At least a dozen people stood ahead of Mike in the Post Office, all eager to get home for the holidays. Most were like him, professionals working in the city. Lawyers, executives, doctors — you had to be quite wealthy… Continue Reading
The board members cowered in their oxblood leather chairs as the baby toddled toward them in a diaper, raising his pudgy arms. “Welcome, I am Damien — new chairman of the board.” Damien’s eyes glittered as he took a seat,… Continue Reading
Professor Danvers stepped out into the center of the library. She held her sound detector high as she turned around in place. The lights were on; the old oak that furnished the house gave the impression of a cavern. She… Continue Reading
At the end of the day, Marcus had five good reasons to think the universe was out to get him. Everything started simple enough. He had left his job at the office, sipping a cup of coffee, and slowly made… Continue Reading
John Templeton was enjoying the smell of his brewing coffee. That aroma, as well as that of baking cookies reminded him of his grandmother’s house. He had spent portions of his childhood living with his grandmother. She would finish half… Continue Reading
Becoming a hero is easy. It’s a magical process that takes place with — or more likely without — your consent and you go from a regular guy with a regular insurance job to someone who will save the world… Continue Reading
Bzzzt. Mariah tried not to look at the phone rattling on the wood-patterned laminate next to the engraved James Robertson nameplate. Because three years at the same Godforsaken bank and they hadn’t given Mariah her own desk. “Are you James?”… Continue Reading
Becca and Carl, Becca’s second husband, were in town. Tammy and I lived in Brentwood then with three children: Two from Tammy’s previous marriage and our own feral three-year-old. Tammy used to call Carl a bottomless pit of whiskey. She… Continue Reading
Alfred and Eldrid crept down the chimney, their tiny bodies moving easily in the cramped space. Hanging upside down, the elves scanned the living room for traps. As members of Santa’s Legendary Elite Investigative Getaway Helpers, or S.L.E.I.G.H. for short,… Continue Reading
There was a girl. An average sort of girl. Not an average girl exactly. But average in the way that you wouldn’t notice her, wouldn’t remember her. On the street, your gaze wouldn’t follow her — there would be other… Continue Reading