The prologue of DEADLINE begins in 1976 with a deadly
shootout between the FBI and a homegrown terrorist group.
All of the group members are killed in the standoff except
for the leader, Carl Wingert, and his girlfriend Flora
Stimel. They escape, and the FBI discover that Flora had
recently given birth. Carl and Flora go on the run, and
have never been caught. The lead FBI agent on the case,
Gary Headley, keeps up the hunt for Carl throughout the
ensuing years.
The story moves to present day, with journalist Dawson
Scott's recent return from a tour of investigative reporting
in Afghanistan. After being entrenched with the military
for so long and seeing the horrors of war, he is suffering
from PTSD. Dawson is trying to self-medicate his problems
and deny his demons. He is soon off to his next big story
on the behest of his godfather Gary Headley; that of the
disappearance and presumed murder of former Marine Jeremy
Wesson. While covering the trial of the suspected murderer,
Dawson is impressed by the cool, calm testimony given by
Wesson's ex-wife Amelia Nolan. When she takes her two sons
for a short vacation during a break in the trial, Dawson
follows her. His initial interest in Amelia is to find out
more about Jeremy Wesson, who may or may not really be dead;
and who he and Gary suspect is the long-lost son of Carl and
Flora. The interest in Amelia turns into a mutual
attraction, which is cut short when the young nanny of
Amelia's children is murdered, and Dawson becomes the prime
suspect.
The story soon becomes a deadly game of cat-and-mouse
between the two men and Carl Wingert; with layer upon layer
of suspense, and twists and turns throughout the book. Gary
Headley is determined to take down one of the most notorious
criminals of his career; and Dawson is looking for the story
that will make his name in the world of journalism. At this
point, the story takes on the dual points of view of Dawson
and that of Carl Wingert. Interspersed between the chapters
are pages from Flora Stimel's diary; which is one of the
more intriguing aspects of the book. This is where the
reader learns some of the more fascinating historical facets
of the story, and how these details begin to fit into the
present tale.
DEADLINE is another taut, dramatic story from Sandra Brown,
the queen of Romantic Suspense. Dawson Scott is a dedicated
and relentless journalist; and Amelia Nolan a devoted mother
who is a pawn in a game she doesn't understand. Well written
and exciting, it is a highly enjoyable treat for Brown's
fans. DEADLINE is both a breathtaking and heartbreaking
story;
one that will stay with the reader long after the book is
finished.
Dawson Scott is a well-respected journalist recently
returned from Afghanistan. Haunted by everything he
experienced, he's privately suffering from battle fatigue
which is a threat to every aspect of his life. But then he
gets a call from a source within the FBI. A new development
has come to light in a story that began 40 years ago. It
could be the BIG story of Dawson's career one in which he
has a vested interest.
Soon, Dawson is covering the disappearance and presumed
murder of former Marine Jeremy Wesson, the biological son of
the pair of terrorists who remain on the FBI's Most Wanted
list. As Dawson delves into the story, he finds himself
developing feelings for Wesson's ex-wife, Amelia, and her
two young sons. But when Amelia's nanny turns up dead, the
case takes a stunning new turn, with Dawson himself becoming
a suspect. Haunted by his own demons, Dawson takes up the
chase for the notorious outlaws. . .and the secret,
startling truth about himself.