The Family Business by Carl Weber with Eric Pete
Acknowledgments
First off, I’d like to thank my co-author, Eric Pete, for the phenomenal job he did molding this story. It’s not an easy thing to take someone else’s dream and make it your own, but you did, by breathing life into the Duncans. My thanks, Eric. I look forward to working with you on our many future projects.
To my adopted family, the Ds. If you look inside yourself, I’m sure you’ll see one of these characters. I hope you take it as a compliment and a testament of my love for you and yours. Thank you for a lifetime worth of memories.
My thanks to Miss Martha for all the help and support you give me. As Chippy would say, “I hope you know which side your bread is buttered.” And I do.
And last but not least, my thanks to Portia Cannon for her help in putting this whole thing together. Without you, this whole thing wouldn’t have come together.
–Carl
Acknowledgments
A hearty welcome to all the readers out there who make this possible. And thanks to God, who makes it all possible.
I see you got your hands on The Family Business, the first collaboration between me and the big dawg, Carl Weber, who was Lookin’ for Luv back in the day when I was just finding out Someone’s In the Kitchen. Get it? If not, you Gets No Love. But enough of that, let’s give thanks.
Marsha, thank you for putting up with me. Couldn’t think of another person to keep my head above water with, making waves when we can. Best believe, we’re gonna make tsunamis one day. Just ... not ... the ... harmful ones, okay?
Chelsea, damn proud of the lovely, intelligent young lady you’ve become. Remember ... Do great. Be great. (Couldn’t let her have my motto now, could I?) I see ya with ya guns up. Now go wreck ’em, kid.
To all my friends and family, God has blessed me way more than I deserve with all of you in my life.
Couldn’t do it on this book, but appreciate all my ghost readers over the years—Jacqueline, Shontea, Jackie, Jamie, Judith, Carmel, Natalie, Tommy, Nicole, Demetrius, Angela, Bob, Shelia, and Lisa. Your feedback and criticism is invaluable.
Carl Weber, glad we were able to come together on this project. Thanks for that tap on the shoulder. We did the damn thing, huh?
Portia Cannon, thank you for your tireless efforts on my behalf.
To all my fellow authors, I am honored and humbled to be counted among you. Hey, in this business, ya just never know. Let’s keep it going.
In closing, if this is your first time hearing of me, WTF? (I kid. Maybe.) Hope you kick the tires and take some of my other works, such as Piano in the Dark, Reality Check, Crushed Ice, Sticks and Stones or the upcoming Frostbite, for a spin. If you’ve been rolling, may you continue to roll.
As before, as now, as always, Can’t stop. Won’t stop. Believe that.
–Eric
Drops mike
Dedication
This book is dedicated to LC and Chip. You were like second parents to me, and I look forward to seeing you again someday.
–Carl
Paris
1
“Okay, Paris, let’s go over this one more time. What exactly did the man who shot Councilman Sims’s son look like?”