‘Um, I know him, but …’
‘Heavens, Leslie! It’s Zak! Zak Rookwood. Leah’s son.’
‘Zak? Isn’t he still a medical student? He must be about ten years younger than she is.’
‘He’s thirty at least and a doctor in Emergency now. And I think both of them are well able to look after themselves.
Come on, I’m starving.’
‘Well she needs to come back to work soon,’ Leslie remarked as they headed out into the street. ‘She still hasn’t found out what happened to Wayne Buscati.’
Acknowledgments
Many people helped me in the writing of Double Madness, some by critically reading the manuscript, some by providing technical information, some by doing both. Jane Patrick, Jan Walker, Annie Chance, Michele Moore, John Timlin, my brother Richard Downes, my daughters Naomi, Viveka and Josephine, and my son Javed all read the manuscript as it evolved and helped develop the story and the character of Cass Diamond. Josephine provided tae kwon do moves, Naomi and Viveka directed me on Cass’s likely musical tastes. My dear friend, the late Mary McCleary, explained the workings of New South Wales prisons, and Jonathan Carne gave me important information about folie à deux. My editors Kylie Mason and Deb Fitzpatrick helped enormously in improving the text.
I am indebted to Joshua Trevino for his thorough reading of the manuscript and advice about legal procedures, and to Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Horan for guidance on police matters. Double Madness is a work of fiction and as such, does not seek to depict exactly how either detection or medicine are practiced. I can say though that wherever the legal or police details are accurate, Josh or Glenn are responsible; all inaccuracies are my own.
I thank them all.
Double Madness Page 27