The Greatest of These, Greg Wendleton [books to get back into reading txt] 📗

people throughout the world. Through their faith and love, they intended to instill hope in others less fortunate.

Scott did not take a dime of the money that Conrad had instructed him to plant in Chad’s business account. He felt an obligation to make things right and turn away from the dark web and the deceit that he had sown for so many years. He was not naïve enough to think Conrad would give up on finding his hacker and recovering his millions.

The COVID vaccine was released from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base and distributed throughout Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The single dose vaccine was given to fifty-million people, many of whom, would never have been vaccinated.

The United Bamboo Gang was in turmoil. North Korea and Iran were both furious and threating Mr. Hsu with ‘death or worse’ and he was under constant protection from UBG members. They were also out the fifty-million US dollars that Mr. Hsu had authorized for the failed business deal. Questions about the continued leadership of Mr. Hsu were being vocalized among the executive members and Mr. Hsu may not need to fear North Korea or Iran much longer.

The Red Assassin was a wanted man by the UBG and agents had been dispatched to find and terminate him. Jackie Ming had been photographed, along with Conrad Bishop at the Nuevo Laredo border crossing and were both wanted by the FBI. Jackie Ming was also being sought for the murder of Paul Falco, age 37, of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Falco had been the father of two boys and the unfortunate passenger seated next to Jackie Ming on the flight from Los Angeles.

The remains of the two men who were killed in the explosion at the property owned by Conrad Bishop were not confirmed, but the photographs taken by the FBI on site, matched those of the two men who had checked in for their flights from Kahului to Dallas on February 23. The fire investigators were able to determine that the explosion was not the result of a gas leak and rather an intentional action. Conrad Bishop was wanted by the FBI for their deaths.

The home of Manuel Garcia, outside of Mexico City, burned to the ground before the fire could be extinguished. The investigators were able to identify his charred remains, that were discovered in his burned-out truck, but did not have any leads. It was presumed to have been an accidental explosion caused by a leaky gas oven.

Conrad Bishop and Jackie Ming remain at large.

THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING MY FIRST NOVEL AND READING TO THIS POINT. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE FIRST OF SEVERAL PLANNED BOOKS IN THE GARRET COOPER SERIES.

I WOULD ASK YOU TO LEAVE A REVIEW OF THIS BOOK ON AMAZON, AND LOOK FOR BOOK TWO IN THE SERIES ENTITLED, ROADS TO REDEMPTION.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY UPDATED ON FUTURE RELEASES, PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL AT gregwendleton@hotmail.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This has been a terrific experience, and I thank you for having read my first novel. I had harbored dreams of writing for many years, but never had the time or an idea I felt was worth pursuing.

I retired, after more than forty years of selling food for various companies. It was a great career, where I met so many wonderful people. But, due to a rare eye disease, call Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION), I suddenly lost the vision in my right eye and almost half of the vision in my left eye. It has been a difficult transition, especially for someone who traveled as a major part of his job.

Fortunately, I have an amazing support team, led by my beautiful wife, Jan. She is my rock and I would literally be lost without her support. I’m not able to drive, due to the limited peripheral vision that I have been left with, so between Jan and Carl Stinson, who I first met as an Uber driver, they have been my means of transportation. I can’t thank them enough.

I want to recognize two special friends who allowed me to utilize their names, or, personas in this book. First, Steve Cooper, my dear friend and former co-worker, thank you for allowing me to use your last name as my title character. Steve lives in the San Antonio metroplex, so I really tapped into his life. Second, Scott Crowley, also a dear friend and former co-worker for allowing me to turn him into a hacker and real estate guru. Thank you, guys!

I also used the last names of many people I worked with over the years. I hope you enjoyed the characters I created.

I utilized real locations and businesses in many instances. I created Paradise Realty on Maui and the Silver Spur Motel in San Antonio. If either actually exists in those locales, I apologize for any slight to your business. Fleetwood’s is a great restaurant, that Jan and I have dined in. We had lunch with our friends, Bob and Trish Presley, after whale watching a number of years ago. They are not open for lunch these days, but they were then. And, I needed a great place for Chad and Jamie Wilhite to eat lunch, so I exercised writer’s prerogative and allowed that event to happen. Likewise, Mama’s Fish House Restaurant and the Inn, are real and are twice as amazing as I portrayed them to be. Jan and I stayed there for a week along with our friends, Steve Cooper and Dawn Harvey in 2015. Jan and I ate dinner at Rock and Brews during that visit and enjoyed our meal immensely.

Special thanks to Federico Pieri, the proprietor of Cantina del Brunello di Montalcino, in Siena, Italy. We met Federico, while on vacation, after our youngest child was married in northern Italy in June of 2018. He was very gracious and extremely helpful. If you are ever in Tuscany, make sure you visit Siena and his wine shop. You won’t be disappointed.

I also want to thank Jeff Carson,