I wish to thank the following people at FBI Headquarters and at Quantico for their generosity and enthusiasm.

William Hayden Matens, Special Agent, retired

Thomas B. Locke, DAD, Inspection Division

David R. Knowlton, Assistant Director, Inspection Division

Wade M. Jackson, Unit Chief, Firearms Training Unit

Gary J. Hutchison, Agent Instructor

Alan H. Marshall, Special Agent, Indoor Range

Jeffrey Higginbotham, Assistant Director, Training Division

Douglas W. Deedrick, Unit Chief, Information and Evidence Management Unit

Lester “wingtips” Davis, Officer, National Academy Association

Ruben Garcia, Jr., Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division

Kenneth McCabe, Section Chief, Laboratory Division

Michael J. Perry, Firearms Instructor

Sheri A. Farrar, Deputy Assistant Director, Administrative Services Division

Royce Curtin, Special Agent, Hostage Rescue Team

Stephen R. Band, Unit Chief, Behavior Sciences Unit

Lew Elliott, who teaches cops how to fight

I wish to thank my husband, Dr. Anton Pogany, yet again, for his excellent instincts and his eagle eye that never misses a thing-he remains the Editor from Hell.

Near the Plum River, Maryland

It was a chilly day in late October. A stiff wind whipped the last colorful leaves off the trees. The sun was shining down hard and bright on the dilapidated red barn that hadn’t been painted in forty years. Streaks of washed-out red were all that was left of the last paint job. There was no charm left, at all.