Safe Navigation, West Marine in Long Beach, Charles Link of Performance Tackle, and Ron and Darlene Jack assisted with nautical matters. Professor Emeritus Rodger Heglar, who taught anthropology at San Francisco State University, Joan Parker of the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, and forensic anthropologist Dr. Judy Suchey of California State University, Fullerton, contributed to my understanding of what happens to bones left in the ocean.
Fictional Las Piernas has fictional oil islands; Long Beach, California’s THUMS islands are, in fact, found nowhere else in the world. I am indebted to Ed Fischer, Steve Marsh of THUMS, and Don Clarke, City Geologist for Long Beach, who spent lots of time talking to me about the real oil islands.
Ruthann Lehrer of the Neighborhood and Historic Preservation Office for the City of Long Beach helped me to see what the Angelus might look like. Jenny Oropeza, Cathy Keig, and Jim Hayes helped me through the political maze. Heather Cvar helped with the special expertise on pranks that only a thirteen-year-old can provide. Joe and Elaine Livermore of Footprints of a Gigantic Hound in Tucson, Arizona, are owned by the original model for Finn, a wonderful Irish wolfhound named Mr. Calder, who was gracious enough to allow his feet to be measured. That was probably one of the weirder calls the Livermores received this year, but I doubt they are surprised that I’m the one who made it.
I’m also grateful to Detective Bill Valles, Corporal Joseph Levy, and Officer Don Smith of the Long Beach Police Department, as well as Dennis Payne of the Robbery-Homicide Division of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Sharon Weissman and Tonya Pearsley provided extraordinary support, research, contacts with experts, and personal insights. Sharon even let me take her fax machine apart. Both read drafts and kept me from despairing during those days when I thought I’d never find time to get this one written. Sandra Cvar helped me find the time.
Special thanks to Michael Connelly, who helped me to keep my perspective and answered a number of pesky questions as well. (Lex and Nex are yours again, Mike.)
My family and friends are due many thanks, especially Tim, who had to read the manuscript two zillion times. Nancy Yost, superagent and
