The Siege

by Stephen White

  We were quiet until the light changed so we could cross Broadway. Deirdre broke the silence when we were still thirty feet from Poe. She said, “Do you know how many loose nukes there are in the world, Sam? Unaccounted-for nuclear weapons?”

  I didn’t have to think long. “No,” I said. “I don’t.”

  We made it to within a couple of steps of Christopher Poe before she said, “We don’t either.”

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book gives me cause to remind that I make stuff up.

  Although The Siege takes unconcealed advantage of real locales, legendary buildings, and revered institutions, I altered them whenever reality proved inconvenient. I adjusted the timing of actual events so that things that had already occurred and events that are planned for the future all take place during the story. I have also taken liberties with the geography of the Yale campus and with the architectural details of prominent buildings in order to describe perspectives that, well, don’t exist.

  The gestation of this concept took place over a period of five years. I’m particularly grateful to Brian Tart at Dutton for his guidance and encouragement as I searched for a way to tell the story. I could not have written a book like The Siege without the editorial fortitude Brian displays. Jessica Horvath provided crucial support and was invaluable in convincing all of us that the structure of the book didn’t break any of the laws of physics. Claire Zion is everything a writer could want in an editor. Robert Barnett and Bonnie Nathan continue to advocate for me with remarkable grace. Jane Davis does so many things to help keep me afloat. I am grateful to all.

  I thank Christopher Whitcomb, again. His captivating memoir of life on the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, Cold Zero, was an essential resource.

  Years back, Jeffery Deaver helped convince me that this idea had promise. After I began sharing pages I relied on a handful of trusted early readers for counsel. At various stages Francine Mathews, Alex- ander White, Rose Kauffman, Jane Davis, Elyse Morgan, Judy Pomer antz, Maureen Guilfoile, Kevin Guilfoile, and Nancy Hall let me know what was and wasn’t working. Al Silverman’s eye proved as sharp as ever. For everyone’s help, I’m more grateful than I’m able to say. I also thank Patricia Limerick, and hope Jeff Limerick finds some heavenly amusement in the cameo-time in New Haven.

  I had a sleeping dog by my side almost every day that I wrote. Writing without Abbey beside me is theoretically possible, but I’m not anxious to try.

  Xan White provided indispensable research. Officer Joseph Avery answered my questions about the New Haven Police Department. Scott Meacham generously permitted the use of his evocative photograph of Book & Snake in the front matter. Killeen Hanson mapped New Haven and Yale to my peculiar specifications. Any variation from reality in her work is my responsibility.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Stephen White is a clinical psychologist and New York Times bestsell ing author of sixteen previous suspense novels, including Dry Ice and Dead Time. He lives in Colorado.

  For more information, please visit www.authorstephenwhite.com.