Red Angel

Four-year-old Anna should have died from a deadly virus along with her parents. Alone and desperate, she wants to die and join them in heaven. So, when the little red-headed angel appears she begs, cajoles, and demands he take her to heaven. He could have but didn't.The little red head she mistook for an angel didn't have wings, or a halo, or legs or arms. The little red head belonged to a poisonous krait-it should have been hibernating since it was winter and snowing, its bite should have killed her but didn't, and it had no reason to stay with her but it did.She survives. The medical community is excited because there is currently no known cure for the virus, but the krait is not the answer. Anna and her krait have a symbiotic relationship that provides remission but not a cure. If she is ever separated from her Red Angel, the virus will become active, and she will die within days.Because of the krait's presence, Anna struggles through multiple foster homes during her early years, ostracized by children and adults alike and plagued by thieves willing to kill her to snatch the unique and extremely valuable krait. Over the years, Anna comes to believe that the krait she calls Red not only keeps her alive but may contribute to her outstanding performance in school, her ability to solve puzzles, and to sense people's strong emotions.Recognizing her talent, the Naval Intelligence Agency, NIA, hires her and assigns her to an elite team tasked with tracking down interstellar smugglers. The smuggling cartel is quick to retaliate. Now in addition to murderous thieves, Anna, along with the NIA team, has assassins and the smuggler's war cruisers stalking them. It may take the mysterious Red Angel to save her-again.