The Keys to Hades

The Keys to Hades

Raimo’s first impression was that she was an upper-level administrator or a lawyer. Something about the way she entered his small office as though she were commandeering it for a PowerPoint presentation. She lacked the hesitation of every client who entered his small...
True Hunters Don’t Bark

True Hunters Don’t Bark

No one behind me had said anything in minutes. At first, I was all screaming and cursing. Tunnel vision blocked out everything but escape and the road in front of me. The ail of sirens behind us. Then someone coughed or choked. Cody, I hoped. Let it be Cody, that...
Old People’s Tai Chi

Old People’s Tai Chi

Randy Highsmith’s California dream came crashing down around his ears like a house of cards under strobe lighting. It all fell apart in bitter moment on a ninety-three-degree, Wednesday morning on Santiago Street when he found two homeless people squabbling over drugs...
Gone Fishing

Gone Fishing

Going fishing with Marty Kincaid had as much appeal as a choice between a Brazilian butt lift and a hot-lead enema. Marty plus fishing was going to add up to one shitty Saturday. +++++“C’mon, don’t be a dick. The walleye are sticking the hooks in their own mouths and...
Ravi Floating in Light

Ravi Floating in Light

The final hour of Ravi’s double shift crawled to a close. He could swear his tight-fisted uncle had somehow rigged the clock’s hand with molasses to slow them when it came to the last hour. He could also swear someone had thrown grit into his eyes owing to the painful...