Introduction

“Jake Travis is one of the best leading men to take the thriller fiction stage in years.” --Florida Weekly

Veronica Stafford has seven days before the date on her calendar in which she’s entered a single word. Die.

Veronica persuades Jake Travis to use those seven days to recover a stolen Salvador Dali painting. If Jake is successful, she will gift ten million dollars to Harbor House, a refugee center operated by Jake and his friend Morgan. Eager to make his wife, Kathleen, and two young daughters proud of him, Jake accepts the deal.

But Jake is not the only one searching for the Dali. Demos, a flamboyant and shady art dealer, is also in pursuit of the painting. Jakes learns that Demos won’t hesitate to use violence to achieve his goals.

Jake forges ahead when a man with ties to the Dali is murdered. He doesn’t retreat when threats are made against Kathleen. With time running out, his actions become more desperate and the consequences more dire.

In searching for the stolen Dali, is Jake just losing himself?

“An author who crackles with energy and suspense.”—Kirkus Reviews

Each Jake Travis book is a stand-alone. It is not necessary to read the preceding novels first.

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Excerpt

I cranked my neck toward Kathleen. She’d been conversing with her escort, but their words had been unintelligible.

“Dead end. You?”

Kathleen twisted her head toward me. “Bentley says you can use your real name, or you can pick your own and he chose the former. But I don’t believe him.”

“That you can pick your own name?”

“That his real name is Bentley.”

Stacey: “Hey, why are you talking to her?”

Bentley: “Do you two know each other?”

“And Carrie Crowlings?” I said.

“Bentley says she’s a gold digger.”

“Bentley’s useful.”

“Great hair.”

“I noticed.”

Stacey: “Excuse me?”

Bentley, raking a hand through his hair: “Thank you.”

“Tell me more,” I said to Kathleen.

“That’s as far as we got. But I think Bentley’s got potential. He’s made for the job.”

“Not Stacey. She’s big on real estate.”

Bentley: “What are you guys talking about?”

Stacey: “What about real estate?”

“Switch?” I said.

“On three.”

“One, two . . .”

Kathleen and I popped up and switched chairs.

“Hi,” Kathleen said. She extended her hand across the table to Stacey, who reflexively accepted it. “I’d like to apologize for the confusion. Jake and I know each other.”

I kicked my chair out so that I angled myself to participate in both conversations. I introduced myself to Bentley. He looked like the guy on the box for a men’s hair-coloring product.

He bobbed his head a few times. “Okay. Okay. You and April are a team, right? I like it. A little kinky, but I’m in.”

“April?”

Kathleen craned her head back. “Forgot to tell you. I’m April tonight.”

“April?” I said for the second time.

“In sixth grade, her boobs popped out first. Honey, we all wanted to be April.”

“How did I not know this?”

“There’s a lot you don’t know.”

Stacey: “Someone tell me what’s going on here.”

Bentley: “I dated a girl named April once. Wouldn’t mind doing it again. I dig older women.”

“Hey, buddy,” Kathleen said, blasting him a look. “I’m not that much older than you.”

Stacey stood. “Someone tell me what’s going on, or I’m leaving.”

“Bentley and you both work for Sunshine,” I said.

“How do you know April?” she demanded of me.

“We’re married.”

“You and April?”

“Yes. Me and Kath—April. How about if we take a stroll down the pier? I’ll spring for ice cream cones. You both deserve an explanation.”

Stacey gave that some consideration. I wasn’t worried about Bentley. He was game for anything. But I felt responsibility toward Stacey.

“Sure,” she said, cocking her head. “I love ice cream.”

Ten minutes later Kathleen (April), Bentley, Stacey, and I walked out of Cassis Bakery, each with our own cone. We settled on the seawall, our legs draped over the side. It was a challenge to stay abreast of the sea breeze that attacked the ice cream with the same gusto as we slurped it.

I was fortunate that I had talked Kathleen into coming. (That’s how I remember it.) For it was Bentley—the most painful, the most methodical, the most anal ice cream cone slurper on the west coast of Florida—who delivered.

“Oh yeah,” Bentley exclaimed. “I know Carrie. Whatdaya want to know about that babe?” view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

1-What if Veronica’s biggest fear? And what is her way of dealing with that fear?

2-What was Veronica’s mistake that she regrets the most?

3-What is Jake’s mistake that haunts him at the end of the book?

4-What does the Dali represent to Jake?

5-What is each of the main characters searching for?

6-What non-recurring characters did you enjoy the most and why? Demos? Charley? Faye? Bentley? Stacey?

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