Author: Ken Ulano

Publisher:

Published: 2015-05-02

Total Pages: 353

ISBN-13: 9780996284813

Christmastime 2017, and the only thing the psychotic, but born with once-in-a-lifetime genius, ALBERT JOHNSON, wants is JILL PHILLIPS, the woman fueling his erotomania. The man screaming in the trunk of the Aston Martin heading into the Appalachian Mountains is how he plans to get her. When mutilated remains are discovered in an abandoned warehouse in Baltimore New Year's Day, DETECTIVES GARY ANDERSON and his partner, ANGELA OBONAUCH, are assigned the case. Gary believes it's the work of CARLOS DEGA, a gang leader who recently escaped from jail. Having spent his childhood abused and locked away in a shack of a home in rural Maryland, Albert's life completely derails when at eleven his father murders his mother in front of him. At sixteen, his dad's poor health forces the dysfunctional teen to seek employment, finding a janitorial position in Baltimore. Years later, he's staffed at a biopharmaceutical company where he fortuitously discovers research on advanced face transplants, allowing him to learn to perform them, even on himself, all the while scheming to kill Jill's husband and take his place. VICTOR ORTEGA, second in command of a gang named the Scorpions, taunted and mistreated Albert for years while working with him as a custodian at the same company as a means to cover up his criminal involvement. He pushes Albert to a breaking point and he kills Victor and his brother in ghastly fashion. When Carlos doesn't hear from Victor, he sends out a party of his men who go missing, too. Shortly thereafter, Albert transplants Jill's husband's face onto his own and shows up at her house, insisting the lights remain off while speaking little. The flustered and surprised Jill ultimately gives into the strangeness of the night despite feeling something's amiss because she'd been under the impression her husband was away on business. Hours later, she confirms her suspicions and sneaks off to the hospital where she learns her husband's been murdered and the imposter who raped her is related to her. Albert, upon returning home after his night with Jill, finds other gang members waiting for him and summarily kills them, too. He goes on the lam and sets up camp and a makeshift lab in the Appalachian Mountains where he transplants an officer's face onto his in order to kidnap Gary's girlfriend, GABBY MICHAELS, believing she's the bargaining chip to get Jill and gain safe passage. But Albert's scheme goes awry because he's too preoccupied with the persistent Carlos to notice Gary isn't following instructions. Unbeknownst to anyone, Angela's husband, CIA operative, DAVID OBONAUCH, has been tracking Carlos since locating him sometime after he escapes from prison. The inevitable confrontation on a dreary, blustery day between Gary, Carlos, David and Albert ultimately ends in Albert being shot and plunging from atop Blackwater Falls-the body's not immediately found, and Jill who lost so much, particularly her identity, leaves her family and life in Baltimore to go somewhere and try to make sense of it all.