Author Description

A lawyer’s passion for justice unleashes a flaming torrent of death. How many people must die for his justice to be served? Steven Maxwell acts, lives, and breathes as one of America’s top criminal lawyers. Though high priced, he often takes cases pro bono, including murder, in his desire to serve the Lady of Justice; after all, she is why he studied law. Recently he got a not guilty verdict for Guepardo, one of the world’s best professional hit men under contract hire by the Hoffman gang. How? The key witness, Mary, didn’t show up so no evidence, no case, “not guilty.” What makes Guepardo? For him, killing is a timeless art form. Steven also represents the Walsh gang, rivals of the Hoffman’s who are in a life and death struggle to control the streets of Detroit. Can Steven serve two masters? Lynn, his partner, and girlfriend, thinks not. Worse, she considers his work and clientele extremely unsavory. She represents wealthy land developers and evicts poor people to convert their properties into profitable apartments. Steven’s conscience carries guilt feelings as he needs to discover what happened to Mary; how and why did she disappear the day of the trial especially as it was Guepardo who sliced up her husband, the only man Mary loved. Gutierrez, Detroit’s most experienced homicide detective, knows the answer. He relentlessly pursues Maxwell for murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Steven is coming apart at the seams. He’s at odds with Lynn; his ex-wife Marjorie; his young daughter Susan lives under a death threat from Walsh if he doesn’t get him to Guepardo to kill him; his best friend Yiannis the newsvendor and vital source of street news can't reign Steven in; and from Gutierrez wanting to take him off the streets. Steven, always the bright light in the room, lives in self-created darkness blinded by his ego. Considering himself a spiritual person driven by his sou