The Chase / Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg / 303 pages / 11 Pipers Piping December Challenge

Nick Fox is one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted criminals.  He was secretly sprung form jail by the FBI an is currently working for them gathering evidence on other criminals.  Special Agent Kate O'Hare is his handler and protector while at the same time she is officially leading the manhunt for him.  Only Jessup and Deputy Director Fletcher Bolton, who picked their targets and ran the secret slush fund that financed Nick's swindles, knew the truth.  If any of it ever became public, they would all end up in prison.  Nick and Kate's current assignment is to repossess a rooster sign of zodiac statue stolen from the Chinese Summer Palace and on exhibit in the Smithsonian - except the one on exhibit is a fake, but Nick knows he can find the real one.  Kate and Nick travel to Scotland and meet with Duff MacTaggert who informs them that Carter Grove, ex-presidential Chief of Staff, has the statue.  Grove built, and is now CEO of, Black Rhino, the elite, international army-for-hire.  This is an adventure packed read with an edgy romance, senior citizen ace combat soldiers, international intrigue, a savvy FBI agent, and playboy criminal turned FBI assistant.