Excerpt

An unusual jewelry heist in Las Vegas is bungled, starting a chain of events that ensnare Benny Hager, an ordinary musician working the clubs on the strip. Two people die in the process, and to Phil Bricker from Las Vegas police, knows Benny had to be the trigger man, but he can’t quite find the smoking gun. Benny’s agent, Joey Blitzer, tries to get Benny out of the jam and ends up pushing Benny in deeper. Benny’s friend and fellow saxophone player, Billy Vise, told too much before he died. That set off a frenzy to locate the very valuable loot among those who this robbery would have benefited.

Benny has to face reconciling with his past when his father passes away. Benny goes back to his roots in New York City and redeems his feelings for his father and settles his estate all the time with this cloud of suspicion following him. His fate is unsettling when he discovers his friend Billy Vise not only was involved with the heist, but had swapped Benny’s saxophone case with one holding the loot hidden under the lining. This is an impossible situation to explain as Benny tries to find a way to clear his name. A young lady comes into Billy’s life with some answers. Benny discovers she has her own agenda.

Billy and Brenda soon find that not only are the cops hot on their trail, but some very unsavory career criminals have a vested interest. The dirty trail leads to some high places as they try to corner Benny to reveal where the loot went, but with a twist. They are looking for more than just some shiny bobbles.

The chase is on when others start to fall. Phil Bricker and his assistant Jim Francis seek the aid of a New York cop, Sergeant Pulaski, to zero in on this seemingly out of control crime. As the pressure mounts, Benny stumbles onto a way out. Right as Benny’s musical career takes off and in the middle of his battle to clear his name the unthinkable happens. His ability to make music is cut off, the thugs catch up to him, and the police find clear evidence.

How can Benny wriggle out of this? Can he survive? The collision of events pushes those responsible into the light and the whole problem is now clear to Benny, but how can he prove he wasn’t involved. His final decision will be the most important of his life. He has to figure out who is trying to kill him and who is one that can save him.