Michael George Bailey, Author of Fiction Novels and Sportsman

Things have changed in the Fish and Wildlife service

Long gone are the days mosquitoes and humidity are the worst afflictions outside the Everglades. Inside the Everglades, well, thats always been a whole different story. South Florida has been pushing back against illegal risk-takers in that part of the country by using the only effective tool; a greater risk-taker. Bailey’s protagonist, Les Savage, known to American sportsmen as the face of archery, struggles as time cuts into his quintessential undercover advantages. The Fish and Wildlife service has looked to Les, because of his South Florida roots, the way General Custer looked to his native Indian scouts. Life onboard a sailboat moored a half mile off shore in Biscayne Bay didn’t allow him to get soft. Weather conditions, tying knots, loading a dinghy, draining a bildge, choking an outboard, and a host of other calculated daily tasks that when combined serve to sharpen Mr. Savage’s perceptions in ways that escape the average landlubber. Those adherences, coupled with a drive to maintain his ace status with a bow and arrow, resulted in Les’ fearless approach to his work. Tolerance to risk came easier to those working undercover that had no spouse or dependents. When asked how he’s able to sleep on the boat when the sea picks up, he answered; “By swimming a mile everyday.” His physical stature, that of a circus performer who works the highwire, exudes confidence and coordination. To many, he’s simply referred to as ‘The Ace’. That axiom held up nicely, until the one sweet day he met Monique. She has him thinking twice. In his gut, he suspects he isn’t smart enough not to overplay his hand.