Raylan Goes to Detroit

by Peter Leonard

  “It could’ve been a mess, but somehow it worked out.”

  “So as far as the authorities are concerned, Rindo was in El Centro the whole time. I have to tell you, it was brilliant.” Nora paused. “What happens now?”

  “You’re not gonna like this. Investigative Services wants us to take him back to Detroit for arraignment and trial.”

  “I’m just happy we can put him away,” the new mellow Nora said.

  “Big Country and I are gonna do it once we get clearance. Probably be a couple days.”

  “In the meantime,” Nora said, giving him a seductive smile. “I’d like to go back to the hotel and rip your clothes off.”

  “That can be arranged,” Raylan said. He started the car and put it in gear.

  Acknowledgments

  When my father, Elmore Leonard, passed away in 2013, he was writing a novel called Blue Dreams. For weeks after his death, friends asked if I had considered finishing Elmore’s book. And the answer was always, no way. For me, Blue Dreams was sacred.

  But my brother, Chris, had another idea. He said, why don’t you write a Raylan novel. I thought, wait a minute, that’s not a bad idea. It would be a tribute to our father, and a way to bring Raylan back for Elmore’s fans and fans of the hit TV series Justified.

  To research the book, I spent weeks riding and hanging out with the US Marshals Fugitive Task Forces in Detroit, San Diego, and El Centro, California. First getting a behind the scenes look at how the marshals discover the whereabouts of criminals with fugitive warrants, and then going on actual fugitive takedowns. It was an incredibly interesting and exhilarating experience. And the first time I’ve ever worn a bulletproof vest to work.

  I also want to thank my agent, Jeff Posternak at Wylie NY, new publisher and Raylan aficionado, Tyson Cornell, and artful editorial director, Guy Intoci.