Revelers crowd The Strip, dancing and singing to music blaring from the brightly lit casinos. They eagerly await the countdown to the new year. But, Jason Rourke, an ex-special operations soldier, knows of other countdowns on deadly bombs strategically placed to kill and maim innocent people. Jason picks up a fare at McCarran airport who does things to send tingles up Jason’s spine such as going places and seeing people who are suspect. Having served deep undercover in Latin American, Jason recognizes Hernan Diaz as someone with dealy intentions. He turns to Lupe Sonora, a local TV reporter, for advice and they see things leading to the conclusion that a terror attack is planned for New Year’s Eve. They take their findings to the authorities and are told, “We’ll take care of it.” Dismissed, the two cannot ignore the possibility and seek ways to stop the havoc. Blood in the Meadows is seen from the eyes of people on both sides of a single conflict, and gives interesting insight into the Colombian drug cartel as well as everyday life forthe people who live and work in Las Vegas. It is a story filled with romance, suspense, and drama right up to the last minute
Excerpt
Veles walked across the parking lot and Industrial to the small motel where he’d parked his Jaguar sedan. He appreciated that the lieutenant had picked the truck stop on Blue Diamond Road near Interstate-15. It was highly unlikely that anyone who would recognize him hung around there.
Sergio had operated undercover for three years, working the seedy side of town. He personally didn’t care whether people used drugs. It was their choice and, if they wanted to ruin their lives and the lives of those around them, it was their choice. However, dealing was against the law and, when he’d graduated from the Police Academy, he’d sworn to uphold and protect the law. He had also seen his share of lives ruined by drugs.
It did not take that long for Veles to reach the new high-rise condominium in the newer part of North Las Vegas. Homes had filled the northern part of the valley, even including a new casino that would soon be built. Las Vegas, like most Southwest cities, sprawled from mountain to mountain; a far cry from the small railroad watering stop of a hundred years earlier.
The security guard at the basement entrance opened the gate without hesitation. He remembered the Jag from previous visits.
Veles pulled into a visitor’s space and checked his appearance before walking to the elevators.
“Whatcha want, Flash?” the Hispanic guard answering the door to the condominium growled.
“I got cash and you got the goods,” Veles replied, flashing a big smile.
The goon didn’t appreciate the humor and simply moved aside to allow the customer into the suite.
Veles kept up the façade but did his best to refresh his memory about the layout of the suite and the personnel inside. The crew leader welcomed him, grinning when Veles handed over two five thousand dollars stacks of hundred dollar bills.
“Nice to have such a flush customer,” he said with a thick Spanish accent. “Have a seat and my man will get your product.”
Veles accepted the proffered Margarita but turned down the offer of a snort. “Never use the stuff,” he explained. “It’s a nasty habit.”
The crew leader chuckled. “I do not either. But, it certainly makes life easier.”
Veles tried to spot the so-called “Person of Interest” but he was nowhere to be seen. Veles guessed that he was holed up in the master suite with the little girl.
The suite’s furnishings spoke of money. Real paintings and not prints. The latest fashions. But, the slobs living in it ruined it with garbage, trash and the remains of delivered foods strewn around. The cleaning crew would have lots of work.
Shit! Maybe that’s the answer. Set up the raid using the cover of the cleaning crew.” Veles would suggest that to Chambers as soon as he saw him again.
The occupants wore expensive clothes and jewelry but couldn’t be mistaken for anything but low-grade soldiers. Most didn’t speak English, their accents speaking of a variety of national origins. In addition, their clothes were wrinkled and spattered with food stains.
But, there was no mistaking their submachine pistols and automatics openly carried by all in the room.
There were two sides to the suite. To the left was an area that included the dining room, kitchen and the maintenance areas. Two doors to the right, widely spaced, led Veles to believe those were the bedroom suites. The large floor-to-ceiling windows served as sliding doors leading out onto a wide balcony with a spectacular view of Downtown and The Strip.
One of the goons went to the one to the far right to retrieve the coke and Veles guessed the Olegario guy was in the other.
Salsa blared from the expensive entertainment center but Veles noticed the way one of the soldiers kept glancing at the master suite with pain and deep anger on his face.
