Derelict Intent

by Matthew Schmidt

Having overcome his initial misgivings about using his law degree to actually practice law, Charlie Abernathy has started to realize some of the benefits of being a rising star at a large law firm. But just as Charlie gets comfortable, his promising legal career becomes a casualty of the Great Recession. With non-existent employment prospects and crushing student loans payments, Charlie returns home to live above his estranged father's bar and launch a solo law practice.

Desperate for clients, Charlie becomes entangled with an old girlfriend trying to divorce the abusive husband she had chose over him. Confronted by a husband who believes her new attorney wants more than just a legal fee, Charlie's most intense fight could be outside the courtroom.

At the same time, Charlie's father, Jack, is trying keep the bar out of foreclosure when cancer is discovered growing at the base of his brain stem. Obsessed with providing for new family in the event of his death, Jack attempts to enlist Charlie's help with a criminal enterprise that could solve both of their financial problems. But in order to convince Charlie to help him, Jack must reveal the truth about his divorce from Charlie’s mother. In doing so, Jack risks seeing Charlie precede him to the grave.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2015

About the author

Matthew P. Schmidt was chosen by God in God before the existence of the world to be holy and blameless before Him. Matthew P. Schmidt is not that good at that, but he tries. He was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but moved at a young age to Martins Ferry, Ohio, where he lurks today.

Matthew P. Schmidt has written since he was five and dictated stories to his parents, and has programmed since he figured out how to work QBasic. He finds writing and programming to be surprisingly similarly, though admittedly typos in books do not usually cause the reader to crash. Matthew P. Schmidt is certain there are exceptions.

When not working on one of his many projects, Matthew P. Schmidt dreams of worlds that are not, in addition to much reading of books and playing of games. He enjoys the Great Blue Heron and octopuses of all kinds, no matter their plural. He often speaks of himself in the third person, and not only in online biographies. Matthew P. Schmidt attends St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Martins Ferry, where he regularly eats God.