Mandatory Flight - James Campbell

A phone call in the dead of night interrupts a honeymoon, and a dangerous quest begins.

Middle-aged Colby Cameron has finally married the girl he’s loved most of his life. But the pilot and his bride have little time to celebrate. According to a cryptic message, their friend Nathan needs them, and it’s urgent. Soon, tropical breezes are left behind for the colorful but poverty-ravaged streets of Haiti. There, the fate of a nation may lie in the hands of three close friends.

Nathan is supposed to be retired from the CIA but just can’t seem to quit. So when the daughter of a close friend goes missing after a late-night swim, Nathan doesn’t hesitate to get on a plane to Haiti.

Soon he learns the disappearance might involve a group working in the shadows to carry out a high-stakes political agenda. They’re unhappy with Marti Lamartiniere’s increasing popularity as she works to set a new course for the country’s future, focused on opportunities for the poor. She’s moving forward with big changes, and some people in high positions have very different plans for Haiti.

On the bus and on the street, Nathan can feel he’s being watched. As he gets closer to learning the fate of the goddaughter he adores, the trail of evil seems to lead to the highest echelons of power. With no official backup, he’s in way over his head as he races to save not only Marti but the future of a country.

Mandatory Flight is set against a backdrop of the rich traditions of a country whose people can still find cheer and hope in the midst of abject poverty. It’s a story of loss and disappointment both on a national stage and in the smaller, intimate moments of human beings connecting with each other. It’s a story of finding the courage, despite it all, to reach out and trust.