Hurricane Katrina was about to bombard the Louisiana Coast, and it quickly became evident that New Orleans was directly in its path. Prison officials ordered an evacuation of inmates from the local prison, and a caravan of busses took the unsavory passengers to other prisons in Alabama and Texas. As soon as the last three buses were full, the respective drivers headed to Texas in hopes of outrunning the life-threatening flood waters. Five death row inmates were left behind. It was certain the antiquated, inadequate levees would not hold for long. The result of their giving way would most certainly be catastrophic, and New Orleans inevitably would be submerged twenty-five feet beneath the deadly waters of Lake Pontchartrain. Notorious mob hitman Dick Blackwell escapes his death row cell just before the hurricane swamps the prison where he is incarcerated. His former cellmate, Earl Madison, also breaks free-but the two dangerous men go in opposite directions: one to a new life, the other back to his criminal past. Desperate to escape the law, Dick Blackwell assumes the identity of an old friend-and hides his own role in his friend's bloody death. Now known as James "Jim" Johnson, he can't help but fall in love with the first pretty face he sees. And Liz O'Brien can't resist the handsome stranger she encounters in the crowd of refugees taking cover from Hurricane Katrina. The new Jim Johnson must hide his past from the woman he finds himself falling for if he ever wants to lead a normal life. And to remain free, he also has to pass the scrutiny of the detectives her father hires. The newcomer's past is a little too suspicious for Liz's protective father, George O'Brien. Is it worth the risk to marry into a family of wealthy socialites whose every move is followed by the media? As time goes on, can he avoid the reporter whose job depends on covering-and photographing-James Johnson? Earl Madison, ex-con on the run is cunning-a master at the craft of crime-but, he isn't smart enough to elude the police forever. His life is a game of catch-and-release. Finding and blackmailing his old friend Dick Blackwell is his only hope to stay out of prison and off the executioner's list. He will also become a very wealthy man...at Blackwell's expense. Walter Wellington is the young, rising-star journalist who unwittingly plays a role in reuniting the two criminals on the loose...and bringing one of these dangerous killers back to justice.