Ambush
Page 32
Ultimately, the universe is a moral place. And while the arc of the universe is long, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, it bends toward justice.
Always, it bends toward justice.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The list of men and women willing to help me with the Sydney Parnell novels continues to grow. It’s one of the greatest things about pursuing this writing gig—the people I meet.
First, to my beta readers. All outstanding writers, they each bring terrific insight and great skill to the editing task. They are patient, forgiving, and generous with their time and creative talent. My deepest and most appreciative thanks go to Michael Bateman, Deborah Coonts, Ron Cree, Kirk Farber, Chris Mandeville, Steve Pease, Michael Shepherd, and Robert Spiller. All of them improved the book immensely, and my gratitude knows no bounds.
To Danielle Gerard and J.R. Backlund, who sat with me in the bar at ThrillerFest and helped me plot murder and mayhem. You guys are genius.
This book would not have been possible without the knowledge and insight of the following people. Career Intelligence Officer Steve Pease. Army Major Thomas E. VanWormer (retired). FBI Special Agents Gerard Ackerman and Matthew S. Harris. And Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Doug Schrepel. I am grateful for the time and wisdom of Denver RTD Chief of Police John F. Tarbert (retired).
And, as always, my thanks to Denver Detective Ron Gabel (retired). Ron, you are truly one of the good guys.
To the veterans I met through Creative Forces. You guys have opened my eyes, expanded my mind, and touched my heart. I know you hate hearing this, but to me, you’re all heroes.
A special thanks to my agent, Bob Diforio of the D4EO Literary Agency, and to my fantastic editors, Liz Pearsons and Charlotte Herscher. My gratitude to the team at Thomas & Mercer—all of you exemplify the best.
Finally, to those who support me in so many ways. Lori Dominguez, Maria Faulconer, and Cathy Noakes (who went above and beyond). To my children, Kyle and Amanda, and to Steve. Always.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
In writing this novel I took certain liberties in how I portrayed some of the countries, cities, and institutions. The world presented here, along with its characters and events, is wholly fictitious. Denver Pacific Continental (DPC) is a wholly fictional railway. Any resemblance to actual events and corporations, or to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
That said, the technology I used in this novel, primarily the gait-analysis software, does exist and is changing the way law enforcement operates in the ongoing hunt for criminals and terrorists.
An intelligence source told me about the brief appearance in Iraq of a weapon that the manufacturers—the Russians, he thought—wanted to test against the US Abrams tank. This sparked the idea for Valor’s Explosively Formed Penetrators. The EFPs described in these pages are real. It is true that Iran was smuggling weapons and personnel into Iraq during the Iraq War, and that some of these weapons were thought to be too sophisticated to have been built in Iraq. If you’re curious, the following articles provide a start:
Fahim, Kareem and Liz Sly. “Lethal roadside bomb that killed scores of US troops reappears in Iraq.” Washington Post. October 12, 2017.
Conroy, Scott. “US Sees New Weapon In Iraq: Iranian EFPs.” CBS News. February 11, 2006.
Gordon, Michael R. “Deadliest Bomb in Iraq Is Made by Iran, US Says.” New York Times. February 10, 2007.
The line about the arc of the universe used at the end of Ambush appeared in a 1958 article written by Martin Luther King Jr., where he placed the line in quotes to indicate its previous use in other sources. The original metaphor appeared in 1853 in a collection of sermons written by abolitionist minister Theodore Parker.
A number of Americans are working with various Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, to provide training and even armed forces. For one example, see Jenna McLaughlin’s article “Deep Pockets, Deep Cover” (Foreign Policy, December 21, 2017).
If you are concerned about the plight of Iraqi citizens who aided US and coalition forces during the war in Iraq, I recommend the book To Be a Friend Is Fatal: The Fight to Save the Iraqis America Left Behind by Kirk W. Johnson. If you’re looking to make a difference, several organizations like my fictional Hope Project could use your help. These Iraqi men and women—mostly men—risked their lives and the lives of their families because they shared the same dream for Iraq that Americans hold: to create a free and fair democracy.
AMBUSH READING GROUP GUIDE
What is the significance of the title?
Sydney feels guilty for leaving Malik behind in Iraq. Do you think Americans should be responsible for the safety of the men and women who helped us in Iraq? What about their families?
As a Marine veteran, Sydney carries psychological scars from her time in war. What scars did you notice? What other characters were changed by war?
Do you think Sydney’s ghosts are real or manifestations of her post-traumatic stress disorder?
Sydney’s K9 partner, Clyde, is an intricate part of the novel. How might things be different for Sydney and for the story without him?
The Alpha did terrible things, but for a reason. How do you feel about the Alpha’s motivation?
One of the characters supports using extrajudicial punishment—going after suspected wrongdoers outside the normal legal system. Do you think that in some cases, the results justify doing things that might be considered bad or questionable?
Did any of the events in the book shock or surprise you?
Did the book make you curious about the Iraq War? Do you want to know more about America’s relationship with Iran and Saudi Arabia?
Was the ending satisfying?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2017 Trystan Photography
Barbara Nickless is the author of the Sydney Rose Parnell series, which includes Blood on the Tracks—a Suspense Magazine Best of 2016 selection—and Dead Stop. Both novels won the Colorado Book Award and were finalists for the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, which Blood on the Tracks won. Her essays and short stories have appeared in Writer’s Digest and Criminal Element, among other markets. She lives in Colorado, where she loves to snowshoe, cave, hike, and drink single malt Scotch—usually not at the same time. Connect with her online at www.barbaranickless.com.