Flamingo Coast, page 25
He gave up living just then. That evening, he hanged himself.
—
Five Years Later
A handsome man was building a treehouse in a Magnolia tree overlooking a stunning fjord. His cell phone rang and he answered with the name of the company he and his wife formed when they first arrived on this secluded islet, “Pelican Properties.”
The caller told him that she had been referred by a friend.
He asked her who her friend was, and she named someone he trusted.
“My situation is complicated,” she told him.
“I’m sure it is,” he said as he climbed down from the tree. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re looking for.”
“I need to know how you can guarantee privacy and protection—”
“We have a flawless record,” he assured her as he headed down a pathway lined with stone statuaries and up to a beautiful hacienda. “If you deserve a second chance, we can give it to you.”
As the caller explained her predicament and desire to drop off the grid, he went out to the Italian stone deck that wrapped around the home and looked out at the exquisite archipelago they called Pelican Cove. His lovely wife and son were returning from a joyride on their Chris-Craft Capri, glimmering amber in the setting sun. He waved with an ardent smile; there was living proof why he believed in new beginnings and second chances.
—
She waved back as the speedboat careened the jutting canyon walls, half-hidden by dense dusk mist. She loved him dearly. And she loved their life together in this unspoiled paradise. It was the perfect place to raise their family.
She was six months pregnant with their second son. Her first-born was sitting on her lap, steering the boat, listening intently as she preached life lessons. “When it comes to money, people will do unthinkable things…”
The End.
Acknowledgments
I am deeply thankful for the love and support of my incredible wife, Elisabeth, and our amazing children, Jasmine and Jake. I am also profoundly grateful for the encouragement of my mother, sister, extended family, and wonderful friends, all of who invariably inspire me.
Big thanks to Tyson Cornell, Julia Callahan, Hailie Johnson, Guy Intoci, Jessica Szuszka, and all the hard-working staff at Rare Bird Books.
Heartfelt thanks to Talcott Notch Literary and my awesome agent, Paula Munier.
As they say, we stand on the shoulders of giants, and I have been lucky to have had the guidance of many awe-inspiring mentors from the International Thriller Writers community.
They also say (and I often wonder who “they” are) that the truth is stranger than fiction. I sometimes find it more fascinating, too, and that’s the reason I framed backstories in this book with historic IRS and CIA operations. I changed the names to protect the innocent—and guilty—but my intention was to show an authentic parallel to the plight of my protagonist. The results of those investigations were based on my own interpretations of federal court cases, which are public record, and off-the-record interviews, which shall remain confidential. I want to extend a special thanks to those who gave me insights about offshore banking, tax evasion, and how government watchdogs can push the limits of the law in the name of justice. If the truth is in fact stranger than fiction, then hopefully fiction mirroring reality will help my themes resonate more believably. Thanks to everyone that helped me do that.
This novel is dedicated to my father, in memoriam, because it carries a message about what we pass on from one generation to the next. Now that I am a father, I realize how much my dad taught me about being a parent, and how lucky I am that he was mine.
For more information about Flamingo Coast, The Second Son, and my other projects, please visit martinjayweiss.com and connect with me on Twitter (@martinjayweiss) and Facebook (@martinjayweiss).
About the Author
Martin Jay Weiss is the author of the acclaimed novel The Second Son. He has written, directed, and produced numerous award-winning commercials and films and has worked throughout North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, and Southeast Asia. Born and raised in Chicago, he now lives in Southern California with his wife and two children.
Martin Jay Weiss, Flamingo Coast
