Beautiful Beast

Second Lieutenant of the U. S. Army, Gabriel Lowe has no memory of the day he was scarred and branded a liar and a murderer. Orders were to deliver three vials of toxin to Dr. Powell Richards at Sunburst Laboratory from the military base in Fredrick, Maryland. All went according to plan. Then Major Carstairs ordered Gabe to pick up the Doctor and excort him to the base immediately. Gabe parked on the narrow street and looking up at the house there were no lights to indicate that anyone was home. No car in the driveway. Everything looked normal but Gabe had a definite feeling that something was off. His hand still hovered near his revolver as Dr. Richards passed him and drove into the garage. Without warning a giant fireball rocked the neighborhood. Gabe reeled back, something sliced his face as the garage exploded His last coherent thought was that he should have listened to his instincts. What an opener! [not complete] Now wouldn't you know that Cassie Richards is breaking into the house of the man she suspected of killing her father. She wanted to know what Beacher Coyle had left with Gabe. She stumbles onto his art work of great beauty, especially the crouching lions. She sure made enough noise getting into the house. As luck would have it Gabe was coming home and caught her. She found a man with the aura of a predator - and the scars of a wounded soldier. He was a man of shadows now preferring to ignore people. She should have known that his house was periodically searched by the FBI and the Military. Len Sliffman a former FBI agent and Major Bruce Huntington kept showing up especially after someone blew up Gabe's house. Good thing he and Cassy had taken off - this was after she found her place ransacked. She also had found the murdered Beacher and learned how hard the lose of this friend was on Gabe. Gabe was trying to investigate many seemingly unrelated murders outside of the bounds of military law. And Cassy had apparently led the enemy to his door. Now the beast was on the prowl. Oh, I forgot to mention that Gave also has a motorcycle, he made quite an impression on Cassy when they wrecked on it. She figured it was a death trap. In the meantime she was learning to trust and actually like this man of shadows - so much so that she hopped into bed with him. Gabe did not want to reveal all of his scars. It was a thoroughly enjoyable plot to follow - 4 great characters - murder everywhere, yet balanced in the plot - I love the dangerous chases - emotions not drawn out but passionate. DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED -M I think I will keep this one.