by B. H. La Forest (Author)
Americans want to be reassured their law enforcement agencies are effective in carrying out primary missions that ensure protection wherever possible. This book epitomizes how agencies, with varying missions, can overcome adversity to achieve a common purpose. Several years after special agent Ray St. Giles vanished in West Virginia, Manfred Kurtz is assigned as ATF Detroit's Special Agent in Charge (SAC), and Angelo Tana is his assistant. Both had been Ray's DPD partners before joining ATF. Kurtz is contacted by DPD Deputy Chief Wendell Locke. He wants ATF assistance in finding those responsible for a string of bombings and murders. DPD sergeant Hugh St Giles, Ray's son, and Brian Culbert -- his counterpart at ATF, assemble a compelling team of agents and detectives. Together, they promptly develop leads on the bombings and a W.VA connection. As their case expands in several directions, agents bring in DEA. Now a Task Force, investigators will tie in political corruption, a major gun trafficking ring, stolen military materials, Colombian dope traffickers, and the man responsible for Ray St. Giles' disappearance. However, smack in the middle of the investigation further complications arise. A U.S. Senator and a White House mole strive to manipulate a Congressional subcommittee. Its Chairman struggles with his mandate - find a process to abolish ATF as a law enforcement agency. If successful, seeds for a National Police Force will have been sewn. Strings are being pulled by people with no love of country. Corrupt appointees in Departments of Treasury and Justice, a rogue ATF executive, and remnants of a home-grown terrorist organization - all conspire to bring Federal law enforcement, under a single, powerful agency. As the task force gathers evidence, agents and detectives explore connections to all these divergent angles, leaving Kurtz and his people to sort them out.