People who wear glasses, without them they always look unfocused, vulnerable. Out in the open. A layer removed.

For men, as they get bogged down with responsibilities, commitments, bureaucracy, it is a fantasy just to think of shedding everything literally, walking away with nothing at all, and just hitting the road.

A calm environment is for after I finish work.

You do not mess with the special investigators.

The way to write a thriller is to ask a question at the beginning, and answer it at the end.

I have to warn you. I promised my mother, a long time ago. She said I had to give folks a chance to walk away.

Evaluate. Long experience had taught me to evaluate and assess. When the unexpected gets dumped on you, don’t waste time. Don’t figure out how or why it happened. Don’t recriminate. Don’t figure out whose fault it is. Don’t work out how to avoid the same mistake next time. All of that you do later. If you survive.