NOVEMBER 23, 1872
MISSING HEIRESS FOUND DEAD IN THE RIVER
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New York police discover the body of Maggie Stanford two years after she was first reported missing. A suspicion of foul play. Corpse found then missing again.
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THE BODY OF A WELL-DRESSED and pretty woman was found this morning floating in the Hudson River. Policeman Charles Langford discovered the body at six o’clock this morning and reported the matter to the Tenth Precinct. The body was taken from the water and carried to the station house. There were marks on her head and body, which led the police to believe that the woman was foully dealt with. She had red hair, green eyes, and was dressed in a white silk ball gown trimmed with pink ribbons. In their efforts to establish the identity of the woman, the police found a white linen handkerchief which bore the initials “M.S.” in the pocket of the dress.
The body was subsequently identified as that of Maggie Stanford, the daughter of deceased oil baron Tiberius Stanford and Dorothea Stanford, who passed away two months ago from dementia resulting from her daughter’s disappearance. The clothes Maggie Stanford had reportedly worn to the Patrician Ball the night she went missing match the description of the ball gown worn by the dead woman. The body was inordinately well preserved, with almost no sign of decomposition. The body was sent to the hospital for further examination, but the next day it was reported missing from the morgue. The police continue to be baffled by this strange case.
Acknowledgments
This book would not be possible without the constant encouragement and support from my readers. Thank you to everyone who e-mailed, blogged, reviewed, and posted on the Blue Bloods message boards. (Check it out at:[http://z13.invisionfree.com/Blue_Bloods). You guys rock!
Many heartfelt thanks to the wonderful team at Hyperion for their patience, support, and enthusiasm: Jennifer Besser, Helen Perelman, Brenda Bowen, Nellie Kurtzman, Jennifer Zatorski, Colin Hosten, Elizabeth Clark, Angus Killick, and Deborah Bass.
I am deeply grateful to Richard Abate and Josie Freedman at ICM.
Love and thanks to my family and friends, most of whom I have not seen in so long because I have been writing this book (and many others). I hope to have a social life at some point. Thanks especially to my favorite nephews and nieces, who are a joy and an inspiration: Nicholas and Joseph Green, Alexander, Valerie, and Lily Johnston.
As always, I would be nothing without my husband, Mike Johnston, who lives and dreams these books with me, but who hates sentimental speeches so I will spare him one. And finally, much love to our little vampire baby to come, who has been with me every step of the way.
MELISSA DE LA CRUZ is the author of many books for teens, including Blue Bloods, The Au Pairs series, Angels on Sunset Boulevard, and the upcoming The Ashleys. Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow and an anthology she coedited with Tom Dolby called Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys.
She began her career as a magazine and newspaper journalist, covering the New York City style and social scene, and now writes novels full time. Melissa divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband. She is currently working on many sequels (and prequels!) to the Blue Bloods series. While Melissa is not a Blue Blood, she knows many people who are.
Go to www.melissa-delacruz.com for more information.