by Young, Mark
“Speaking of Joe, where is he?”
“Over here, son.” The group parted so Gerrit could see his uncle seated across the room.
“What are you doing way over there, Joe?”
Joe wiped his eyes. “Just thanking the man upstairs that He sent you back to me—again.” He slowly raised himself and limped over to Gerrit’s bedside. “I’m okay. Kane and his people worked me over pretty good, so it’s going to take a while for me to recoup. I should be able to give you all kinds of grief by the time they release you from this place.”
“Enough of this chitchat. I’m starving.” Jack’s voice rang out. “Let the boy get some R&R. If the rest of you can stomach cafeteria food, I’m buying.” Before Thompson left, he lingered a moment, letting the others file out ahead of him. He returned to Gerrit’s bedside. “Here, I think you should have this.” The colonel held his hand open.
Inside, Gerrit saw the pocket watch his father had left him.
“Alena said you might want this,” Thompson said. “I sent a team to San Francisco to clean out everything in her shop after it was clear that part of the operation had been blown. I asked them to send this back to me.”
Gritting his teeth, Gerrit palmed the watch, feeling its smooth contours. “Thanks, sir. This watch helps me to hold on to the past when all else seems to have been destroyed. You can’t…” He couldn’t finish.
“I know, son.” Thompson moved toward the door. “Take care of yourself.”
Gerrit watched the small group wander into the hall, leaving him alone. He started to close his eyes but opened them when he heard someone enter the room.
Alena.
He smiled as she came near. “Missed me, huh?”
“Like a bad heartache.”
“You mean headache, right?” he said, pointing to his forehead.
“No, I mean heartache,” she said, patting her chest.
Gerrit smiled, “Come here.” He reached up and drew her closer. Gently and firmly, he kissed her. He closed his eyes and felt her relax in his arms.
Smiling, she pulled back, cupping his face in her hands. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
Gerrit clasped her hands in his. “Did you know married guys who give their wives kisses every morning live five years longer than those jerks who never kiss ’em?”
Alena raised an eyebrow. “Is this some kind of weird proposal?”
Gerrit grinned. “Just a fact to tuck away for future consideration.”
She cocked her head to one side. “Really? Shall we practice?” She leaned over to kiss him.
He pulled back once again. “Did you know—?”
“Shut up and kiss me, Einstein.”
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Acknowledgements
Coming Works by Mark Young
About the Author
Contact Mark
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Publishing a novel is not a solo endeavor. I want to recognize some of those who have made this novel a reality. First and foremost, my wife Katie, always my inspiration and encourager in this writing journey—proofreading, editing, and formatting print books, just to name a few of the hats she wears. I would be remiss if I did not mention some of my friends and acquaintances who pitched in to make this dream a reality.
My fabulous editor, Julee Schwartzburg, finally succumbed to my pleas for help and took this project under her wing. Thanks, Julee, for helping me to reach that next level. I hope we can partner on many other projects. I want to express a deep appreciation to eBook formatters, Rob and Amy Siders of http://www.52novels.com/ who continue to provide outstanding professional assistance and support in getting my novels to the readers. They make an awesome team. And, thanks to Peter Ratcliffe at http://peterratcliffe.com for coming up with an eye-catching cover design. Great work!
A special thanks to my lovely daughters Ingrid, Julia and Jacqueline, for their love and encouragement from the very beginning. All those hours of emails, phone calls, and conversations ad nauseum about the writing life—thanks for hanging in there.
To my friends who faithfully read my stuff and care enough to correct: Carol Young, Carole Neal, Denise Fehlman, David and Melody Jones and all those who’d rather not be mentioned—thanks for your time and patience. A special thanks to Kevin Pickron, for patiently guiding me through the confusing world of computer technology.
Lastly, I would like to give recognition to authors Grant R. Jeffrey and Bill Salus, whose writings helped me create a long-term concept of what the future might hold. First, Dr. Jeffrey’s book, Shadow Government: How the Secret Global Elite Is Using Surveillance Against You (Waterbrook Press, © 2009) helped shape some of the ideas already floating around in my head. His book has become a great resource regarding the advances of technology, documenting a growing concern over the erosion of our right to privacy. Secondly, I’d like to recognize author Bill Salus’ book, Isralestine: The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East (High Way, © 2008) as he shares a look at current events in the Middle East as they might relate to our future. He put such world events as The Arab Spring and the suspected proliferation of nuclear weapons by Iran into perspective as our world edges toward future confrontations.
Coming Works by Mark Young
Mystery/Suspense
Travis Mays Novels
Revenge
Blood Quantum (Coming in 2013)
Tom Kagan Novels
Broken Allegiance (Coming in 2012)
Shadows (Coming in 2013)
International Thriller
Gerrit O’Rourke Novels
Off The Grid
The Daemon Files (Coming in 2012)
About the Author
Mark Young is an American novelist. His second novel, Off the Grid, is his first international thriller. Prior to his full-time writing career, he served as a police officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department in California for twenty-six years; an award-winning journalist; and a Vietnam combat veteran. He served with several law enforcement task force operations, including the presidential Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force targeting majo
r drug traffickers, and the federal Organized Crime Task Force charged with identifying and prosecuting prison gang leaders. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his family.
Contact Mark
Do you want to contact Mark for information, updates, or to just stay in touch? Visit his web page at MarkYoungBooks.com for book release information, free giveaways, interviews, and upcoming events. Enter your email address to automatically receive updates on Mark’s web site or on any of the blogs. Your information will be protected! Check out Mark’s two blogs, http://hookembookem.blogspot.com/ “where mystery readers, writers and law enforcement connect, and http://markyoungarrestingfiction.blogspot.com/ for more personal articles and information he likes to share with readers and fellow writers during this exciting writing journey. Link up here on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or keep Mark under surveillance at Amazon’s Author Page. And, finally, reach Mark directly by email at [email protected] where his goal is to respond to every message. Don’t stay a stranger!
Off The Grid
All rights reserved
Copyright © 2011 by Mark Young
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without written permission from the author excluding the use of short excerpts for review or promotional purposes.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales are purely coincidental unless specifically acknowledged.
