William Mason is arguably America's greatest everjewel thief. During a thirty-year career he charmed hisway into the inner circles of high society and stole over$35 million worth of fabulous jewels from people suchas Armand Hammer, Phyllis Diller (twice), Bob Hope,iargaux Hemingway, Truman Capote, JohnnyWeissmuller and even the Mafia.

PROLOGUE  9

PART I

1. BEGINNINGS   23

2. CIRCUMSTANCE   38

3. FIRST SCORE   49

4. LUCK   65

5. GLITZ   88

6. SCALING THE HEIGHTS   106

7. HEAT   130

8. PROSPECTING   142

PART II

9. ON DOING TIME   173

10. ON DOING TIME (CONTINUED)   206

11. THE STORM AFTER THE CALM   226

12. THE BALLAD OF RAY AND FRED   249

13. TICKLING THE DRAGON"S TAIL   274

14. BEEN THERE . . .   283

PART III

15. ON THE RUN   301

16. CRAZY   319

17. THE LOVEMAN SCANDAL   33O

18. "THE PERFECT HEIST"   345

PART IV

19. DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY   369

20. STRIKING TWICE (OR NOT AT ALL)   383

21. ANOTHER CLOSE CALL   396

22. SOONER OR LATER   406

23. BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN   433

24. PREY NO MORE   456

EPILOGUE   468