The Missing

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I’d like to thank Southeastern Louisiana University for their continued support of my writing; my agent, Peter Matson of Sterling-Lord Literistic, for his encouragement and expert management; my family, especially my wife, Winborne, for all her help and her careful reading of the manuscript; Tom Piazza, for his helpful writing on the world of jazz; The S &D Reflector, published by the sons and daughters of pioneer rivermen, a bottomless vault of information on inland waterways during the age of steam; the stories and research of Captain Fred Way; the wonderful Internet resource Red Hot Jazz Archive; and I am grateful for two books in particular, Moonlite at Eight Thirty by Alan Bates and Clarke Hawley and Jazz on the River by William Kenney. Finally, I give thanks for my editor, Gary Fisketjon, whose care and carefulness show amazing love for his work.

Chapter One

SAM SIMONEAUX leaned against the ship’s rail, holding on in the snarling wind as his lieutenant struggled toward him through the spray, grabbing latches, guy wires, valve handles.

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