Excerpt from The Summer of Dead Toys by Antonio Hill, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"But I'm free."

"Exactly. Just take a look at the case: speak to the parents, the kids who were at the party. Give her a definitive answer." Savall lowered his head. "You have a son too. Joana is only asking that someone dedicate more time to the boy's death. Please."

Héctor didn't know if his boss was asking a favor of him, or if he'd guessed what he intended to do and was preventing it before it happened.

Savall passed him the file with a pained smile.

"We'll sit down with Andreu tomorrow. She opened the case with the new girl."

"We have a new girl?"

"Yeah, I put her with Andreu. A little bit green, but on paper she's very clever. First in all the tests, a meteoric rise. You know how the young push."

Héctor took the file and got up.

"I'm delighted to have you back with us." Here was the solemn moment. Savall had numerous registers. At these times, his face reminded Héctor of Robert Duvall's. Paternal, hard, condescending, a little bit slick. "I want you to keep me posted on how it goes with that shrink." All that was missing was a "Behave yourself," an "I hope I don't regret this."

They shook hands.

"And remember." Savall squeezed his subordinate's hand lightly. "The Castells case is unofficial."

Héctor let go, but the echo of the phrase stuck in his mind, like one of those bluebottles that insist on bumping their heads against the glass.

Excerpted from The Summer of Dead Toys by Antonio Hill. Copyright © 2013 by Antonio Hill. Excerpted by permission of Crown. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.