Quinn could only stare at Karly, this ghost, in utter disbelief and confusion for a long moment but soon he looked resigned, dropping his chin to his chest in despair. He had listened to his attorney and lost his last and only chance — and traded the relative comfort of his rehab facility for a six-by-eight cell in the federal penitentiary — likely for the rest of his life.
A month after his arrest, Patrick Biggers’ lawyer went to the United States Attorney prosecuting his case and proffered a deal. Biggers could fill in unanswered questions about Quinn in exchange for leniency. It took weeks but they worked it out.
At Quinn’s trial, Biggers testified under oath that he’d accepted money from Quinn to arrange all of the murders in Atlantic City beginning with Gallardi, the killings in Washington, and the attempts on Warfield’s life. He had also gone to Quinn’s house before Ana Koronis’ trial and bribed Helen Swope to lie. In the end Quinn was spared the death penalty but sentenced to life in a federal maximum security facility, where there would be no parole.
Five months later, Biggers stood before the same federal judge who had sentenced Quinn. The prosecution explained his cooperation in Quinn’s case. He was sentenced to thirty years in a federal penitentiary. Both Quinn and Biggers were sure to receive additional state charges.
Karly Amarson waited in the hallway outside the courtroom for another spectator to emerge. She’d never formally met Cameron Warfield but had been in the courtroom on the day he testified in Quinn’s and Biggers’ trials. Now she stopped him and introduced herself. He of course knew who she was. “I admire you, Colonel Warfield, for your perseverance. Quinn and Biggers would be free men otherwise. I just want to say ‘thank you.’”
Warfield smiled, and introduced her to Fleming DeGrande and to Ana Koronis, who were standing nearby. The women chit-chatted for a moment while Warfield found Quinn’s attorney Oscar Frye and shook his hand. The two men looked each other in the eye and nodded almost imperceptibly.
Back in New York, Karly Amarson — Patricia Adams now and forever more — opened her safe, pulled out a worn yellow file folder, thumbed the contents as she absently stared out of the window overlooking the Manhattan skyline, and placed it in the shred file. Karly Amarson was no longer.
ABOUT NICK GANAWAY
Nick Ganaway loves the likes of thrillers written by of Daniel Silva, John Grisham, Michael Connelly, Ben Macintyre, David Baldacci, Don Winslow, Ken Follett, Vince Flynn, Nelson DeMille and many others, as well as true accounts of military special operations. Nick hopes you enjoy reading To Free A Spy, his first novel, as much as he loved researching and writing it. Nick lives in Dunwoody, GA, and has three loving children and five beautiful grandchildren.
ABOUT ‘TO FREE A SPY’
I have long been an avid reader of thrillers and spent three years studying the art of writing as taught by many accomplished writers and writing experts, researching background for To Free A Spy, and writing, rewriting and changing every word until they refused to be changed any more!
The Tokyo segment was especially interesting to research and write, including direct communication with the very cooperative Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Minami-ku, Hiroshima in Japan. My uninvited exploration of the CIA campus in Langley, VA, was not exactly welcomed with open arms by security officers at the entrance guardpost, who questioned my intentions and my sanity for having ignored the large warning sign and armored vehicle outside the campus entrance and gave me clear orders where to wait for a reception “committee,” who approached our car armed and outfitted in black gear. My wife and I were all but fingerprinted (as she reminded through clenched teeth that “I told you so”) and advised we were forevermore in the CIA database — and not the one for Christmas cards! Nevertheless, followup phone calls were very productive. In stark contrast to Langley (and a little worrisome,) the White House compound in Washington would appear to be as vulnerable as it is visible, separated from the public only by a fence of (apparently) decorative metal pickets, and guardposts at entrance gates. I’m assured however that there are ample but unseen defenses
One can never see all that Washington has to offer and it is always a great experience, but the Alexandria Detention Center, where my characters Ana Koronis and Harvey Joplan are housed for a time, is not likely one frequently visited (voluntarily.) Although the modern mid-rise orange-brick structure could easily be mistaken for just another office building a visit to the campus and inside the reception area reveals its serious personality. Although a county facility, the ADC houses often-high profile federal detainees as they progress through the court system.
Visiting and melding into the rolling northern Virginia countryside in and near Middleburg in Loudoun County, just an hour’s drive outside D.C., kept us thinking how great it must be to live there in horse country, so close to the Capital yet a world apart, which is why my character Fleming DeGrande’s ranch and home are situated nearby. We spent a delightful couple of days becoming acquainted with Middleburg, its art shops, restaurants, B&Bs, welcoming townspeople and lovely countryside.
A fun venue of a completely different world was Atlantic City, with its defining casinos, fun-loving throngs on its famous Boardwalk, weekend gamblers and high-rollers, gold-laden pawn shops and all the trappings of a casino town. All of course at the edge of the ocean.
Writing To Free A Spy has been a wonderful experience, and if you enjoy reading it that will be the icing on my cake!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I’m grateful beyond words to my late bride Lee Ganaway for her tireless reading, critiquing and support during the early stages of this book; to Julie Ganaway Blanchard for her valuable comments about contemporary fashion and style and her assistance in social media marketing; to Ginger Ganaway Smith for social media exposure of Spy and to Ginger and to John Ganaway for their unfailing enthusiasm and encouragement. To each of you, know that you have my undying love.
I want to thank the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Hiroshima for answering my endless questions and providing me with related RERF publications.
I also want to express my appreciation to the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley for responding to those of my questions that they could answer and for their gracious way of saying “no” when that had to be the response. I’m an avid fan of the Agency.
My thanks to my many other friends and family members who throughout the course of this project have generously encouraged me, read for me and offered valuable suggestions and ideas.
I am indebted to each member of this team, without whom To Free a Spy would still be just an idea. All errors belong to me.