The Lost Codex

Acknowledgments

I approached this book with trepidation because any time you wade into religion and/or geopolitics there’s potential for someone to get offended. That was not my intention. Any religious commentaries contained within are merely story points that evolved from ideas, discussions with experts, brainstorming “what if” sessions, character motivations, and dramatic potential. I was not attempting to discredit, support, proselytize, or convince. In other words, I was telling a fictitious story. That’s the definition of a novel.

Those of you who have read my previous works know that I strive to construct a compelling tale while keeping true to the facts of the source material. Although I have done that in the The Lost Codex, there are times when I deviate from the truth. One of those times involves the Aleppo Codex’s journey from Syria to Israel, which in reality was much more complex. While there are pieces of information — some verifiable and others based on witness accounts, statements, and court testimony — the current location of those two hundred missing pages remains unknown. A few books tackle the subject but one in particular is a standout read: The Aleppo Codex: A True Story of Obsession, Faith, and the Pursuit of an Ancient Bible, by journalist/author Matti Friedman. Using his skills as an investigative reporter, he peeled back multiple layers of subterfuge and deceit. Regardless, as my editor reminded me, I am writing fiction and my job is to tell the most entertaining story possible. Although I altered the facts of the codex’s journey once it left Syria, everything up to that point regarding its history, relevance, and contents is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Finally, the issues affecting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians are fluid; public opinion changes frequently, and not everyone believes that the “mind-set” presented in The Lost Codex will prevail. Some believe peace is still possible. What form that takes, and if or when it happens, remains a mystery.

Because of the sensitive nature of some of the information I’ve included in this novel, certain sources wished to remain anonymous. Where possible I referenced the organization or agency, but in other cases I have remained silent.

With that in mind, thanks to the following individuals:

Steve Garrett, US Navy Hospital Corpsman Senior Chief (Diver/Free Fall Parachutist/Fleet Marine Force) — also known as HMCS (DV/FPJ/FMF) (ret.) — for his thorough review of the manuscript and for correcting my Special Operations Forces terminology and procedures, for his knife-related expertise, parachuting and skydiving instruction (I would never send Vail out the back of a C-17 without getting it right!), for details regarding RIBS, IBSs, and Zodiacs, as well as body disposal methods in bodies of water. I did not ask Steve how he knew the latter.

Mark Safarik, Supervisory Special Agent and Senior FBI Profiler with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (ret.) and principal of Forensic Behavioral Services International, for his review of the manuscript, for FBI and law enforcement procedural nuances, and for his assistance with details regarding behavioral analysis and fingerprint forensics.

Mary Ellen O’Toole, Supervisory Special Agent and Senior FBI Profiler with the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (ret.), and Program Director for the Forensic Science Program at George Mason University’s College of Science, for her information and background on psychopathy, suicide bombers, and sniper attacks, and for reviewing the pertinent excerpts for accuracy.

Tómas Palmer, cryptographer (and technogeek first class), for once again saving the day. My initial email to Tómas carried the subject line, “Vail, Uzi, and DeSantos are in trouble again. Tómas to the rescue.” Tómas helped me understand cloud bouncing (yes, this is real), as well as satellite internet transceivers (also real), BlueJacking (real), RFID chip tags (real), and more. In Tómas’s lingo, he helps me “geekify” my novels and makes it possible for Vail and company to better the baddies.

Derek Maltz, Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division (SOD), Drug Enforcement Administration (ret.), for his background, information, and stories regarding narcoterrorism and the collision — and collusion — of the drug cartels with Islamic terrorists. His framing of the issue helped immeasurably. Also, Paul Knierim, assistant Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Dawn Dearden, Chief of Public Affairs and Joseph Moses, Public Affairs Section Chief, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration.

Mark Spicer, Sergeant Major, British Army (ret.), sniper instructor/trainer, and counterterrorism expert, for his information regarding terrorist threats facing the US, the Hezbollah/Mexican drug cartel connection, law enforcement’s approach to reining in these groups, and his experiences in England and Northern Ireland. Rigo Durazo, Director of Combative Training, Craft International, for his knife-fighting expertise and close quarters combat instruction.

David Weis, rabbi, for background information and religious and philosophical discussions that helped me frame the issues, and for stimulating discussions regarding the Dead Sea Scrolls, The Aleppo Codex, and other ancient texts. His review of the manuscript helped ensure I didn’t make any egregious errors. Any remaining errors are my responsibility — or artistic license.

Theresa Moraga, theologian, for her background information, theories, and discussions on a variety of religion-related topics and for her contacts with professional theologians. All of this was crucial in helping me understand, and construct, the issues triggered by the Jesus Scroll.

