Into the Fire

Matthew Iden's Book 5 The Wicked Flee in A Marty Singer Mystery Series. 

Marty Singer's younger friend in the force (Chuck Rhee), doing undercover work with the Gangs Special Unit (HIDTA), pounds on his door in the very early morning hours with a critical emergency concerning his 16 year old sister Lucy. Singer's only half awake as he listens to Chuck's claims but before too long Singer is dressed and accompanying Chuck to a crook's nightclub. Embarrassing Lucy's two friends who are there after they've been given a special invitation by the seamy owner to his upstairs private digs, Chuck wastes no time getting information about where Lucy might be. 

When they arrive at the decrepit house where Lucy's former "boyfriend" lives, what they learn is chilling. This begins a focused and desperate search for young Lucy with next to nothing information-wise. 

Marty sees Chuck is on overload emotionally and does his best to talk him down from the ledge, but it's not easy. Both of them have seen the horrific underbelly of sex trafficking and it seems this is what's in store for Lucy. 

Joining them in their search is a rookie State Trooper (Sarah) who's doing it off the books because  her similar case was handed off. Now she's out of her jurisdiction and disobeying her boss but determined to help. 

The obstacles are immense, the information is hit and miss, Lucy is fighting the battle for her life, and it seems like they're all losing it. 

The Wicked Flee presents a snapshot of the sex trade network, one of the most perverse and cruel avenues of sinful man. Matthew does a succinct and well-written job of bringing it up close and personal in this story and provides an ending with a kind of justice most people would want to exact.

Father, you know all hearts. Only you can truly touch those hearts and turn them to you. Please bless Matthew's continued work and inspiration. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.