“If you say a Ferrari, I’ll kill you myself.”

“Flying lessons. That is, if you expect me to go up in a plane with a pilot whose pacemaker could conk out at any moment.”

Ethel shook his hand again. “Done. And I’ll even throw in a set of lockpicks.” Then she hugged him. “Welcome to the family.”

Author’s Note

Although this story is fiction, it contains factual elements. Millions of dollars in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are now inaccessible to their owners because private keys have been lost. Cryptocurrencies also appeal to criminal enterprises that value the anonymity and impenetrable security of the virtual wallets. Such criminal activity is clearly demonstrated by ransomware attacks that demand cryptocurrency as the medium of payment. What the future holds for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remains to be seen, but it appears they are here to stay.

UFOs do exist. United Flying Octogenarians, that is. Although Ethel is too young to be a member, her friends Pete and Curt are worthy examples of this elite group.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a serious genetic bone condition that ranges from lethal at birth to milder manifestations that allow for a relatively normal life. Davie is midway on that spectrum and could face life-threatening vulnerabilities as he ages.

Acknowledgments

This novel certainly benefited from the help of others. Special thanks to my editor Diane DiBiase for championing Ethel’s story. Thanks to Beth Deveny for eagle-eyed copyediting and to the Poisoned Pen Press team that connects books with readers.

I’m indebted to former U.S. Associate Attorney General Webb Hubble, who provided guidance in jurisdictional matters of the FBI and Secret Service. Thanks to Mark Thornberry for navigating me through planes and flight procedures to get Ethel up in the air and down again, and to Bill Hamby for his knowledge of Richmond.

Grandson Charles Thomson showed me how to construct a hollow LEGO box that made for an excellent hiding place. Thanks, Charlie!

Finally, thanks to family and friends for the support and love that I wish could be a part of everyone’s story. And to you, dear reader, for giving Ethel Fiona Crestwater the chance to tell hers.

About the Author

Mark de Castrique was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina, near Asheville. He went straight from the hospital to the funeral home, where his father was the funeral director and the family lived upstairs. The unusual setting sparked his popular Buryin’ Barry series and launched his mystery-writing career.

Mark is the author of twenty-one novels—seven set in the fictional North Carolina mountain town of Gainesboro, eight set in Asheville, three in Washington DC, one science thriller set in the year 2030, and two mysteries written for middle-graders and set in the Charlotte region.