Then prove to those responsible that true immunity has its limits.
Author

I originally hail from the midwest, growing up in the heart of farm country, and still consider it, along with West Tennessee, my co-home. Between the two, I have a firm belief that football is the greatest of all past-times, sweet tea is really the only acceptable beverage for any occasion, there is not an event on earth that either gym shorts or boots can't be worn to, and that Dairy Queen is the best restaurant on the planet. Further, southern accents are a highly likeable feature on most everybody, English bulldogs sit atop the critter hierarchy, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Saturday night spent catfishing at the lake. Since leaving the midwest I've been to college in New England, grad school in the Rockies, and lived in over a dozen different cities ranging from DC to Honolulu along the way. Each and every one of these experiences has shaped who I am at this point, a fact I hope is expressed in my writing. I have developed enormous affinity for locales and people of every size and shape, and even if I never figure out a way to properly convey them on paper, I am very much grateful for their presence in my life. To sum it up, I asked a very good friend recently how they would describe me for something like this. Their response: "Plagued by realism and trained by experiences/education to be a pessimist, you somehow remain above all else an active dreamer." While I can't say those are the exact words I would choose, I can't say they're wrong. I travel, live in different places, try new foods, meet all kinds of different people, and above all else stay curious to a fault. Here's hoping it continues to provide us all with some pretty good stories...


