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In the Guise of Mercy (Maggie Macgowen Mysteries)

Page 28

by Wendy Hornsby


  Bits and pieces made the whole, though there were, and will always be, some blanks. Life is like that.

  One day, Boni might come clean to save his immortal soul. If he does, I would only trust a small part of what he might say. I would like for him to apologize for sullying Mike and all of the men and women, their colleagues, who are committed to making this world a safer place.

  Guido's student brought him coffee and dessert and somehow laced herself into him as he ate and watched the reactions of the audience. Early and I stood together, good neighbors, good friends; he had begun to date a woman, another neighbor, whom he met on a trail ride. She was expected to arrive as soon as her evening shift at a local hospital was over. I intend to continue to fly solo for a while longer.

  A pan shot of the noisy, colorful shopping-day crowds on Broadway fades from the screen. Strains of music fall. Segue to the cool green of the redwood forest behind the cottage Mike loved so dearly, the house where we had hoped to spend our old age. Light filters through towering trees, the sound of crashing surf in the distance.

  The coda is a short clip from an interview with Nick. He's packing up the contents of his cluttered desk at Parker Center; headquarters is moving to a new building. His shirt sleeves are rolled up, tie loose. He's looking down when we first see him, contemplative, studying a framed photograph. Then he looks directly into the camera, shakes his head, and smiles wistfully.

  "Mike Flint was a legend around this place. A true legend."

  Fade to black.

  • • •

  About the Author

  Wendy Hornsby is the author of seven previous mysteries, five of them featuring Maggie MacGowen. Hornsby won an Edgar Award for her story "Nine Sons," which appeared in Sisters in Crime IV. Her books have won the Grand Prix de litterature policiere, and readers' and reviewers' choice awards, as well as nominations for the Prix du Roman d'Adventures and the Anthony Award.

  Hornsby lives in Long Beach, California, where she is a professor of history at Long Beach City College. She welcomes visitors and e-mail at www.wendyhornsby.com

  Photo: Wesley Allison

  Also by Wendy Hornsby

  The Maggie MacGowen Mystery Series

  Telling Lies

  Midnight Baby

  Bad Intent

  77th Street Requiem

  A Hard Light

  Other Mysteries

  No Harm

  Half a Mind

  Nine Sons [stories & essays]

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

 

 

 


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