Into the Dark

Into the Dark: Cindy McDonald

Creating fear within the mind of others was the goal of one man. Hoping to take what he felt belonged to him might cost someone more than just her life. Dr. Rayne Lee is about to enter what many might think is her own Twilight Zone as a small voice on the phone would bring back memories that haunt her in her dreams and nightmares that keep her afraid to close her eyes. What would happen if someone called you and said they were you daughter who you know was killed? What would you do to find out if your child was still alive? Would you risk your life and everything you have on a chance that it might be true? Within her neck unbeknownst to her Dr. Rayne Lee has a chip that was implanted underneath her skin with information that could destroy the President’s choice of Supreme Court Justice. Within the nightmares she remembers a man named Esteban Rojas who took pleasure in keeping her as his slave. Luis Chivas is the brother-in-law of Supreme Court hopeful Alejandro Perez and has something on him within this chip that could ruin them both. Living in his mansion with his wife Paulina thinking that nothing could touch him even though the death of another Senator weighs on his mind and was caused by what they were doing. Weapons brought in to protect his country, money for what they sell for and protection as they were hidden in medical supplies used as a cover to help the poor people of the Amazon Valley. But, within this chip placed in Dr. Rayne’s neck four years before the entire situation could get blown to bits if the chip is not removed and in the hands of this coldhearted killer as we meet him in the prologue torturing Rojas and giving him his last chance to confess.

No one really knows where Rayne is but when Chivas has his guys searching they learn more about her four year old daughter who was killed and her husband Dr. Lee that was taken from her as in the second chapter you can hear her voice, feel her pain and experience the nightmares that keep her awake each night. But, Jack Haliday enters with his precious daughter Lil and hopefully someday they will permanently connect. As a members of the First Force team, she is the main medic, Jack goes on dangerous missions, Casey is her one female friend, her Uncle is the creator and in charge of the First Force along with Clark and others that are a covert group that go in and take down what others cannot. But, will they be able to protect her when they learn about the phone calls that keep coming.

A young child keeps calling along with a man that she thinks is Rojas telling her to come to Peru to safe her daughter or she will be killed, A diabolical plot by a desperate man who will go to any lengths to get that chip even killing Rayne. Two men from the force were asked to protect and be part of the detail to make sure Perez survives his inauguration. Grant and Smitty enter the picture, go to protect the Justice but find his behavior behind closed doors odd and some of the other details that he requests strange too. As one man Peyton Mattock seems privy to move than they are, the hope that their Intel will be combined to find out what is really going on. But, author Cindy McDonald weaves a delicate web that could snap at any time as Rayne’s phone calls, the Judges secrets and the mission that Luis Chivas has entered into with the unwilling help of a young mother and her daughter will make your blood curdle but know that the suspense level has been turned up in this novel.

Frank billings was into humanitarian aid the kind where you “deliver weapons to guerillas in the Amazon in exchange that certain businesses are not attacked while others are,” almost like protection money but more dangerous. Greed usually takes center stage when that’s your primary goal to profit from you operation, as the judge was able to clear himself and divorce himself from any connection, or suspicion not dealing with the issue of Humanitarian aid. But, when Smitty and Grant uncover the truth how were they going to convince everyone that they needed to coordinate with Peyton, get the two missions to connect as one and find out what that had to do with Dr. Rayne going to Peru.

First Force Headquarters was where Rayne lived with Matthew Lee and when the connection was made in Peyton’s mind they all realized that the mission to protect the Justice was getting more interesting and could prove deadly.

Bibliana and her daughter Patrizia were innocent victims caught in the web of lies that Chavis created and forced to create the ruse that Sierra was alive. Fear shook their hearts, compliance was the only way to survive as Patrizia learned to speak the words in English that her mother made her practice until this man was sure Rayne would be lured to Peru and the chip in his hands. But, someone else was after these men and when the plan was in place and one man was supposed to shadow Rayne something happens and he loses her. Will Jack and the team get there in time? Their plane was delayed and needed repairs, Dan the man that was to care for her got hurt and the entire mission went sour. Added in when they finally do get there it just might be too late for her, the mother and daughter and the poor doctor who is supposed to perform the surgery but is dehydrated, sick and unresponsive forcing Rayne to try and safe not only herself, the mother and daughter but the doctor too. The ending will surprise readers as just when you think everything is find and everyone is safe the author throws an explosive twist that you won’t see coming. Who survives? Who makes it back to the First Force Mansion? Will Jack and Rayne tie the knot? Will he forgive her for not telling him about the calls and confiding in Casey? A plot that could be ripped right out of the headlines and characters that are strong, determined and a plot that is fast paced. This is a solid series that has lots of room for more missions, adventures and hopefully will keep Rayne, Jack, Lil and the entire force in tact to save more lives and hopefully survive the danger.

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ Magazine