What in the hell’s that all about? Veles asked himself. He studied the guy and saw the way he winced as if hearing something that really caused him agony.
“Is he somehow connected to the little girl the boss man has stashed away and is sexually abusing?”
Veles completed the sale, shaking hands before taking the suitcase filled with coke. He didn’t even bother to test the product as doing so would be a sign of mistrust and could cost him his life.
Veles drove around an hour to make certain he wasn’t being followed before leaving the valley, heading north on U.S. 95 to Indian Springs.
“So, how did it go?”
Veles handed the suitcase to the lieutenant and shrugged. Chambers locked the suitcase in the trunk of his car and they went into the truck stop.
Professional Reviews
A chilling plot set to create death and panic in Las Vegas
By TicToc on June 27, 2011
Format: Paperback
Article first published as Book Review: Blood in the Meadows: Terror on the Strip by Dale Day on Blogcritics.
With drug wars and Cartels, the funds available to those in power can make almost anything happen. When the death of Olegario, the only son of a major Columbian drug lord comes during an undercover operation by the DEA, the Don will take matters into his own hands. Someone must pay and he will have his revenge.
In Blood in the Meadows: Terror on the Strip by Dale Day, we follow the daily life of a Cab driver, Jason Rourke. Retired from the military, he chooses to drive a cab, in the notable Sin City of America. Picking up fares and moving people from place to place is easy and while he may not get rich, it pays the bills. After dropping of his current fare, he picks up another at the airport. This customer, Hernando Diaz is quiet and yet carries himself like old military. Jason understands quiet and allows him his solitude. In return, he receives a great tip. Diaz also asks him for his card for whenever he is in town and needs a driver. Fares like these are what make Jason's job worthwhile.
What he does not realize is that Diaz is in Vegas for a very important meeting. This meeting could bring about the possible end of Las Vegas, as we know it. Diaz is careful though, he cultivates those few that he can trust to handle one of the biggest jobs of his career. Then he hands over the reins to someone else in order to remove himself from the circumstances as he begins the act of distancing himself from the terror.
There is only one thing he does not anticipate, and that is falling in love with Tomasa, an interesting and unique she/he that he meets at a bar. Knowing such a relationship would be unacceptable in his country he nonetheless finds himself enamored. He is also beginning to be uncomfortable about his assigned task, but understands he must carry out the plan or his life will be forfeit.
As the plans for an attack on Las Vegas are set, Jason, our cabbie, finds himself in the middle. He knows something must be happening, but is not sure what it could be. He reports his suspicions to an undercover officer he knows, but without further information, preparedness is impossible. When he and a reporter, Lupe come together and begin to gather clues, they too come into danger. Following the suspects, they witness the practice of a bombing in an old farm out in the middle of the dessert. After reporting their further findings, the authorities and homeland security race against time to beat the terrorists at their own game. Do they have enough information to put protection in place and stop the possible bombings?
Jason and Lupe are in the middle of the information and yet they must find a way to stay safe. In addition, can Diaz keep his new love Tomasa safe, and remove the obstacles that keep them apart?
Day has given us a threatening possibility in which revenge is a motive for a terroristic move against Las Vegas. The city is chosen because of its draw of people, and the plan is to kill as many as possible to create a horror of untold proportions. He has slowly built his case and drawn in the planning in such a way that you can follow the lines of intent. His characters are likable in most cases, while he drops in an unsavory group as well. Jason is an intelligent and charismatic man who is in the wrong (or right) place at the wrong time. He is smart enough to understand what he is seeing, and it seems to lead to untold trouble. He knows of Tomasa and likes her, but he is finding there is more to her than he understands.
Day has also given us a character, who feels he is doing his job, which just happens to be revenge, but he somehow makes him likable. Diaz is an interesting mix, and it is hard to know how to take him. It is an odd and uncomfortable feeling and yet there it is. Dale Day has built on an unimaginable terror, a nightmare of planning that makes you wonder about the consequences of such a thing happening.
I would recommend this book for the fan of the thriller genre. The story is quick and interesting and should resonate with those that enjoy suspense as well. The terror sticks with you long after the end, and leaves you wondering if such a thing could really happen. It creates an uncomfortable supposition, one that could be possible, or could it?
This book was recieved as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
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