Jeffery Deaver: The Steel Kiss

In regione caecorum rex est luscus , he thought.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Side by side, they negotiated the crowded lobby and headed out into the overcast spring afternoon, turning toward the van, which was sitting in the disabled zone.

“So,” Rhyme asked Sachs. “Any more thoughts on what to do during your three-month retirement?”

“Aside from being pissed off?”

“Aside from that.”

“Taking care of Mom. Working on the Torino. Shoot a hell of a lot of lead through paper out on the range. Take up cooking.”

“Cooking?”

“Okay, not that.”

As they approached the van she said, “I have a feeling you’re agendizing something.”

Rhyme chuckled. Ah, Lon Sellitto... what would we do without you?

“Evers Whitmore came to see me, the lawyer. You know I’m not working for him anymore on the Frommer case. Conflict of interest, now that I’m handling the criminal side.”

“What’s this about, Rhyme?”

“I need a favor, Sachs. You’re going to want to say no, but just hear me out.”

“This sounds familiar.”

His eyebrow rose. “Hear me out?”

Sachs put her hand on Rhyme’s and said, “Deal.”

With undying gratitude to: Will and Tina Anderson, Sophie Baker, Giovanna Canton, Jane Davis, Julie Deaver, Jenna Dolan, Kimberly Escobar, Jamie Hodder-Williams, Kerry Hood, Mitch Hoffman, Cathy Gleason, Emma Knight, Carolyn Mays, Claire Nozieres, Hazel Orme, Abby Parsons, Seba Pezzani, Michael Pietsch, Jamie Raab, Betsy Robbins, Katy Rouse, Lindsey Rose, Roberto Santachiara, Deborah Schneider, Vivienne Schuster, Ruth Tross, Madelyn Warcholik. You’re the best!