by David Ellis
His grades were excellent, and all things considered, he had done well with very little to start with. Still. She had seen State Representative Sandoval on occasion, on a school issue, and she would love to ask him how it was that he had decided to direct one of his coveted scholarships to a boy who had not even applied for it, whether the idea might have come from a certain governor looking for a favor.
She smiled at that thought. The scholarship had been awarded months before Alex shot Officer Miroballi, before Langdon Trotter had any idea that Shelly would discover anything she ultimately learned. She had underestimated her father. Then, and all along. It was amazing to her, having been a lawyer herself for almost ten years, having seen so many stories between the lines, so many shades of gray in a black-and-white system—that she had painted her father with such a broad brush.
It was with a twinge to her heart that she noticed Ronnie’s thick dark hair, the face that before her eyes was starting to square at the jaw—the tough Italian features he had inherited from his father. It was true. He looked like Ray Miroballi, at least the photos Shelly had seen of him. But there was also the light blue of his eyes, the fullness of his mouth, that made Shelly think of her own father.
Ronnie turned the camcorder suddenly and approached Shelly.
“We’re talking with Shelly Trotter,” he said in an official voice. “Vigilant defender of troubled youth by day, beautiful karate black-belt by night. Shelly, what’s your secret?”
She blushed. “I don’t have any secrets. Not anymore.”
“Is it true that you’re my mother?”
“That is true,” she answered. “And I’m proud of it.”
“Then don’t just sit there,” he said. “Go get me some lunch.”
She winked at him and waved him away. Maybe she saw some of herself in him, too.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have relied on the efforts of so many people in completing this novel. For explaining some of the technical aspects of adoption, I want to thank Illinois State Representative Sara Feigenholtz, who has been a wonderful friend as well as a source of information. On details concerning law enforcement, especially on the federal level, thank you to John Lausch, a federal prosecutor in Chicago, for his comments and insight.
A special thanks to Vince Connolly, a former top federal prosecutor in Chicago and now one of the most successful white-collar criminal defense attorneys in Chicago. Vince provided technical assistance as well as a read of an early version of the novel. His help and friendship have been greatly appreciated.
Any mistakes or inaccuracies on these technical issues are not to be attributed to these very generous people, but to me.
Thank you to those who read over earlier drafts of this novel and offered their valuable input: Missy Thompson, Adam Tullier, Dan and Kristin Collins, my mother, Judy Ellis, and my father-in-law, Ed Nystrom.
Thank you to all of my family for their love and support: July Ellis; Jennifer, Jim, and Jenna Taylor; Ed and Sally Nystrom; and Angela, Mike, Elizabeth, Matthew, Thomas, and Nicholas Riley.
A special thanks to Jim Jann, who once again has volunteered a great deal of his time and energy to offer his input on this novel. Jim has one of the best literary minds in the business, and he isn’t even in the business. I hope to be editing one of his novels soon.
Thanks to everyone at my law firm for their support and enthusiasm over the years: David Williams, Doug Bax, Dan Collins, Kerry Saltzman, Lisa Starcevich, Chris Covatta, Michelle Powers, Adam and Grant Tullier, Rebecca Johnson, and Debbie Philips.
Thanks to David Highfill, my editor, who worked with me on the rather arduous journey that was the writing of this novel. Thank you to everyone else at Putnam for their faith in me. Thanks to Jeff Gerecke, my agent, for once again helping me to keep a steady hand.
Thank you, finally, to Susan Nystrom Ellis, my wife, editor, consultant, lawyer, psychiatrist, and best friend. You are everything to me.
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Titles by David Ellis
LIFE SENTENCE
LINE OF VISION
JURY OF ONE
