From the prologue: Seven steps later his foot landed on the battered mat at the base of the iron treads that lead up to the trailer's door. John looked down and noticed that it actually said WELCOME. The only problem was that the 'm' and 'e' were missing. The outline was there but, no me. He half-smiled at the thought. Everything was there but me. He'd felt that way for years.---------- "Quiet Desperation" is the story of a man who has recently suffered the loss of his wife and discovers that his boss is crooked. With the help of his best friend and the spirit of his dead wife he sets out to get on with life and his boss out of the company he helped build.