Denis De Luchi

The Brute of the Beltway Denis De Luchi

Publisher Marketing: Antoninus Gyro (Tony Hero) is supposed to be Chief Seismologist for the Air Force. Instead, this former combat pilot and satellite orbit mathematician has been brought into the world of Pompeii Mudd, head of an unnamed group which protects American interests as no one else can. Mudd lets Tony's day job remain cover for various assignments in catching bad guys. In this episode, Tony is still waiting for his wife and family to join him in Washington. Mudd wants to use Tony's temporary bachelorhood one more time, now to romance a woman Tony has romanced and deserted once already. The woman, Amanda Uberall, is newly divorced from a former Air Force Intelligence Officer. Mudd believes Oscar Uberall is up to no good. Amanda knows Oscar always has been, at least in his treatment of her. But Oscar is nowhere to be found. The plan is to have Tony escort Amanda promiscuously, in an effort to draw out the elusive but very jealous exhusband. The man is ruthless and violent. Tony does seismology, and Top Secret satellite work. He doesn't do Ruthless and Violent. He has no choice, though, because Pompeii Mudd is the only person who stands between Tony and a court martial. Tony's paper boss is General Hawker Nash, and 'Hurricane' Nash despises Tony and wants his hide. The romance with Amanda goes farther than a faithfull Tony would like, but it does bring out Oscar. That's when the fun starts.