Excerpt from Void Moon by Michael Connelly, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"Cute kid," LeValley said, giving off no sign of suspicion. "I met her when I first took the listing. I think she's six or seven."

"Five. Almost six."

"Excuse me?"

Cassie quickly pointed to the photo on the bureau.

"I would guess. I mean, if that photo's recent."

She turned and raised a hand, taking in the whole of the room.

"I also have a niece who is five. This could be her room."

She waited but there were no further questions from LeValley. It had been a bad slip and Cassie knew she was lucky to have gotten away with it.

"Well," LeValley said, "I want to get you to sign in so we have your name and number. Are there any questions I can answer for you? I even have an offer sheet with me if by any chance you're ready to do that."

She smiled as she said the last line. Cassie smiled back.

"Not just yet," she said. "But I do like the house."

LeValley headed back to the stairs and down. Cassie moved toward the door to follow. As she stepped into the hallway, she glanced back at the collection of stuffed animals on a shelf above the bed. The girl seemed partial to stuffed dogs. Her eyes then went back to the drawing on the easel.

Down in the living room LeValley handed her a clipboard with a sign-in sheet on it. She wrote the name Karen Palty, the name belonging to an old friend from her days dealing blackjack, then made up a phone number with a Hollywood exchange and an address on Nichols Canyon Road. After she handed it back LeValley read the entry.

"Karen, you know, if this house isn't what you are looking for, there are several others in the canyon I'd be more than happy to show you."

"Okay, that would be fine. Let me think about this one first, though."

"Oh, sure. You just let me know. Here's my card."

LeValley offered a business card and Cassie took it. She noticed through the living room's picture window a car pulling to the curb behind the Boxster. Another potential buyer. She decided it was time to ask questions while she still had LeValley alone.

"The ad in the paper said the Shaws were anxious to sell the house. Do you mind me asking how come? I mean, is there something wrong here?"

Halfway through her question Cassie realized she had used the name of the owners. Then she remembered the letters on the wall of the girl's room and knew she was covered if LeValley noticed the slip.

"Oh, no, it has nothing to do with the house at all," LeValley said. "He's been transferred and they are anxious to make the move and get settled in their new place. If they sell it quickly they can all move together, rather than him having to commute back and forth from the new location. It's a very long trip."

Cassie felt she needed to sit down but stood still. She felt a terrible dread engulf her heart. She tried to remain steady by placing her hand on the stone hearth but was sure she was not hiding the impact of the words she had just heard. It's a very long trip.

"Are you okay?" LeValley asked.

"Fine. I'm fine. I had the flu last week and . . . you know."

"I know. I had it a few weeks ago. It was awful."

Cassie turned her face and acted as though she were studying the brickwork of the fireplace.

"How far are they moving?" she asked, as casually as was possible considering the fears welling up inside her.

She closed her eyes and waited, sure that LeValley knew by now she wasn't here because of the house.

"Paris. He works for some kind of clothing import business and they want him working on that end of things for a while. They thought about keeping the house, maybe renting it out. But I think realistically they know that they probably won't be coming back. I mean, it's Paris. Who wouldn't want to live there?"

Cassie opened her eyes and nodded.

© 1999 by Michael Connelly