DEATH PACT

A young Dallas attorney, Richard Coleman, has made partner in his law firm in record time. His quick rise has not been due to his legal prowess, however, but rather his extraordinary talents in finance and marketing. Despite his success there is little joy in his life having recently lost his wife in a tragic car accident. It's been a year now and he's tried to adjust to the loneliness and emptiness in his life with little success. That is until he meets Erica Fox, the sixteen year old daughter of a high roller, Franklin Fox. Mr. Fox is divorced and needs someone to be trustee over Erica's affairs should he die. After eliminating all potential candidates for the job, Rich ends up being recruited for the task. In a parting remark Franklin jokingly tells Rich to be careful, Erica always gets her way.

Several weeks later Franklin dies in a skiing accident and Rich is called up to assume his duties as trustee. Little does he know that Erica has been planning his seduction. One Saturday evening, after Rich has been stood up by an airline stewardess, Erica shows up unannounced. He's had a few drinks and is very depressed and seeing Erica lifts his spirits. With dinner reservations made, a corsage and tickets to the theater in hand, he invites her to fill-in as his companion. They go out, have a great time but when Rich brings Erica home he lingers too long and they end up in bed. In the morning Rich realizes he's not only breached his duty as Erica's trustee, but he's committed a felony! When Rich tries to tell Erica their sexual encounter was a mistake and their brief affair is over, Erica politely advises him that isn't the case, in fact, it has just begun!

So begins William Manchee's latest novel, Death Pact, a baffling murder mystery that will tax the intellect of the most probing of readers. Sex, greed and revenge are the driving forces behind this legal thriller set in Dallas in the late seventies. Love may be their only salvation, but will it be enough?