Conflict of Interest

A murder and Russian spy mystery set in the Smoky Mountains. A selected group of U.S. scientist were invited to a gathering of world scientists in Novosibirsk, Russia. While at one of the seminars a young Russian scientist spoke and gave a brilliant talk that had his audience standing and applauding for some time. The scientists present from the U.S met after the speech and made a decision to ask Kiriyak to come to the United States and work with their group on a project that was super, super secret. A research center had been built, hidden up in the wooded mountain area and disguised by painting trees on the side of the building. Passersby would never see the Center perched high on the ridge! It was located several miles from where the Atomic Bomb Project took place. He was delighted to join their research and arrived a few weeks later. One of the scientists. George, became his mentor at the center and they became friends. George Phillips invited him to his home where he met George's daughter, Ruby, and they fell in love! A few months later Kiriyak Vasilyey (Randy) asked Ruby to marry him. Ruby had a great friend from school days named Evie, who had moved back to the holler when her husband was killed serving in Navy. Evie is the main character in the story. Her emotions make the story come alive. Ruby asked Evie to go with her to pick out wedding dresses. She was to come pick Evie up. She never came, she disappeared! Her car sitting parked in the drive.

The FBI entered the story, due to George working on the secret project, a defensive weapon to combat any enemy of the U.S to be able to penetrate the Electric Magnetic Field above the United States. It was assumed that Ruby had been kidnapped to get George to give up the secret project.
Agent Harley moved into George's home to be there in case George was contacted. He and Evie became friends and later fell in love.

George had an office in his large barn and he gave Randy space tor a computer and storage for his files. He was considered one of the family. Randy was devastated with Ruby's disappearance. He said he wanted to go home to Russia.

Sheriff Joe, who had been the sheriff in the county for many, many years, is a comic relief to the story , as is the hillbilly talk and living in the hollers, (very authentic since that is where the author grew up) Great descriptions of Smoky Mountains and characters.

Days and weeks passed but still no sign of Ruby. Then one day some teen age boys hiking up the mountain discovered Ruby's body in a cave, murdered! Medical Examiner discovered evidence on Ruby's body which lead the FBI to her murderer., Kiriyak Vsdilyey. A trial was held in the mountains for the murder. Kiriyak spoke on his own behalf and pleaded love of country overrode his love for Ruby! Another Federal trial was held in Nashville for espionage for sending materials on his work back to Russia.

Very exciting end of the story!