The Planners -- Installment 3 (Paperback)

THE PLANNERS -- INSTALLMENT 1 tracks two groups of very different people on parallel journeys, unaware of each other until collision occurs in the Canadian Rockies wilderness -- with fatal results. Beginning in Seattle, four men flee a brutal armored car robbery as eight men and women embark on a company camping trip. The protagonist, Greg Matheson, a Viet Nam combat veteran, has achieved relative peace in his life as a sporting goods store manager. After triumphing as sole survivor of the camper's battle with the robbery crew, Greg recounts his harrowing struggle to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and neglects to mention witnessing the gang bury eight suspicious suitcases. THE PLANNERS -- INSTALLMENT 2 chronicles the efforts of Greg and his Kalispell, Montana friend, Brady Edwards, to return to the Alberta wilderness area and dig up the buried suitcases. Greg and Brady learn the suitcases contain $6 million-plus in cash from the armored car heist in Seattle. Unfortunately, two rogue Seattle detectives, Mike Casata and Karen Shimoto, stumble by chance on the connection between the armored car takedown and the gang who attacked Greg and his work friends in the Canadian wilderness. Mike and Karen retire from the force and purchase a van to embark on a surveillance routine targeting Greg. Along with Brady's wife, Jean, and Greg's new Kalispell love interest, Cindy Krauss, the four friends begin a series of dangerous reverse cat-and-mouse expeditions to Canada to try and draw Mike and Karen into the open as they plan to dig up the suitcases. THE PLANNERS -- INSTALLMENT 3 picks up with Greg and his girlfriend, Cyndi Krauss, finishing up transporting the suitcases filled with heist money from Alberta back to Kalispell, Montana. Greg and Cyndi begin preparations for relocating to Las Vegas with Brady and Jean Edwards. The four friends anticipate Las Vegas will provide an easier atmosphere for spending $100 bills, and afford an opportunity to acquire a local business letting them wash the full $6 million. Greg and his friends do not expect the bulldog determination of Jack Spencer and Dave Schindler, two Seattle detectives investigating the missing-person cases of their friends and former co-workers, Mike Casata and Karen Shimoto. And Greg and his friends also do not expect the intrusion into their plans of the Los Locos motorcycle gang, who run the meth business in Vegas.