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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either
are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance
to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2009 by Vickie M. Stringer
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions
thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Atria Books Subsidiary
Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
First Atria Paperback edition August 2009
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Designed by Nancy Singer
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stringer, Vickie M.
The reason why: a novel/Vickie M. Stringer.—1st Atria Paperback ed.
p. cm.
Prequel to: Let that be the reason.
1. African American women—Fiction. 2. African Americans—Fiction.
3. Drug dealers—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3569.T69586R43 2009
813’.54—dc22 2009018265
ISBN 978-1-4391-6609-3
ISBN 978-1-4391-6610-9 (ebook)