Janitors Series

Dog Pound is the third book in the "Janitors Series," following Baghdad Butcher and Back to Iraq.  However, with the exception of a cameo appearance, Jim Scott and the Janitors take a vacation in this book.  A new batch of characters, three of whom join the team in later books, are introduced in this one. Three more characters herein offer varying degrees of assistance to the Janitors in later adventures of the team.   When one goes to bed with the devil, one should expect the results of that action.  That applies not only to those sub-human beings known as terrorists, but also to otherwise normal people who come up with screams outside the law that call for aligning themselves with hardened criminals who have no regard for human life. This is the story of one such man and what he brings upon himself—as well as a few terrorists that meet up with Jim Scott and friends.

Tthis novel, The Tickleton Affair, Janitors Book #5, is a book of industrial and military espionage, Dan and Janet Orf from Dog Pound and Toboggan meet Jim Scott and some of the Janitors from Baghdad Butcher and Back to Iraq.  Those who have read Dog Pound and Toboggan have undoubtedly figured out that Dan and Janet are two of three characters who will become Janitors (they'll join the team in the next book, Saltwater Connection).       In this novel, Dan and Janet are dispatched to investigate and protect a scientist/industrialist who is doing highly classified work for the government (after he is nearly killed early in the book).  They work with the Janitors in this effort.     A special note here to readers living in, or familiar, with Sedona, Arizona.  A bit of literary license has been used to make the book "work better."  I am well aware that there is no restaurant facility in the Sedona airport.  Also, the ranch portrayed here is no longer owned by those who owned it at the time setting of the book…as some of you reading this story will no doubt know.         Industrial espionage is as old as industry.  When industry is coupled with military implications mixed in with an unscrupulous master spy to gather information, the "norm" is sometimes ignored.       This is the story of such a mixture, and the master spy happens to be from Mainland China.

Jim Scott and friends (now called Janitors—as in they clean up other people's messes) are back for another kick at the can in Back to Iraq, the second book of the nine-book "Janitor" series.  All the folks who helped Jim and Holly in Baghdad Butcher are back, with a few new additions.  The basic team set-up at the end of Butcher is augmented by a new character.  We also have a briefly mentioned character in this book who will become prominent in later books when he joins the team. This time around, Jim and team are headed for Iraq within 72 hours of 9/11.  For all of you who enjoyed Butcher and have been making requests (in some cases, repeated requests) for the next book, here it is…Enjoy.   For years it was rumored that a secret protocol to the SALT treaties between the United States and Soviet Union called for the banning and destruction of any and all small nuclear devices that were easily carried, thus suitable for terrorist acts.          This is the story of four such devices, which were never destroyed and made their way from the Soviet Union (or Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union) to an al-Qaida facility within the borders of Iraq.

Baghdad Butcher is the first book of my nine book "Janitors" series.  The team—formed at the end of this book—which does off the books (black bag) jobs directly for the President doesn't actually pick up the name "Janitors" until the second book.  Most of the main (good guys) characters in all nine books have military backgrounds, with a few still active duty military personnel included. The time frame of the series runs from approximately nine months prior to the 9/11 Islamic terrorists attack through the next seven plus years.    Saddam Hussein was long known to have many doubles.  Some even suggest that his famous trip to the front lines during the Iran/Iraq war was in fact accomplished by one of his doubles.  This book, in part, deals with the question of Saddam and his doubles.  A word of caution in reading this novel…one of the conclusions herein my not be fully trusted.  The question of Saddam and his doubles is revisited in my next book, Back To Iraq, and in future books. While this is a book, and those to follow, are works of fiction, some of the events are based on fact, and many of the characters are based on actual people.  One incident and character are actually based on the event of a real person in the Vietnam War, but moved to Desert Strom for the age factor of the character to fit the time frame herein.

