Prologue

The sun was setting on another warm day in sunny California when they pulled into the familiar parking lot of the Hard Deck bar. It was an old yacht club converted into a shrine to wild nights and Naval history, a local favorite, frequented by Navy personnel. She climbed out of her best friend's Bronco, tucking her sunglasses into the collar of her shirt, and looked around the parking lot for the familiar yellow and black 2010 Camaro her backseater drove, he was supposed to have met them here. "You ready?" her best friend asked. She looked over at him and offered a small smile. "I'm always ready Bradshaw."