The third book in the Sign of Seven Trilogy series For old friends Where there is no vision, the people perish. ¨C PROVERBS 29:18 I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. ¨C WINSTON CHURCHILL Prologue Mazatl¨¢n, Mexico April 2001 SUN STREAKED PEARLY PINK ACROSS THE SKY, splashed onto blue, blue water that rolled against white sand as Gage Turner walked the beach. He carried his shoes-the tattered laces of the ancient Nikes tied to hang on his shoulder. The hems of his jeans were frayed, and the jeans themselves had long since faded to white at the stress points. The tropical breeze tugged at hair that hadn't seen a barber in more than three months. At the moment, he supposed he looked no more kempt than the scattering of beach bums still snoring away on the sand. He'd bunked on beaches a time or two when his luck was down, and knew someone would come along soon to shoo them off before the paying tourists woke for their room-service coffee. At the moment, despite the need for a shower and a shave, his luck was up. Nicely up. With his night's winnings hot in his pocket, he considered upgrading his ocean-view room for a suite. Grab it while you can, he thought, because tomorrow could suck you dry. Time was already running out: it spilled like that white, sun-kissed sand held