ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In tactical training we are ever practicing to “shoot, move, and communicate.” I hope my books carry forward that same sentiment.
As usual, I’ve taken a bit of literary license with the small details, in an effort to tell a fast story without giving the bad guys too much real stuff without making them work for it. It is, for instance, a little more difficult to waltz into Seattle with a load of terrorists in your boat than I make it out to be, thanks in no small part to the good folks at Customs and Border Protection. That said, the border is a big place, and they can’t be everywhere.
I had a great deal of help in researching all the shooting, moving, and communicating. Aaron Gough provided insight into the Springfield Armory XDs, a pistol I don’t currently own. Ty Cunningham, my friend and jujitsu instructor, walked with me through the fight scenes, exploring the dynamics of real-time, nose-to-nose violence.
Thanks to Ben for all the help with Mandarin and to Dan for letting me use him as a sounding board.
Skipper Steve Arlow helped immensely by allowing me to spend a few days aboard his 65-foot boat in Southeast Alaska, exploring and imagining the possibilities.
Mike, Lori, Ray, Ryan, and Doug down at Northern Knives in Anchorage provided much entertainment as we discussed various blades and techniques. Scott Ireton remains a friend and valuable bike expert, as do Andy and Troy at the BMW shop in Salt Lake.
I consider myself a horseman, but I had my friend, Jill Marshall (who also happens to be an expert
pistol-era
) check my ideas for the
buzkashi
match, utilizing her expertise in dressage and other equine matters.
Earlier this year I bought a little Bond Arms derringer, thinking it would be perfect for Ronnie Garcia to carry. I didn’t know how right I was. I need to give a big thanks to Gordon Bond and my new friends at Bond Arms for the factory tour and in-depth discussion about the Snake Slayer.
My friend Dan Cooper continues to inspire me with tales of his motorcycle trips through Central Asia. I really want to be like him when I grow up.
My agent, Robin Rue, her assistant, Beth Miller, and my editor, Gary Goldstein—and all the folks at Kensington—are some of the best people I’ve ever met, in or out of the publishing business.
As always, thanks to my sweet wife, Victoria, who deserves all the credit and none of the blame.
PINNACLE BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2016 Marc Cameron
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
PINNACLE BOOKS and the Pinnacle logo are Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-0-7860-3529-8
First electronic edition: January 2016
ISBN-13: 978-0-7860-3530-4
ISBN-10: 0-7860-3530-7