CHAPTER 1

"The Nightmare Begins"

Jason Shaw's head snapped off the pillow as he strained to listen. Heglanced quickly at his bedside clock. The glowing digital numbersshowed 4:16 a.m., casting a green shadow across the wall. Concentrating,he tried to focus. Had he heard something?

He felt rested but a little distraught at what had awakened him a fullhour before the buzzing alarm was scheduled to erupt. Still straining tofocus, he could hear nothing unusual from inside or outside the house, yetthere was something. He could feel it, deep down, nagging, stirring, likea stomach full of bad food.

Stretching first then swinging his legs over the side, he let his toeskneed the soft carpet next to the bed. The cobwebs of sleep began todisappear, and he could hear the soft sounds of rain hitting the backbedroom window. Still puzzled by his early arousal, he wondered if it werea dream that startled him out of a sound slumber. He could not recallanything specific, but what he did not know was that this would be thefirst day of the rest of his life.

His third life would be where someone was trying to kill him.

His first life was twenty one years in the Marine Corps. His second wasten years as a police officer, and his third, starting that day, would proveto be the biggest nightmare of all.

Satisfied, at least for the time being, there was no imminent threat,he slipped back under the covers, clasped his hands behind his head, andstared at the dark ceiling. Listening to his wife Bonnie's gentle breathing,he made a concerted effort to drift back to sleep, but the nagging sensationwould not let that happen. Forty-five minutes later he was headed for thebathroom and a quick shower. Maybe that would make him feel more atease.

The hot shower helped a little, so after shaving, Jason headed downstairsto feed their two dogs and munch on a breakfast bar while waiting forthe coffee to perk. Since he was up early, he decided to put in some extratime at the gym.

The workouts were something he did daily, or at least tried to doon a daily basis. There were occasions when his schedule did not permitenough time, and then there was the age factor. At fifty-three, he was stillin better shape than most men half his age, but he wasn't eighteen anylonger either.

Grabbing a bottle of cold water from the refrigerator, he glanced up asBonnie walked into the kitchen rubbing her eyes.

You're up early, she commented, running her fingers through her longbrown hair and reaching for the coffee.

"So are you," he answered. "Since I couldn't sleep, guess I'll hit thegym early."

"Busy day," she asked?

"Not bad," he answered. "DA's office wants me to testify as an expertin a drug case, but that's not until this afternoon. Maybe we can go outfor Mexican tonight."

"Sounds good," she said adding a little cream to her cup, then, "Seeyou later, she called after him before taking a sip of the hot liquid. Becareful."

Jason grabbed his workout bag and headed for the door. It was Monday,December 7, 2009. Sixty-eight years since the Japanese sneak attack onPearl Harbor, and the day the attacks against Jason Shaw would begin.This day would change everything, not only for him, but for his entirefamily. As if some ominous omen, it was raining outside, and he was onlya few steps away from the beginning of this new nightmare.

Jason stepped onto the front porch and tugged at the brim of his wornbaseball cap. It was still early, still dark, and still raining, although insteadof a steady downpour it was now only a soft drizzle. Habit made him reachback and check the door handle. If he had learned anything after his yearsin law enforcement, it was to always lock the house.

He glanced around, trying to decide whether to take the Ford truckin the driveway or his Lexus parked on the street when his eyes focusedon the black board with nails lying next to the driver's door. What the hell?He thought.

Moving closer he noticed it was a homemade punji board. Shawthought to himself, crude but effective, if someone stepped or fell on it.Ignoring the rain as it increased intensity; he began checking the othervehicles. First throwing his workout bag on the front porch, Jason shookhis head as he moved from his son Justin's car, to his Lexus, and finallythe black unmarked police unit.

Four vehicles, four punji boards, then the trip rope and broom handleby the Crown Vic. Traps so obvious only a blind or completely intoxicatedperson would have fallen for the clumsy ruse. Back on the front porch,Jason snatched his duffel bag, unlocked the door and quickly walked backinside.

Just inside the door, he yelled, "Hey Bonnie! Grab a jacket and comeoutside. I want you to see this."

"What is it," she answered? "I'm getting dressed."

"Hurry up, and bring your camera. You won't freeking believe this."

Jason hurried into the kitchen to see if his coffee was still warm. It was,and he downed it in one swallow.

Bonnie quickly finished dressing, pulled her camera from the dresserdrawer, slipped on a rain jacket, and joined her husband by the front door.He wasn't smiling.

She looked up, gave him a mock punch in the stomach, and said,...