Chapter One

It was almost done: the fateful marriage of Andy and Lorrie Dean, childhood sweethearts who rediscovered each other twenty years after their adolescent fling surrendered to the inexorable course of time. Their new love, so real and boundless, so full and unassuming, would be eternal—with or without the formal vows.

Now they stood beside a gazebo in a secluded park on the outskirts of the little East Texas town of Tillman. The hour was at hand. They waited, smiling humbly, resolute in what they felt for each other and for their future as husband and wife. Everything was so right as they began to seal their love in holy matrimony while a small crowd of close friends looked on.

"I do," answered Andy, solemnly.

"And do you, Lorrie Dean LeMay, take Andrew Woodson Boone to be your husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, so long as you both shall live?"

"Look out!" screamed a man in the audience, as a clamoring vehicle squealed to a stop behind the last row of seats.

Two men jumped out of the car, waving badges and shouting, "FBI! Everybody stay put!" One of the men grabbed Lorrie Dean and started dragging her to the car while the other stared at the stunned little group, whipping his pistol back and forth in front of them, clearly threatening to punish anyone who attempted to interfere.

Andy Boone was shouting and flailing the air with both arms. "What the hell is this? What's going on? You have to talk to us! Stop, stop, stop it!"

While the first man started pushing dow

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