Toboggan, is the fourth book in the "Janitors Series," following Baghdad Butcher, Back To Iraq, and Dog Pound.  Once again, Jim Scott and the Janitors are on vacation, except for another cameo appearance, which is a continuation of their mission in Dog Pound.  In this book, we have a return of Dan and Janet Orf, as well as their friend Mark Yomo.  Dan and Janet investigate a plane crash in the Rocky Mountains, while Mark attempts to track down two criminals in the area of the crash.   In this book, a number of the new characters introduced play roles in later books of the series…with two becoming Janitors for one mission in the eighth book, Devil's Brew.  Also, during the Janitor's appearance, the C-130 plane crew from Back To Iraq is fleshed out, and most of them stay with the team from the sixth book, Saltwater Connection, thru the ninth and final book of the series, Sedona Chip.   This book is part survival story, part investigation, and with a bit of the Janitors.  The Orfs investigate on two fronts, while a young, newly formed, couple fight the extremes of a late spring blizzard in the Rockies.  While that couple heads down the mountain, they find themselves on a collision course with a pair of escaped criminals headed up the same mountain in an effort to avoid re-capture by the authorities. While all this is going on, the idiot author had to stop typing on several occasions because laughter made it impossible to go on without a break.  While not a comedy, I hope the readers find those sections as funny as I did…though I'm sure the higher muckety-mucks in Iran and the leadership of al-Qaida will find it less funny.

In Devil's Brew, Book #8 of the Janitors series, the team expands greatly for a mission to deal with a major al-Qaida training facility inside Syria, even as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan rage on.  Some old friends from Toboggan, and our friendly Mafioso from Dead Silent Calm reappear, some for long-term association with the team in the coming Asps series, which starts where the Janitor series leaves off, after the next and final book of this series…Sedona Chip.   Did Saddam Hussein really dispose of Iraq's WMD after using them on thousands of his own people?  Or did he simply hide them where the inspection teams that searched for them couldn't find it?  Questions that we may never know the answer to…but one possibility is offered up in this book.  This book also again visits the total lack of decency al-Qaida and other Islamists operate under, as nothing can be put past these ruthless cowards.

In Dead Silent Calm, the seventh book in the nine-book Janitor series,  the team goes after a madman Chinese scientist who in addition to coming up with two deadly formulas to unleash on the U.S., is working with al-Qaida.  And we also have a major change in the make-up of the team.  Two of the new members will stay with the team until it's disbanded, and will be main factors (team leaders) in the nine-book Asps series that will follow the Janitors.   For those of you not paying attention, China is no friend of the United States.  It would seem they took notes as we buried the Soviet Union with Star Wars and blue jeans.  This story, however, is about one of their scientists who frightens even some higher-ups within China. 

Father Mulligan is the eighth and next to last book of the Asps series, and the 17th Jim Scott Book.  The Asps, finish with a mission in Zambia.  As they head back to Montana, they asked to divert to the Cayman Islands.  Jim and Holly are aboard the C-130 with them.  This leads to the first attempt on Jim's life in this novel.  The team also gets involved trying to thwart a terrorist attack in America, even though it is far outside their purview, and well against the law to do so since they are CIA and Military.  In the process, the two situations intermingle, while the FBI tries to investigate Jim.  Other problems are uncovered along the way…and dealt with…harshly.  Also, during the course of the book, Holly has to deal with a dream she had, which leads to an eerie meeting.   One would think given fair warning not to mess with someone—especially someone like Jim Scott—it might be a good idea to take ones losses, and lick ones wounds.  In this novel, a warning given is ignored, leading to a cascade of events.  No matter how smart, how rich, and how ruthless a person can be…there is always someone who is smarter, richer, and, when prodded, even more ruthless.  In this book, Jim Scott is prodded.  

With the team now two-plus years into its activities, and the build-up to the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom going on, the Janitors embark on a far flung mission to thwart more evil deeds by al-Qaida…and Hamas.  In this book, The Saltwater Connection, Janitors Book #6, the line-up of the Janitors—as formed in Baghdad Butcher and refined in Back to Iraq—changes somewhat.  We lose one of the members of the team and add three new ones, Dan and Janet Orf from Dog Pound, Toboggan, and The Tickleton Affair, as well as a new character from this book.   It is a well-known fact that many of the Islamist Terrorists of various stripes assist others of their ilk whenever possible.  In this book, we have al-Qaida and Hamas working together in a white slavery operation…showing again that nothing is too deep a depth for these sickos to engage in.

