The Serpent's Kiss

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank the “lunch club” at Henry Ford Hospital’s cytogenetics lab. Those lunches were some of the best things about working there. Thanks to Judy Bailey, Jessica Sanchez, Nicole Ballard, Bedford Embrey, Jill Crouchman, John Hou, Trish Ritchie, Martha Chu, and the various people who rotated in and out of the group.

Thanks to Sameera Pirzada for her assistance in translating Jimmy Buffett into Urdu.

Thanks to Judy Bullard for cover art and Natasha Fondren for all things Kindle.

Thanks to my agent, Irene Kraas, not only for selling this manuscript, but for making me go back to the dig site and work a little bit harder.

Thanks to the people who taught me everything I know about Sanchin-Ryu karate: Vicki Clay, Mike Clay, Dana Bickerstaff, Lisa Forsyth, Chris Miotke, and most especially Chief Grand Master Robert Dearman.

For Leanne, Sean, and Ian, who made it all possible and all worthwhile.

And special thanks to the various functionaries and website-content folks at the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Detroit Police Department, Wayne State University, the Greektown Casino, and the city of Detroit who either answered questions or provided information.