Thanks, first and foremost to Tony and Kim of Camelot Books, and Jason and Lesley at Apex Book Company, for their infinite patience when this novel inexcusably got lost in the space between time and reality, and thus was turned in way past deadline.
Thanks also to my pre-readers Tod Clark, Mark Sylva, and Stephen McDornell.
Thanks, as well, to Mary SanGiovanni, and my sons.
And finally, extra special thanks to Paula Beauchamp, Erin Beauchamp, Scott Berke, Colinda Carroll, Jesse Carroll, H Michael Casper, Tod Clark, Paul Goblirsch, Geoff Guthrie, Leigh B. Haig, Chris Hansen, Jamie LaChance, Paul Legerski, Bob Lewis, Gregorio Lopez, Benn Martin, Dave Rodeheaver, and Mark Sylva for allowing me to put them in this situation.