Pat Ruger Mystery Series- Book 1
Retired detective Pat Ruger expected his new career as a private investigator to involve cheating spouses, missing property, and the occasional insurance scam. Instead, his first major client brings him a disappearance that will pull him into Denver’s criminal underworld—and place thousands of lives at risk.
Lola Soto is convinced her sister, Elena, is missing. The police see an adult woman who may have left voluntarily, but Pat agrees that something feels wrong. His search soon connects Elena to a Muslim community center, rumors of domestic extremism, a violent drug dealer, and Angel Mercado, one of Pat’s oldest and most trusted friends.
As the investigation deepens, the evidence points in conflicting directions. Pat must determine who is telling the truth, who is being manipulated, and whether Elena is a victim—or part of something far more dangerous. With the help of his former police partner, two unlikely new business associates, and an FBI agent who becomes personally important to him, Pat uncovers a conspiracy involving abduction, betrayal, a secretive religious cult, and a devastating terrorist plot.
The closer Pat gets to the truth, the more personal the case becomes. Old friendships fracture, new loyalties are tested, and stopping the attack may require him to risk everything.
Set against the streets, foothills, and mountain towns of Colorado, For Hire introduces Pat Ruger—a determined, imperfect, and frequently wisecracking investigator who relies on experience, instinct, and stubbornness to see a case through.
For Hire is the first novel in the Pat Ruger Mystery Series.