Part of Series
“I take it you’ve been looking for me?” I open. The man’s hands curl upward into fists. His eyes flick to the side and back. A reflexive movement that answers my question without him saying a word. “Not you,” he adds, betraying the slightest hint of an accent. Adrenaline seeps into my system. The taste of copper finds my tongue as anticipation builds. “Same difference.” Each moment propels Kyle Clady further in the search for the people and motives behind the senseless murder of his wife. A journey that forced the paths of those involved to converge, the precious closure he’s seeking rounding into view. In the desert beyond the edge of greater San Diego, Kyle and his friends stare down at the man identified by his vest as Byrdie—someone with information they need. Someone Kyle encountered a couple of times in recent weeks, this time promising to be the last. Unbeknownst to any of them, fifteen miles away, the wreckage of a mobile home lies smoldering—the final remains of the Wolves organization Byrdie rides for. A heinous act carried out in the dead of night. In the opposite direction, Detective Malcolm Marsh watches over his partner, praying the man’s improving status will translate into a full recovery. A rare bit of good news as he sifts through the growing number of crime scenes and fends off increasing pressure from the brass downtown. Along the coast, Elsa Teller puts the last few details into place, final acts to fully insulate herself and her employer from blowback on a scheme far wider than ever imagined. A scheme fast coming to a close, the only remaining question being, what form will it take?
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...
