Dirty Martini

by J. A. Konrath

  “Really? Dying inside?”

  I took his hand and tugged the ring out of my pocket. A gold band with a single diamond set inside. I was scared, but if I could handle bees crawling all over me, I could handle anything.

  “Will you—”

  “Wrong hand, Jack.”

  I grabbed his other hand.

  “Will you—”

  “Wow, that’s a nice ring.”

  “Latham Conger,” I said, loudly so he wouldn’t interrupt me again, “will you marry me?”

  He smiled at me, and my heart melted.

  “Yes. I will.”

  Acknowledgments

  FOR MY THIRD JACK DANIELS THRILLER, Rusty Nail, I WAS on tour for more than three months. I visited over six hundred bookstores in twenty-seven states, and drove 13,500 miles. While touring, I met more than eleven hundred wonderful booksellers, and promised I would thank them in the acknowledgments of this book. After all, you do all the work!

  If your name was accidentally omitted or misspelled (it’s not my fault, I swear!), e-mail me through my website, www.JAKonrath.com, and we’ll fix it for future editions of Dirty Martini.

  Thank you so very much for all of your help. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. Booksellers rock!

  BOOKSELLERS:

  Trish Abood, Cynthia Abraham, Al Abramson, Marsha Acevedo, Jen-na Acree, Matt Adair, Monica Adams, Nikki Adams, Starr Adamson, Mary Adkins, Jamie Agnew, Robin Agnew, Doris Ahrens, Augie Aleksy, Tracy Aleksy, Betsy Alexander, Gretchen Alexander, Timothy Alexander, Irwin Alexis, Manuel Aliceq, Jessica Allen, Nicholas Allen, Alex Almieda, Ashley Altadonna, Sam Altman, Sara Alton, Terry S. Amstutz, Deborah Andalino, David Anderson, Jamie Anderson, Norman Anderson, Stan Anderson, Susan Anderson, Sonna Andrews, Carolyn Antolin, Nicole Aquilino, Coleen Archer, Marta Armata, Odessa Armstrong, Yanira Arriaga, Nevart Asadoorian, Sandy Aston, Rebecca Atchley, Pauls Atwell, Marti Auner, Joel Baer, Ruth Bagel, Jessica Baker, Stephanie Baker, Trace Baker, Lisa Bakke, Jessica Balbuena, Agnes Baldwin, Bob Baldwin, Kelli Ball, Matthew Ballard, Eddie Banchs, Linda Bantz, Cindy Barbour, Brian Barrett, Jessica Barton, Scott E.C. Baseler, Fress Bass, Brandon Baum, Melissa Bay, Nikki Beane, Laurie Beaster, Joi Bechett, Pam Beck, Kevin Becker, Alex Beguin, Nancy Bender, Pat Benham, Kathleen Benjey, Carolyn Bennet, Joe Benninghoff, Don Berg, Sarah Berger, Nina Bernard, Shannon Berndtson, Adrienna Berrien, Mark Berthiaume, Monica-Sabrina Bharoocha, Mark Bibler, David Biemann, Holly Biggs, Scott Bihorel, Terri Bischoff, Thomas Bishop, Tom Bisker, Isabel Luque Black, Peter Black, Emily Blackburn, Jody Blair, Courtney Blake, Melissa Blanchette, Alisha Blanding, Donna Blomquist, Kara Blood, Matt Bloom, Lesley Bodemann, Sharon Bodnar, Zack Bonchack, Nicola’s Books, Kim Borcoman, Jen Borror, Joyce Botie, Allen Bouchard, Ron Bousquet, Amy Bovin, Pat Bowling, Anne M. Bowman, Patrick Boyle, Nancy Boyles, Dorothy Brackett, Anne Bradley, Barbara Brallon, Brennan Brammer, Julie Brandt, Vincent Brantley, Wendy Brault, Laura Brauman, Beverly Breeger, Kim Brei, Pamela Brent, Wendy Brewer, Kerry Breymann, Colleen Briggs, Beth Bright, Allan Brightman, Karen Brissette, Kathryn