Nick Stephenson: Eight the Hard Way

EIGHT THE HARD WAY

8 Thrilling Stories from 8 Masters of Suspense

By

Nick Stephenson

David Vandyke

Robert Swartwood

Ryan King

R.S. Guthrie

Kay Hadashi

Alan McDermott

Micheal Maxwell

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

Smashwords Edition

The right of Nick Stephenson, David Vandyke, Robert Swartwood, Ryan King, R.S. Guthrie, Kay Hadashi, Alan McDermott, Micheal Maxwell to be identified as the authors of the Work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First published in Great Britain in 2013 by WJ Books Ltd.

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

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WJ Books Ltd: www.wj-books.com

Foreword by Nick Stephenson—About this Book

The short story is back with a vengeance!

For me, as a reader as well as an author, there’s nothing quite like getting my hands on a collection of shorter works. The ability to dip in and out when the mood hits me (or whenever I find myself with a rare few minutes of spare time) while still getting to read a complete story is priceless. I can get through one or two while I’m waiting for a train, checking in at the airport, or just killing time. These collections are perfect for anyone with a busy schedule, as well as for readers looking for something new to get their teeth into.

Inside this anthology you’ll find a mix of classic mystery and suspense, full-blown action, and blood-curdling suspense. There are tales of vengeance and redemption, good versus evil, and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. On the next page you’ll find a fully-hyperlinked Table of Contents, which gives you a brief synopsis and page count for each story—making it easy to choose what you want to read next. You’ll also find a short bio for each author, along with a web link where you can find out more. Easy!

I had an absolute blast putting this anthology together, and I’m honored to be featured alongside some of the best, most exciting new talents writing crime fiction today. So, without further ado, I’ll leave you to get stuck in.

You’ll be glad you did.

Nick Stephenson

Table Of Contents

Click each title to navigate straight to the story of your choice—page counts and descriptions are provided.

Paydown—by Nick Stephenson

When a high-flying Wall Street investment banker is found brutally killed, what started out as a simple fraud case turns into expert criminologist Leopold Blake’s first ever murder investigation.

As the glamor of Wall Street is stripped away by a series of catastrophic discoveries, Leopold will have to decide how much he is prepared to risk in order to uncover the truth - and whether it’s a price he’s willing to pay.

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

Loose Ends—by David Vandyke

There’s not much left that can surprise private investigator California “Cal” Corwin any more, especially since the accident. But after a young girl is kidnapped and feared murdered, Cal is drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse that will stretch her skills to the ultimate limit.

With danger at every turn and with more questions than answers, Corwin must scour the streets of San Francisco to track down the culprits before it’s too late—and the clock is ticking...

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

Mr. Mockingbird Drive—by Robert Swartwood

Julio and Tyshawn are far from professional thieves, but they get by. After weeks spent researching the perfect mark, the boys are ready to strike—and the payout is going to be unbelievable...

Mr. Mockingbird Drive is a cleverly deceptive piece of flash fiction. The story first featured in Needle: A Magazine of Noir, Winter 2012.

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

Ladies’ Weekend—by Ryan King

A trip to the Gulf Shores with her three sisters-in-law was not exactly Cathy’s idea of a good time. With a dark secret to protect, a weekend stuck with the meddling Biddle sisters might have been too much to bear—but, thankfully for Cathy, there’s nothing a little “medicine” can’t fix...

This delightfully twisted story was first published in 2012.

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

Veritas: Concubine—by R.S. Guthrie

How far would you go to find the truth? Shale Veritas is not his real name, but that’s not important. What’s important is why he’s taken an interest in you—and what you’ve done to deserve it...

This dark, atmospheric tale of 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 Conquer—by Kay Hadashi

Nobody ever told June Kato that babysitting could be such hard work... As a world-class neurosurgeon, June is used to dealing with high-pressure situations. But when a trio of violent thugs invade her home while her four-year-old nieces are staying over, nap time suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.

A thrill-ride from start to finish.

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

Recidivist—by Alan McDermott

Something needs to be done about Steven Howe. Even though he’s yet to see his twelfth birthday, after 97 arrests the police and social services have had enough. Forced to attend a state-sponsored retreat for troubled youths, Steven is about to find out just how far the government is prepared to go to meet their targets—starting with him.

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

Return of the Bride—by Micheal Maxwell

Tradition has it that Al-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 entirely different significance. On a journey to redeem himself for a lifetime of selfish choices, Sear will finally learn how to keep his promises—but 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 the hotel bar, two martinis already in him, and waited. A man in a tux played the piano in a far corner and the room was full, though Leopold had managed to find a stool near the taps. He helped himself to a handful of peanuts from the jar on the counter and caught the barman’s eye.