A Fistful of Rain (28 page)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The technical aspects of this book were many, and those who contributed their time and knowledge are too numerous to name. That being said, special thanks must go to the following:

The members of
Audio Learning Center:
Chris Brady, Paul Johnson, and most particularly, Steven Birch. Wonderful musicians all, talented beyond compare, and each generous to a fault. To Steve in particular, thanks for everything, from the first steps to the final lap. Shameless plug for their album
Friendships Often Fade Away
.

Special indebtedness to one of the most fabulous couples it has been my pleasure to know—Judd Winick and Pamela Ling, M.D. Unique insight, brutal honesty, great humor, and yes, I know it’s not so much a visual tremor as a verbal tic, but it’s so much more
dramatic
when it’s written that way.

To Nunzio Andrew DeFilippis, who leapt for the over-the-wall catch and made the save not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Like the ladies before her, Mim loves you.

Thank you to Gerard V. Hennelly, without whom no acknowledgment would be complete. You know dangerous things, and are always willing to share. Thanks as well to Nancy Hess, for taking the time to speak with a total stranger, and better, to speak honestly.

To John W. Patton and Courtney Dreslin; the former for taking time better spent at better tasks to research the hypothetical, and to do so very thoroughly; the latter for not only fielding the first questions, but enlisting the former in answering the second . . . and third . . . and fourth . . . ; additional legal thanks to Harvey Mittler and N.M.R., and to Brad Meltzer, for pointing the right way.

To the Cats at Oni Press—Joe Nozemack, Jamie S. Rich, and James Lucas Jones—break out the reading pants.

To Matthew Clark, for patience.

And finally, to Jennifer and Elliot. I’m back. Sorry I was gone so long.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GREG RUCKA
was born in San Francisco and raised on the Monterey Peninsula. He is the author of several novels, including four about bodyguard Atticus Kodiak, and of numerous comic books, including the Eisner Award–winning
Whiteout: Melt
and
Queen & Country
. He resides in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Jennifer, and their son, Elliot.

ALSO BY GREG RUCKA

KEEPER

FINDER

SMOKER

SHOOTING AT MIDNIGHT

CRITICAL SPACE

A FISTFUL OF RAIN

A Bantam Book / August 2003

Published by Bantam Dell

A Division of Random House, Inc.

New York, New York

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

“Fistful of Rain” lyrics © 2001 Zevon Music (BMI)/Googoplex Music (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2003 by Greg Rucka

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www.bantamdell.com

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

Bantam Books is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc., and the rooster colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Rucka, Greg.

A fistful of rain / Greg Rucka

p. cm.

I. Title

PS3568.U2968F57 2003

813′.54—dc21

2002043793

eISBN: 978-0-553-89733-3

v3.0