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National Features >
City Pages
Michele Bachmann, Unmuzzled
You don't need to read Sarah Palin's book to hear the ravings of a mad woman.
By Matt Snyders
Miami New Times
Pimp Daddy
The rise and fall of a chubby sex-cult leader.
By Natalie O'Neill
Riverfront Times
Babe 'n' Arms
Tom was a hot-tempered cross-dresser with a garage full of guns--and then he became Rachel.
By Nicholas Phillips
Dallas Observer
The Fight for Texas
Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison are locked in a battle over the soul of the GOP. They're also running for governor.
By Sam Merten
Hitman of the Year
Former Phoenix undercover cop turns in his gun for a pen
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By Robrt L. Pela
Published on June 17, 2009 at 4:02am
You know those scenes in TV movies where the bad guy hires a hitman who turns out to be a cop? They’re real.
Just ask Jack Ballentine, author and former Phoenix police officer, who became one of the most successful undercover operatives in the history of our or any other police force. His work as a faux killer-for-hire led to 24 convictions out of 24 indictments on murder-conspiracy charges, a slew of merit awards, and a new career as an author. Ballentine’s recently released memoir, Murder for Hire, tells tales of vengeful people and the characters that Ballentine created -- often based on thugs he’d seen in films and television dramas -- to capture them.
Ballentine signs Murder for Hire at Barnes & Noble.
Sat., June 20, 2 p.m., 2009
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