Mike Maden - Drone Command

His phone buzzed. A text message from Myers. “Forgot to tell you. Lane has another job for us.”

“What job?” he texted back.

“We can talk about it later. Stay safe.”

“Okay.”

She sent another. “Can’t wait to see you tonight.”

“Same here.”

And then she sent one more. “You okay?”

Pearce stared at the text. He wasn’t sure.

He wondered what she’d think of him if she knew what he was doing. She deserved better.

He stared at the blacked-out monitor. Imagined Tanaka’s breathless hell. Felt his own claustrophobia closing in. A nightmare. Guilt whispered somewhere deep inside but Yamada’s mangled corpse shouted it away.

He needed a drink. Reached for Mann’s pack of smokes instead but held off, remembering how Will had died. He settled for a stick of gum. Texted Myers.

“Yeah. Doing okay.”

And he was.

First and foremost, thanks to my new editor, Sara Minnich. You couldn’t have made the transition any easier and your notes were spot-on. I’m thoroughly indebted to the entire team at G. P. Putnam’s Sons for their invaluable support, particularly Ivan Held’s steadfast commitment to the series.

My literary superagent, David Hale Smith at InkWell Management, is still on point, cutting fresh trails and kicking down doors for me and the Pearce Systems crew. It doesn’t get any better than that. Stay tuned.

One of the joys of writing novels is the opportunity to meet the hardworking bookstore owners, managers, and staff around the country who sell them. I was particularly well cared for by Barbara Peters (The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale), McKenna Jordan (Murder by the Book, Houston), Bob White (Sundog Books, Seaside), Amy Harper (Barnes & Noble, Lewisville), Michelle Abele (Barnes & Noble, Knoxville), and Gordon Brugman (Books-A-Million, Sevierville). Thanks again to you all — hope to see you soon.

I rely on the keen insight of friends and family on the first drafts of every novel, including this one. My first and best reader is always my remarkable wife, Angela, who apparently missed her calling in the literary world. I am especially grateful this go-around to Robbie D. Scruggs, U.S. Navy Captain (Retired) for our Drone Command correspondence and distant friendship. Martin Hironaga, as always, gave me a close and insightful reading. Of course, mistakes in the manuscript, fictional or otherwise, are entirely my own.

I also owe a special debt of gratitude to the amazing Nita Taublib, who first saw the potential in Troy Pearce, Margaret Myers, and a certain unpublished author. Blessings on your head.

Finally, thanks to all of you who support Troy & Co. in print, digital, and audio formats. It’s been a privilege to connect with readers and fans through social media. If you haven’t already done so, please join us in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.