Jason Pinter - The Stolen (Henry Parker Novels)

Praise for the novels of "Tension mounts, bullets fly and Pinter's cool fusion of a new outlaw with blood ties to an old one hits the mark. The resolution is a ripsnorter, leaving thrill fans ready for the next Henry Parker newsflash." -- Publishers Weekly on The Guilty "A suspenseful and shocking tale that will leave readers clamoring for the next Henry Parker novel." -- Library Journal on The Guilty "A gripping page-turner you won't be able to stop reading." --James Patterson on The Mark "Jason Pinter has made a substantial contribution to the thriller genre with The Mark, a fast-paced, addictively suspenseful thriller." --Allison Brennan "An excellent debut. You are going to love Henry Parker, and you're going to hope he survives the story, but you're not going to bet on it." --Lee Child on The Mark "A harrowing journey--chilling, compelling, disquieting." --Steve Berry on The Mark "Pinter's a wizard at punching out page-turning action, and the voice of his headstrong protagonist is sure to win readers over; his wild ride should thrill any suspense junky." -- Publishers Weekly on The Mark "Jason Pinter has a wonderful voice. The Mark captivated me from the first. A page-turner from the get-go--I loved it." --Heather Graham "From the opening sentence to the exhilarating conclusion, Pinter's debut thriller gets the reader's heart racing. readers will undoubtedly look forward to many more." -- Romantic Times BOOKreviews on The Mark "Breathless, poignant and fresh." --P. J. J.

Parrish on The Mark "A terrific thriller." -- Midwest Book Review " The Mark is a stunning debut." --Jeffery Deaver "A top-notch debut... Fast-paced, gritty and often raw, The Mark is a tale you won't soon forget." --Michael Palmer "A harrowing novel that keeps the adrenaline level high. The plot is so fascinating and twisting you can't put the book down to sleep." -- New Mystery Reader Magazine "A high-octane debut, The Mark introduces Jason Pinter as a major new talent in thriller fiction. It's a brilliantly executed chase novel, but it's also a heartfelt exploration of honor, ambition and courage." --Jeff Abbott (r) To my sister, who taught me the meaning of friendship. To my father, who taught me the meaning of generosity. To my mother, who taught me the meaning of strength.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The first thanks go to my beautiful wife, Susan, who more so than on any of my previous books humbled me with her patience and understanding. After many coffee-fueled late nighters and supportive pep talks, this book is as much yours as it is mine. Joe Veltre, who has proved time and time again that the best business relationships are also great friendships. Thank you for both. Thanks also to Diane Bartoli and Sara Wolski, who are always gracious with their time. Adam Wilson.

Thanks for always being there in a pinch, and answering even the silliest questions faster than humanly possible. I'll stump you soon, I promise.... Donna Hayes, Dianne Moggy, Margaret O'Neill Marbury, Heather Foy, Maureen Stead, Ana Luxton, Jayne Hoogenberk, Ken Foy, Michelle Renaud, Don Lucey, Andi Richman, Katherine Orr, Craig Swinwood, Loriana Sacilotto and Stacy Widdrington. The best is yet to come. Thank you, thank you, thank you all. I also owe a debt to George Witte, Sally Richardson, Andy Martin, Kylah McNeill, Keith Kahla and Kelley Ragland.

I'm sorry our time together was cut short, but every day was a real treat. I'm lucky to have spent so much time working with people who know how to publish the right way. Susan Schwartzman. After knowing you for just two weeks, I was in awe. By the time this book comes out, I can only imagine what you'll have accomplished. Bonnie and Joe, Maggie Griffin and Terry Lucas.

I still have a lot to learn about this crazy thing called writing, but when you've had friends like these, everything seems possible. Linda McFall. Three down, and hopefully many, many more to go. If I feel spoiled, it's your fault for being such a terrific editor. Thanks also for your help on understanding the (often frightening) mind of the American toddler. Thank you again, ad infinitum.

To the booksellers and librarians who have made it possible for people to read my stuff. To everyone who's read one of my books, thanks for giving me the greatest job in the world. You keeping reading 'em, I'll keep writing 'em. And to reporters around the world who risk so much to write about good, evil and everything in between, Henry Parker offers a sincere thank-you. He wouldn't be here without your inspiration. Dear Reader, It is said that the most painful experience a parent can endure is losing a child.

The pain and anguish must be simply incalculable. But what happens when a child presumed gone forever returns suddenly with no explanation, no injuries and no recollection of where they've been? In The Stolen, Henry Parker must face perhaps the most difficult, and most personal, story of his young career. Because when he investigates the sudden reappearance of ten-year-old Daniel Linwood, Henry soon realizes that despite the jubilation of Daniel's parents, something far more sinister is beginning to take shape. And as Henry fights to uncover the truth, caught in the balance are a family, a community and several people who will stop at nothing to make sure those questions stay unanswered, and that Henry is silenced--permanently. I hope as you read The Stolen, you might ask yourself the same question that drives Henry to find the truth: How far would you go to protect your loved ones? Enjoy The Stolen... Jason Pinter January 2008 Prologue "Finished." I saved the document and eased back in my chair.

My body had grown accustomed to long days and nights spent in its discomfort. The last few months, I had arrived home nearly every night with a sore tailbone or stiff back, wondering if the supplies department would turn a blind eye and let me expense a newer model. Eventually I forgot about it. Then one day, I noticed I hadn't thought about the aches and pains in a long time. They were a part of me now. The past three days and nights had sped by in a blur of keystrokes, Chinese food containers and discarded coffee cups.

I was on the kind of crash deadline that a year ago would have had me sweating rivulets, but now barely raised my pulse. The fact was, without those deadlines to keep me focused, the pains might not have ebbed away. Saving the file, I looked outside my window over Rockefeller Plaza. The view had changed--bright morning into gauzy summer afternoon, fading into the kind of New York night where the constant bright lights disguised any sense of time. Until recently, the night always heralded the end of my Jason Pinter workday. I would file my story with Evelyn Waterstone, the Gazette 's Metro editor, pack up my things, throw some goodbyes to my night-shift colleagues and one or two guys at the sports desk who were putting together the box scores, and head home to meet Amanda.

Good conversation, a hot shower, maybe a movie or a show we'd recorded, they'd all be waiting. Then I'd fall asleep with a whisper of her hair across my face. Amanda. We met two years ago. Our introduction wasn't exactly the setup for your average romantic comedy. Our paths crossed while I was on the run after being falsely accused of murder.

I had nobody to turn to. Nowhere to go. And just when the situation was at its bleakest, Amanda offered a hand to me, a total stranger. She saved my life. She was running from her own demons, having come from a broken home, spending her childhood recapping her life in small notebooks because she assumed everyone she met would eventually abandon her. It was this that brought us together.

We were both damaged, broken, but together we were whole. She was everything I wanted in a partner. Strong, brilliant, beautiful. And she laughed at my jokes that made everyone else cringe. I repaid her by offering all the love I had to give. Had I offered merely love, it would have been more than enough.