Leaving Unknown (31 page)

R
ed wine?”

“Yes, thanks. Did you get the popcorn?”

Pause.

“You remembered to get the popcorn, right?”

Cough.

“Are you kidding me? You forgot the popcorn! What’s movie night without popcorn?”

“I had a deadline! I was focused on getting chapters out.”

“Spare me. You spent the entire day distracting me while I was trying to research the impact of Indonesian imports on domestic cement production for
Cement Times: Solid Facts
.”

“I didn’t notice you complaining.” Haughty.

“
Whatever
, clever. Let’s watch the movie.”

“Where’s the remote?”

Silence.

“It’s on the TV.”

“Well, go get it.”

“You go get it.”

“I cooked the spaghetti.”

“You forgot the popcorn.”

“You picked the movie.”

“I’m the guest.”

“Right. You have more stuff here than I do. There’s no room for
my
socks anymore!”

“If you can call those socks.”

“There is nothing wrong with black socks.”

Snort. “Fine. If you won’t get the remote, we’ll just sit here.”

“Fine.” Quiet. “I can think of something to do…”

“You getting the remote?”

“I was thinking more along these lines…”

Giggle. “That tickles.”

“I can do this instead.”

“Hey! That’s shocking, sir!”

Pause. “Want me to stop?”

“Not on your life. C’mere…”

Long silence.

“Maeve?”

“Yes, Noah?”

“What’s this I hear about you opening a tattoo parlor in the corner of the bookstore?”

A
s always, I owe my family a debt of thanks for their incredible support, especially my parents, Paul and Kathy Reichs, and my sister and brother, Courtney and Brendan. I want to welcome and thank Emily Reichs and Brooks Mixon for being brave enough to join our family. I am so glad to have you. A special shout out goes to Marta Reichs, my ninety-year-old grandmother, who always has been my rock and inspiration. Welcome goes to Jason Tedesco, the newest member of our gang.

I cannot express enough gratitude to my remarkable literary agents Dorian Karchmar, Rowan Lawton, and Lisa Grubka. Thanks also to Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Anna DeRoy, Lauren Whitney, Tracy Fisher, and Adam Schear. The entire team at William Morris Agency spoils me rotten.

Unlimited thanks go to my incredible editor, Carrie Feron, and publisher, Liate Stehlik, who turn everything I spin to gold. The entire HarperCollins team gets a resounding cheer for their efforts and dedication, especially Tessa Woodward and Buzzy Porter.

I am so grateful to the Hedgebrook Foundation for awarding me a writing residency. Hedgebrook is a gift for women writers, and I was blessed to share my time there with extraordinary women who inspired and improved me.

I could not have invented
Unknown
on my own. For helping me find a location and hosting me during research trips to Ari
zona, I thank Carla Kountoupes, Will Wilson, Zoë Wilson, and Cristina Beloud. I do my best writing in London and Los Angeles. I’m incredibly grateful to Matthew Griffin, Peter Dean, David Williams, and Kimberly Cayce for generously providing my homes away from home. And, for maintaining my own home when I’m not there and being a surrogate parent to my cats, I thank Anil Zenginoglu.

I had many “technical experts.” For assistance with the Portuguese language, I thank Claudio Felix. For his auto mechanical expertise, I thank Paul Tedesco. For helping me write some terrible cop drama dialogue, I thank Ralph Soll. For information to write accurately about shooting a television show, I thank Nina Jack, and everyone at
Bones
. And for the most beautiful drawings in the world, I thank Alastair Sadler.

I had many non-technical experts too, whether it was reading early versions or just listening. Special thanks always to my reader Ted Robertson. Also to Lisa Ruggiero Hopson, for taking this ride with me from the beginning, literally, one mile at a time. To Hiwa Bourne, for teaching me Hawaiian phrases and demonstrating what it means to look like you’re dancing when you’re standing still. To Tricia Hale for demonstrating the power of online re-connectivity. To Julie Lentz and the Gin Mill for letting me steal you for this book. To Stacey Bowlin, Tasha McGinn, Leslie Norwalk, and Sabrina Shea for bedside picnics and helping me with the tricky bits. To Sean Nolan for some inspired gift ideas. To Tom Roberts and Nils Olsen for educating me on deliberate practice and decision making. To my LA “family” for making it feel like coming home every time I step off the plane. And to my DC “family” for being so thrilled when I get back. I am blessed in my friends.

Most of all, I thank all those who shared their stories with me. You have my respect, my gratitude, and my pledge to continue the fight.