The Gentlemen's Hour (40 page)

As witnessed by the fact that they came up with a nickname for her.

Loco Ono.

It's sarcastic, and rough, but she's smart enough to know that they're poking more fun at themselves than they are at her. So that's a good thing, good for her and good for their relationship.

Because I guess that's what we have now, thinks Boone, a relationship. Wow. Even though we're still going to be SEI. I'm not going to law school, and head of security at Nichols's is out, so what next?

Nothing, I guess.

Nothing
new
, anyway, and that's just fine. The summer is coming to an end, and the more serious seasons will start. It's going to be plenty, just dealing with what's on its way. The Paradise Homes conspiracy is already unraveling, people are scrambling for cover or racing to be the first in the testimonial daisy chain, and both Mary Lou and Alan are issuing subpoenas like supermarket coupons.

But there will be an inevitable push-back. Half the power structure of San Diego is going to come charging, and the Baja Cartel as well, and Boone doesn't know which is more lethal.

He looks around at the group of his friends as he takes the fish off the grill. Sliding the pieces into tortillas, he passes the tacos around. They
are
friends again, but it really isn't over, he thinks. I have relationships to mend—with Dave and Hang, Johnny and Tide especially—and that's going to take time.

It's going to require some good surf sessions, some days hanging together on the beach, some nights talking story. Maybe it's going to mean that we take a fresh look at ourselves. Like Sunny had e-mailed him.

Hey B,

Heard about all your craziness lately. Wow. Double wow. Sounds like the Dawn Patrol has gone through the washing machine. But you know how it is—if you make it through to come out the other side, the world looks
a little different. Kind of fresh. I remember something Kelly used to say. “Your view is as much a mirror as a window.” It's a pretty cool view, B, for you and all our friends. Enjoy, yeah? And take care of each other.

Mucho lovo,

Sunny

P.S. How'd the booty call go?

Boone looks out at the ocean.

The surf is beginning to build.

There are waves. They're small, but they're waves.

Not Kansas anymore.

Maybe . . .

South Dakota.

Also by Don Winslow

The Kings of Cool

Satori

Savages

The Dawn Patrol

The Winter of Frankie Machine

The Power of the Dog

California Fire and Life

The Death and Life of Bobby Z

Isle of Joy

While Drowning in the Desert

A Long Walk Up the Water Slide

Way Down on the High Lonely

The Trail to Buddha's Mirror

A Cool Breeze on the Underground

Simon & Schuster Paperbacks

A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2009 by Don Winslow

Originally published in Great Britain in 2009 by William Heinemann

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Simon & Schuster Paperbacks Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Simon & Schuster trade paperback edition November 2012

SIMON & SCHUSTER PAPERBACKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at
www.simonspeakers.com
.

Designed by Meredith Ray

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:

Winslow, Don, date.

The gentlemen's hour / Don Winslow.

   p. cm.

1. Surfers—Fiction. 2. Private investigators—Fiction. 3. California—Fiction. I. Title.

PS3573.I5326G46    2011

813'.54—dc22

2011010781

ISBN: 978-1-4391-8339-7

ISBN: 978-1-4391-8340-3 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4391-8341-0 (ebook)