“I’m sure that’s not true.”
“It is very true. There were tons of things the tests could have featured that I knew nothing about. But someone upstairs took pity on me.”
“I’ve never known you as a religious man.”
“In trenches and in finals,” McAdams told her. “I passed with honors if you must know.”
“I must know.”
“I suddenly have people clamoring for me for a summer internship. I’ve got my pick of some really good jobs.”
“That’s great!”
“Shame I’m already booked for the summer.”
“Nonsense, Tyler, take advantage of the opportunities. Greenbury PD will survive without you.”
“Woman, you cut me to the quick.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do know. And I’m happy to be a hot property. Unfortunately, we all know that I’m not a team player. And I really don’t like bosses giving me dog assignments and telling me what to do. I’m horrible at corporate structure.”
“I heard these top firms buy you expensive dinners and take you yachting on weekends.”
“After working you to death.”
“At three grand a week. Tyler, at least give it a try.”
“It takes a lot more than a sail to Nantucket to buy me off. My mind is already made up so why argue. In the meantime, I’m off on vacation.”
“Where to?”
“I’m going to work on my tan. My stepgrandmother has a villa in Rhodes, bought with my grandfather’s money, of course. But since Nina is so lovely, I can’t begrudge her anything. She says hello, by the way. I’m sure she’d extend the invitation to you and the old man.”
“That’s so nice, but we’ve made some arrangements next week to visit the children.”
“Next time.”
“Next time it is.” Rina hesitated. “Tyler, you really should consider one of those prestigious internships. You may even find it interesting.”
“I doubt it.” A pause. “Rina, I’m independently wealthy, which means I don’t ever have to work, let alone work under a boss. But like any rule, there’s always an exception. So tell Mr. Exception that I’ll see him in the summer.”
“We’ll see you then.”
“Bye.” McAdams cut the line, but didn’t pocket his phone. Instead, he thought a moment. Then his fingers flew across the pop-up keyboard on his iPhone.
Hey.
A moment later, he heard the beep. He read the text.
Hey.
How’s it going?
Good. Eli was really onto something. I miss him in my own nerdy way. Have you heard about your exams?
I passed.
Congrats.
Thanks.
We have break next week. Maybe I can come up to Harvard? See what it’s like?
I won’t be around. I’m taking some time off.
Okay. Maybe next time.
McAdams smiled. He texted: This may seem a little odd, but I’m gonna just throw it out there because I’m just that kind of guy.
What?
Have you ever been to Greece?
No. I’ve never been outside the country. Lack of funds. Why?
Would it interest you to go?
Of course it would interest me. Like big-time.
McAdams smiled broadly. He texted: Well then, sister, today’s your lucky day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
FAYE KELLERMAN lives with her husband, New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman, in Los Angeles, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Fayekellerman.net
www.facebook.com/FayeKellermanBooks
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Also by Faye Kellerman
Murder 101
The Beast
Gun Games
Hangman
Blindman’s Bluff
The Mercedes Coffin
The Burnt House
The Ritual Bath
Sacred and Profane
The Quality of Mercy
Milk and Honey
Day of Atonement
False Prophet
Grievous Sin
Sanctuary
Justice
Prayers for the Dead
Serpent’s Tooth
Moon Music
Jupiter’s Bones
Stalker
The Forgotten
Stone Kiss
Street Dreams
Straight into Darkness
The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights:
A book of short stories
With Jonathan Kellerman
Double Homicide
Capital Crimes
With Aliza Kellerman
Prism
CREDITS
Cover design by Jae Song
Cover photographs: © Mark Cinotti/Shutterstock (hand);
© mexrix/Shutterstock (background)
Author photograph by Karen Miller
COPYRIGHT
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
THE THEORY OF DEATH. Copyright © 2015 by Plot Line, Inc. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
FIRST EDITION
ISBN 978-0-06-227021-4 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-06-243744-0 (international edition)
EPub Edition OCTOBER 2015 9780062270238
15 16 17 18 19 DIX/RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor
Toronto, ON M4W 1A8, Canada
www.harpercollins.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London, SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com
The Theory of Death Page 34