Dale Hopper isn't what you'd call ambitious. When he accepts a gig with the Oklahoma County Zoo, his only goal is to make enough money to bankroll a move to California, a hospitable place for longhaired guitar-playing boys such as himself and his best friend, Vernon Cord. But the accidental discovery of a boot with a gold buckle draws them into a clandestine search for Alimony's treasure, a hoard of Viking silver rumored to be buried somewhere on the grounds of the zoo.

The hunt takes a deadly turn when Hopper and Cord stumble into the hub of an international black-market trade in exotic reptiles. At its heart lurks Ollie Oleg, a ruthless killer willing to do anything to protect his empire. Now the friends must unravel the riddle of the lost treasure—and avoid becoming reptile food—while keeping their bounty out of Oleg's hands.

About the Author

After retiring from a successful career as a front-chair litigator, Michael W. Hinkle turned his focus to travel, study, and writing from his rustic bayou cabin on a picturesque Oklahoma lake. In addition to writing Alimony's Treasure and the award-winning Butane Gospel, he's authored articles in numerous online magazines, and his work appears in the anthology Oklahoma: Fountain of the Heartland. His "Hey Hink" column ran for six years as a weekly feature in the Edmond Sun.