Nothing could excite Dr. Beach O’Neill more than the dream of discovering an unknown species in some exotic rainforest. His and his girlfriend’s world is flipped out of control when a ranch hand reports seeing a strange red bird on the banks of an isolated Texas river. When Beach discovers a mutilated body, things turn ugly, and the sheriff thinks he’s the killer. Thus begins a reckless contest between O’Neill and an array of despotic villains who wish to be the first persons on Earth to possess a “Scarlet Kingfisher.” Unsavory characters want Beach and his girlfriend Becky out of the way and off the trail of this unique avian rarity. O’Neill is torn between his obsessive desire to capture and present the bird to science and Becky’s wish to let it remain in its river home as nature intended.
Excerpt 1: Becky greeted Beach at the door with a hug and a kiss. In her professional setting as an Associate Professor at a major university, she was reserved and careful to comport herself with a quiet dignity that fit her long-developed conception of academic life. Being alone with Beach in his apartment was a different matter. She focused on being the image of an equal, supportive partner that Beach O’Neill could envision as his life mate. She wanted to be his life mate.
“Sweetheart, what happened? Why were you locked out?”
“I don’t really know. Evidently, the ranch owner told the foreman to change the combination on the gate lock and that I was not allowed on the place. That’s what he said. He mumbled about not wanting me to find something. It didn’t make any sense. This really screwed up my weekend.”
“Ah, but look at the bright side. Now we can hide here and play for two whole days. How can that be bad?” Becky poured Beach a glass of cold white wine. She sat next to him on the sofa. “I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding. They won’t kick you off the ranch right in the middle of your work. That would be stupid.”