BURT RICE is a retired police commander. In addition to writing novels, he is a cartoonist, a humorist, an unrepentant producer of limericks and a serious essayist. He has been a military cryptographer, a salesman, a graphic designer (specializing in logos) and a print shop co-owner. He lives in Arizona near his daughter, son-in-law and brother and is supervised by his dog, Bella and his cat, Boogie.