A Necessary Evil
Alex Kava
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
CHAPTER 47
CHAPTER 48
CHAPTER 49
CHAPTER 50
CHAPTER 51
CHAPTER 52
CHAPTER 53
CHAPTER 54
CHAPTER 55
CHAPTER 56
CHAPTER 57
CHAPTER 58
CHAPTER 59
CHAPTER 60
CHAPTER 61
CHAPTER 62
CHAPTER 63
CHAPTER 64
CHAPTER 65
CHAPTER 66
CHAPTER 67
CHAPTER 68
CHAPTER 69
CHAPTER 70
CHAPTER 71
CHAPTER 72
CHAPTER 73
CHAPTER 74
CHAPTER 75
CHAPTER 76
CHAPTER 77
CHAPTER 78
CHAPTER 79
CHAPTER 80
CHAPTER 81
CHAPTER 82
CHAPTER 83
CHAPTER 84
CHAPTER 85
CHAPTER 86
CHAPTER 87
CHAPTER 88
CHAPTER 89
CHAPTER 90
CHAPTER 91
CHAPTER 92
CHAPTER 93
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Once again, many thanks to all the professionals who generously gave of their time and expertise. If I’ve gotten any of the facts wrong or have creatively manipulated a fact or two, it’s my doing and not theirs. Also special thanks to my family and friends who continue to support me despite my long absences.
My appreciation and special thanks go to:
Deborah Groh Carlin for your love and support, but also for your constant help in researching, brainstorming and making sense of the puzzle pieces along the way, not to mention putting up with my annoying “writer quirks.” You are a true friend and partner in crime.
Amy Moore-Benson, my agent and friend, for being my advocate and being there time after time no matter how small the question or how difficult the problem.
Feroze Mohammed, my editor, for challenging me to make this my best book yet.
Patricia Kava, my good Catholic mother, who allows me to tackle tough subjects in my novels, all the while lighting candles for me.
Emilie Carlin for your love and support, but also for sharing your own wonderful stories and making them such a delight to listen to.
Leigh Ann Retelsdorf, Deputy County Attorney and friend, for being my go-to person whenever I have a “killer of a question.”
Detective Sergeant Bill Jadlowski of the Omaha Police Department for inspiring the creation of Detective Tommy Pakula.
Christopher Kava, my nephew, for helping me understand teenage boys and their computer obsessions…er, I mean computer skills.
Mary Means for taking such good care of my kids while I’m on the road.
Sharon Car. Fellow writer and friend, for being there no matter how much time transpires between our lunch dates.
Marlene Haney and Sandy Rockwood for your unconditional love, support and friendship.
Patti El-Kachouti for always being there.
Patti Bremmer, fellow writer, and her husband, Martin, for your friendship and inspiration.
Patricia Sierra and her mother, Kay, for cheering up and cheering on, and always at just the right times.
Father Dave Korth for exemplifying the very best of your profession and being a constant reminder of good.
A special thank-you to my new friends and neighbors in the Florida Panhandle for showing me what true strength and perseverance looks like while we picked up the pieces after Hurricane Ivan and then did it all over again after Hurricane Dennis.
And last, but certainly not least, thank you to all the librarians, bookstore owners and managers, book buyers and sellers around the country and around the world for recommending my books.
This book is dedicated to all you faithful readers who insisted on the return of Father Keller.
From San Mateo, California, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from McCook, Nebraska, to Milan, Italy—it didn’t matter where I went or which of my five books I was promoting,