Carlos Hazday

Very good, Kitt. Elpidio was a familiar face. We'll get to hear more about him in the next chapter. Also, this is obviously something that will reverberate with them for a while, so the story chronologically following this one will tackle how CJ, Owen, and Liebe feel. Considering it was Mexican police running the show behind the scenes, I figured their training might not be as exhaustive as an FBI agent's.

CJ, Owen, Brett, and Cesar will be in Linc's debt for as long as they all live.

Let's remember a vest will only protect the wearer's torso. A bullet hitting a major vein or artery could cause someone to bleed to death,

Thanks, 1810. I did enjoy surprising you. A long time ago, someone commented how much they enjoyed CJ discovering steel-cut oats in Summer. And Daddydavek has complained I don't provide those little details often enough these days. Been trying to do it a bit more, Dave. Still, those are the chapters I love writing. The slice of life stuff. But I tried the intrigue route in this book and I'm happy it worked. Readers jumped all over the chapters involving the Russian and now they've rewarded me with such a great reaction to this one. I'm grinning.

Lincoln's the size of a LARGE football player. Do they make vest that big? As an aside, did you know there's a tailor in Bogota who's world famous for making armored business suits? One of the things I discovered while researching.

@Clancy59 Great commentary, but you left me a lot to unpack, and I'm not ready to reveal everything just yet. Easy one. Owen will be an American citizen soon, but he'll retain his Australian citizenship. hell Liebe and CJ would both qualify to become Aussies. The embassy wasn't involved. Northman was in his rights to reprimand CJ, but he did it at the wrong time. Liebe and Owen most definitely take priority over Northman or the job. If CJ retracts his resignation and gets fired instead he might be able to collect unemployment compensation. That could help them make ends meet until he finds a new job. What? He doesn't need the money you say? Maybe, but imagining CJ having to report on his job search is hilarious. Yes, Ma'am, I applied to Amazon, but Jeff said they already had a chairman of the board." Yeah, about that idiot who alerted Elpidio...

Thank, Frank. Let me see how the rest of today goes. The better my mood the more likely I am to post early. Maybe a couple of cocktails or a doobie would help relax me...

Writing something where readers know the general outcome isn't easy. Not when I'm trying to build tension and make it interesting. Glad it worked.

@astone2292 And you said you were unfamiliar with the baby Jesus comment Ha! We now return to our response. Thanks, Rob. I'm glad I was able to get the adrenaline pumping. It's one of the things I love about writing, surprising readers and getting them emotionally involved in the tale.

But, but, but... putting kids and animals in peril will always raise heart rates. I think I accomplished my goal.

Yeah, but Parker at least made me think I was safe because he used rhyme. That's a good point about the vests. I really enjoyed every comment suggesting Northman would be involved in the climax. Hopefully readers won't mind I ended his appearances with CJ calling him an asshole.

Y'all are forgetting I'm good at delayed gratification. The longer I hold out clearing loose ends, the more you guys appreciate it. I know you do! LOL

I see you and @JayT share the repetition bug. LOL

I got readers attention didn't I?

LMAO - Damn college kids are so touchy... Jimmy, Spike.. Linc's out of commission for a bit. Could the two of you send a couple of drones to control the mob?

I'm getting too predictable. LOL

I publish chapters around 6 am. You may want to sign into GA overthe weekend in case I decide to post the ending instead of waiting until next month. Oh, and you're repeating yourself. LOL

He's big so he may be able to survive even if he wasn't. Or could he?

Most of the aftermath's details will be revealed in the next chapter. A new character but not the one most readers suspected. I think Domogarov was the leading candidate for a while and Northman was atop the list of suspects.

More like a hundred, but who's counting? LOL

Really? Poetry in the comments? I'm flattered! Nobody's ever written me a poem before. Bring on the pitchforks, the tar, and the feathers... Where did I put that .38 again?

Time to call the morgue and check the hospitals! Thank you, I'm glad my efforts paid off. I think I mentioned Liebe would get kidnapped to Mann even before I wrote her birth. This has been years in the making and the details changed along the way. As nervous as I was about it, the chapter's reception has been everything I hoped for. I'm glad I was able to surprise readers and do so in an enjoyable way. You guys are the best!

I like to live dangerously.... I should have ended the story with this chapter and waited a while to show the aftermath.

LMAO I think I recognize that cliff! One more to go, buddy.

Time for breakfast!