Gene Hackman, acclaimed actor and author of Payback at Morning Peak, "takes aim at a clear target: telling a good story" (St. Augustine Record) in this gripping thriller that pits a devoted police sergeant against a predator who may cost her everything that matters.

"I'll say this for the last time. Take your hand off the shotgun."

In a tense standoff with a shopping mall shooter, Sergeant Juliette Worth has the suspect about to surrender?then in a few explosive seconds, she takes him down.

Usually a by-the-book cop, Julie has too much at stake to break protocol?until the mall killer pushes her over the line. Instead of kudos for saving his hostage, the Missouri State Criminal Investigation Unit hands Julie cold case duty. Among the forgotten files, she uncovers a disturbing connection between disappearances from years ago?all pretty girls, all presumed runaways. Now Julie's instincts have her hunting a predator who is still very much active. Someone who pulls Julie into a harrowing chase?by abducting her own daughter.

Gene Hackman was the author of two novels and coauthor of three other novels. He was a two-time Academy Award-winning actor with lauded performances in such films as Unforgiven, Bonnie and Clyde, The French Connection, Mississippi Burning, and The Poseidon Adventure, among others. He lived in New Mexico and died in 2025.