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Feeling a little rattled, Liu got to her feet. “You’re forty minutes early, Thomas.”
“Because I knew you’d be here already, and as you might imagine, my day’s full as well,” Tull said. He came over to her, took her hands, and blew a Euro-kiss past each cheek. “You look stunning as always, Suzanne.”
Liu tried to ignore the little thrill that went through her and said, “And you’re looking better than ever. How often do you bleach those teeth?”
He grinned. “No need. Good genes.”
“Something to drink?” she asked as they both sat down.
“I’m fine,” he said. “Bill going to join us?”
“Cynthia’s going in for tests. He left me to deal with you.”
Tull laughed. “Okay, then. As soon as we finish here, I’ll e-mail you a detailed proposal for the next book. But it’s about the Family Man murders going on down in the Washington, DC, area.”
Liu had heard of them, of course. Who hadn’t? “You on the inside?” she asked.
“I will be shortly,” he said. “I’ve already been down there several times doing research. Every time I leave, I wonder why. The story’s gotten hold of me, Suzanne, and you know what that means.”
She did. Tull favored total immersion in his subjects. When he got into that kind of all-encompassing state, he came up with a remarkable story, the kind that few readers ever forgot.
“I do,” Liu said. “I’ve been with you all the way, haven’t I?”
“Not all the way,” he said.
“No one else would give you an offer onElectric,Thomas.”
He chuckled. “Look who benefited from one of the all-time-lowball advances.”
“We all benefited,” Liu said, shifting in her chair. “As I remember, you bought a Tesla with the first royalties. The fact remains that we stepped up. We made you.”
Tull’s good cheer faded. “Imade me, Suzanne. You and Bill helped. And I’m forever grateful. But your offer has to reflect the market and the interest in my work. I’ll expect your best offer for world rights by five.”
“World rights?” she said. “Best offer?”
“No negotiations; I want it to be clean,” he said, getting to his feet. “I want a home and a partner and clear income for the next few years. And I want it to be simple.”
“This is simple, and you’ve got a partner,” she said, feeling anxious as she followed him to the door.
“We’ll see,” he said, blowing a kiss past each cheek again. “May the best editor and publishing house win. And remember, this isn’t personal. It’s business. I love you and Bill no matter what.”
“Of course,” she said, putting on a brave smile. “Good luck.”
Tull grinned and walked off, looking at his phone. “I’m sending you that proposal now. I’d read it soon if I were you,” he called over his shoulder.
“Right away,” she said and hurried to her desk.
An hour later, Liu shook her head in admiration and a little awe. How did Tull always manage to find the powerful angle? How did he get so many people to speak to him? Even the people with something to lose!
Her cell rang.
“Sorry I didn’t call earlier,” Hardaway said. “Cynthia’s been admitted and the wing she’s in at Lenox Hill has zero service.”
“Admitted? I thought she was just getting some tests.”
“She was until she started bleeding.” The publisher sighed. “Right there in the ob-gyn’s office. It’s touch and go.”
“Oh God,” Liu said. “I’m so sorry, Bill. I’m praying for her and you.”
