Express Malice — Mark Travis

Dan Ballantine, medically retired ex-cop, non-practicing, thirty-something lawyer, and his dog, Penny, plan to open trout season at Lake Crowley. While driving before dawn, Dan spots a body draped over the roadside berm. He finds a naked, badly beaten young woman. Mindy tells of stolen stamps and murderous Russians who kidnapped her and her boyfriend, Jack. She begs Dan to hide her. Viktor Vladimirov sends three of his "soldiers" after Jack and Mindy. The stolen stamps are insured for a million dollars, and Vladimirov wants the insurance money and the stamps. While protecting Mindy, Dan kills two of the Russians and sends the third to Vladimirov with the bodies. Vladimirov's men murder Mindy, kidnap Dan's autistic son, and demand a million dollar ransom. Dan pays then goes after the Russian. He learns of a drug deal and calls Brad Gunn, the FBI agent who helped find his son. Agents arrest Vladimirov and charge him with drug dealing and the murders of Jack and Mindy. Vladimirov hires hitman Mako Fazan to make sure Dan does not testify against him. While Dan "hides" and searches for a missing man in Texas, Fazan closes on him.