The Back Door to Heaven (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798892820882)

After many years working for the City of Chicago and serving a loyal precinct captain in the 51st Ward, Pat Sullivan, a guy who did things right, looks forward to his retirement. He has one final election to get the vote out for the incumbent alderman, Eddie Byrne. Afterward, Pat and Mary, his wife of more than 40 years, will relax, play with the grandchildren, and maybe learn to fish.

That was the plan.

But Pat's plan goes awry when his son, Tommy, is accused of murdering his troubled young wife. Pat puts his home and nest egg up for Tommy's lawyer and bond to ensure his presence in court. Despite his claims of innocence, Tommy disappears into the big city, jeopardizing Pat's home and future.

While working the aldermanic election in a racially charged and shifting ward, Pat searches for his estranged son, only to realize a "tail" and others are also looking for Tommy, as well as CPD Detective Larry Wiggin and Reverend Zuko -- an arms-length ally of Alderman Byrne -- who found religion while serving time in prison. Who's worthy of Pat's trust?

Pat finds more questions than answers as his search intensifies. Under the pressure of a court-issued deadline, Pat's search of a lifetime unearths secrets in his own family, his trusted alderman and the chameleon Reverend Zuko. Has Pat Sullivan's entire South Side life been rooted in blind ambition? Is it too late?