Bone Deep
ALSO BY RANDY WAYNE WHITE
DOC FORD SERIES
Sanibel Flats
The Heat Islands
The Man Who Invented Florida
Captiva
North of Havana
The Mangrove Coast
Ten Thousand Islands
Shark River
Twelve Mile Limit
Everglades
Tampa Burn
Dead of Night
Dark Light
Hunter’s Moon
Black Widow
Dead Silence
Deep Shadow
Night Vision
Chasing Midnight
Night Moves
HANNAH SMITH SERIES
Gone
Deceived
NONFICTION
Randy Wayne White’s Ultimate Tarpon Book
Batfishing in the Rainforest
The Sharks of Lake Nicaragua
Last Flight Out
An American Traveler
Gulf Coast Cookery (and Recollections of Sanibel Island)
Tarpon Fishing in Mexico and Florida (An Introduction)
Available exclusively as an e-book:
Doc Ford Country (True Stories That Inspired Doc and Tomlinson)
FICTION AS RANDY STRIKER
Key West Connection
The Deep Six
Cuban Death-Lift
The Deadlier Sex
Assassin’s Shadow
Grand Cayman Slam
Everglades Assault
G. P. P
UTNAM’S
S
ONS
Publishers Since 1838
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Copyright © 2014 by Randy Wayne White
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
White, Randy Wayne.
Bone Deep / Randy Wayne White.
p. cm.—(A Doc Ford novel ; 18)
ISBN 978-0-698-15016-4
1. Ford, Doc (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Marine biologists—Fiction. 3. Crow Indians—Fiction. 4. Florida—Fiction. 5. Suspense fiction. I. Title.
PS3573.H47473B66 2014 2013049644
813'.54—dc23
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, either living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Version_1
This book is for my pal and traveling partner, Dr. Brian Hummel, and his brilliant family: Kristin, Sydney, Jordan, Andrea, John, Chris, Allison, Kipling, Theodore, Amary, Stephen, Kris, Asher, Maggie, Jon McConnel, Harlan, Peggy, and dear Joyce
Sanibel and Captiva Islands are real places, faithfully described, but used fictitiously in this novel. The same is true of certain businesses, marinas, bars, and other places frequented by Doc Ford, Tomlinson, and pals.
In all other respects, however, this novel is a work of fiction. Names (unless used by permission), characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is unintentional and coincidental.
Contact Mr. White at
WWW.DOCFORD.COM
I learned long ago, whether writing fiction or nonfiction, an author loses credibility if he’s caught in a factual error. I take research seriously, and am lucky to benefit from the kindness of experts in varied fields. Before recognizing those who provided assistance, though, I would like to remind the reader that all errors, exaggerations, and/or misinterpretations of fact, if any, are entirely my fault.
I have wanted to use Florida’s Bone Valley as a setting for many years, but it was a conversation with two Florida Fish & Wildlife (FWC) officers that finally provided material for a plotline. Much thanks goes to Maj. Curtis Brown, who walked me step-by-step through various artifact theft scenarios. Col. Jim Brown (Ret.) was also helpful, plus he correctly pointed out that Doc Ford owns a tactical boat built in Florida exclusively by Brunswick, not by a French manufacturer as I had wrongly assumed.
Phosphate mining in Bone Valley is controversial, which is why the Mosaic Company—one of the world’s leading producers—deserves high marks for having the professionalism and confidence to allow me to tour their mining operation and reclamation projects
in Central Florida. Especially helpful were John Courtney and Diana Youmans. Through their eyes and experience, I learned much about Bone Valley and the history that lies beneath.
In this book, Doc Ford references “snag fishing” for tarpon in Boca Grande Pass on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Thanks to Kenneth W. Wright—Florida Environmentalist of the Decade, in the minds of many anglers—this “jigging” technique has finally been exposed as a fraud. Mr. Wright, and a group of knowledgeable, courageous FWC commissioners, voted unanimously to ban the technique, and Florida is a better place because of them. In this and other areas, biologists Dr. Jonathan Shenker, Diane and Dr. Phil Motta, and Justin Grubbich also deserve thanks, as does Maria Laura Habegger for her work on bull sharks. While writing this book, I learned that Dr. John Miller, of Mote Marine and University of North Carolina, died in July 2013. He was a fine man; his advice regarding Doc Ford will be missed.
Much thanks goes to friends and advisers Dr. Justin White, Dr. Marybeth B. Saunders, Dr. Peggy C. Kalkounos, Ron Iossi, Jerry Rehfuss, and Dr. P. D. Miller. Sports psychologist Don Carman, once again, contributed unerring insights into human behavior, aberrant and otherwise, and his advice regarding Marion Ford’s fitness routine is much appreciated.
