Dark Traffic by R.A. Van Vleet
Retired DEA agent and ex-Marine Ian Martin runs a private security and investigation agency in California. When his current assignment and a fateful encounter lead him to uncover a conspiracy of secrets, he’s in for a series of unexpected surprises. Dark Traffic, the second crime thriller in the series by R.A. Van Vleet, provides a harrowing glimpse into the human and drug trafficking industry, loosely inspired by true events.
Murder Attempts and Company Secrets
The story begins with a car accident that pulls Ian Martin into an interconnected chain of events and life-threatening crimes. When Ashley Davis drives away with Ian’s bumper attached to her car, it seems like the perfect meet-cute. But something is upsetting her, and Ian’s sharp mind warns him of a buried truth — Ashley is not only in the middle of a divorce from her cheating, billionaire husband Jon, but she is being blackmailed and her life is in imminent danger.
Luckily, Ian is just the guy for the job. Hired as Ashley’s security detail after an attempt on her life, Ian sticks close by his new client. Under Ian’s careful protection and safe from external threats, Ashley’s biggest secret comes to light when she reveals the horrific thing that happened to her years ago. It’s something that will come back to bite, closer to home than she realized.
While Ian fights threats and murder attempts, as well as his growing feelings for Ashley, a conspiracy is being uncovered. Two international shipping import companies — including Great Nations Imports, for which Ian works — are being investigated after a deadly attack as fronts for human and drug trafficking from Russia and China.
Bad Guys and Worse Guys
Ian, of course, is one of the good guys. But there are bad guys. And then, there are the worse guys.
Gorgi Alexseev became involved in the Russian Mob and climbed the ranks for decades before he was moved to LA to run the drug and sex trade with National Imports. Gorgi makes for a perfect antagonist — though antagonist feels too light a word for this kind of villainy that will make the reader’s stomach turn. He’s a despicable man, who objectifies, rapes and abuses the women and children he traffics, and leads a cohort of men who follow his orders and carry out their own wills.
At the climax of Dark Traffic, we are taken into Gorgi’s mansion to witness the worst of his transgressions. “He turned to the open doors and…[led] twelve young girls, who were under the influence of drugs, into the room and had them stand in a line across the end of the room for the guests to inspect; their ages ranged from 13 to 16.” What results in graphic, violent detail, is the twisted actions of Gorgi’s confidantes and the wealthy men who pay large sums to partake in this international scheme.
Thriller Novel Written in Calculated Detail
Despite the horrors they’ve faced, the women in the story know their worth — particularly the brave and determined Megan Mikhalovna, who was trafficked over a decade ago and fights to be reunited with her sister.
No matter the horrendous circumstances they’re trapped in, these women are ready to fight back, protect their innocent loved ones and find their way out. Ashley Davis, too, never wavers for more than a moment. With Ian and his formidable team at her side, she discovers that the attempts on her life and the smuggling operation share a dark connection, but still she carries on in the name of justice and humanity.
The novel is written in calculated detail, the way an ex-Marine and private security agent like Ian might tell the story — from timestamps of each event, to descriptions of character appearances, to vivid details about vehicles, weapons, organizations and buildings. Author R.A. Van Vleet, an ex-Marine and former private security guard, lends an air of expertise to his crafting of Ian Martin.
Dark Traffic provides an unsettling, terrifying glimpse into the reality of the human trafficking industry and how it can happen right under our noses. From the emergency landing of a crashing plane, to thrilling car chases, to dangerous rescue missions, R.A. Van Vleet doesn’t hold back from immersive action sequences. The ending comes like a one-two punch as Ashley, Ian and his team fight to uncover the truth and rescue Gorgi’s victims before it’s too late.
About R.A. Van Vleet:
R.A. Van Vleet has been an actor for over 50 years and has appeared in over 75 motion pictures and television series. He spent 13 years on All My Children and received two Emmy Nominations for the role of Chuck Tyler. He’s a Marine Corps veteran, has taught acting, and directed over 24 plays at Central Arizona College. He wrote, directed, and played one of the lead roles in Judge Me Not, a movie for ABC’s Monday Night at the Movies, which was not aired because ABC dropped the series. The film won a best picture award, and Amazon Prime picked it up and it was offered for rent. He has currently finished two other novels, Honeycomb and Payback. Dark Traffic is the second novel in the series which contains the same leading character. He’s also an artist and sculptor, as is his youngest daughter.
