Maitland Under Siege
James Patrick Hunt
Five Stars, Apr 2006, $25.95
ISBN: 1594144400

In Chicago, Charlie Mead of Mead's Bail and Bonds offers Evan Maitland an opportunity to make some serious money by bringing in a bail jumper; former convict Thomas Hicks killed two mob enforcers in self-defense, but knowing he is at risk in jail or on the street and expecting no justice in court, he fled. Over the objections of his antiques business partner and his police officer lover, Evan begins the search, which, thanks to Kansas State University NCAA basketball leads to Kansas.

Dallas resident Nina Harrows comes to Union City, Kansas, seeking to find her missing sister. Instead she is stonewalled and warned at every turn. When Nina meets Evan and Thomas, she enlists their assistance. As they work together to learn what happened to her sibling, Evan becomes convinced that Thomas is not a street punk killer involved in a bad drug deal, but instead a person trying to keep his life straight; instead of fleeing again like he could, Thomas has the backs of Nina and Evan as the trio come under siege from local terror.

Though the bad dudes are somewhat stereotyped, suspense fans will enjoy this fine modern day High Noon thriller. Maitland is terrific as he begins to understand what is important in life; learning that from his two team mates, as Nina refuses to back down against overwhelming odds until she finds her sister, and Thomas refuses to allow his past in the slums stop him from making something of himself. The confrontation is well done with the suspense building slowly to a crescendo, but the key to the tale is the insightful look at the three amigos.