In this the final book of the Janitor series, Sedona Chip, the French (under direction of the French President who has been a thorn in the side of our President during the War on Terror) make a foolish blunder.  The President, General Bradley, and the Janitors jump on the blunder to have a bit of comic relief after seven plus years of dealing with the terrorist threat.  During the effort to cause the French President—and a previously dis-credited French intelligence operative—as much grief as possible, the team also has to deal with several al-Qaida operations. Good reading, and hope you have enjoyed the series.   Why a portion of the American public seems intent on "being more like the French" is beyond me.  This is the story of one in a long line of pompous jerks to hold the seat of President of France, and the type of foolish moves they have made over the years.  It is written with a bit of tongue in cheek, and lets my characters in the Janitor series have a bit of fun on the way out the door, so to speak.  Enjoy. 

Birth of the Asps is the first book of a new nine-book Asps series, and the tenth book of Jim Scott Books.  The plan hatched by Jim Scott with the outgoing President at the end of the Janitor series comes to fruition a few months into the administration of the new President.  Even though the "War on Terror" is declared 'over' by the new President, the Asps are formed and immediately set out on a mission to uncover an al-Qaida plot on the island nation of Dominica.  Drew Hollins' old friend, "Meat Hook" Calabrese, soon dishes up still another al-Qaida plot that the new team gets involved in.  As you will discover, Jim Scott has not exactly "retired."  A few of the old Janitors also get involved…for those who thought they might be finished when the Janitors were disbanded.   The Asps, the new team formed after the Janitors were disbanded, travels far and wide in search of al-Qaida and other terrorists to destroy.  They cover areas east from the United States, as far away as Pakistan, all the way back to areas south of the United States, with several stops along the way.  In this book, they start out on a mission to the island nation of Dominica…a quiet, peaceful nation, whose leaders are wont to dally with such nations as China.

Fido is the third book in the nine book "Asps" series, and 12th of the Jim Scott Books.    Old friend Arnold Buchanan (from the Tickleton Affair, the fifth book of the "Janitor" series) invents a new item, which "Bear" puts to good use.  The team engages various enemies in Colombia, Costa Rica, Pakistan, Mexico, Libya, and Egypt, with a few stopovers along the way.  At times they work with Tony Henry of SIS and with the SAS team they often go to war with.  As often is the case, Jim Scott and some of the old Janitors team manage to get involved at times.    A skilled team can frequently engage the enemy and, in the process, come up with viable intelligence to lead them to the next engagement…or engagements.  While it is no secret the Islamist terrorist movement has made inroads into the drug business, efforts to thwart that effort almost always go unnoticed and unreported.  Rest assured that efforts by terrorist organizations to do so are being dealt with on a regular basis.    

The Zimo Hunt is the second of the nine-book "Asps" series, and the 11th of the Jim Scott Books.  In this book, the Asps work almost full-time with British SIS (MI6) and SAS—for the most part in Pakistan…with a few side trips along the way.  Jim Scott and several (most) of the former Janitors assist in one way or another, as the old team seems to find ways to get involved with the new team.    It has long been known that al-Qaida—along with their pals the Taliban—was (and is) well-involved in international drug trafficking.  It also is well known (rather than just suspected) that some in the Pakistani intelligence community have, at best, turned blind eyes toward some activities of both the Taliban and al-Qaida…and at worst have actively helped both terrorist organizations.  This story involves both of these situations. 

In Bear's War, the fifth book in the nine-book "Asps" series, and 14th Jim Scott Book, the team spends a good portion of the book tracking down a half-German, half-Egyptian terrorist.  During that effort, they manage to damage the plans he has to make two major attacks on England, and one on the United States…only to have the attacks re-planned.  On two occasions, they run into the Iranians offering substantial help to the al-Qaida terrorist they are trying to capture.   Tragedy continues to stalk the combined team of Asps and former Janitors, but, as always, they fight the War on Terror, in spite of their losses…and add new and exciting characters.   It is obvious to anyone paying attention that a much-weakened al-Qaida continues to find traction in many ways.  Not the least of those efforts are in recruiting new members in several locations around the globe.  The trick of the game is to thwart those efforts as fast as the terror organization can come up with them.  This book, as with most of the "Asps" series, deals with those efforts.

