ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I extend a very special thank-you to Sha Elmer for sharing so much with me, and to Tremayne Ward at the Wake County Courthouse. And thanks to Joseph Hardin and Mark Gierth, and to many others who chose to remain anonymous.

I also want to express deep appreciation to Detective Jerry Faulk and Assistant District Attorneys Boz Zellinger and Becky Holt for jobs well done.

To Jane Dystel, the intrepid warrior, who has been by my side throughout my writer’s journey through fourteen true crime books and nine novels: I can never repay my debt to you or to all the staff in your office.

To my editor, Shannon Jamieson Vazquez, who helped me beat my last two true crime manuscripts into submission: thanks for shaping these books into the best they could be.

And, finally, I wish every woman could have a partner who is as compassionate, entertaining and supportive as my guy. Thank you, Wayne Fanning, for all you are and all you do every day.