This book would not have been possible without three women: Nicole Tourtelot, Jessica Williams, and Margaux Weisman. I’m eternally grateful for their faith in my work, patience, guidance, support, and constant wisdom. Every writer should be so lucky.
There will never be a sufficient way to thank my family—Monroe, Sasha, Phoenix, and, particularly, Marilyn. They are my inspiration, my backbone, and the greatest loves of my life.
My deepest thanks to the dear friends/readers/mentors who guided me through this process: Jessica Dimmock, Jennifer Romolini, Sarah Weir, Sarah McColl, Michael Dumanis, Michele Filgate, Beth Greenfield, Lauren Elmer, Konstantin Steshenko, Amy DiLuna, Ricardo Castaneda, Brooke Posch, Colleen Kluttz, Meredith Blake, Ryan Green, Margot Nason, Margaret Eby, Maggie, Hildy, Chris.
My endless gratitude goes out to those who provided personal and professional insight: Steven Heider, Patrice Lockhart, Erica Goodstone, Michael Stone, Fredo Weiland, Neal Pilson, Kate Zuckerman, Dr. Eric Hickey, “Sarah,” “Tara,” “Emma,” cohorts of VCCA, the Bryant Library, Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop, and countless others who helped me piece this story together.
Thank you to “Sarah” and “Bianca” for your friendship all those years ago.
I also wish to thank the victims and their parents who shared their stories in 1993.
My humblest appreciation is reserved for the Mother and the Daughter, who endured trauma and acted with tremendous bravery. Because of their actions, other potential victims were protected from harm. They are the heroes of this story.