Marine/CIA cage fighter John Harding pitted against terrorists, Mafia, and guys who just don’t like his attitude.

SYNOPSIS:

John Harding, ran away from his alcoholic father at the age of fourteen. An old man in Texas takes an interest in him, helping the runaway get a new identity. The boy becomes John Harding. He joins the Marine Corps with his new identity, looking for a chance to get an education and start over. While in special ops overseas, he’s recruited by a CIA agent who sees something in Harding besides his knack for languages and combat skill. Denny Strobert knows he’s found a killer. HARD CASE begins in a back alley warehouse in East Oakland, CA, where Harding fights for money, and to keep his skills honed, coupled with the fact he likes it. Harding does odd jobs with the only guy he trusts implicitly, his handler and manager, Tommy Sands.

A lawyer cohort, Tess Connagher, enlists Harding and Sands on behalf of her law firm for bond enforcement and bodyguard work. Harding's CIA handler, Dennis Strobert, is ordered to use Connagher's law firm as a go between on an assignment to protect an Afghani girl Harding looked after during the war. Harding knows CIA needs a scapegoat in case things go wrong. The plot revolves around Harding's warehouse fights in Oakland, CA, Russian mobsters looking to take over the gambling, and his gig to watch over Samira Karim while finding the assassin hired to kill her. Tess makes the mistake of underestimating Harding. Her older sister, Lora doesn't.

HARD CASE