Ice and Stone

by Marcia Muller

  I looked across the conference table at Hank, who’d decided to drop in for the meeting. His relatively unlined face was at peace, his Brillo-pad hair as wild as ever. He’d pulled me aside when he arrived and told me that he’d decided to remain in the city at least till Habiba went to college.

  “Thank you for reading me the riot act,” he added.

  “That was no riot act. I was merely stating that you should follow your conscience. When I read you the riot act, you’ll know it.”

  I shifted my gaze to my operatives.

  Derek Frye, a young Eurasian man with many fashionable tattoos, who had teamed with Mick in various profitable Internet ventures.

  Zoe Anderson, a graduate in computer sciences from USC. She hadn’t had much experience when she’d come in for an interview, but so far her performance had been exceptional.

  Natalie Su, also a recent addition to the team. And a great investigator—she’d actually been able to find two pencil sharpeners that had gone astray in the supply closet.

  Ted, his arm in a sling, but unfazed. Surprisingly, he was attired in chinos and a dark-blue sweater. Maybe our fashion plate had finally grown up.

  Julia Rafael, who had been on leave for two months, after the death of her sister, who’d been the caregiver for her young son, Antonio. We’d found her a good day care provider and she’d been happy to come back.

  Patrick Neilan, a single father, who balanced raising his two sons and his job with outstanding ease.

  And I remembered the others whose faces had once greeted me across this table:

  Rae, of course—but then, she kept reappearing.

  Charlotte Keim, once Mick’s love, now married and with a security firm in North Carolina.

  Adah Joslyn, good friend and former officer with the SFPD, now in an investigative partnership with Craig Morland, former FBI agent and her husband.

  Kendra Williams, who now lives in Washington, D.C., and is an integral part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

  Hank and Anne-Marie, of course.

  And Hy, frequently.

  All of them were members of what we called Team McCone, a bond none of us would ever break. We called each other across the world, from wherever we might be. We commiserated with each other in the bad times, celebrated in the good. We shared photos and news and jokes on the Internet. We enjoyed reunions, usually over some wicked brew.

  We were, in the very best sense of the term, a family.

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  About the Author

  Marcia Muller has written many novels and short stories. She has won six Anthony Awards and a Shamus Award and is also the recipient of the Private Eye Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award as well as the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award, the organization’s highest accolade. She lives in northern California with her husband, mystery writer Bill Pronzini.

  SHARON MCCONE MYSTERIES

  BY MARCIA MULLER

  THE BREAKERS

  THE COLOR OF FEAR

  SOMEONE ALWAYS KNOWS

  THE NIGHT SEARCHERS

  LOOKING FOR YESTERDAY

  CITY OF WHISPERS

  COMING BACK

  LOCKED IN

  BURN OUT

  THE EVER-RUNNING MAN

  VANISHING POINT

  THE DANGEROUS HOUR

  DEAD MIDNIGHT

  LISTEN TO THE SILENCE

  A WALK THROUGH THE FIRE

  WHILE OTHER PEOPLE SLEEP

  BOTH ENDS OF THE NIGHT

  THE BROKEN PROMISE LAND

  A WILD AND LONELY PLACE

  TILL THE BUTCHERS CUT HIM DOWN

  WOLF IN THE SHADOWS

  PENNIES ON A DEAD WOMAN’S EYES

  WHERE ECHOES LIVE

  TROPHIES AND DEAD THINGS

  THE SHAPE OF DREAD

  THERE’S SOMETHING IN A SUNDAY

  EYE OF THE STORM

  THERE’S NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF

  DOUBLE (with Bill Pronzini)

  LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR WILLIE

  GAMES TO KEEP THE DARK AWAY

  THE CHESHIRE CAT’S EYE

  ASK THE CARDS A QUESTION

  EDWIN OF THE IRON SHOES

  STANDALONES

  CAPE PERDIDO

  CYANIDE WELLS

  POINT DECEPTION