In Tears & Terrorists, the fourth of nine books in the "Asps" series, and 13th of Jim Scott Books, the team suffers some losses and a change in the team make-up as they travel the globe eliminating small (and not so small) terrorist nests, mostly al-Qaida.  Also, in this book, al-Qaida sinks to still new depths with a diabolical stunt to make Lucifer proud of his Islamist off-spring…but said off-spring suffer a terrible price as a result.   As al-Qaida suffers world-wide losses at the hands of the three main intelligence services (CIA, MI6, and Mossad), determined to hunt down and destroy the sons of Satan, they are finding places to hide more and more difficult.  This story is but one of many dedicated to exposing the incompetence of al-Qaida.  Enjoy their losses, as you weep for those who have lost their lives fighting this damnable cancer to world-wide human society.

In this book, Billy's Rescue, the seventh book of the Asps series, (and 16th Jim Scott Book), Billy Garcia is taken captive by an Islamist group, intent on questioning him.  Once away from that group, Billy is kidnapped by a press-gang type operation of Taliban and al-Qaida "recruiters" inside Afghanistan.  In both cases, pity the terrorists, because they know not what they have done, nor what they let themselves in for.  While Billy is dealing with his problems, the rest of the Asps, the Scotts, and friends, deal with tracking down CIA traitors, who had been recommended to the CIA by the White House.  With al-Qaida intent on setting up a drug operation in Colombia, the team once again visits that country, to thwart the Islamists.  Also in this book, a very rich liberal supporter of the President gets crossways with Jim Scott—never a good idea.         In this book, the team and friends twice have to divert from their other engagements to "rescue" Billy Garcia, from Islamists holding him.  Some should have been trying to rescue the terrorists instead.  The back story of this book—outside of dealing with the international Islamist problem—concerns how a very rich liberal individual nearly causes great embarrassment to the President—and dumps a major problem in the lap of the new Director of the CIA, who previously wasn't too sure just how good an idea the Asps really were.

Bullets And Baseball is the sixth book of the "Asps" series, and the 15 Jim Scot book.  As a possible matter of interest, this book is actually a re-write of a book to be released at a later date, which is titled Ancient Rookie.  That book started out to be the sixth book of the "Asps" series, but along the way in writing it, your idiotic author fell in love with the characters in the substory, involving an old man who loses an arm in an auto accident and his arm is rebuilt with bionic elements.  By the end of the book, it had become a sports fantasy novel, even though it did have action/adventure elements.  This book, Bullets And Baseball, is an action/adventure novel, with sports-fantasy elements.   If this is confusing to you, guess how it was for me.  I hope you'll give both a try.    One of the key elements of successful Military operations can often be a matter of trust between those conducting the operation.  This even includes when forces of different nations work together—maybe especially then.  If you have read other "Asps" series books, you know the Asps often work with British SIS and SAS, as they do in this book, with continued good results.

Whodunit Did It is the first book of the Bader trilogy, and 19th Jim Scott book, though Jim and Hector Garcia only get a mention in this book.   These three books will feature LAPD Homicide Detective Elmer Bader.  In this one, Elmer and friends work to find a ruthless killer/thief who enjoys killing as well as stealing.  He is actually quite good at his chosen profession, having gone years without being brought to justice.  Good, hard, police work to track him down, is interspersed with the lives of those chasing him—including, but not limited to, Elmer's humorous, sexually charged romance with one of his three ex-wives and his efforts to play "cupid."  Unlike my previous books, this one, while having a few former military men, does not focus on military folks.  Hope the readers of the Janitor and Asps series will still find it entertaining.   A bad guy may be smart.  A bad guy may be good at what he does.  A bad guy may be very careful to leave no trace of himself behind at crime scenes.  But even this bad guy—street named 'Whodunit' (without his knowledge) by an associate—can be tracked down with good police work.  A piece of evidence he had no idea would ever be discovered is discovered.  But does his escape plan work?

