by Neliza Drew
“Craig’s, too. Not as much, but it puts him there.”
I nodded and looked at the carpet again. The whole time I’d been asking, Craig had been inches away. He’d live, but he’d made it clear he’d never talk to me again. It was just as well. I’d hurt him long before I’d gotten him shot.
“There’s still a question of whether you should keep your concealed weapons permit. Other than that, you’re free to go home.”
Home.
I went back to staring out the window.
T H E • E N D
For Lumpy, my favorite unicorn.
Acknowledgements
Books don’t happen in a vacuum, though it feels that way when you’re writing at 2am alone. This would not be remotely readable without the help of editor Elizabeth A. White and friends like Holly West, Thomas Pluck, Elizabeth Amber Love, and Josh Stallings. They are all awesome. Early readers Joelle Charbonneau, Laura K. Curtis, and Andrew Thompson also deserve thanks and an apology for having been subjected to such awful drafts. It should also be noted that Jaye Manus is a genius.
So many other fabulous people have offered support, advice, a laugh, someone to walk with or hang out with, a shoulder, friendship, or necessary social media shenanigans. First off, I’m not sure anyone believes in me more than Keary Cunningham, despite all evidence he shouldn’t. As for the numerous others, I am sure the following list is not complete, so please forgive me if you feel you’ve been forgotten: Lisa and Wes Rider, Meredith Texeira, Skye Cleek, Gloria Smith, Vic and Barb Smith, Erin Mitchell, Hilary Davidson, Owen Laukkanen, Kent Gowran, Steve Weddle, Sabrina Ogden, Clare Toohey, Stephen Blackmoore, Ben Leroy, Todd Robinson, Bryon Quertermous, Jerry Bloomfield, Jen Conley, Ron Earl Phillips, David Cranmer, Alex Segura, Chris La Tray, Lauren Winters, Joshua Atkins, Elaine Ash, Joe Myers, Chris Holm and Kat Niidas Holm, Dan and Kate Malmon, Daniel O’Shea, Rhonda Hicks, EC Lamb, Michelle Isler, Charles and Dianne Cunningham, and so many others.
I’d also like to give a shout out and thanks to Judy Bobalik and the Crimespree Clan, Jon and Ruth, as well as all the other organizers and volunteers of Bouchercon where I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many great people in person. (I’m not talking about the giant, drunken Ginger Ape.)
About the Author
Neliza Drew used to write ad copy before turning to crime (fiction). She spent more than seven years in juvenile detention (as an English and math teacher). When not writing, she regularly teaches kids how to punch each other (at a dojo). She eats a lot of tofu but makes up for it with the booze and swearing.
Her short stories have appeared in the charity anthologies Protectors 2: Heroes and Feeding Kate.
Neliza lives in South Florida with her husband and too many cats. She can be found online at nelizadrew.com and on Twitter and Instagram as @nelizadrew.
Copyright © 2016 by Neliza Drew
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Blinking Neon Press
blinkingneonpress.com
ISBN 978-0-9975502-0-7
All characters and events appearing in this work are fictitious works of an overactive imagination. Any resemblance to real persons—living, dead, undead, or recently-reanimated—is purely coincidental.
Editor: Elizabeth A. White
Ebook formatted by: QA Productions
Cover art: girl photo by Oleg Gekman; boats photo by topdeq; fire photo by Rafael Valeev
Fonts: 4990810 by Phillip Cavette