Harm's Reach
Page 32
She sucked in a huge breath.
But not amazing.
She looked into the mirror.
I want to see giant pupils and sharper cheekbones. I want to feel hollowness in my lungs. I want my head to feel like it’s a vast hangar waiting to be filled with magical magic things. I want my heart to surge. I want to drink and fuck and laugh all night, every night.
She studied the pill …
Stabilizer, stabilize thyself!
She tipped her hand.
Ha!
The small white pill slid down the plughole.
Ren looked back up at the mirror and smiled.
Come on, Mr Mania, take me back.
Supersize Me.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To Darley Anderson and all the team at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency, thank you so much for everything you do.
To my dear editor, Sarah Hodgson, respect and thanks for your wise words, trusted judgement, and support in ways too numerous to mention.
Thank you to Kate Stephenson for her excellence, positivity and calm.
Many thanks to Kate Elton and to everyone at HarperCollins who makes this happen.
To Rhian McKay, thank you for the copy-editing skills I am tempted to spell ‘skillz’.
To the powerhouse that is Moira Reilly, thank you, thank you, thank you for being a wonderful friend, supporter, and prophet of joy.
A big thank you to the kind and diligent Tony Purdue.
Thank you to the following experts and their generous research assistance – any errors are author-generated. Tell your friends.
A huge thank you goes to Jefferson County cold case detective, Cheryl Moore, for her generous awarding of time, enlightenment, advice, and late-night laughs.
To SSA Phil Niedringhaus, Man Most Likely to Fire Ren Bryce, thank you, as always, for your help and support, and for the seminar on multi-agency critical response.
To Becky Farr Seidel, thank you so much for answering my questions on charitable donations.
For insight into the fascinating science of genetics, thank you to Dr Arthur L. Beaudet, professor and chair of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine.
To Thomas J. Ragonetti, thank you for your lawyerly instruction on wills and trusts, for your interest and support, and for introductions to helpful friends.
The revelation of writing this book has been the discovery of a real Pat Prince with astonishing echoes of the fictional one … minus the family skeletons. Pat Prince, you are the original and the best. Your emails are always an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your race car expertise, and thank you for ‘evil manners’.
To Sue Booth-Forbes, you are instrumental in all my tales coming to life. Thank you for the beautiful world of Anam Cara, expertly helmed, selflessly shared.
To Mary-Jane Robinson, gifted ghostwriter and anti-spectre; when you’re around, the room goes warm.
To Arthur Beesley, thank you for taking a machete to the undergrowth of financial shenanigans.
To all the readers who get in touch, and all who come to crime events, it is always a pleasure.
To my amazing family, thank you for being exactly that. Love you all to bittts.
To my wonderful friends – I don’t know how I got so lucky. But I do know I’m eternally grateful.
A defiant thank you to Paul Kelly, deflector of much-deserved thank yous.
Now you can buy the first three books in the Agent Ren Bryce series in one!
‘Gripping, stylish, convincing’ Sunday Times (Ireland)
‘Tense, no-punches-pulled thriller that will have you on the edge of your deckchair.’ Woman and Home
‘The rising star of the crime fiction world, combining wild characters, surprising plots and massive backdrops with a touch of dry humour’ Mirror
‘Excellent’ Sunday Telegraph
Click here to buy the Agent Ren Bryce Thriller series books 1-3
About the Author
Alex Barclay lives in County Cork, Ireland. She is the bestselling author of Darkhouse, The Caller, Blood Runs Cold, Time of Death, and Blood Loss.
For more information about Alex Barclay and her books, please visit her website, www.alexbarclay.co.uk
Also by Alex Barclay
Darkhouse
The Caller
Blood Runs Cold
Time of Death
Blood Loss
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