Bob Becker P.I. is Jim Scott Books #22, and introduces Bob Becker and a few other new characters.  Bob is Private Investigator, who owns and operates his small company, Bob Becker Decretive/Protection Agency, with his partner Bill Hedden in St. Charles County, Missouri, just across the Missouri River from St. Louis County.  After a woman living in Los Angeles sees her husband kill a woman, she flees to the St. Louis area, arriving at Bob's office, just as two of the men working for her husband attempt to kill her.  From that point onward, Bob agrees to protect her, until her husband can be brought to justice.  Along the way, he has help from Hector Garcia, who dispatches two of his men to assist him in his efforts, along with the use of Jim Scott's computer, as well as Dan and Janet Orf.  Needless to say, he succeeds.

Adios, Amigos is the ninth and final book in the Asps series, and Jim Scott Book #18. In this book, the members of the team, knowing the end of their time together is drawing near, start making plans for their futures.  During the course of the book, Drew and Boris head off to Bolivia on a tip, while the Asps and their British friends take on a mission to Somalia.  While in Somalia, they unearth information leading them to Afghanistan, because of the information obtained.   Intelligence gathered in Afghanistan leads them to Bolivia, seeking a terrorist they learn of in Afghanistan.  Their continuing mission coincides with what Drew and Boris have been up to.  At the conclusion, there is a two-series (Janitors and Asps) Epilog.    Even with the days dwindling before the team is disbanded, they manage to find plenty to do.  Though they do have one member leaving the team early on—while acquiring another member of the plane crew—quite a bit is accomplished…including dealing with information about a major al-Qaida offensive planned for the United States. 

Monster's Palace, Jim Scott Books #26, introduces a new hero, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Clyde Feegle, a Navy SEAL.  Clyde and two other Military personnel (one Army, one Marine) form a unit working with the CIA to find and eliminate al-Qaida (and other terrorists) trying to get more involved in the international drugs trade.  They zero in on one very large international drug operation, with no idea who is running the operation…they set out to discover who.  Their task is complicated by attempts on Clyde's life, authorized by an irate second in command of the drug group, who loses a relative in the first operation of the book.  For readers of my other books, we also have some old friends lending a hand. Forbidden fruit often has adverse outcomes, as is the case in this book.  The leaders of the international drug operation in this book venture far afield from the norm, with tragic results, as their depravity ultimately causes them, or at least one of them, much pain.  Meanwhile, some of those working to dethrone those leaders, have their own awkward relationships, but one out of left field relationship just happens, with a happy ending. 

Dirty Bomb Crisis, Jim Scott Books #29, brings back Fred and Rosemary Dupree, who are invited to spend a vacation with Jim and Holly Scott, so the four of them can get better acquainted, after their experience together in Assassin I Am.  On their way to the island nation of Dominica, they stop at the Cayman Islands for a day or two, because Jim has some business to take care of there.  Their vacation is cut short when Fred interrupts the attempted murder of a hotel maid.  Before leaving the island, they unearth an assassination plot.  The plot involves a dirty bomb, to be used by terrorists on targets a very rich Wall Street tycoon wants killed.  Shortly after their return to the U.S., old friends of Jim are brought into the picture. That the possibility of a dirty bomb attack on the United States has grown since the advent of ISIS is in little doubt.  It is now likely that both ISIS and al-Qaida have access to the nuclear materials needed to build such a bomb.  This story adds the threat of a Constitutional crisis, if the bomb in question is used as intended.  Having consulted with four different Constitutional experts, I came up with three different possible outcomes, if this bomb was used as desired by the evil man who joins forces with terrorists.  The reader is free to select the one he or she wishes to. 

