Track Down (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780578171968)

Well trained by the army for combat in Vietnam and by the government as part of the top echelon of law enforcement officers, Don Ballantine was ready for anyone, anytime. From the age of 17, when his mother signed his Vietnam enlistment forms, Don had always served his country with pride and conviction. While his main motivation for enlisting was to provide a good life for his young family, Don felt a deep sense of commitment to the ideals of his country. In return for his service, the army offered him steady pay, insurance and a shot at more education and college. That's how it was supposed to go. Back from Nam with a Purple Heart and PTSD, instead, Don's personal life fell apart in a haze of anger, frustration, and too much drinking. The only thing he had left was his professional life. Through hard work and focus Don built an admirable and distinguished career in law enforcement in the Chicago area, including training at the prestigious FBI Academy, training offered to only the top echelon of police officers in the country. After years of strong commitment to his job and the people of his city, and slowly putting his personal life back together, Don meets Diana, his savior. Her love and patience guides him to a more peaceful life. With his career winding down, Don and Diana head for Arizona to retire in sunshine and warmth, as Don commits now to focus on being the best husband and father that he can be. But, when opportunity knocks Don finds himself once again protecting and defending his country. This time from the shadows. Sworn to secrecy, even with his own family, Don begins to lead a double life. Most of the time he's just Don, the retired part-time golf course employee who loves to make everyone laugh. But when he gets the secret calls telling him to be at a certain place, at a certain time, Don enters the world of drug lords and international crime. With a cover plan in place, Don made quick and efficient work of ridding the world of the scum that pollutes good people with drugs. In and out-locate the target and eliminate; that's how Don and his two partners, Bob and Manny, operated. But, when the government sends them on the mission of all missions-eliminating one of the world's most powerful, and untouchable, drug lords in Venezuela-Don finds himself pushed to his limits, questioning his own reasons for doing what he does. Is he a killer? Just an adrenaline junkie? Why was he doing this? When the hard realization hits that his clandestine work has followed him home, threatening his wife and all that he loves, Don finds himself having to defend his own world and figure out a way to make things right.