The Godless One

Ari Ciminon (The 56th Man), former member of Saddam Hussein's Special Security Force, has dealt with crooked cops, drug rings and maniacal assassins. Now he is tucked away in a safe house in Richmond, Virginia, continuing his task of identifying Iraqi insurgents for American military intelligence. Protected by the U.S. Marshals Service, he still manages to get into hot water when he innocently volunteers to translate for an Arab prisoner accused of being a car thief. This leads him to a gruesome murder, an encounter with a deadly assassin and a meeting with the most reviled and despicable member of the Saddam Hussein regime. Only his wits and an old comrade keep him alive as he takes history into his own hands. J. Clayton Rogers is the author of more than ten novels. He was born and raised in Virginia, where he currently resides. He was First-Place Winner of the Hollins Literary Festival a number of years ago. Among the judges were Thomas (Little Big Man) Berger and R.M.W. Dillard, poet and husband of the writer Annie Dillard. A former member of Saddam Hussein's Special Security Force arrives in Richmond, Virginia. Under the name of Ari Ciminon, he sets up house on the James River. The house was purchased for him by the U.S. Marshals Service, which is responsible for watching over him while he supplies intelligence to CENTCOM. Because he is fluent in Italian (as well as a host of other languages) he is presented to his neighbors as an Italian of Arab descent. Through chance, mishap and design, he becomes involved in a series of adventures that leave him with very mixed feelings for his new home.