WATER STRIDERS

Charlie Stancik was born in sage and juniper scrub on lands reclaimed from ancient waters--lands whose first outside settlers were Bohemians seeking the end of the rainbow. Charlie seeks his own Xanadu, feeling he must leave the lake bed to find the life he deserves--the life he needs. His pilgrimage takes him to the shores of Lake Michigan, evolving from homelessness to a position of some wealth and power--evolving from a lost soul to someone who has found his soulmate. This seemingly implausible trajectory had been made possible by the enigmatic Robin McCandless and his obscure and potent company, Delpro. Work with Delpro takes Charlie to the furthest corners of the globe and into the darkest shadows. Charlie becomes a key actor in a drama he scarcely understands--a drama that places him in great jeopardy. Charlie the prodigy walks a fine line with Charlie the criminal--the path ultimately guided not by the elusive Robin McCandless but by Rodney Mills, a government investigator with a long history with Delpro and its sordid acts. In the end, Charlie realizes that love in the present and freedom from the past are the riches he has sought.