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What Others Are Saying
About R.J. Patterson
“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.”
- 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
Two Minutes to Midnight
Against All Odds
Any Means Necessary
Vengeance
Code Red
A Deadly Force
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
CODE RED
A Brady Hawk Thriller
R.J. PATTERSON
For Earle, a good friend,
and a great American
CHAPTER 1
Chagai Hills, Pakistan
BRADY HAWK’S JEEP RUMBLED across the rocky road leading to the Rico Dig mines as he inhaled the fresh air. The patches of snow still clinging to existence along the mountainous terrain reflected the afternoon sunshine, glints of bright light temporarily blinding Hawk as he sped along. Even in the midst of a place as forsaken as this, he found moments to appreciate the natural beauty surrounding him. A mile from his position, black smoke chugged into the air, a fitting cover for an Al Fatihin hideout.
“How’s our connection?” Hawk asked Alex. She was stationed in the Phoenix Foundation’s offices in Washington.
“I hear you loud and clear,” Alex said. “Ready for another day of mayhem?”
“Some people might call it mayhem, but it’s just another Wednesday for me.”
She chuckled. “Always so cool under fire.”
“The fire hasn’t started yet, but I’m expecting it to come at me fast and fierce when they figure out what I’m doing.”
What Hawk was doing was ignoring several treaties in his covert mission, all under the direction of President Noah Young. With his approval ratings dropping and Al Fatihin leader Evana Bahar exposing his dealings with terrorists to the nation, Young needed something to unify the American people, if even for a day. He wanted them to forget about all the dividing partisan politics and celebrate the homecoming of a hero. And for Young, it would also mean the homecoming of a friend, former Navy SEAL and CIA operative Frank Stone.
The stress of leading a country mired in constant bickering over political issues had taken its toll on Young. Instead of leading from a position of strength, he found himself holding his finger up to see which way the majority winds were blowing. The result was a meandering direction along with an accompanying health issue that required him to have a pacemaker put in, something only a handful of people knew about. If only for twenty-four hours, he needed a respite and the press to talk about something else other than idle speculation and scurrilous accusations against his administration. And Hawk was the man chosen to make everything happen.
Hawk tapped the steering wheel as he rode along, singing Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir. He was close enough to the disputed region he figured that it was an appropriate time as any to belt out the lyrics.
“You do realize that I can hear you, right?” Alex said.
Hawk resisted answering her since he was in the middle of the chorus.
“Hawk? Are your coms still working? You need to answer me and confirm.”
Hawk sighed. "Alex, you're ruining my moment here. I'm about to spend the next hour fighting Al Fatihin goons. All I want is a little moment to relax and clear my head with some of the greatest music from the 70s."
“You weren’t even alive in the 70s.”
“I know I missed it by a few years, but when it comes to music, that’s my decade. Now, can you let me finish my song in peace?”
“I’d love to, but I’m watching the satellite images here and just
