Legally Dead (33 page)

I am grateful to pilot Tim Boyens, that high flying-captain of the sky, to the ever cool Daniel Eydt of the Miami-Dade Police Bomb Squad, to Susan Fleming, whose resourceful and dedicated work always inspires me, to the adventurous globetrotting journalist Sibohan Morrissey, and to artist Carol Garvin, who captures Miami's true essence.

Former Miami Shores Police Chief Dick Masten, the world's greatest cop, generously shared his expertise, as did former NASA assistant specialist Larry Painter, and Gary Alan Ruse.

I owe special thanks to the friendship and fertile imaginations of Rodney Toth, Mitzi Major, Char Eberly, Dr. Larry Baretta, Lynn Fitzpatrick, and super tenor, Dale Kitchell.

The brave and beautiful redhead with a gun, Lt. Joy Gellatly of the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, never lets me down. Neither do the three other glamorous redheads, Mimi Gadinsky, Teresa Lane, and Marilyn Lane: my chief accomplice, coconspirator, and getaway driver.

Thank you to Pauline Winick, Howard Kleinberg, Mort and Sybil Lucoff, and to all my other brilliant and eloquent Sesquipedalian friends, including my steadfast and accomplished buddies: Patricia Fussell Keen and Dr. Howard Gordon: surgeon, pilot, and raconteur extraordinaire.

Terry Bauer and U.S. Marine Sgt. Scott Jones didn't hesitate to share with a stranger.

My mouthpiece, Florida's foremost criminal defense attorney Joel Hirschhorn; my pastor, the Reverend Dr. Garth Thompson; and my friend Leonard Wolfson do their best to keep me out of trouble. Not an easy job.

Dr. Stephen J. Nelson, Chairman of the Florida Medical Examiners Commission and Chief Medical Examiner for the 10th District of Florida, and William C. Cagney III are always there when I need them, along with Shane Willens, his girls Crystal and Angel, Renee Turolla, David M. Thornburgh, Ann Hughes, Mary Finn, Kay Spitzer, Norry Lynch, Edward Gadinsky, and my friend Juan Pujol, who can open any door—without a key.

My heartfelt thanks go to Karen Sampson and her late husband and partner, forensic genius William Sampson. He will always be alive in our hearts.

Dr. Mel Yoken,
Miami Herald
reporter Andrea Torres, and retired
Herald
veteran Arnold Markowitz all helped with this book. As did the famous Ruth Regina, Simon & Schuster's meticulous and creative Mara Lurie, ace private investigator Ralph N. Garcia, and the astonishing Glenn Lane. They all have more great stories than any newspaper, and they are willing to share.

Thanks as always to my agent, Michael Congdon; to my editor, Mitchell Ivers; and to Katie Grimm, Katie Grinch, and Cristina Concepcion.

And a big, long-distance smack on the lips to the tough and savvy Daniel P. Hughes.

Friends are the family you choose.