Death of a Partnership

DEATH of a PARTNERSHIP is the author's fourth and final novel in a series featuring the all-abiding love and devotion shared by B.J. and John Ryan. B.J. is a well known, respected criminal defense attorney. Partly due to her success, the law firm of Ryan, Ryan and Reynolds has expanded to include the three original partners and two young associates. One of the new associates, Michael McAvey, has been assigned to work with B.J. during the first few months of his employment. After this training period, he would be working exclusively on defense cases assigned by her. This arrangement was working well, until B.J. began interfering with Michael and the trials of his cases. She became belligerent with him and his clients, to a point where Michael announced that he was leaving the firm. When confronted by her law partner and husband John, B.J. had no memory of her interference, nor of her abusive attitude. John decided B.J. was overworked, and they scheduled a week-long vacation together in Colorado. After three days in Colorado, B.J. falsely told John she was needed on an emergency case in Wichita, Kansas. It was the only time in a twenty year marriage that either of them had ever lied to the other. She continued with her strange behavior during her trip to Kansas, nearly resulting in losing the firm's third partner, Vicki Reynolds. B.J.'s been suffering with bad headaches, losses of memory, and changes in her personality. She often treats her family, friends and associates as though they were her enemies, rather than those who love her and want nothing but the best for her. She is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, and undergoes major surgery. John and their two children nurture, sympathize with, and take loving care of B.J., while she recovers from her surgery. The story tells of B.J.'s willingness and desire to help the law firm that she and John built over a period of many years, all the while suffering from the extraordinary pain and discomfort associated with dreaded brain cancer. As a tribute to the law firm, in her final work assignment she works at home, and becomes instrumental in helping John and Vicki win a huge jury verdict against a large insurance company. B.J.'s illness reaches an unexpected and tragic climax. Will John and B.J.'s love endure forever, or will it suddenly come to an end? Why would John suddenly, and without warning, abandon his terminally ill wife of nearly twenty years? Although all of the four novels in this series are fictional, they are based upon actual facts and events. The series contains a compilation of actual law cases, although the names, places and events have been altered.

The author, Richard Duggan, is a semi-retired lawyer, licensed in Missouri and Texas. He now practices law on a limited basis with selective clients. His law practice has consisted primarily of criminal defense and real estate law. He has previously published five novels, all fact-based fiction, and each featuring romance and mystery.