Randall Oliver is a lawyer semi-retired from a Dallas practice now living in the rural Louisiana community where he grew up. His only active client is his former father-in-law dying of cancer but wanting to drill his last wildcat oil well in an environmentally sensitive Louisiana swamp. Life is peaceful in the little town of Bogalusa, Louisiana, and that suits Randall Oliver just fine. A semi-retired attorney, he keeps his legal skills sharp mostly by helping his family and childhood friends with their legal matters, but is happy to take on one final project for his former father-in-law,...

Bert Franks, a former Marine and Gulf War veteran, is no stranger to hazardous situations. As a troubleshooter for Vermilion Oil Company, he applies his well-honed survival skills to the cutthroat business of navigating the cultural minefields of Yemen, where Vermilion operates a profitable oilfield concession. His duties include everything from hobnobbing with government officials to negotiating contracts-whatever it takes to smooth Vermilion Oil Company's way. When negotiations for a minor contract turn sour, everything seems to falls apart at once. Bert finds himself at the epicenter of a...