Matti Friedman, journalist and author, for his background and insight on the Israel-Palestinian issue, citizens’ on-the-street sentiment, the Middle Eastern mind-set, the two-state construct, the Aleppo Codex, Gaza, and background on Islamic terror groups. Matti’s review of pertinent sections of the manuscript were vital. As noted, I recommend Matti’s nonfiction book, The Aleppo Codex, for a riveting nonfiction account of the codex’s disposition. David Pollock, PhD, Kaufman Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, for background information regarding Palestinian public opinion, Palestinian public opinion polling, the peace process, and West Bank security concerns in a two-state solution. Avi Isaacharoff, Middle East analyst for The Times of Israel, for background information regarding the two-state solution.

Lawrence Wein, squad detective, NYPD, for help with the New York City chapters and NYPD-related questions.

Mark Waldo, crime scene investigator, Santa Ana Police Department, Forensic Services Section, for his assistance with lifting fingerprints using makeup powder and Gun Bluing techniques.

Christopher Schneider, executive director, agency relations, 5.11 Tactical, and assistant SWAT team leader Anaheim Police Department (ret.), for assistance with the equipment and logistics regarding DeSantos’s Desert Eagle and SWAT/tactical unit terminology.

Jason Rubin, captain, United States Marine Corps, for help with the chapter dealing with the F-22. Richard Drapkin, restaurateur, restaurant consultant, and attorney, for his assistance with staging the kitchen fire aboard the dinner cruise ship. Valentin Robiliard, for ensuring my French translations were accurate. James Rollins, New York Times best-selling author, for being my eyes and ears for the C-17 cargo hold (he’s been there, done that). Lauren Dellar for her experiences living in Israel, for refreshing my memory regarding Ben Gurion Airport, and for her affiliated contacts at Palestinian rights organizations.

Steve Israel, congressman (D-NY), and Gidi Weiss, Lt. Colonel, Israeli Air Force (ret), and International Marketing and Sales Manager, Raphael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., for information regarding Iron Dome, its funding, and technology sharing between Israel and the United States. (The assertion that the program was funded by the US contingent on the premise of money for technology was my invention. For obvious reasons, I did not ask if it were true.)

Thank you to those who wished to remain nameless, who provided me with insight and perspective, and to those who gave me research and analysis regarding Congressional testimony pertaining to Iran and Islamic extremist groups.

The terrific team at Open Road Integrated Media. There are many individuals toiling behind the scenes in the publishing and promotion of my novels, but among those I’ve worked with closely, I’d like to specifically recognize Megan Buckman, Lauren Chomiuk, Rachel Chou, Hannah Dudley, Nina Lassam, Emma Pulitzer, and Andrea Worthington. It would be tough to find a finer group of publishing professionals in the industry.

John Hutchinson and Virginia Lenneville at Norwood Press, who produce those fine hardcovers that feel great in the hand and look wonderful on the shelf. Pride goes into every book they publish, and it shows. They are outside the box thinkers who never shy away from trying something new. It’s always a pleasure working with them.

Few things are as important in publishing as having exceptional editors who know your genre and your style and who can help you make your work realize its maximum potential. The Lost Codex is the eighth novel on which I’ve had the fortune of working with Kevin Smith and, as always, his insight and feedback help me slather on the wax from which I go to work, polishing the manuscript. On the topic of polish, I can’t say enough about my copyeditor, Chrisona Schmidt, whose elbow grease brings it all to a brilliant shine. Chrisona is the best of the best and she makes a tough task — navigating grammatical rules and style manuals — fun to tackle.

My agents, Joel Gotler and Frank Curtis, for their years of guidance and advisement. Publishing has become an ever-changing world and it’s vital having a team with decades of experience under their belts. Their counsel is a tremendous asset.

Richard Prati and Steven Johnson for their support regarding Norwood Press’s hardcover edition of Spectrum. Norwood could not have done it without them.

My fans and readers, without whom my novels would go unappreciated; my Facebook fan group administrators, Sandra Soreano and Terri Landreth, for keeping everyone engaged and plugged into what’s happening in the “Alan Jacobson universe,” and to all those who post and keep lively discussions going.

As a writer, I am easily distracted, always thinking, observing, brainstorming. My wife Jill shares me with my fans and readers, publisher, publicist, agent, attorney, subject matter experts — and laptop, which is often mistaken to be an extra human appendage. But when I’m able to disconnect from my fictional world and step back into reality, my soulmate is always there for me.