The Great Escape Clause

History isn't found in museums—it's rescued from the $10-or-less bin. Special Kay is seventy-five, spry, and officially a fugitive. When her well-meaning but controlling adult children try to force her into a "senior living community," Kay decides it's time for one last great adventure. She trades her forced retirement for the open road in The Sea-Glass, a 1975 VW Westfalia, and she isn't traveling alone. Kay's mission is deeper than a simple road trip. She is a seeker of Vessels—historical artifacts disguised as common thrift store junk. To find them, she assembles a crew of fellow "discarded" individuals: Mags: A defiant, loyal sidekick with a streak of sarcasm. Rusty: A muscular, resourceful Iraq War vet who knows his way around an engine and a fight. Specs: A brilliant but socially awkward teenage hacker. Together, they are racing against the Ledger of Lost Things, a quiet, powerful force dedicated to erasing the parts of history that don't fit a polished narrative. As the crew navigates desert highways and hidden flea markets, they must outrun Kay's family and the mysterious agents of the Ledger to save the objects—and the stories—that others have deemed disposable. The Great Escape Clause is the first book in the Ledger of Lost Things series—a cinematic, cozy mystery-adventure that celebrates found family, sustainability, and the enduring power of a life lived with agency. Grab your keys, join the crew, and help Special Kay rescue the past.