Professor and secret government analyst Ian Sanderson's bad day gets worse when he arrives home one miserable November evening to find an apparently incriminating photograph in a FedEx envelope in his doorway, followed by increasingly threatening photographs over the next two or three weeks. It isn't just Ian being set up: his partner, Randy, a lieutenant colonel working on a top-secret Pentagon project, is also at risk. Someone obviously wants something, but what? And from whom?<br><br> Soon, a mysterious caller demands that Randy disclose information about the project he's been working on. When he refuses, Ian's and Randy's sons, David and Paul, are kidnapped from an Amtrak passenger train. Resourceful and intelligent, the boys manage to escape-only to find themselves lost and alone in a remote wilderness. With time running out, can Ian and Randy track down their blackmailers? Or will the man known only as The Broker claim another set of victims?

The Burdens of Truth

“We wait until someone from the sheriff’s office gets here,” Pete said. “Grab a soda from the fridge and have a seat.”


“Pete, are you gonna be able to lock your apartment tonight?” I said.


“No problem. I can secure it by throwing the deadbolt—I’ll take care of the other part of the lock tomorrow or the next day.”


After what seemed like forever, there was a knock on the door, and when Pete opened it, I saw a familiar face and said, “Hey, Carl. Sorry we got you out so late at night.”


“Don’t worry about it. Captain Martin told my lieutenant to call me because I’m gay and because I’d met at least some of you.”


That was my cue to make the introductions, so I said, “Guys, this is Sergeant Johnson, one of only two out officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.”


When the introductions were complete, Pete said, “Have a seat, Sergeant, and tell us how we can help you.”


Chapter 75