Acknowledgements

My special appreciation goes to James B. King, executive editor, Mason Sizemore, assistant managing editor, Lane Smith, city editor, Don Hannula, other editors, and the management of The Seattle Times who provided that ultimate support so cherished by a reporter—the encouragement and freedom to pursue the story, wherever it leads.

Scores of people provided hundreds of hours of their personal time in interviews with the author. For their assistance, their trust, their confidence, I am especially grateful. It is not possible to list all of you. Special thanks to Eleanore Rose and to James and Shirleen Aime; to Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Manson; to the law-enforcement officers, Michael J. Fisher, Jerry Thompson, Ben Forbes, Paul Forbes, Ira Beal, Brent Bullock, Robert Keppel, Stephen Bodiford, Don Patchen, Bill Gunter, G. Larry Daughtery, Al Pickles, Bill Harris, Bob Campbell, and so many others; to the prosecuting attorneys, David Yocom, Milton K. Blakey, Bob Dekle, and Larry Simpson; to the admirable attorneys who serve the defense, Lynn Thompson, J. Victor Africano, Millard Farmer, John Henry Browne, and others. And special thanks to the helpful staff of the Leon County clerk’s office, Tallahassee, Florida.

The author is grateful for special friendships which have resulted from this work.

Adele and Robert Monahan provided perfectly-timed support and assistance during preparation of the manuscript. Thank you.

Dick Larsen

AUTHOR’S NOTE: These events are true. In some rare instances a name has been changed to avoid possible embarrassment to the individual. Where conversations are portrayed, an effort was made to verify their accuracy through interviews with participants.