David Liss: The Ethical Assassin

I performed a robotic search of my systems. It took a moment, but I realized I was hungry. “Very,” I said.

“Then maybe it’s time we got that hamburger.”

“Does your offer still stand?”

She smiled at me. “Maybe yes, maybe no. You eat the hamburger, and then I’ll tell you.”

Her grin was so delightfully devilish, it made my knees weak. I had been so much, seen so much. I’d almost died in the worst way humanly imaginable. I’d seen a man eaten alive by pigs. Never had I felt more alive.

“It’s very tempting,” I said. “It’s hard to say whether or not you’ll abandon your principles until you are tested by temptation.”

“You’re being tested by temptation now,” she said. “And I am very curious to see what happens.”

I thought about it for a minute. Maybe two. And then I gave her my answer.

More so than with my previous novels, I’ve relied on the advice of smart and attentive readers to help me figure out what worked and didn’t. I owe a great deal to Sophia Hollander, Jim Jopling, Mark Haskell Smith, Tammar Stein, and Billy Taylor for their time, attention, patience, encouragement, and excellent suggestions.

Many people assisted me in my research for this novel, so I am truly grateful to everyone who gave of their time and energy: Jim Leljedal of the Broward County Sheriff’s Department; Joe Haptas and Ingrid Newkirk at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals; animal rights activist extraordinaire Don Barnes; Jimmy the SHAC guy, last name unknown; and the animal liberators with whom I corresponded, currently serving time in prison, whose names I withhold upon their request. While animal rights issues were always at the core of this project, the novel began with a very different story, and I must thank those who helped me research the material for the earlier incarnation, even though I didn’t end up using it: Michael L. Wiederhold of the University of Texas Health Science Center; and Jon Ronson, author of the absolutely terrific Them: Adventures with Extremists. I’ll write a book about the Bilderberg Group one of these days.

Once again, I must thank the incomparable Liz Darhansoff for her tireless efforts and support. I’d hate to think where I’d be without her, but it would surely be someplace dingy. Likewise super-editor Jonathan Karp, whose advice, guidance, friendship, and open-mindedness helped make this book possible. And since I am lucky enough to live in a parallel universe in which an author gets to keep the same terrific publicist for all his books, let me put a long overdue thanks in print to Sally “the Marvinator” Marvin.

DAVID LISS is the author of A Spectacle of Corruption, The Coffee Trader, and A Conspiracy of Paper, winner of the 2000 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and daughter, and can be reached via his website, www.davidliss.com.