Wheelchair or no wheelchair, the kid was clever and charming and rich. Wasn’t that enough? If he hated his father so much, why couldn’t he muster up the guts and leave?
Dan must have liked all that money too much, I realized. Leaving would have been hard. Leaving would have required sacrificing luxury. Dan wanted to have his hate, yet not have to pay for it. Hate costs. Even Mooney could have told him that.
F. Scott Fitzgerald was wrong, I decided, looking at the shining yacht. The rich really were just like you and me. Just as stupid, petty, shortsighted, screwed-up, flawed. Just as human through and through.
Staring out at the yuppies doing their Tiger Woods impressions beside the boats, I thought of someone. I scrolled down through my speed-dial list until I found what I wanted and hit the Call button.
“VICAP. Parker speaking.”
“Agent Parker,” I said. “Bennett here. How are you?”
“Mike!” she yelled. She actually sounded happy to hear from me. She must have forgotten how we had said good-bye at her hotel.
“Hey, how are things up there? That party was fun. Man, was I trashed.”
“Not more than me,” I said. “Listen, I just found out we were right when we thought there was something funny about the Hastings kid’s kidnapping. It turns out it was complete bullshit. The kid cooked it up with his Russian squeeze. They did it to rob his father. Nice, huh? Little early Father’s Day present for the old man.”
“Wow,” she said. She was silent for a long beat.
“When Francis X. and I got into our shouting match, he said that today’s youth was worthless. Sometimes I think maybe he was right. Maybe this world has lost its way.”
I tried to say something then, but when I opened my mouth, no words came out. I only wanted what all parents want, a nice place for their kids to live in. It was scary and painful to think of all the crazy, bad things that could happen, the kind of bleak future that might await them.
I looked out at the water. Though the day was bright, the air whistling in through my cracked-open window was harsh, biting, frigid.
“I don’t know about the world, Emily,” I finally said. “All I know is that Mooney is dead, and we’re still on the job.”
I started the car and cranked up the heat.
“That might not exactly be happily ever after,” I said, “but what the hell. It’s a start.”
Character Profile
Michael Bennett Info
Profile
Michael Bennett is six foot three, weighs 200 pounds, and is Irish American. He lives in New York City with his 10 adopted kids who he cares for with the help of his au pair, Mary Catherine, and his grandfather Seamus. His wife, Maeve, died of cancer in December, 2007.
Education
Michael graduated from Regis High School in Manhattan, and studied philosophy at Manhattan College in the Bronx.
Professional
Michael Bennett became a detective to uncover the truth at all costs. He began his law enforcement career in the Bronx’s 49th Precinct. He then transferred to the NYPD’s Hostage Negotiation Team and remained there until he moved to the Manhattan North Homicide Squad.
Personal
Michael met his wife Maeve while they were working in the Bronx. She worked in the trauma ward at Jacobi Hospital, just around the corner from Bennett’s first posting. Since her death in 2007, Michael is still single, but is slowly beginning to date again. He fears heights. Bennett’s ten kids are Chrissy, Shawna, Trent, twins Fiona and Bridget, Eddie, Ricky, Jane, Brian, and Juliana.
Cases Solved by Michael Bennett
Step on a Crack
Detective Michael Bennett is about to face the greatest challenge of his career. After the death of a beloved former First Lady, the most powerful people in the world gather in New York for her funeral. Then the inconceivable occurs. Billionaires, politicians, and superstars of every kind are suddenly trapped in one man's brilliant and ruthless scenario.
Run For Your Life
Run for Your Life is the electrifying sequel to the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Step on a Crack. Detective Michael Bennett gives Alex Cross a run for his money as the only cop who can stop a killer who calls himself the Teacher. Discovering a secret pattern in the Teacher's “lessons” for Manhattan's social elite, Detective Bennett realizes he has just hours to save New York from the greatest catastrophe in its history.
Worst Case
The son of one of New York’s wealthiest families is snatched off the street and held hostage. His parents can’t save him, because this kidnapper isn’t demanding money. Instead, he quizzes his prisoner on the price others pay for his life of luxury. In this exam, wrong answers are fatal.
