The Vengeance Squad

When Chris McCowan's fiancée, 24-year-old Sarah Eason, is killed during a bizarre robbery near Austin, Texas, an unlikely trio teams up to track down those responsible for her death. Chris, a 31-year-old PhD computer science professor, Percy "Tex" Thompson, a 40-year-old wheelchair bound ex-con student at the community college where Chris teaches, and Liz Siedo, the 65-year-old head librarian at the city library where Tex works, pool their talents to find the criminals after local law enforcement agencies give up the chase.

Chris wants an eye for an eye even if that means giving up God and the church where he and Sarah were to be married. He sets out to learn the tricks of the trade from his ex-con student, all while continuing to teach and coming to terms with his grief. Angela, who claims to be an FBI agent, spots the guys at the pistol range and in cities across the country where the FBI is just steps behind Chris and Tex. She soon joins the team to help the three find the killers.

Liz finds influential friends of hers to finance the venture, covering travel costs, including a van with a wheelchair lift and Internet connection. Tex, a former Marine, calls this his 9/11, the war he missed because of his injury. Tex keeps Chris going even when Chris wants to give in to his mother, pastor and Sarah's parents who have all urged him to go on with his life.

Clues take them first to a burned out cabin near Albuquerque where Chris discovers an intact hard disk from a smashed computer. Back home, he reads the disk and finds a clue that takes them to a small town in Massachusetts. From there, with trips back home in between to review the clues with Liz and Angela, they go to El Paso, Galveston, and then Houston. Chris and Tex are arrested and spend Christmas in the Galveston jail. While locked up, Chris realizes that vengeance is not the answer. He prays and receives the comfort he has searched for since Sarah's death.

Chris uses his computer skills plus clues found at the scenes to follow the gang from one city to another until he and Tex come face to face with them at an underground walkway of a building in Houston where the President of the United States is visiting. Chris finds Angela a hostage. He rescues her and together they catch the terrorists and save the president.

Comments

Hi - wanted to thank you for letting me read a pre-published copy of your new opus.  So far, I find it is a page-turner even though I get somewhat annoyed at Chris's reiteration of his angst over his unbelief.  Guess it is difficult for me to understand although I realize it happens all the time.  But the characters are great and well-portrayed.  Tex is a gem.  And Chris's neatness compulsion is a great touch.  Reminds me of my husband who couldn't stand seeing a picture on the wall hanging at a slant. 

Do you want me to list typos that spellcheck doesn't pick up or let the editors do that?  I have noticed several.  (Who's being compulsive now?)   Cheers, Peg