As you read, remember that we were greedy, yes, but only when it came to love.
Your mother and I had a conversation once about what the point was. About what there was to believe in if the world can change so quickly, if there aren’t any absolute guidelines, or anything you can trust completely. And she said that maybe it was just this: Live a good life. Be nice to people.
Have a family, and love them well.
We love you, son. Always.
Chapter One
The smile was famous. Jack Witkowski wasn’t particularly a fan, but he’d seen those teeth plenty of times…
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book wouldn’t exist without a whole passel of other people. My sincerest thanks to:
My friend and exceptional agent Scott Miller, who always gets it done; his assistant, the ever-cheerful Stephanie Sun; and Sarah Self, who rocks Hollywood. When people ask if I have any advice regarding agents, it comes down to this – get mine.
My editor Ben Sevier, a man on his way to living-legend status. It’s amazing how much improved a book is once he’s done with it.
All the other folks at Dutton, especially Brian Tart, Trena Keating, Lisa Johnson, Rachel Ekstrom, Rich Hasselberger, Carrie Swetonic, Aline Akelis, Erika Imranyi, and Susan Schwartz.
Over coffee and beer, during panic breakfasts and late-night brainstorms, Sean Chercover, Joe Konrath, and Michael Cook repeatedly saved my butt.
Thanks to my early readers: Brad Boivin, Peter Boivin, Jenny Carney, Darwyn Jones, and Dana Litoff. A special thanks to Blake Crouch for a particularly thorough and accomplished read.
The crime fiction community in general, especially Jon and Ruth Jordan, Judy Bobalik, Ken Bruen, Lee Child, Ali Karim, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, David Morrell, T. Jefferson Parker, Patricia Pinianski, Sarah Weinman, and all the folks in Killer Year and The Outfit Collective. Thanks also to Brett and Kiri Carlson, artists extraordinaire.
The booksellers and librarians – without you, we got nothing.
All the friends who keep me sane, and the ones who undo their work.
My brother Matt and my parents, Sally and Anthony Sakey, whose support never blinks, much less wavers.
And finally, my wife g.g., who has all the good parts of Anna and none of the bad. I love you, babe.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marcus Sakey is the acclaimed author of The Blade Itself and At the City’s Edge. His books have been translated into numerous languages, and the film rights have been sold to major studios. Born in Flint, Michigan, he now lives in Chicago with his wife.
