“My assistant told me the cunt was calling,” Felicia said by way of introduction, “but I didn’t believe even you would have the fucking gall to call me.” Felicia sounded pleased with herself. The old Tess would have taken the bait, given her a snarky riposte, and slammed down the phone. But this ...
Then he took it to an apothecary. ‘Could you tell me, please, what this might be prescribed for?’ The apothecary took one look at it and handed it back. ‘Constipation,’ he said. ‘And it’s powerful, is it?’ The apothecary took...
What if this field generator worked differently? What if it didn't leap over them, but went through them instead? Or blew up? A thousand possibilities passed through his mind, each worse than the one before. Bull Strom had always said that he worried too much. “Listen, son, more than half of winn...
Journalism is unreadable and literature is not read. —OSCAR WILDE No one heard back from Rawlings that Friday, but Olivia and the Bayside Book Writers nearly forgot about their next meeting in light of new concerns regarding the impending storm. Over the course of the night, Ophelia shrugged...
There had originally been a key for each of us; our father had a key, and our mother, and the keys were kept on a rack beside the kitchen door. When Charles started out for the village Constance gave him a key, perhaps our father’s key, and a shopping list, and the money to pay for what he bought...
I had forgotten that fact, but yesterday I was reminded. Julie was up first, creating great smells of coffee and frying bacon. And me still in bed, drowsy, thinking how great it was to be nearly back to normal. Three months she’d been out of that place, and fit enou...
Swordsfolk go toe-to-toe against one another in single combat, fighting for the honor of impressing the High King and his Court. Ogres and foxkin, goblins and gwyllions, all engaged in the deadly dance of battle. After a few rounds, Vivi wants us to push through the crowd and buy more fruit skewe...
Mrs. Doddsby had wakened her earlier than she liked—she had read until well past midnight—but the lavish breakfast had mollified her and now she relaxed by the window, finishing her tea and smoking a cigarette. She had slept hard and well. What had happened to her? Last night she had sat quite ca...
His plan had changed and that was all that mattered. Beatrice rode hard on his tail as he led the way to London. And he was going to London. Straight to London with no more delays along the way. He would take Beatrice to her father. The man whose life he’d sworn to destroy...
Carrie is the first thing on my mind. Carrie and what she could be doing right now. I call the hotel room. No answer. She must be with Cooper. The thought makes my jaw clench. The more I think about it the more I realize it’s time to have a serious conversation. We need to talk about what this is...
YOU’RE the only one who can do it!!” Millicent had me backed up against a wall. Literally. We were in a narrow alley about a hundred feet up the street from the jail. She wasn’t begging in a flirty way. She was too desperate for that. And I was glad...
Over the past month, I have managed to persuade myself that maybe I misunderstood what I was told the day that Poptastic’s owner visited last year. Or that there has been a change of plan. It would be a race like any other. We shall be there to win. ‘Jay. Come. Race tomorrow. Talk.’ It is Mr Wilk...
I knew the whole angel thing was already confusing and frightening to her so I didn’t know how to explain the whole mess with Cole. In the end we just left it simple. I needed to go help my friend before something bad happened to her. After a quick introduction, Amber met Sal and I carefully expl...
“I’m so glad you agreed to give up a night in our cushy resort to rough it out here with me.” Dominic stood over a grill preparing their dinner. “I don’t consider the premium steaks and vegetable kabobs you’re cooking ‘roughing it.’” Kendra relaxed in a lawn chair positioned to avoid direct smoke...
They were all there by the afternoon and waited around the house. Garry called about quarter to five, asking to re-confirm directions. He arrived a little after five thirty. Cynthia felt a surge of excitement and apprehension, as she walked over to open the front door. A...