Scene Locations
Washington Square Park (MacDougal Street & Washington Square S, New York, NY 10003): Where “The Teacher” hands out fliers in the opening scene
Holy Name School (202 W. 97th St., New York, NY 10025): Where Bennett kids go to school
The Dakota (1 W. 72nd St., Central Park West, New York, NY 10023): Where Bennett meets parents of 1st kidnapped kid
250 Briggs Ave. (actual address is 250 E. 197th St., Bronx, NY 10458): Location of first crime scene
NYPD Headquarters: (One Police Plaza, New York, NY 10038)
Columbia University’s Butler Library (535 W. 114th St., New York, NY 10027-7021): 3rd victim is kidnapped after leaving library
Chrysler Building (Chrysler Bldg., New York, NY 10017): “The Teacher's” law firm is located here
Chelsea Piers Sports Center (60 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011): Where the parent of the 3rd victim keeps a yacht
Brearly School (343 E. 87th St., New York, NY 10128): Victim abducted going between school campus and the gym
Starbucks @ 93rd and Broadway (2498 Broadway, New York NY 10025): Bennett family goes to this Starbucks for drinks after church
About the Authors
James Patterson has had more New York Times bestsellers than any other writer, ever, according to The Guinness Book of World Records. Since his first novel won the Edgar Award in 1976, James Patterson’s books have sold more than 170 million copies. He is the author of the Alex Cross novels, the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years, including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. Mr. Patterson also writes the bestselling Women’s Murder Club novels, set in San Francisco, and the top-selling New York detective series of all time, featuring Detective Michael Bennett.
James Patterson also writes books for young readers, including the award-winning Maximum Ride, Daniel X, and Witch and Wizard series. In total, these books have spent more than 200 weeks on national bestseller lists, and all three series are in Hollywood development.
His lifelong passion for books and reading led James Patterson to launch a new website, ReadKiddoRead.com, to give adults an easy way to locate the very best books for kids. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family.
Michael Ledwidge is the author of The Narrowback and Bad Connection, and, most recently, the coauthor, with James Patterson, of Run for Your Life. He lives in New York City.
Books by James Patterson
FEATURING ALEX CROSS
I, Alex Cross
Alex Cross’s Trial (with Richard DiLallo)
Cross Country
Double Cross
Cross
Mary, Mary
London Bridges
The Big Bad Wolf
Four Blind Mice
Violets Are Blue
Roses Are Red
Pop Goes the Weasel
Jack & Jill
Kiss the Girls
Along Came a Spider
THE WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB
The 8th Confession (with Maxine Paetro)
7th Heaven (with Maxine Paetro)
The 6th Target (with Maxine Paetro)
The 5th Horseman (with Maxine Paetro)
4th of July (with Maxine Paetro)
&nb
sp; 3rd Degree (with Andrew Gross)
2nd Chance (with Andrew Gross)
1st to Die
FEATURING MICHAEL BENNETT
Worst Case (with Michael Ledwidge)
Run for Your Life (with Michael Ledwidge)
Step on a Crack (with Michael Ledwidge)
THE JAMES PATTERSON PAGETURNERS
Maximum Ride: The Manga 2 (with NaRae Lee)
Witch & Wizard (with Gabrielle Charbonnet)
Daniel X: Watch the Skies (with Ned Rust)
MAX: A Maximum Ride Novel
Maximum Ride: The Manga 1 (with NaRae Lee)
Daniel X: Alien Hunter (graphic novel; with Leopoldo Gout)
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (with Michael Ledwidge)
The Final Warning: A Maximum Ride Novel
Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports
Maximum Ride: School’s Out—Forever
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
OTHER BOOKS
The Murder of King Tut (with Martin Dugard)
Against Medical Advice: One Family’s Struggle with an Agonizing Medical Mystery (with Hal Friedman)
Sail (with Howard Roughan)
Sundays at Tiffany’s (with Gabrielle Charbonnet)
You’ve Been Warned (with Howard Roughan)
The Quickie (with Michael Ledwidge)
Judge & Jury (with Andrew Gross)
Beach Road (with Peter de Jonge)
Lifeguard (with Andrew Gross)
Honeymoon (with Howard Roughan)
SantaKid
Sam’s Letters to Jennifer
The Lake House
The Jester (with Andrew Gross)
The Beach House (with Peter de Jonge)
Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas
Cradle and All
When the Wind Blows
Miracle on the 17th Green (with Peter de Jonge)
Hide & Seek
The Midnight Club
Black Friday (originally published as Black Market)
See How They Run (originally published as The Jericho Commandment)
Season of the Machete
The Thomas Berryman Number
For previews of upcoming books by James Patterson and more information about the author, visit www.jamespatterson.com.