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What Others Are Saying
About R.J. Patterson
“R.J.’s storytelling feels as natural as James Patterson’s, and the short-chapter setup is the literary answer to Lay’s potato chips: you just want one more and before you know it, you’ve gone through the whole thing.
- David Bashore,The Times-News, Twin Falls, ID
“R.J. Patterson does a fantastic job at keeping you engaged and interested. I look forward to more from this talented author.”
- Aaron Patterson, bestselling author of SWEET DREAMS
“Patterson has a mean streak about a mile wide and puts his two main characters through quite a horrible ride, which makes for good reading.”
- Richard D., reader
“Like a John Grisham novel, from the very start I was pulled right into the story and couldn’t put the book down. It was as if I personally knew and cared about what happened to each of the main characters. Every chapter ended with so much excitement and suspense I had to continue to read until I learned how it ended, even though it kept me up until 3:00 A.M.
- Ray F., reader
DEAD SHOT
“Small town life in southern Idaho might seem quaint and idyllic to some. But when local newspaper reporter Cal Murphy begins to uncover a series of strange deaths that are linked to a sticky spider web of deception, the lid on the peaceful town is blown wide open. Told with all the energy and bravado of an old pro, first-timer R.J. Patterson hits one out of the park his first time at bat with Dead Shot. It’s that good.”
-Vincent Zandri, bestselling author of THE REMAINS
“You can tell R.J. knows what it’s like to live in the newspaper world, but with Dead Shot, he’s proven that he also can write one heck of a murder mystery. With a clever plot and characters you badly want to succeed, he is on his way to becoming a new era James Patterson.”
- Josh Katzowitz,
NFL writer for CBSSports.com
& author of Sid Gillman: Father of the Passing Game
DEAD LINE
“This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I didn’t really want to put it down. R.J. Patterson has hooked me. I’ll be back for more.”
- Bob Behler
3-time Idaho broadcaster of the year
and play-by-play voice for Boise State football
DEAD IN THE WATER
“In Dead in the Water, R.J. Patterson accurately captures the action-packed saga of a what could be a real-life college football scandal. The sordid details will leave readers flipping through the pages as fast as a hurry-up offense.”
- Mark Schlabach,
ESPN college sports columnist and
co-author of Called to Coach
Heisman: The Man Behind the Trophy
Other titles by R.J. Patterson
Brady Hawk series
First Strike
Deep Cover
Point of Impact
Full Blast
Target Zero
Fury
State of Play
Seige
Seek and Destroy
Into the Shadows
Hard Target
No Way Out
Cal Murphy Thriller series
Dead Shot
Dead Line
Better off Dead
Dead in the Water
Dead Man's Curve
Dead and Gone
Dead Wrong
Dead Man's Land
Dead Drop
Dead to Rights
Dead End
James Flynn Thriller series
The Warren Omissions
Imminent Threat
The Cooper Affair
Seeds of War
STATE OF PLAY
A Brady Hawk Thriller
R.J. PATTERSON
For Steven Colquitt, for baptizing
by fire in the newsroom
CHAPTER 1
Asir Mountains
Saudi Arabia
BRADY HAWK GASPED for air as he tried to loosen the cord that had been wrapped snug around his neck. Without having even seen the man initiating the attack, Hawk knew he was up against a formidable opponent, thrust into an arena with gladiator-type stakes. As Hawk wormed his hands between the rope and his neck, his feet lifted off the ground. The assailant put his knee into Hawk’s back, raising him up before slamming him down again. Hawk grimaced, reeling from the assault that defied belief. Only a few minutes ago, Hawk had been loading his clip with ammunition that would kill a man he’d pursued for the better part of a year.
Hawk jerked and twisted several times, each turn unable to shake free the man or his grip on the cord. In a final desperate move, Hawk summoned his strength and rolled to his right. He proceeded to sweep the man’s leg, sending them both crashing to the ground. As the attacker fell, he lost his grip on the rope, which freed Hawk. Once he realized he was unhindered, Hawk rolled and staggered to his feet. He inhaled a couple of long breaths before rudely greeting his would-be assassin with a flurry of kicks to his ribs.
The man doubled over in pain before attempting to reach for a knife concealed beneath his pants leg in an ankle holster. After judging to be too far away to stop him, Hawk glanced behind him and grabbed a chair, utilizing it as a shield. When the assassin threw the knife, Hawk fended off the blade. He dashed toward the weapon before picking it up and checking the sharp edge with his thumb.
Hawk returned to the man, who was still unable to stand up due to the beating Hawk had delivered.
“Did you come with Fazil?” Hawk asked.
The man sneered and pursed his lips. Seconds later, he spit at Hawk.
“I can’t really blame you for refusing to talk,” Hawk said while he knelt down next to the man. “It wouldn’t make a difference either way.”
In an instant, Hawk unceremoniously slit the man’s throat.
Hawk stood and shook his head as he watched the defeated warrior try to preserve what life he had left. In less than a minute, he was gone.
Checking his pulse to be sure, Hawk studied the unusual tattoo on the man’s wrist. The design consisted of a diamond with three dots inside, arranged like a triangle. Hawk had never seen anything like it before, despite being a vigilant student of ancient markings. Making mental notes about the tattoo’s composition, Hawk released the man’s wrist and
