Eyes of a Child (86 page)

Taking Terri's hand, he leaned back on the bench, feeling the sun light on his face, at peace for perhaps the first time in his lfe.

‘A baby,' he said again. ‘Seems like enough.'

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Like Blanche Dubois, I often depend on the kindness of strangers – and friends.

Assistant District Attorney Bill Fazio and defense lawyers Hugh Levine, Jim Collins, and Jim Larson contributed numerous valuable suggestions about the trial of a complex criminal case. As before, County Medical Examiner Boyd Stevens and Homicide Inspector Napolean Hendrix lent me their expertise. Karen Jo Koonan, of the National Jury Project, helped explain the valuable services performed by jury consultants in assessing jury panels. And Assistant District Attorney Al Giannini not only gave great advice but reviewed the manuscript. They share the credit for authenticity; any errors, or simplifications for narrative purposes, are mine.

The child custody process is interesting and unique. Marjorie Kaplan and Brian Johnson were generous with their advice, and Dr Erika Myers helped me understand the conduct of a family evaluation.

Spousal and child abuse are difficult subjects. Drs Howard Gillis, Rodney Shapiro, and Teresa Schumann, and counselor Cecilia Moreno, were invaluable in helping me. While there is no single psychological profile for either victim or perpetrator, I hope I have treated these subjects fairly and informatively.

Others helped as well. Clint Reilly, political consultant; handwriting experts Pat Fisher and Howard Rile; gun expert Dennis Casey; and blood-typing experts Dr Ben Grunbaum and District Attorney Rock Harmon, all shared their knowledge. And legendary private investigator Hal Lipset was generous in explaining how he would help defend the case I have presented here.

As usual, several perceptive friends read various portions of the manuscript. Without Philip Rotner, Lee Zell, and – particularly –my wife, Laurie, the task of writing this novel would have been far more solitary and difficult. And, throughout, I was buoyed by the support and confidence of my friends at Ballantine Books, Linda Grey and Clare Ferraro.

One of my great pleasures has been working with Alison Porter Thomas. Not only does she type the manuscript, but Alison – a particularly insightful reader – tells me what seems right or wrong. The next book is for her.

Finally, there are Fred Hill and Sonny Mehta. Fred has been my literary agent, and friend, for fifteen years. He is what writers, at their most idealistic, hope an agent will be – a discerning reader, a supportive friend, and a superlative mediator between writer and publisher. With every book, Fred has helped me make the best possible arrangement, including a meticulous concern with which publisher and editor would be right for me. My career would be far different without him.

When we learned that Sonny Mehta was interested in my last novel,
Degree of Guilt
, Fred advised me to go no farther. It was, perhaps, Fred's best single piece of advice. Sonny is a superb editor, a committed and creative publisher, and a brilliant promotor of emerging writers. Because Sonny and his gifted coworkers at Knopf worked hard to communicate their enthusiasm to booksellers and to the public, I have been able to reach the audience that any writer wants. And because my career has become intertwined with the talents of Fred Hill and Sonny Mehta, I am free to write the best that I can. I am deeply grateful to them both.