Bill Lee, and his orbiting star, Diana, as always, have guided the author, safely—for the most part—into the strange but fun and enlightened world of our mutual friend, the Rev. Sighurdhr M. Tomlinson. Equal thanks go to Gary and Donna Terwilliger, Wendy Webb, my wife and trusted friend, Stephen Grendon, my devoted SOB, the angelic Mrs. Iris Tanner, and my partners and pals, Mark Marinello, Marty, and Brenda Harrity.
By virtue of their affection for Florida and all good causes, special
thanks go to Mollie B. Nelson, Ryan J. Farley, Matt and Maggie Farley Bradfield, Will Andrew Derco, Capt. John C. Comstock Jr., Ann Miller Ekas, Sue Depré, Lisa Bowling, Linda Comstock Teel, Tom Braciszewski, Kirsten Dickerson, Shane Traugott, Joey Ann Kempson, lovely Marla J. Martin, and to my wonderful fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. France Crow, of Pioneer, Ohio, who recently celebrated her one hundredth birthday.
Much of this novel was written at corner tables before and after hours at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille on Sanibel Island and San Carlos Island, where staff were tolerant beyond the call of duty. Thanks go to Liz Harris, Chef Kris Zook, Juan Gomez, Kim McGonnell, Ma-Donna Butz, Jeff Kelley, Jose Sanchez, Allyson Parzero, Amanda Rodriguez, Ashley Rodeheffer, Christine Sabater, Amazing Cindy Porter, Desiree Olson, Kara Sarros, Big Khusan Ismatullaev, Marvelous Milita Kennedy, Olga Qlgita Jarrard, Detroit Rachel Songalewski, Rebecca Harris, Sarah Carnithan, Tall Sean Lamont, Hi Shawn Scott, T. J. Grace, Yakh’yo Yakubov, Darlene Mazzulo, Gabrielle Moschitta, Maria Jimenez, Mario Martinez, Charles Hill, Tall Cheyne Diaz, Chris Jenkins, Dale Hempseed, Dylan Wussler, Tyler Wussler, Richard Decosta, Big Boston Brian Cunningham, Jim Rainville, and Nathaniel Buffam.
At the Rum Bar on San Carlos Island, Fort Myers Beach: Dan Howes, Kandice Salvador, John Goetz, Corey Allen, Charity Owen, Heriberto Ramos, John Rhoads, Jamie Allen, Nora Billheimer, Seth Bishop, Kassee Buonano, Dan Busby, Astrid Cobble, Allison Dell, Sue DeMartini, Brian DeMartinis, Jessica Foster, Samantha George, Ashley Griner, Nicole Hinchcliffe, Eric Hines, Mark Hines, Janell Jambon, Netta Kramb, Jesse Kane, Anthony Kelhower, Meredith Martin, Katy McBride, Megan McNeill, Grace Novak, Kerra Pike, Cris Rentas, Kevin Reynolds, Dustin Rickards, Sandy Rodriquez,
Deon Schoeman, Michael Scopel, Jon Spellman, Heidi Stacy, Josh Vega, Lee Washington, Erin Montgomery, Ali, Pereira, Kylie Pyrll, LaToya Trotta, Kevin Tully, Molly Brewer, Katie Kovacs, Natalie Ramos, Taylor Recny, Jordan Van Leuven, Emily Heth, Anthony Howes, Justin Voskuhl, David Werner, Nick Howes, Bronson Joney, Andreas Ramon, Reyes Ramon, and Marcus Summ.
At Doc Ford’s on Captiva Island: Mighty Jean Crenshaw, Raynauld Bentley, Clark Kent Hill, Chef Greg Nelson, Chef James King, Alexis Marcinkowski, Amy Charron, Cheryl Erickson, Chris “Go Bulldogs” Orr, Erica Debacker, Heather Walk, Holly Emmons, Isabel Garcia, Julie Grzeszak, Karen Bove, Larissa Holmes, Matt Ginn, Sarah Ginn, Shelbi Muske, Nick Hopkins, Thayne Fugal, Jon Calupca, Alexa Mozes, Hope McNulty, Ashley Foster, Chad Chupurdia, Daniel Flint, Dominic Cervio, Stephen Day, and Mojito Greg Barker.
Finally, I would like to thank my sons, Lee and Rogan White, for helping me finish this, the twenty-first novel in the Doc Ford series. Quite a ride, huh?
—RANDY WAYNE WHITE
Casa de Piña
Sanibel Island, Florida