“What’s that for?” I ask.
“Merry Christmas, Mike.” Her lips transform into a warm smile. “Do you hear that?”
The house is completely silent. “Hear what?”
“The sound of quiet at four o’clock in the morning.”
I touch a finger to her lips, then I lean over and kiss her softly. “Merry Christmas, Rosie.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing these stories is a collaborative process for me. I get an enormous amount of help and I want to take the opportunity once again to thank the kind people who have been so generous with their time.
Thanks to my beautiful wife, Linda, who still reads all of my drafts, keeps me going when I’m stuck and remains supportive when I’m on deadline. Thanks also to our twin sons, Alan and Stephen, who are very understanding when I have to spend time working on my books.
Thanks to Neil Nyren, my patient and perceptive editor and friend, for your comments and unending support. Thanks to the team at Putnam for your hard work, dedication and good humor. I really appreciate it.
Thanks to my extraordinary agent, Margret McBride, and to Donna DeGutis, Renee Vincent and Faye Atchison at the Margret McBride Literary Agency. You’re still the best. Thanks to my teachers, Katherine V. Forrest and Michael Nava, and to the Every Other Thursday Night Writers’ Group: Bonnie DeClark, Meg Stiefvater, Anne Maczulak, Liz Hartka, Janet Wallace and Priscilla Royal. I can’t do this without you.
Thanks to Inspector Sergeant Thomas Eisenmann and Officer Jeff Roth of the San Francisco Police Department, and to Inspector Phil Dito of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, and to Linda Allen of the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and Jack Allen of the Solono County District Attorney’s Office. Keep fighting the good fight.
A special thanks to Sister Karen Marie Franks of St. Dominic’s Convent in San Francisco for your help with theological issues.
Thanks to my friends and colleagues at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter &Hampton (and your spouses and significant others), for being so supportive through the birth of five books. In particular, thanks to Randy and Mary Short, Cheryl Holmes, Chris and Debbie Neils, Bob Thompson, Joan Story and Robert Kidd, Lori Wider and Tim Mangan, Becky and Steve Hlebasko, Donna Andrews, Phil and Wendy Atkins-Pattenson, Julie and Jim Ebert, Geri Freeman and David Nickerson, Kristen Jensen and Allen Carr, Bill and Barbara Manierre, Betsy McDaniel, Ted and Vicki Lindquist, Tom and Beth Nevins, Maria Pracher, Chris and Karen Jaenike, Ron and Rita Ryland, Bob and Elizabeth Stumpf, Kathleen Shugar, John and Judy Sears, Dave Lanferman, Mathilde Kapuano, Jerry Slaby, Guy Halgren, Dick Brunette, Aline Pearl, Steve Winick, Sue Lenzi, Larry Braun and Bob Zuber.
Thanks to my supportive friends at my alma mater, Boalt Law School: Kathleen Vanden Heuvel, Leslie and Dean Bob Berring, Louise Epstein, and Dean Herma Hill Kay.
Thanks always to the kind souls who provide comments on the early drafts of my stories: Jerry and Dena Wald, Gary and Marla Goldstein, Ron and Betsy Rooth, Rich and Debby Skobel, Dolly and John Skobel, Alvin and Charlene Saper, Doug and JoAnn Nopar, Dick and Dorothy Nopar, Rex and Fran Beach, Angèle and George Nagy, Polly Dinkel and David Baer, Jean Ryan, Sally Rau, Bill Mandel, Dave and Evie Duncan, Jill Hutchinson and Chuck Odenthal, Joan Lubamersky and Jeff Greendorfer, Tom Bearrows and Holly Hirst, Chris and Audrey Geannopoulos, Julie Hart, Jim and Kathy Janz, Denise and Tom McCarthy, Raoul and Pat Kennedy, Eric Chen and Kathleen Schwallie, Jan Klohonatz, Marv Leon, Ken Freeman, David and Petrita Lipkin, Pamela Swartz, Cori Stockman, Allan and Nancy Zackler, Ted George, Nevins McBride, Marcia Shainsky, Maurice and Sandy Ash, Elaine and Bill Petrocelli, Penny and Tom Warner, Sheila, Alan and Leslie Gordon, Stacy Alesi, Gail Foster, Bert and Amie Keane, Jeff Pick, JoAnn and Ignatius Tsang, Sue and Michael Schwartz, and Patty, Jeffrey, Jack and Taylor Norman.
Thanks always to Charlotte, Ben, Michelle, Margaret and Andy Siegel, Ilene Garber, Joe, Jan and Julia Garber, Terry Garber, Roger and Sharon Fineberg, Jan Harris Sandler and Matz Sandler, Scott, Michelle, Stephanie, Kim and Sophie Harris, Cathy, Richard and Matthew Falco, and Julie Harris and Matthew, Aiden and Ari Stewart.
Finally, a big thanks once again to all of my readers, and especially to those of you who have taken the time to write. Your support means more to me than you’ll ever imagine and I am very grateful.
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