Strange Bedfellows

Acknowledgments

To my untiring editor, Joe Blades, thank you for your wisdom, support, and belief in this book. To trusted agent and advisor Faith Childs, you have had immense faith in me, for which I am grateful.

Thanks also to: Special K, Terry, and Pat for keeping Charlotte and me honest; Irene for insights into Charlotte’s psyche; and Debra F. Glaser, Ph.D., of the LAPD’s Behavioral Science Services, for her generosity in sharing the BSS’s history and methods in assisting troubled officers.

To Professors Daniel L. Simmons, Evelyn A. Lewis, and Thomas W. Joo of UC Davis’s School of Law for their insight into legal matters affecting publicly traded companies. And to Bill Shuttleworth, who, unlike his smarmy namesake, provided excellent advice on finance and audit matters.

To Nancy Goldman, M.D., for help in determining the effects of gunshot wounds on my pregnant victim; to D. P. Lyle, M.D., for information on treating gunshot wounds; and to Ms. Pam Sinclair of the Brain Injury Program at Mission Hospital for assistance in understanding vegetative states.

To Ann duCille, gratitude for directing me to Skin Trade and its essential chapter on dolls and African American representation; to Sean McGowan for highlighting issues in the toy industry; and to Melissa Gilkey Mince, for valuable history and anecdotes on Chatty Cathy.

To Eddie Muller and Jim Quay, thanks for introducing me to great Oakland landmarks; to Rhea Cortado and Sam Domingo, for insights into Filipino culture; and to Jason Thomas, of Cal State Fresno’s Interdisciplinary Spatial Information Systems Center, for statistical information on Filipino populations in the Central Valley.

To California Highway Patrol Deputy Tom Killian for insight into CHP procedures and the dangers of tule fog; to Sergeant Ron Yelder of the Oakland Police Department’s Ranger Section, for Joaquin Miller Park lore; to Robert Nardoza and Tom Fallati for a crash course on the workings of the U.S. Attorney’s office; and to Paul Hudson, for a reminder of the effects of the 1992 uprising on Broadway Federal Bank.

Special thanks to Carol Topping for her website wizardry; to Thomas Görden for assistance in developing that German headline; and Heather Smith and Marie Coolman for longtime friendship and PR support.

And to all of the team at the Ballantine Publishing Group-Kim Hovey, Mary Siemsen, Paul Taunton, Anna Chapman, and many others who have my back-your support and patience have meant more than I can say.