A Measure of Blood (34 page)

My gratitude goes to several experts who helped me along the way in writing this novel. New contacts/consultants include Detective Christopher Jordan, Computer Crimes, Pittsburgh Police; Virginia Giannotta of The Caring Place, a center for grieving children, Pittsburgh; Lisa Bednarchik of Children and Youth Services, State College; Phyllis Smith of the Peabody Institute, Baltimore; the teachers at the Falk School, Pittsburgh; and directors of a number of funeral homes and crematoria in Pennsylvania.

As always, the usual suspects have provided valuable information with great patience: Marc Silverman of the University of Pittsburgh Law Library, shepherded me through cases of sperm donorship and taught me about databases used for people searches; and retired Commander Ronald B. Freeman of the Pittsburgh Police continued to teach me about crime investigation in a way that suits me—he cares about people and their stories.

I'd like to thank Otto Penzler of Mysterious Press and his wonderful staff, Alex Franks, Nina Lassam, and Rob Hart, for making this book such a pleasant and rewarding experience.

The University of Pittsburgh has provided me with a home for many years, not to mention a setting for much of this novel. I pass certain places every day and, in my mind, scenes happen in them.

I have a support system that makes my life rich. Let me thank here “The Seven,” my writing group; my wonderful family; and my extraordinary husband, writer Hilary Masters.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

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

Copyright © 2013 Kathleen George

Cover design by Mauricio Díaz

ISBN 978-1-4804-4556-7

Published in 2013 by MysteriousPress.com/Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.mysteriouspress.com
www.openroadmedia.com

Otto Penzler, owner of the Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan, founded the Mysterious Press in 1975. Penzler quickly became known for his outstanding selection of mystery, crime, and suspense books, both from his imprint and in his store. The imprint was devoted to printing the best books in these genres, using fine paper and top dust-jacket artists, as well as offering many limited, signed editions.

Now the Mysterious Press has gone digital, publishing ebooks through
MysteriousPress.com
.

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offers readers essential noir and suspense fiction, hard-boiled crime novels, and the latest thrillers from both debut authors and mystery masters. Discover classics and new voices, all from one legendary source.

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