The Last Flight of the Archaeopteryx

Book excerpt: Whether the Archaeopteryx was the first bird or a somewhat clumsy airborne dinosaur is still uncertain. But Rachel's Archaeopteryx---the name given her airplane by twelve-year-old daughter, Cathy---may face extinction as she flies to remote airports making pickups for Utah's largest bank. Ever trusting and optimistic, Rachel overlooks the obvious: she is being stalked. So why would she think the disappearance of an acquaintance has anything to do with her? The bullet hole in the wing of her airplane catches her attention. But wasn't that just a potshot from a drunken hunter? Rachel wants to put these distractions behind her. She has more important things on her mind, like keeping pace with her increasingly independent daughter and her growing friendship with the beautiful and athletic, Sherry Sanchez. No time for unpleasant thoughts until her lofty view of the world snares her in a complex--and dangerous--web.