In this the second book of the Becker Trilogy, Bigfoot Bait, and Jim Scott Books #23, Bob gets a case to work on involving the kidnapping of two coeds from the university in Columbia, Missouri, where his friend Wilbur Holder is Chief of the Campus Police.  During the case, Dan and Janet Orf deal with a similar case from the university in Berkeley, California, where another young lady has been kidnapped.  In the process of the two investigations, it is discovered they may be intertwined.  For readers of the Janitor and Asps series, I hope you'll be happy to discover Jim and Holly Scott get involved, along with Hector Garcia. Also in this book, "Crazy" Salazar Webster makes a return visit, leading to the discovery of the gun-running biker gang that Bob and Wilbur helped round up in Bob Becker P.I.   Apparently the gang isn't finished just yet. While the base premise of the story may seem a bit "out there," it is done with tongue in cheek, as I take a shot at loopy professors in general, and at the many folks making fortunes out of "Bigfoot" hunting.  With all the modern equipment available, if Bigfoot (by whatever name) is real, there should be a nice video of him and his family by now.  While I'm ambivalent as to the reality of "Bigfoot"—even if I do find the subject a bit interesting—many people do believe Bigfoot exists.  This, in part, is the story of two such men who reside (in their minds) in the entitlement class.  Bob Becker and friends feel those two have stepped way across the line of proper conduct—and do something about it—with a bit of help from surprising sources.   Special note to the citizens of Entiat, Washington:  I took a few liberties (literary license) with the facilities of your lovely town.  Hope you'll forgive me

Horace Goes Home is the second Bader trilogy book, and 20th Jim Scott book, though Jim again only gets a mention or so, but Hector Garcia gets a good deal more involved. In this book, Elmer and friends deal with a case involving six murders committed by members of a Los Angeles organized crime organization.  The crime boss decides to eliminate Elmer along the way.  During the course of the case, a wino is found who witnessed five of the murders, and an old friend from the Janitors and Asps lends a helping hand.  Also in the book, Elmer has to deal with an LAPD Chief of Detectives, who is none too pleased with him.  However, at every turn, Elmer outflanks him.  If nothing else, this book shows that all winos are not created equal.    Throughout the history of police work, strife within the ranks has been known to exist.  In the case of Elmer and his antagonist, the outcome of their conflict has a surprising end.  Elmer has to deal with this, while he and those working the case with him labor through many false turns, as often happens while working a case to its conclusion.       

How 'bout Both is the third and final book in the Bader trilogy, and 21st Jim Scott book, though again Jim plays a very small part, while Hector Garcia gets involved a good deal more. In this book, Elmer and friends deal with a case involving domestic terrorism.  Elmer runs into several obstacles along the way, including many attempts on his life.  Old friend Hector Garcia lends a helping hand, as do FBI Special Agent Homer Spradling and NCIS Special Agent Greg Noonan, and others.  Both Elmer and his new partner Maine Bobbitt are injured in a terrorist car bomb explosion, while they save many lives through their efforts.  Identifying and capturing the car bomber becomes almost secondary to proving a case against the suspected head of several militant Islamist cells in the Los Angeles area.     One of the banes of law enforcement in America is home-grown Islamist terrorism.  This is especially true when the home-growns are aided with funds and training from afar.  This book deals with a Muslim cleric intent on causing as much damage and fear as possible with various acts of terrorism, who takes a personal dislike to Elmer Bader and his TV news reporter friend, Helen Bledsoe. 

Assassin I Am, Jim Scott Books #28, features three new characters who are, in time, joined by some old friends familiar to my readers.  Fred Dupree and Rosemary Williams work under the direction of Harvey Puckett, as they set out to eliminate several al-Qaida affiliated imams, and also attempt to track down an al-Qaida bombmaker.  The bombmaker is in America to teach his craft to others, and start a major campaign to destabilize the U.S.  After Fred and Rosemary are joined by these old friends, the group then uncovers a major al-Qaida plot to set up the Caliphate of America.  While such a plot would certainly be doomed to ultimate failure, the widespread death and destruction it could cause would change our way of life for years to come. With our borders wide open to the hoards of people crossing into the U.S., there's no telling how many are Islamist terrorists.  We do know several imams in this country are anti-American.  With converts to the Islamist terrorist cause added to those crossing the borders, the groundwork for major terrorist operations has been laid, and at some point we are going to be dealt a severe blow if stepped-up attention isn't paid to the situation.  This book offers an implausible solution, but one that may need to be used in the future.  