Britto, Krystal Brium, Connie Brodovicz, Donald Brooker, Kay Brough, Bill Brown, Rosie Brown, Erica Bruns, David Bryce, Donna Buchignani, Stacey L. Buckland, Randell Buckler, Kristinia Buckwalter, Marquietta Buffaloe, Valerie Bullaughey, Loren Bunjes, Jacen Burchfield, Amanda Burgess, Bill Burlew, Bev Burris, Mike Bursaw, Kim Bushy, Diane Butler, Penny Byrd, Robert Cain, Jonell Caldwell, Mark Cameron, Patty Campbell, Pat Caniff, Amy Capobianco, Jonita Carder, Joann Carey, Becky Carigaan, Carrie Carlson, Erik Carlson, Marianne Carlson, Sue Carpenter, Carol Carr, David Carter, Judy Castell, Nicole Castelli, Emma Cawley, Randal Cefalli, Gerry Champagne, Joe Champion, Sherri Chavez, Lea Chisum, Michael Chovanes, Joanne Cilento, Ashley N. Cipollone, Ami Clare, Larry Clark, Tom Clark, Carol Cleaves, Jeremy Clegg, Jasmine Clemente, Virginia Cochran, Catalin Codescu, Julianne Cody, Harry Cohen, Jen Cohen, Liz Cohn, Peter Colatarci, Jason Cole, Lauren Colgan, Marion Collentine, Kari B. Collier, Andrea Collins, Peggy Coltus, Pat Comerford, Hillary Compton, Paul Concannon, Bob Connolly, Patrick Connolly, Carmine Consolazio, Barbara Cook, Sarah E. Corban, Erin Corbitt, Rebecca Coste, Cindy Coughlin, David Courtney, Siusan Cox, Tom Cox, Diane Cramer, Cheryl Crimmins, Dawn Crofoot, John Cron, Toni Cron, Sarah Crook, Christopher Croser, Bart Crouch, JoAnn Crue, Kelly Crum, Sharon Curtis, Cyndi Custer, Guy Dabis, Amanda Dahling, George Daly, Kayto Daly, Mike Damlowicz, Debbie Darrisaw, Merv Darter, Elizabeth Dashiell, Sheryl Daughenbaugh, April Davis, Barb Davis, Douglas Davis, Mark Davis, Peggy Davis, Jeremy Day, Linda Day, Antonio De La Fuentes, Ariana de la Concha, Lori De Almeida, Jim Dean, Nancy Dean, Marissa Deaver, Mark Dec, Timothy Deerig, Dianne DeFonci, Derek DeMello, Mary Denaro, Jeffre Dene, Tina Denson, Kerri Deoyelle, Dennis Detweiler, Doug DeWeese, AJ DeWitt, Mary Anne Diehl, Mark Diller-Lancaster, Bill Dinkins, Elaine Dixon, Jesie Dobies, Brain Dodl, Victoria Doherty, Mary Donlon, Linda Dorsey, Dawn Doud, Bob Downing, Dan Doyle, Russ Doyle, Joe Drabyak, Michele Droga, Monique Duci, Heather Duesler, Charles Duhesi, Derek D. Dunbar, Michael Dunn, Kathleen Duplinsky, Jenne Duprez, David Durkit, Lola Durodola-Alston, Jessica Dyer, Dawn Dyste, Elizabeth Earhart, Becky Eblen, Nicole Eckersly, John Eckhoff, Joyce Edelin, Eliot Edge, Alex Ehret, Benjamin Ellis, David English, Richard Erb, Michelle Erwin, Beth Esser, Jennifer Etchason, Suzanne Eversen, David Factor, Ann Fadze, Carolyn Falcone, Melinda Fant, Annette Farrell, Amanda Fath, Chuck Fath, Chris Feignan, Wanda Feleciano, Kelly L. Fenech, Pat P. Fenning, Rebeca Ferreira, Cindy Ferris, Dwayne Fields, Robert Figel, William Fike, Dick File, Marylin Filipowicz, Charlene Fink, Jill Fische, Marilyn Fisher, Sarah Fisher, Nancy Fitzgerald, Kate Fitzgerald-Lewis, Nancy Flanagan, David Fletcher, Kim Fletcher, Cheri Flood, Gabriel Flores, Jane Flowers, Kathy Forbes, Jessica Ford, Nancy Foust, David Fox, Christina Foxley, Cathy Frashuer, Zack Frederick, Becky Freed, Maria Frick, Al Friscia, Alfonso Friscia, Barb Frivance, Joyce Frommer, Branden Frost, Taryn Fry, Pam Fullord, Bill