A Necessary Evil

the long version

"Distraught over the acquittal of his young wife's murderer, Michael Gray, a law-abiding, white-collar worker impulsively hires a hitman. When a crisis of conscience intervenes, he tries to cancel the contract, but the heartlessly efficient professional he knows only as 'Butch' cannot be dissuaded from carrying out the deed. In fact, Michael's interference and subsequent reluctance to pay Butch the rest of his fee only succeeds in antagonizing the sadistic killer. Unable to inflict physical harm on Michael - at least until he's collected his money - Butch launches a deadly cat-and-mouse campaign that claims another life and threatens to destroy Michael's future happiness with a new woman in his life. Once again, Michael is faced with a soul-searching choice. Only this time, it is his life that is at stake. Facing almost certain doom, Michael decides to confront Butch - and his own nature - on the killer's home turf in a blood-chilling climax."--Page 4 of cover.