Velocity

“No buts. I study human behavior for a living, remember?” She moved her hand to his chest, over his heart. It beat fast and hard. “I know what’s in here, and that’s what matters.”

Robby took a deep breath, then wiped a tear from his eye.

“Truth is,” Vail said, “when I thought Mayfield was in Virginia, going after Jonathan . . . ” She stopped. What would I have done if he’d harmed my son? “Robby, if he’d—if Jonathan . . . I honestly don’t think I could’ve let the bastard live. Even spending the rest of his days in a prison cell, that’d have been too good for him.”

“What does that make us?”

She didn’t take long to answer. Given all she knew and had observed about behavior, this was a question that went back to the beginning of time. “It makes us human.”

“Human.” He seemed to ponder that a moment.

Vail stroked his forearm. “Now . . . soon as you’re released from the ER, we’ll get a room. I think we’re long overdue for a vacation.”

He looked up at her. “You’ve used up all your vacation time.”

Vail took his face in her hands. “I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.” Robby leaned forward and gently touched his lips to hers. “You know what they say. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

AUTHOR’S NOTE

THIS WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE working with the Drug Enforcement Administration, and it was a tremendously positive one. My research opened my eyes to the enormity of the illicit drug trade and its pervasive role in our society, our neighborhoods, and our schools. Much of the profit from the drugs sold in the United States goes directly into funding terrorist activities at home and abroad.

Surprisingly, mainstream media and the political establishment haven’t kept the illicit drug problem at the forefront of our consciousness. Or perhaps it’s the other way around: we need to let our elected officials know that we’re aware of the damage drug trafficking causes, and we want them to use their powers to hamstring it. Unfortunately, the long-running nature of the “war on drugs” allows apathy to set in, forcing it to the background in the face of pressing economic, job, and security issues that demand our attention.

But there’s one group that does not shrug these issues aside. Ask any DEA agent, whose job it is to catch those involved in the illicit drug trade, and you’ll learn that these agents see their role as crusaders, tackling one battle at a time. We owe them a debt of gratitude for the dangerous work they perform, on our behalf, on a daily basis.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I RELY ON PROFESSIONALS in the real world for their knowledge base, perspective, and expertise that give my stories depth and credibility. For Velocity, I’d like to thank the following individuals:

At the Drug Enforcement Administration, I’ve had the good fortune to work with the following professionals: Paul Knierim, Supervisory Special Agent, whose real-world and undercover experience and explanations of the illicit drug trade, cartels, and DEA procedures were integral to my telling of the story. Agent Knierim’s review of the manuscript helped immensely in ensuring I had all my DEA i’s dotted and t’s crossed.

Steve Parinello, Special Agent, for his overview of the world of illicit drug trafficking, border enforcement, and DTOs; Rusty Payne, acting section chief of DEA Public Affairs Office, and Mary Irene Cooper, chief of Congressional and Public Affairs, for working with me to obtain DEA access; Meghan McCalla, public affairs, for facilitating my resource list; Amy Roderick, Special Agent, San Diego field division office, for San Diego area illicit drug information and a tour of the field division facility.

Dr. Sandra Rodriguez-Cruz, DEA senior forensic chemist, for information on the chemistry behind illicit drug trafficking and covert smuggling; for helping me understand the facts and realities that formed the underpinning of my ideas involving Superior Mobile Bottling; and for her thorough tour of the Southwest Laboratory. Scott R. Oulton, DEA laboratory director, Southwest Laboratory, for helping me obtain the information I needed and for the time he spent with me at the lab. Fracia Martinez, DEA forensic chemist, for making the initial introductions and setting me on the right path.

Greg Brenholdt, DEA Special Agent Pilot, for sharing his helicopter experiences and flying expertise with me, for his creative input, and for providing an easy-to-comprehend primer on piloting a helicopter.

John France, U.S. Border Patrol assistant chief patrol agent, former jump master for BORTAC (the Border Patrol’s special response team), who counseled me in the finer points of jumping from a helicopter. If Karen Vail knew John was responsible for that, she’d hunt him down and . . . well, it wouldn’t be pretty.

Jean Donaldson, captain, Napa County Sheriff’s Department, for once again serving as my Sheriff’s Department “knowledge base,” for expeditiously answering my technical questions, and for granting access to all areas of the department.

Mark Safarik, senior FBI profiler and Supervisory Special Agent (ret). I never tire of thanking Mark for his contributions to my novels. Mark’s attention to detail ensures that Vail’s behavioral analysis, FBI and law enforcement procedure, and terminology are correct. I treasure not only his nearly two decades of BAU tutelage but his special friendship.

Joe Ramos, lieutenant, San Diego Police Department, SWAT unit, for acquainting me with the SWAT training facility and tactical vehicles, and for reviewing SWAT procedure in detail with me. Thanks to Monica Munoz, PIO, for obtaining clearance for me. As with the DEA, I was extremely impressed with the tactical unit’s professionalism, dedication, and level of training. These officers do a very tough job, very well.

Carl Caulk, deputy assistant director, U.S. Marshals Service, Judicial Security Division, for his assistance with the WITSEC program.

Micheal Weinhaus, Special Agent, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for information on warrants and proper search procedures (Karen Vail could learn a thing or two from Mike).

Jeffrey Jacobson. Yes, Velocity is dedicated to him, but he deserves to be acknowledged here, too. As the associate general counsel for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and a former assistant U.S. attorney, he’s eminently qualified to answer questions about Border Patrol, ports of entry, canine handling, and search and seizure issues. One might say Jeff is “a jack of all federal law enforcement trades.” (I wouldn’t say that, but someone might.)

Keely Dodd, senior probation officer, Napa County Probation, for her assistance with selecting certain settings and locations in downtown Napa.

Gary Hyde, associate director, process engineering, at Mannkind Corporation, for his explanation of, and assistance with, the drug delivery method described in Velocity. Though BetaSomnol was fictitious, the concept behind it was not. Gary was a senior process engineer at a major pharmaceutical company that produced such (legal) “transdermals.”

At the Bellagio Hotel, Keith Fels, show control engineer in fountain control, was enormously helpful in walking me through the intricacies of the exquisite Bellagio fountains, the pump room, and fountain operation and maintenance; Mary Cabral and Kristen Lacer assisted me in attempting to gain access to restricted areas; Jason Harrison, Bellagio executive chef, and Mark Szczepanski, general manager of Jasmine Restaurant, for their descriptions and explanations regarding the “back of the house” and associated areas.

At CityCenter, I was assisted by Mariksa Quintana and Carolyn Leveque, who acquainted me with all aspects of the complex, its features, amenities, access roads, and connections.

David Pearson, CEO of Opus One, for assistance with establishing the legal timeline of wineries relative to Herndon Vineyards.