Fulton, G.K., J.W. Gaberdiel, Paul Gagne, Wendy Gale, Deb Galloway, Mary Ellen Gan, Geoff Gannon, Daniel Garcia, Emily Gardner, Gary Garletts Jr., Charlie Garnet, Natalie Garofalo, Mary Garst, Vivian Gatti, Ashley Gaus, Laurel Gauthier, Sarah Gay, Cheryle Wasson Geeding, Josh Gerding, Alicia Giacin, Joy Gibson, Sarah Gielhoff, Nora Gilchrist, Doc Gillespie, Jon Gingery, Wgwen Ginocchio, Meredith Giordan, Tamryn Glaser, Paula Glass, Melanie Glemser, Larry Glock, Molly Glock, Kevin Gocoran, Paul Goebel, Mike Goehrig, Norman Goldman, Evelynn Goldner, Irma Gomez, Kathy Goodkin, Mario Goodson, Cindi Gordon, Nancy Gottardi, Jonathan Grabis, John Grady, Chris Graham, Susan Gramea, Adam Gramty, Cyndi Grant, Rich Grant, April Graves, Julie Gray, Bob Green, James Green, Selene Green, Jason Greene, Justin Greene, Francisco Gregory, Steve Gresson, James Griffin, Sean Grimes, Leo Grody, Molly Groome, Dustin Gruss, Sandy Gruszynski, Carole Guerra, Rae Guerrieri, Brannon Gullatt, Elizabeth Gunn, Richard Gurley, Barb Gurtor, Susan Gusho, Eduardo Gutierrez, Anne H., Lisa Hailes, Mary Haina, Anne Hall, Denis Haly, Barbara Hames, Louis Hanemaun, Tonya Hanigan, Michael Hargett, Emily Harkins, Michael Harkins, Paul Harkins, Scott Harkins, Kim Harmon, Betty Harrigan, Liz Harrington, Charity Harris, Cheryl Harris, J. Scooter Harris, Jackie Harris, Kim Harris, Woody Harris, Doug Hart, Jennifer Hart, Danielle Hartle, Phil Hartman, Linda Hartung, Bob Haslett, Brandi Hasting, Kim Hatcher, Michael Hatton, Jessie Hausmann, Janice Hawkins, Chelly Haycraft, Tim Hayes, Stephanie Hazeelrig, Janice Hecht, Stuart Hecht, Jason Heflin, Christina Heid, Maryann Heide, Knut Heimer, Joe Helfand, Judy Helie, Maria Helms, Barbara Henderson, Clyde M. Hennessey, Marc Hennessey, Ann Hennessy, Jennifer Henry, Samantha Hepburn, Fred Herbst, Gloria Hernon, Michele Herrmann, Tina Hessen, Kay Hessman, Linda Hetz, Tavia Highsmith, Lisa Hilgenberg, Andrew Hill, Susan Hillman, Carmaletta Hilton, Daniel Ho, Jonathan Hobgood, Dan Hochman, Riett Hoffmann, Jennifer Hogge, Annie Holden, Carol Holko, Pat Holland, Kat Horace, Jay Horgan, Melissa Horn, Katie Hosie, Ralph Houch, Ralph Houck, Beth-Ann House, Melissa Hovis, Bruce Howard, Michael Howard, Jim Huang, Bonnie Hudson, Lindsay Huff, Mary Hugger, Ashley Hughes, Marie Hughes, Beverly Humphrey, Eddie Humphrey, Hugo Huns, Daniel Hunt, Sarah Iddi
ngs, Toni Imhoet, Edie Indrisk, Mike Infonte, Mike Jackman, Carolyn Jackson, Jacquelyn Jackson, C. Aimee Jacobs, Marla Jacobson, Bill Jankowski, Julie Jawor, Jason Jefferies, Steven Jensen, Brittany Jobe, Gordon Jochem, Paul Johnsen, Andrea Johnson, Bronwyn Johnson, Diane Johnson, Edie Johnson, George T. Johnson, John Johnson, Karen Johnson, Kim Johnson, Rozanne Johnson, Sean Johnson, Toni Johnson, Robert Johnstone, Bev Jones, Cheryl A. Jones, Jessica R. Jones, Kee Jones, Michele Jones, Sheena Jones, Sue Jones, Jeanie Joran, Alise Jordan, Chris Jordan, Jeffrey Joseph, John Jowle, Benjamin Juares, Steve Jurczyk, Kelly Justice, Jeff Kalina, Shannon Kane, Mitchell Kaplan, Ty Karnitz, Richard Katz, George Henry Keen, Linda Keller, Robyn Kellison, Jennifer Kelly, Jodi Kelly, Jacki Kendall, Craig