The Wanted Quotes

“The tears were his. Tyson had earned them.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Manchuria”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“The Godfather doesn’t call the police. He sends Luca Brasi.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“It’s what we call a fanciful life construction. Also known as baloney.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“was”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“news”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“from one end of the deck to the other and back again, lunging and spinning until my muscles burned and the deck was sprinkled with sweat. I finished the workout sprawled on my back, my T-shirt wet and growing cold.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“I did the Twelve Sun Salutations from the hatha yoga, rolled the last Sun Salute into a slow tae kwon do pattern, then a faster pattern mixed with Tiger and Crane poses, and a third, even faster, sprinkled with Wing Chun forms. I drove”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“expect”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“of the gloom and up the middle”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“where I keep my computer. I opened”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Men like Neff and Hensman lived between raindrops and worked under eaves.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Tyson looked miserable as we drove to The Carl, and neither of us said much. We each had our reasons, but our reasons were different.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Harvey didn’t set his phone to beep or buzz or vibrate like a normal person. Harvey’s phone screeched with a string piece from the Hitchcock movie Psycho, the scene with Janet Leigh in the shower, the knife rising and falling, the string section shrieking with short, staccato stabs, the lone violin slashing through the fermata with discordant glissandos, more violins joining the first, violas adding their teeth, mad strings schooling like orchestral sharks at a blood-drunk feast.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“He took memory sticks and an external drive from his desk, and cables from the mess on the floor. Pike loaded his gear into the backpack, and we made our way toward the garage. Pike stopped when we reached the living room. “The fish.” The aquarium stood on its stand, bubbling. I said, “What about them?” Tyson said, “We gotta feed them.” We waited while Pike fed the fish, then followed him into the garage. The walls were lined with gray metal shelving units. The shelves were crowded with different-sized boxes and the clutter that accumulates as time passes, and more boxes were stacked on the floor in front of the shelves. Handwriting identified their contents: Christmas/ornaments, Christmas/lights, Tyson—baby clothes, Mom’s lamp. Pike pointed out a small black box clipped to the outside of the garage door’s track, up high by the ceiling and difficult to see. “Transmitter.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“I watched the mirror for black sedans as we pulled away, and checked every side street as we drove to the freeway. I looked for their big black beast as we climbed the ramp, and kept looking, even after the freeway swallowed us, a buffalo joining a herd, one hiding among the many, and finally safe.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Amber was cooperative once she got on board, and Tyson was docile. We grabbed Tyson’s backpack and toiletries, and Amber stuffed a few clothes and toiletries into a tote bag. I watched what they packed, and checked their bags. Amber moved quickly once she got going, and didn’t whine or complain. Tyson said nothing, and avoided eye contact. I grabbed two towels from Amber’s bathroom on the way out, and tossed a towel to Joe. He draped it over his gun.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“She glanced at Pike again. “He doesn’t look like a detective.” Pike’s head moved, just enough to acknowledge he heard her. His shades were so dark, they looked like twin doors to nowhere. He considered her, but said nothing. He turned back to the peephole. Amber grinned.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Amber tried to pull away, but couldn’t. “Let go! Lemme go! You can’t—” I ignored her and focused on Tyson. “Is anyone here besides you and Amber?” Tyson stood mute, eyes unnaturally wide, too scared to answer. Amber thrashed pretty good.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“I told myself Tyson was going to pick up their laptops, but half a mile later they joined the drive-thru line at an In-N-Out Burger. Tyson. Eating was constant. Maybe he needed sustenance before they retrieved the laptops.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Amber swirled up from behind him, and rolled over him like a wave. “We don’t have our drinks? What’s taking so long?” She leaned forward across the counter, and spoke so quickly her words mashed together. “Agrandeskinnycaramelmacchiatowithextrafoam and aventivanillafrappuccinowithextravanilla. You didn’t give them to someone else, did you? We need caf-feine!” Her personality swept over and around him, and defined their dynamic. He stood taller at her touch, held himself less wary, and seemed larger, as if a static pop! of her crazy wild confidence had sparked from her into him. Amber fed his fantasies and needs, and made him feel strong in his weakest places. Whatever Amber had wanted, Tyson would have done. Her attention empowered him. Her approval was everything.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“I had seen Tyson in person only once, and then from a block away. He was a nice-looking kid, but held himself close, as if wary. Amber was the opposite. She was lean, pretty, and her smile was bright with confident energy. A blousy, off-the-shoulder cream top exposed flawless skin, and long, slender legs were revealed by little white shorts that were loose, but not nasty. The Gucci sunglasses looked great on her.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Tyson glanced at Amber, and eased his phone from his pocket. He was frowning at my reply when Amber stepped away from the woman and her dog. Tyson saw her turn, and jammed the phone back into his pocket. Even from the sidewalk, his mad scramble to hide the phone told me Tyson was keeping secrets. Double hm.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Nora wanted a house, so I bought a damn house, not her, me, and the next thing I know I’m in this toxic maelstrom, the three of them, every day, all the bullshit. I felt bad for those kids. Living with those three was hell, but I felt bad.” He paused, and the scowl deepened. “I tried to fix it. That’s a mistake we make, us guys, thinking we can fix this dysfunctional bullshit. Amber was a mess. Sad, but a mess. Jasmine, she was older. Maybe tougher, and smart. Smart enough to know living with her mother was toxic.” He called her Jasmine, not Jazzi. “Are you and Jasmine close?” He waved the slip. “Nah. I helped her find a place. Told her, I’ll pay the first six months. You don’t have to pay me back, but after that you’re on your own.” I nodded, watching the slip. “Generous.” “It was like throwing a life preserver. Someone’s drowning, how can you not?” He held”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“I said, “Think they were cops?” “They match the descriptions you had. Both big, one bigger. Everything else is optics.” Pike.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“He said, “Say location.” No hello. No howzitgoin. All Pike all the time.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Amber said, “I love your earrings.” The waitress rolled her eyes. “Boyfriend medicine.” “Girl, don’t I know!” They laughed together like besties forever. Tyson had seen Amber’s magic too many times to count, but it still left him awed. People fell in love with her.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“An older woman wearing breeches and riding boots pushed a stroller out of a driveway and into the street. I stopped to let her cross. She smiled, thanking me. I smiled, saying take your time. A tiny hand reached from the stroller and waved at the sky.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“Most of the homes were immaculate Spanish or Mediterranean villas, reminiscent of an earlier time and rich with genteel elegance. More Ross Macdonald than Raymond Chandler.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted

“I’ll be there in five.” Eight minutes later I parked in the parking garage, climbed the four flights to my floor, and walked down the hall. The building has an elevator, but tough guys climbed stairs. Picture me bristling with manliness. Also, impatience. Cindy’s door was closed. The door to the little insurance agency across from my office was closed. My door was open.”
― Robert Crais, The Wanted