Last Call

"Play tonight," said Theo.

Cy's mouth fell open. "You kiddin' me?"

"I couldn't be more serious. Doctor says you're doing great, finally got your blood pressure medicine figured out."

"But… I don't have my mouthpiece."

"I already rigged it. Beechler Diamond Alto. Any other excuses you want me to shred?"

"I'm so rusty. I mean, you don't really want this old man to be the first one on your stage, do you?"

Theo pushed the sax a little closer. "You're up, Jazzman"

Cy stood for a moment, expressionless. Then his mouth curled into a sly smile, and he took the instrument – carefully, lovingly, as if it were his baby "What do you want to hear?"

"How about 'Ko-Ko'?" said Theo.

Cy chuckled. A Charlie Parker classic with dazzling virtuoso technique and complex melodic lines was asking too much. "I'll give you a ballad," he said.

"Cool," said Theo, and then his friends gave Cy an encouraging round of applause.

Cy bowed humbly and then weaved through the crowd, saxophone in hand. From behind the bar Theo cut off the CD that was playing over the sound system and adjusted the overhead lighting. Cy took his place on stage. The room was abuzz with loud talk and laughter, and nobody seemed to pay much attention to the tall, ski

On the intimacy scale, Theo ranked playing the sax somewhere between crying and making love in public, such was the emotional and artistic co

Theo stood behind Trina and watched. She leaned back, seated on her bar stool, and settled into his arms. Her shoulder blades felt like wings against his chest, and along with everyone else in the room, she and Theo seemed to float a few inches off the ground as the old man played. Even Jack and Andie were at peace, their fingers interlaced on top of the bar.

After a few minutes, Trina reached behind her and pressed her hand against Theo's face. "I love my earrings," she whispered.

"I'm glad."

"Just one question."

"What?"

"How are you go

Theo covered her mouth, putting an end to the Prince Albert jokes.

She playfully bit his hand and gently tugged at her earrings, as if to confirm that both he and the jewelry were keepers.

Uncle Cy was in a groove, eyes closed, his body arching as he reached for each high note, a musician's musician playing his heart out.

Theo held his girlfriend tightly, caught up in her, caught up in the moment – spellbound by the timeless magic of Cyrus Knight.

Acknowledgments

After a one-book vacation from the Swyteck series with Lying with Strangers, I'm grateful to the team of all-stars who helped me get back into the groove of Jack and Theo: my editor, Carolyn Marino; her assistant, Wendy Lee; and my agent, Richard Pine. I also want to thank my early readers, Dr. Gloria M. Grippando, Eleanor Raynor, and Gloria Villa.

Beth Johnson was the lucky wi

As always, my biggest thank-you goes to Tiffany. She helps me in too many ways to enumerate, but I want to take this opportunity to assure her that I will never give her a roach brooch, and to assure each and every one of you (especially her friends) that Tiffany had absolutely nothing – zero, nada – to do with my research into a Prince Albert.

Finally, I want to thank the many, many pet lovers who wrote to me over the past year. In the acknowledgments to my last Jack Swyteck novel, When Darkness Falls , I mentioned the passing of Sam, my beloved golden retriever. Last Call was the first novel in a decade that I had to write without Sam at my side. Your stories about beloved pets were a huge comfort on the lonely days. For those of you who had trouble finding the story about Sam on my website, go to www. jamesgrippando.com and click on the menu button that says "Other Writings." But don't forget your Kleenex.

About the Author

JAMES GRIPPANDO is the bestselling author of fourteen novels, including Lying with Strangers, When Darkness Falls, Got the Look, Hear No Evil, and Last to Die, which are enjoyed worldwide in more than twenty languages. He lives in Florida, where he was a trial lawyer for twelve years. www.jamesgrippando.com