About the research
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ATTENTION: This section doesn’t give away the ending of the book, but it could blunt some exciting parts. Reader discretion is advised.
Research to me is satisfying at worst and fun at best. It helps to be trained and schooled in science. My difficulty with research and the results of gathering information is the almost pathological need I have to tell everyone ALL I know, whether they find it interesting or not. Researching a book means you have to know ten times more than you write. The family tree is developed so dates match the characters and timelines. The physical locations have to be accurate. Crashing a plane or shooting a person in the head with a .22 isn't something you do all the time. Hunting, diving, vehicles, weapons, clothes, climates, snow machines, small boats, hand to hand combat, going to a medical clinic, crossing the Gulf Stream and many locations of the book were all in my background and areas of knowledge. Cutting up a plane on an icy lake, operating a 54 foot Hatteras, the Dominican Republic, how to find and buy mortars, drugs and drug dealers, hiding from radar in an open boat, Russian, Spanish, shooting a helicopter and the DEA needed research.
The Cessna
Techniques and technical ability comes from interviewing people that worked with the objects in question. The Cessna 310 was picked because it has an icing history. I read an article called, "Ice Can Be Very Scary!!" by John Dohm. Also, a friend and pilot that flew the 310 before he became a 747 captain helped with the first chapter details. (See acknowledgement). Cutting up a plane knowledge came from watching a crashed Beachcraft Bonanza on the beach at St. Simon's Island, Georgia. After they finally got the gasoline out of the bird, they chopped it up with cutters and circular metal saws faster than I can do a Thanksgiving turkey.
The quarry
The Quarry (see web site info) and its surrounding lands were borrowed by Matt as his land. In reality it is owned, developed and lovingly protected by the Michigan Karst Conservancy, of which I am a member. I've walked and stalked its environs for forty years. The big tool building is still there and the crumbling remains of the crusher plant give a haunting aspect. I've mentioned Grandma McGillviray many times. She and her son and daughter gave me great information about the quarry's history and romance.
The Keys
 The Keys were my favorite holiday and diving location for over thirty years. As a certified NAUI diver I spent many hours under the crystal clear water. Wonderful internet connections will give the interested researcher information and beautiful pictures of all the main diving areas. Check out the following site, it is the best:
http://www.keysweb.info/infopages/diving_site_guide.htm
Boats
My son helped with the yacht technology using his experience with large pleasure craft and piloting Tiaras all over Lake Michigan. My friend, the Master Chief in the USCG, knows all about go-boats, drug smuggling, Coast Guard equipment and techniques. The internet is the researcher's mighty friend. The Reefer was a real boat with a different name, for sale in Florida, its MAN diesels and hooded prop wells are real, so is its speed, and most other parameters. These facts came right off the sales write-up. The big 150 foot yacht was modeled after one I saw on a Caribbean cruse. I took a picture of it coming out of Grand Cayman. I just knew it was bought with funds from money laundering and secret transfers through Pakistan. I yelled, "Shame on you," but they didn't seem to notice. It had a helicopter too.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic was my most extensive amount of research. I have never been there. The villa is a real one, (Villa Vista del Mar,) advertised and complete with a multipage schematic. The coast line is all real. The flora and fauna are all chamber of commerce and biological tracts. I talked with several people who spent months on the coast I was writing about.
Ship logs
Ship logs are also on the internet. They can be funny, factual, introspective and supercilious. They can give the researcher important bits of information that makes the writing come alive. ("The anchors were fowled with sea weed and animal growth, meaning they have been there a long time...The current drove the lead boat sidewise and jammed it across the harbor entrance, when it was finally towed into harbor the wife walked off the boat with her suitcase.")
Local trivia
Tides, moon phases, water temperatures, currents, harbor conditions are all available to the internet researcher. When they crossed the Gulf Stream, the moon was not over Miami, it was coming up south of Bimini. When they anchored in a Bahamian cove their tide levels were accurate by time and date. Local beers and foods came from travel logs, island literature, and travel guides. Recipes were all accurate from ethnic cookbooks.
Firearms
The only firearm with which I was unfamiliar, never held one, was the Russian Dragunov; it is an AK sniper rifle. I have fired AK 47's and own a Siaga 20 gauge- which is made at the AK plant. (Five 20 gauge shots from a detachable box magazine in three seconds- that will stop those pesky charging cotton tails.) Fortunately, there is a lot written about the Dragunov. I own the Remington rifle and Berretta .22 used in the story. I read a lot of incorrect terminology about firearms. When a shell casing is ejected from a revolver or person with a shot gun puts down his rifle, it grates on me. I spell SIG all caps because it is an acronym for Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft. (Same for the MAN German Engines on the Reefer.) You can buy mortars from South Africa. Shipping is no problem if you're a crook.
Languages
I had a year (1965-66) of college Spanish. Professora Cardenas was my teacher- an attractive and talented woman. She and her daughters left Castro's Cuba with her husband, the publisher of a Havana newspaper. Tanya has some Mercedes Cardenas in her. The Russian is from various translation tables that didn't agree with each other. (Sorry Ivan.)
Exploding helicopter
I went Hollywood on this subject. My brother and his son are experienced Marine helicopter pilots: a good friend and retired Marine gunship pilot all provided good information and terminology. Shooting a small civilian helicopter would surely ground it, but a fire and explosion might be a phenomenon.
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