There were a handful of people who truly helped make this book what it is:

So many thanks go to Eli, for everything.

The guys at Gun World‒Target Range of Van Nuys, California were just fantastic.

After I clarified that I wasn’t going to hurt any real people,

they were tremendously helpful in getting me outfitted for an assassination.

Special thanks go out to David Hughes and particularly to Allen Clark, Jr.

of Ernie Reyes World Martial Arts in Gallatin, Tennessee.

Thank you for helping us with the design. It made all the difference!

And Sue Koepp, thank you for all you did

and for all the scales you helped tip in my direction.