End Game

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Nothing happens without the constant, undying love of my wife, Joy. She is my strength, my beauty, my… joy.

You dear readers who have been with me from the beginning remember stories of my great pride in my son, Chris, who was barely eight years old when Nathan’s’s Run was published. Now he’s twenty-eight, and my pride in him continues to bloom. Way to go, kid.

Jolaine Cage made a generous donation to the Youth Quest Foundation to have a character named after her, and for that I am grateful. For the record, she bears no resemblance to the character who bears her name, yet I still feel compelled to apologize for what I put her through.

Lee Lofland, the proprietor of the wonderful Writers’ Police Academy, gave me a valuable lesson on how to steal a car. Thanks for that, Lee. Jolaine thanks you, too. (The fictional one, not the real one.)

Special thanks to Michelle Gagnon, who agreed to set aside her own very busy writing life to read an early draft of End Game and lend some well-needed advice. All along the way, my dear friends Art Taylor, Ellen Crosby, Alan Orloff, and Donna Andrews — collectively known as the Rumpi (ask them why when you see them) — have lent a guiding hand to the pile of pages that ultimately melded together into this book. Thank you all so much.

My team at Kensington is becoming more like family with every book. In Michaela Hamilton, I have the best, most supportive editor a writer could ask for, and none of that would be possible without the tireless work of publisher Laurie Parkin. Arthur Maisel is my production editor, Adeola Saul my publicist, and Alexandra Nicolajsen is my own Venice Alexander. She makes the computerized world work for me. They all work for Steve Zacharius, who has been a vocal supporter of mine from way back in the early days — long before I boarded the publishing vessel he runs so well.

Last, but never, ever least is my good friend and agent, Anne Hawkins. She’s the guiding hand of my career, and I’m honored that she does it with such charm and grace and ferocity. Thanks. (Yes, Anne, I’m working on the next manuscript! Jeez.)