“Nothing much. He didn’t expect it, but he’s seen much over his career. Too much to be truly surprised by anything. What cops learn, and what most civilians never imagine, is that people kill for the oddest of reasons. Sometimes, those reasons linger in your mind longer than the actual victims do.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“After Tamara signed her statement and was taken away, he turned to me and said, ‘See? I knew I’d have a better chance of solving this murder with you on the loose.’ I asked him to do what he can for her, and he said he will.”
A little later, I sauntered alone through the drizzle. I headed uptown, ignoring the turn to Hamaccabi Street and my apartment, and continued up King George and Dizengoff, past shuttered storefronts and trees with naked limbs, the pavement glistening in the rain. I took my time. I was in no hurry. My watch told me it was not yet ten o’clock. She would be busy. She would have company.
It was a quarter to eleven when I got to her building. Still I dawdled. I lit a cigarette and smoked it with strained leisure, staring at the light in her window. The drizzle dampened my hair, soaking into the fabric of my jacket. My skin was cold, but the heat of the cigarette smoke kept my insides warm.
Soon, once I’d finished putting off the inevitable, I’d climb the stairs to her apartment and knock on her door. She would gaze upon me with those deep dark eyes and remark bitingly on my appearance, likely focusing her words on the cut on my chin. I would say I came for my box and she would invite me in. And in that instant she’d begin her barrage of enticement.
Would I be able to resist her? Did I even want to?
I finished my cigarette and fired up another. It was the last one in the pack.
Five minutes, maybe six if I stretched it out, and then I’d go to Sima Vaaknin and see where the night took me.
Author's note
Dear Reader,
Let me start by thanking you for reading A Debt of Death. I write both for the sheer pleasure of creation and for my work to be read by as many people as possible. I treasure each and every one of my readers, so thank you!
I thought you might like to know how A Debt of Death came to be. I first wrote the scene in which Adam is hired by Mrs. Wasserman many months ago (I don’t recall exactly when) and, at the time, could not find a way to push the story forward. I set that scene aside and forgot about it—or at least thought I did.
But, evidently, that scene stuck in my subconscious, because when it came time for me to begin writing the fourth Adam Lapid novel, I recalled that scene and decided to explore it again. The problem was that I couldn’t find it.
My old computer had gone the way of all electronic things, and either I neglected to back up that scene or was unable to find exactly where I had saved it. So I wrote it from scratch.
And this time, I found myself able to plow on with the story, to add new words each day, to create characters that I found interesting, and to slowly form the book that you’ve just read.
Most of A Debt of Death, like all my other novels, was not planned in advance. When I began writing, I did not know who the culprit would turn out to be, nor did I have a clear notion of the characters involved or how the plot would unfold. I allowed myself to discover the story as it developed, much like you did when you read this book. At times, I found myself grinning at the screen as characters such as Inspector Leibowitz and Mrs. Wasserman acquired shape and motivation and the traits that make them memorable. There were some tough spots during the writing process (there are with every book), but overall, I enjoyed writing A Debt of Death immensely. I hope you enjoyed reading it just as much.
I love hearing from readers, and I answer every reader email I get. If you’ve got any feedback, questions, or you simply want to reach out and say hi, write to me at contact@JonathanDunsky.com.
If you enjoyed A Debt of Death, could you do me a favor and leave a review on its Amazon page? Good reviews are very important. They help persuade potential readers to try out new books. I’d be grateful if you could spare a moment to write your review of A Debt of Death.
If you’re in the mood for more Adam Lapid, check out his first short story, The Unlucky Woman.
I also invite you to join my VIP readers club where you’ll be the first to know of new releases and special deals. All new members get a free copy of my short story, The Favor. Join the club here: jonathandunsky.com/free/
You may be wondering what the future holds for Adam Lapid. I have a few ideas percolating in my head for future novels in the series. Adam will continue solving crimes and trying to rebuild his life. So rest assured, you will be seeing more of him.
I hope to meet you again soon in another one of my books.
Yours,
Jonathan Dunsky
p.s. You are also welcome to contact me on Goodreads or Facebook.
About the Author
Jonathan Dunsky lives in Israel with his wife and two sons. He enjoys reading, writing, and goofing around with his kids. He began writing in his teens, then took a break for close to twenty years, during which he worked an assortment of jobs. He is the author of the Adam Lapid mystery series and the standalone thriller The Payback Girl.