Kennedy, Stormy Lee Kennedy, Lucelle Kenny, Alex Kerr, Kenya Kidder, Joe Kill, Mike Kilroyne, Christine King, Barbara A. Kiser, Paul R. Klein, Karen Knopp, James Knowles, Kim Knowlton, Jennifer Knox, Pam Knudtzon, Connie Kocian, Crissy Kokes, Brent Koontz, Thea Kotroba, Barb Kovacs, Pam S. Kowalski, Greg Kozatek, Kelly Kramer, Lynn Kramer, Emily Krasner, Asya Krasteva, Roger Krause, Roberta Krinsky, Linda Krumrai, Vicky Kugler, Kitty Kunkel, Kim Laime, Kathy Lajoie, Lianne Lajoie, Cathy Lakin, Heather Lamothe, Paul Landry, Phillip Landry, Maria Landsberg, Helen Langelier, Rebecca Langley, Sue Lanham, Matt Lappa, Ananne Lara, Michelle LaRose, Emma Larson, Dee Laskoars, Rebecca Lasky, Michele Lauber, Lisa Lauerman, Tim Lause, Rand Laverty, Jennifer Lavuie, Vicki Lawrence, Clare Lazarek, J. Lea, Laura Lee, Brianna Leech, Ms. Kirby Vi Leeds, Amanda Lemco, Tracy Lemmo, Charlie Lemoine, Kim Leonard, Jesse Levi, Beth Lewis, Kristyn Lier, Keller Lindsay, Ron Lindsey, Michale Link, Sue Little, Laura Loeb, Jeri Loeback, Juli Loker, Joni London, Don Longmuir, Jenn Longmuir, Teresa Lopez, Robin Lubnow, Jamie Lucas, Jim Lucas, Richard Lum, Robert Luna, Patricia Lynch, Jeff Macanovich, Kevin Macey, Scott Machennan, Andrew Mack, Daniel J. Madison, Tom Madden, Jaret M. Maloney, Steve Maloney, Joedan Maltin, Darlene Manchester, Yolanda Mangham, Blake Mann, Michael Marino, Kay Marlin, Lauren Marques, Brenda Marrujo, Tony Marshall, Ashley Martin, Cassandra Martin, Miranda Martin, Jason Martinek, Celia Martiniez, Joseph Masella, Heather Massie, Tammy Mathews, Steve Matson, Drew Matthews, Michael Mattox, Lisa Maye, Matt Maye, Emily Mayer, Melanie Maynard, Nicole Mazzone, Mike McBride, Billy McCall, Gary McCammon, Kermit McCarther, Alice McConekey, Ollie McCullom, Audrey McCune, Debbie McDonald, Kelly McElligott, Ruth McElwain, Vicki McFiggen, Fran McGeever, Bill McGhee, Brenda McGhee, Kathie McGrath, Erin McGuire, Venus McKinley, Lisa McKown, Sarah McLaughlin, Theresa McNaughton, Tracy McPeck, Julie McPhail, Brian McTague, Rob Mellen, Gail Meno, Andi Mercier, Joy Merdan, Mary Metz, Kari Meutsch, Jeni Meyer, Sue Michael, Debbie Miksch, Georgia Milionis, Barb Miller, Joanne Miller, Judy Miller, Sheila Miller, Philip Millies, Jason Milligan, Elisha Minsal, Rich Mirabelle, Jennifer Miron, Carolyn Mitchell, Jo Ellen Mitchell, Katricia Mitchell, Matt Mitchell, Raymond Mixon, Christopher Mize, Derek Moady, Maggie Moeller, Kelly Molloy, Laura Monegan, Chatham Monk, Fabian Montano, Renee Montgomery, Nancy Moore, Loana Morales, Laura Morefield, Teresa Moreno, John Mori, Karen Morin, Angela Morris, Cori Morrison, Brian Morrissey, Jim Morton, Theresa Mowry, Ian Moyer, Matthew Moyer, Sean Mulligan, Mary Murch, Elizabeth Murphy, Ann Murray, Heather Musilca, Dave Musto, Matthew Nace, Sandy Nagle, Irene Natoli, Margo Naus, Andrew Neci, Cindy Needham, Justin Neese, Anne Nelson, David Nelson, Lance Nelson, Stacy Nelson, Danielle Neuffer, Alison Newman, Amani Newton, Tracy Nicholas, Kimberly Nicholson, Mike Nieken, Mary Ann Nilsson, Jessica Norton, Susan Novtny, Marni Ockene, Tory O’Connor, Jen Odon, Dienne Ogletree, Amber O’Kelly, Carolyn Oliver, Gunda Olsen, Jessica