Joey finally spoke. “That was the smart move, Dowd. A man has to enjoy what he has. Your sister is gone. Nothing is gonna change that. You know who did it. Does it matter why anymore?”
“Not if it puts Mia in danger. She’s safe. Right?”
Joey held out his right hand to Gulliver. Gulliver didn’t want to shake it. But he knew he had to. He shook Joey’s hand.
“You have my word,” Joey said.
That was good enough for Gulliver.
“Goodbye, Joey.”
“Goodbye, little man.”
Gulliver turned. Walked away. Silent tears rolled down his cheeks. They were tears of grief. Tears of anger. Tears of joy. Mostly joy. He would soon have Mia back in his arms. He dialed Ahmed’s number. When Ahmed picked up, Gullie said, “Bring her home. Bring Mia home.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express my deep appreciation to Bob Tyrrell and all the folks at Orca for giving Gulliver his big chance. Also a nod to my agent, David Hale Smith at Inkwell Management.
But mostly I have to thank Rosanne, Kaitlin and Dylan. Without them, none of this would mean a thing.
Called a “hard-boiled poet” by National Public Radio’s Maureen Corrigan and the “noir poet laureate” in the Huffington Post, REED FARREL COLEMAN is the author of twenty-one novels and novellas. He has been signed to do the next four books in Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone series and by Putnam to begin a new series of his own. He is a three-time recipient of the Shamus Award and a three-time Edgar Award nominee in three different categories. He has also won the Audie, Macavity, Barry, and Anthony awards. He lives with his family on Long Island. For more information, visit www.reedcoleman.com.
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