Nick Stephenson - Eight the Hard Way

EIGHT THE HARD WAY

8 Thrilling Stories from 8 Masters ofSuspense

By

Nick Stephenson

David Vandyke

Robert Swartwood

Ryan King

R.S. Guthrie

Kay Hadashi

Alan McDermott

Micheal Maxwell

Copyright 2013 Nick Stephenson, David Vandyke, RobertSwartwood, Ryan King, R.S. Guthrie, Kay Hadashi, Alan McDermott,Micheal Maxwell.

SmashwordsEdition

The right of NickStephenson, David Vandyke, Robert Swartwood, Ryan King, R.S.Guthrie, Kay Hadashi, Alan McDermott, Micheal Maxwell to beidentified as the authors of the Work has been asserted inaccordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act1988.

First published in GreatBritain in 2013 by WJ Books Ltd.

All rights reserved. This isa work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are usedfictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, livingor dead, is coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by anymeans, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from theauthor.

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WJ Books Ltd:www.wj-books.com

Foreword by Nick StephensonAbout this Book

The short story is backwith a vengeance!

For me, as a reader as wellas an author, theres nothing quite like getting my hands on acollection of shorter works. The ability to dip in and out when themood hits me (or whenever I find myself with a rare few minutes ofspare time) while still getting to read a complete story ispriceless. I can get through one or two while Im waiting for atrain, checking in at the airport, or just killing time. Thesecollections are perfect for anyone with a busy schedule, as well asfor readers looking for something new to get their teethinto.

Inside this anthologyyoull find a mix of classic mystery and suspense, full-blownaction, and blood-curdling suspense. There are tales of vengeanceand redemption, good versus evil, and more than a fewlaugh-out-loud moments. On the next page youll find afully-hyperlinked Table of Contents, which gives you a briefsynopsis and page count for each storymaking it easy to choosewhat you want to read next. Youll also find a short bio for eachauthor, along with a web link where you can find out more.Easy!

I had an absolute blastputting this anthology together, and Im honored to be featuredalongside some of the best, most exciting new talents writing crimefiction today. So, without further ado, Ill leave you to get stuckin.

Youll be glad youdid.

Nick Stephenson

Table Of Contents

Click each title to navigatestraight to the story of your choicepage counts and descriptionsare provided.

Paydownby Nick Stephenson

When a high-flying WallStreet investment banker is found brutally killed, what started outas a simple fraud case turns into expert criminologist LeopoldBlakes first ever murder investigation.

As the glamor of WallStreet is stripped away by a series of catastrophic discoveries,Leopold will have to decide how much he is prepared to risk inorder to uncover the truth - and whether its a price hes willingto pay.

Story Length: 25,000 words,approx. 95 print pages.

Loose Endsby David Vandyke

Theres not much left thatcan surprise private investigator California Cal Corwin any more,especially since the accident. But after a young girl is kidnappedand feared murdered, Cal is drawn into a deadly game of cat andmouse that will stretch her skills to the ultimatelimit.

With danger at every turnand with more questions than answers, Corwin must scour the streetsof San Francisco to track down the culprits before its toolateand the clock is ticking...

Story Length: 15,000 words,approx. 55 print pages.

Mr. Mockingbird Driveby Robert Swartwood

Julio and Tyshawn are farfrom professional thieves, but they get by. After weeks spentresearching the perfect mark, the boys are ready to strikeand thepayout is going to be unbelievable...

Mr. Mockingbird Drive is acleverly deceptive piece of flash fiction. The story first featuredin Needle: A Magazine of Noir, Winter 2012.

Story Length: 2,000 words,approx. 8 print pages.

Ladies Weekendby Ryan King

A trip to the Gulf Shoreswith her three sisters-in-law was not exactly Cathys idea of agood time. With a dark secret to protect, a weekend stuck with themeddling Biddle sisters might have been too much to bearbut,thankfully for Cathy, theres nothing a little medicine cantfix...

This delightfully twistedstory was first published in 2012.

Story Length: 6,000 words,approx. 23 print pages.

Veritas: Concubineby R.S. Guthrie

How far would you go tofind the truth? Shale Veritas is not his real name, but thats notimportant. Whats important is why hes taken an interest inyouand what youve done to deserve it...

This dark, atmospheric taleof revenge, justice, and redemption is not for the faint-hearted.You have been warned.

Story Length: 8,300 words,approx. 32 print pages.

Divide and Conquerby Kay Hadashi

Nobody ever told June Katothat babysitting could be such hard work... As a world-classneurosurgeon, June is used to dealing with high-pressuresituations. But when a trio of violent thugs invade her home whileher four-year-old nieces are staying over, nap time suddenly takeson a whole new meaning.

A thrill-ride from start tofinish.

Story Length: 12,000 words,approx. 46 print pages.

Recidivistby Alan McDermott

Something needs to be doneabout Steven Howe. Even though hes yet to see his twelfthbirthday, after 97 arrests the police and social services have hadenough. Forced to attend a state-sponsored retreat for troubledyouths, Steven is about to find out just how far the government isprepared to go to meet their targetsstarting with him.

Story Length: 5,000 words,approx. 19 print pages.

Return of the Brideby Micheal Maxwell

Tradition has it thatAl-Qurnah is the site of the Garden of Eden. But for Phillip Sear,a man who has lived with sin his entire life, it has an entirelydifferent significance. On a journey to redeem himself for alifetime of selfish choices, Sear will finally learn how to keephis promisesbut at what cost?

Story Length: 2,000 words,approx. 8 print pages.

PAYDOWN

A Leopold Blake Thriller

By Nick Stephenson

Summer 2007

Leopold Blake sat in thehotel bar, two martinis already in him, and waited. A man in a tuxplayed the piano in a far corner and the room was full, thoughLeopold had managed to find a stool near the taps. He helpedhimself to a handful of peanuts from the jar on the counter andcaught the barmans eye.