You can grieve when someone dies. But when someone is near death, and — Ross Thomas

"Eight-fifteen in the morning in Washington is not a happy time."

"Never end a sentence with a preposition,” he recited. “Not never; just seldom."

"You watch television much?” Padillo asked. “Some,” I said. “It’s like China. If you ignore it, it just gets worse."

"Does she know all the people she says she knows?” “She knows everybody.” “Maybe that’s why she’s getting old."

"Another good touch. What do we charge for a regular martini?” “Ninty-five cents—ninety-eight cents with tax. Whats it do to the tips?” Builds them. There aren’t as many dimes and nickels around, so they usually leave two-bits. The two cents change is a sting to conscience.”"

"Your countrymen, McCorkle, are seemingly indifferent to what happens in Africa. Most of them don’t care about what happens here, as long as it happens on the next block."