Three characters introduced in Monster's Palace—Clyde Feegle, Josephine (Jo) Kelly, and Mitch Melosi—return in this book, Escape From Mexico, Jim Scot Books #27.  Clyde becomes a partner in Bob Becker and Bill Hedden's detective/protection agency.  He and Jo move into a new home, constructed for them on Bob's estate.  The three partners get into a shootout with members of a drug cartel, intent on killing a St. Charles, Missouri judge.  The cartel then adds the three men to their hit list.  This—and the arrest of Mitch Melosi's sister, after she tries to enter Nogales, Mexico with a load of weapons in the trunk of her rental car—soon see Jim and Holly Scott lending a hand.  Some of Hector Garcia's men also enter the fray. Also in this book we deal with the growing concern in law enforcement circles of the illegal use of drones that will only get worse in the years ahead…in this case involving Air Force One. Mexico seems intent on arresting U.S. citizens who obviously are not actually trying to import weapons into their country, and running them through their laughable justice system.  This story touches on that situation, and also on Mexico's inability to stem the flow of drugs into the U.S., by taking down the large drug cartels in their midst.  Let us hope our next President has the backbone to deal with this situation. 

I've had requests for another Jim Scott book, because some readers evidently weren't satisfied with the help he gave Bob Becker in Bigfoot Bait or Pool Of Blood.  So here is the requested book, Back to China, Sim Scott Boks #25.  In it, the new President asks Jim to help retrieve two topflight physicists from China, where they were taken after the Chinese kidnapped them in a bloody shootout on the streets of Las Vegas.  The President is made aware of Jim's capabilities by Tony Henry, now Sir Anthony, the British SIS (MI6) Chief.  A previous President, who had served during the time the Janitors were together, happens to be visiting the White House at the time.  He also endorses Jim as the man for the job. A side issue in the book is the matter of a Chinese team bent on assassinating the new President. When I was just a young lad, the thought of flying at the speed of sound was unheard of.  Yet lo and behold, we now have planes flying at much faster speeds.  Therefore, reaching the speed of light should not be written off as impossible.  While the sci-fi folks have come up with ideas like portals, et cetera, for mankind to travel to the stars, in reality it will have to be done at least faster than the speed of light, to accomplish the job.  Perhaps such speed is being worked on at Groom Lake (Area 51).  If so, I am well-satisfied we don't know about it.  I also hope no one in Washington, D.C. knows about it either, since no one there seems capable of keeping their mouths closed about our technological breakthroughs.  This is the story, in part, of a couple of guys who are working on that very project…in Area 51.

Pool Of Blood is the third and final book of the Becker Trilogy, and Jim Scot Books #24.   In this book, Bob Becker, his wife Michelle, and some other help, try to right a wrong.  A man is convicted of murder due to having stepped into a pool of blood near the body of a murdered woman, whom he had been arguing with only hours before she was killed.  During his investigation, Bob also deals with someone trying to kill Michelle.  The case of the man wrongly convicted leads Bob to Australia, where he is assisted by old friend, now-Colonel Walter Kilgorie, an ASIS Agent, and others…including Jim and Holly Scott. No matter how smart a criminal may be, his misdeeds almost always catch up with him.  In this story, six bad guys have to face their crimes in various ways.  One somehow manages to escape the justice he probably deserves, while another gets more than he might have bargained for.  This case takes Jim and Holly Scott, and Bob Becker from Missouri to France, then on to Australia.  During the Australian portion of the trip, Hector Garcia joins them.  The four also make a stop at the Solomon Islands—where the three Marines visit the sands of Guadalcanal, to pay homage to the Marines who died there.

Devil Two, is Jim Scott Book #30, and in it we have new characters, as well as Jim Scott and friends.  To start off with, Jim and a couple friend come up with a plan to take out the President of Syria, before the next U.S. President is sworn in.  While the operation goes as planned, the patient (the President of Syria) doesn't die in the raid on his palace.  He does, however get the message that any more serious miscalculations, could well lead to his death. After the raid members of the new expanded group led by Jim travel to Iraq, Libya, and most of the western and central U.S.  A well-known terrorist is on a mission to explode a small nuclear device as a trigger for a large car bomb.  The idea being the car bomb would cause a large loss of life, and the trigger would spread radiation in the immediate area.