O’Malley, Matt O’Neill, Scott Orman, Jose Ornelas, Jessie Oulahan, Rusty Page, Alyssa Paglione, Kendrah Palk, Traci Paquin, Doreen Parish, Stephen Parisi, Arlene Parker, Melissa Parks, Jenn Pasquinelli, Bill Payton, Constance Pearce, Toi Pearson, Ryan Peel, Angelina Perdomo, Michael Perkins, Rich Perrin, Paul Pessolano, Barbara Peters, Mike Pettier, Charlotte Philips, Emily Phillinger, Cindy Phillips, Jennifer Phillips, Tess Phillips, Jane Pickering, Mike Pieczynski, David Pildner, Heather Planert, Charlie Podell, Tom Polakowski, Kathy Policicchio, Heather Polk, Michael Pollard, Kerri Pomfret, Taura Pool, Paige Poores, Jodi Pope, Josh Pope, Mark Porter, Sherry Potter, Damien Power, Carole Pozmanter, Brian Prater, Shawna Prested, Dan Preston, Mary Prfhoda, Adam Price, Margaret Price, Vivian Priest, Dawn Prudenti, Jeff Putnam, Wink Qursgard, Josh Rachlin, April Rager, Jenna Raich, Rosemary Rambo, Keith Ranalli, Tammy Randolph, Bill Rankin, Bob Rathbun, April Ray, Sara Rebennack, Jean Recapet, Cindy Reid, Kristin Reis, Debbie Repass, Kathy Rettinger, Jimmy Rholerson, Rich J. Rhymbant Jr., Jody Rice Kirby, Leah Richey, Johnathan Richez, Clinton Rickards, MK Riddell, Kathie Riddle, Amber Ridinger, Sherri Riffel, Heather M. Riley, Christine Rillo, Crystal Rinehart, Margie Ringel, Richard Rivellese, Sherise Rivera, Terry Robare, Amy Deming Robb, Stanley Roberson, Darcy Roberts, Him Robins, Jacob Robinson, Roger Rodriguez, Linda Roe, Linda Roebuck, James M. Roemele, Charli Rogers, Kathy Rogers, Jessica Roland, LeAnne Rollins, Michelle Romano, Jennifer Romesburg, Patricia Rooney, Michael Rosczak, Michelle Rose, Theresa Rosinski, Chad Rouch, Jayne Rowsam, Alexis Roy, Catherine Rozmarynowycz, Harley Ruda, Bob Rudman, Jessica Russler, Louis Russo, Bob Ryan, Christopher Ryan, Mart Sadler, Sage, Melinda Salonga, Patricia Sanders, Carrie Sasville, Cale Satterlee, Natalie Sawyer, Dolores Scanio, Christina Scatchell, Erin Schaeffer, Alisa Schnaars, Fred Schodey, Fred Schooley, Marya Schrier, Brian Schropp, Carol Schubert, Joseph Schutz, Eric Schwendeman, Phil Scopa, George Scott, Robin Scott, Joyce Sebek, Bob Seibel, Brad T. Seibel, Larry Seigel, Jane Selavka, Angelica Serrano, Pete Sesko, Susan Sewell, Jeremy Seybert, Sara Shaffer, Glori Shanda, Sharron Shannon, Razra Shariff, Jonathan Shaver, Kelly Shaw, Rachel Shaw, Peter Sherman, Patrick Shingleton, Penny Shipley, Jim Shoaf, Kim Shoop, Sally Shrago, Kim Shriver, John Shurtleff, Christine Siegrist, Matt Silver, Jason Simon, Jessic Simon, Tina Simone, Carol Simpson, Joanne Sinchuk, Marcy Singer, Bob Siwiecki, Marggie Skinner, Greg Skipworth, Paul Skotarski, Anne Smiley, Adam N. Smith, Alisha Smith “Amarie,” Edward Smith, Karen Smith, Kathy Smith, Kimber Smith, Marlin Smith, Matthew Dow Smith, Melissa Smith, Peggy Smith, Robert T. Smith, Sandra Smith, Stephanie Smith, Terri Smith, Ruth Smyrl, Elaine Smyser, Julie Snow, Karenne Snow, Marion Sokolowski, Carlos Solorzano, Robert Sommerville, Sarah Sonnett, Adlinmarie Soto, Kendra Soule, Jamey Sovey, Eric Sroka, Grag Stahl, Mike Stancombe, Michael Staples, Pamela Starkovich, Frank Staseik, Eileen Stauffer, Megan Steele, Chad Stegmiller, Ulrike