The timing couldn’t be a coincidence. And the longer Corrine studied Trisha’s features, the greater the resemblance she saw to Spencer Powell.
Corrine’s mind was pinging with possibilities, but she was certain of one thing: this girl deserved to be claimed. She could call the Pittsburgh Police and suggest they compare the DNA of Franklin’s unidentified victim to one of Trisha’s family members. Depending on what she learned about the Faulkners, maybe she would keep her suspicions about Spencer’s biological lineage to herself, at least for the time being.
When she got to her car, she called ADA King. “I want you to get me a meeting with Olivia Randall.”
He knew she was annoyed that the Nassau County DA had blown her off about the mileage on the loaner car, but he had talked her out of going to Powell’s defense attorney directly.
“You’re not letting this go, are you?”
“No way.”
“Fine. I’ll make the call.”
Corrine had asked Angela how well she knew her husband. Now she was going to find out how much Jason knew about his wife.
Acknowledgments
One of the loveliest perks of completing a new book is the opportunity to thank the many generous people who helped along the way.
I am grateful for the valuable expertise and sage advice of Matthew Connolly; Kenneth Crum; Roseanne DeLaglio; Dr. Jonathan Hayes, associate medical examiner for District 20, Naples, Florida; Dr. Jill Hechtman, medical director of Tampa Obstetrics; Shannon Kircher; Michael Koryta; NYPD lieutenant Lucas Miller; Miriam Parker; Don Rees, Multnomah County chief deputy district attorney; Anne-Lise Spitzer; and Dr. Elayne Tobin, clinical assistant professor, New York University.
My editor, Jennifer Barth, has been my trusted sounding board and closest reader since she acquired my first novel more than fifteen years ago. I consider myself lucky to work with a person of her talents and integrity. She and the matchmaker who introduced us, Philip Spitzer, aka the Jerry Maguire of literary agents, remain my biggest champions. I’m not kidding: Speak poorly of one of their writers near them, and I can’t protect you.
I am also thankful to Amy Baker, Jonathan Burnham, Heather Drucker, Jimmy Iacobelli, Doug Jones, Michael Morrison, Katie O’Callaghan, Mary Sasso, Leah Wasielewski, Erin Wicks, and Lydia Weaver at HarperCollins; Lukas Ortiz and Kim Lombardini at the Spitzer Agency; Angus Cargill, Lauren Nicoll, and Sophie Portas at Faber & Faber; Kate McLennan at Abner Stein Ltd.; Giulia De Biase at Edizioni Piemme; and Jody Hotchkiss.
To my loving friends and family, especially my extraordinary husband, Sean Simpson: thanks for believing I deserve you.
Last, but never least, thanks to my incredible readers, especially the longtime “kitchen cabinet” crew. Some days, simply knowing that someone other than my parents is enjoying my work and waiting for the next story is what keeps me at the keyboard. Happy reading.