Florida Straits — Laurence Shames

Joey Goldman's flying south for the winter. The second-string New York wiseguy just packed up his faithful girlfriend Sandra and took off for Key West- land of sun, surf, and sleaze -- where a small-time hustler in search of a racket can score the big one. If he can find it. Enter Joey's half brother Gino. On the lam from the mob after one of the most royally screwed-up jewel heists in Florida history, Gino's a man in need of a fall guy. Which is where Joey comes in ...

Suddenly, everyone's after Joey -- including the ruthless Miami don who wants his three million worth of uncut emeralds and who just dispatched his gang of goons to deliver Joey a one-way ticket -- out. Now Joey's where he's always wanted to be- in the big time. All he has to do is find out where the stones are stashed. And for an unlikely hero out to make a killing, this could be Paradise ... if he lives long enough.