Steiert, Brian Stepanic, Paul Sternburgh, Catherine Stevens, Jodie Stevenson, Paula Stewart, Ellen Stewert, Kathleen Stilwell, Jennifer Stone, Andrea Storiale, Brenda Strong, Jim Stroup, Mike Stuart, Stephanie Suer, Irene Sullivan, Mike Sumser, Greg Swanson, Melissa Swart, Patti Swift, Stephanie Swisher, Shelle Takacs, Angela Tarbett, Mary Tatz, Kelly Taylor, Lelia Taylor, Moe Taylor, Susan M. Taylor, Derek Teixeira, Patts Templeton, Lee Anne Test, Melissa Theel, Joanna Thomas, Kate Thomas, Shumara Thomas, Ryan Thomley, Evelyn Thompson, Bonnie Jeanne Tibbetts, Anne Tingo, Andrew Todd, Chris Tokar, Anne Tokos, Christina Tomaselli, Lorenz Tomassi, Jennifer Tomczak-Moore, Shalor Toncray, Brian Torbert, Jessica Torres, Rich Torres, Janis Torzillo, Amanda Toth, Tina Trevaskis, Erie Trevina, Tom Trotter, Monica Tsuneishi, Freeman Turley, Tegan Twedt, Jeannie Tyler, Kurt Van Buren, Pat Van Deusen, Fred Van Patten, Jan Van Skiver, Karen Vanan, Doug VanderSys, Pat Vann, Daniele “Danni” Vargas, Ann Varwig, Isabel Vasallo, Kimberly Vater, Kristrin Vates, Jessica Vera, Tracie Vettel, Linda Vetter, Vince Vieceli, Christina Villa, Carol Villaverde, Steven Viola, Margia Wagner, Sue Wakeman, Brian Walker, Katherine Wall, Karen Wallace, Harold Waller, Brandon Walsh, Lisa Walston, Abby Walters, Drew Watson, Hazel Watson, George Way, Susan Weaver, Cari Webb, Joolee Webb, Matthew Weeks, Brad Wees, Darlene Weir, Jeff Welch, Debbie Wells, Kristen Wells, Matt Welsh, Eleanor Wenger, Beth Wentworth, Bill West, Sue Westmeyer, Amy Wheeler, Barbara Whetstone, Ann White, Ron White, Dale Whitham, Brad Whitmire, Alan Whitson, Megan Whitt, William Wildly, Denise K. Williams, Joe Williams, Kelly Williams, Kim Williams, Sandra Williams, Tabbetha Williams, Rhonda Williams-Snell, Matt Wilson, Meredith Wilson, Jeannett
e Wilson-Bell, Jason Wingate, Pat Winter, Hal Wishman, Flo Witalka, Jay Wolferman, Kathi Wolff, Debbie Wood, Rob Wood, Rushton Woodside, Wendy Worth, Mary Wright, Nancy Bass Wyden, Pat Wynn, John Yezzi, Corryn Young, Rosemary Young, Ted Zabawski, Sherry Zabikow, Yassar Zacks, Elisabeth Zak, Scot Zellman, Paul Ziebarth, Dan Zimmeran, Gina Ziria, and Henry Zook.

  There were also many folks who helped me out by inviting me into their homes, helping me tour their cities, or buying me food.

  Huge thanks to the following:

  Paul Abruzzi, Tasha Alexander, Wayne Thomas Batson, Bill Blume, John Bodnar, James O. Born, Stacey Cochran, Jim Coursey, Linda Darter, Charlie Davidson, Karen Dionne, Rebecca Drake, Moni Draper, Jane Dystel, Barry Eisler, David Ellis, JT Ellison, Miriam Goderich, Lynne Hansen, Sean Hicks, Adam Hurtubise, Bill Johnson, Cynthia Johnson, Elizabeth Krecker, Rhonda Lukac, Steve Lukac, Terrie Moran, Bob Morris, Karen E. Olsen, Barbara Parker, PJ Parrish, MJ Rose, Tom Schreck, Steve Schwinder, Jason Sizemore, Alexandra Sokoloff, Jeff Strand, M.G. Tarquini, Robert W. Walker, Leslie Wells, James R. Winter, Becky Zander, and Rick Zander.

  And also, big thanks to the fans. Without you, Jack and I wouldn’t have this incredible career. You folks are the best!

  Also by J.A. Konrath

  Whiskey Sour

  Bloody Mary

  Rusty Nail