by A. C. Fuller
“Can anybody jump that high?” Tyree asked.
“Your granddad could. He could have jumped up and grabbed on.” Ben put him back down and jogged onto the court.
Alex smiled at Tyree, then looked down at his phone and froze. He had one missed call. The caller ID read 000-0000. His voice mail beeped and he dialed. He shot a look across the court at Daniel Sharp, who was chatting with players.
As Alex listened to the message, his mouth opened slowly.
“You have made Bice pay for some of what he has done.” The voice was weak and slow but still tinny and distorted. “He has done more. Terrible things. And he deserves to be punished. You were supposed to catch him, you were supposed to punish him.”
An announcer's voice boomed through the PA system: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Madison Square Garden and a new season of New York Knicks Basketball!”
The crowd applauded as Lance sat next to Alex and patted him on the shoulder. “Get off the phone, man.”
Alex pressed the phone to his ear, his head spinning. “Remember that he who hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. And he who loveth his life shall lose it. Have you figured out what it means, Mr. Vane?”
The message ended.
Alex sat up and Camila took his hand. “Who was that?” she asked. He turned to her but said nothing. Confusion spread across his face, then fear. “What’s wrong, Alex? Who was that?”
“The source.”
“Who?”
He met her eyes. “I have no idea.”
The End
Thanks for Reading!
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So…thank you!
As an indie author, I work hard to bring you excellent work as fast as I can. I’ve got many books in the works and I plan to be at this a long time. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.
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I'm also thrilled to announce that the full-length sequel to The Anonymous Source is now available for pre-order. It's called The Inverted Pyramid and the release date is April 23, 2017.
Thanks again for reading The Anonymous Source. I hope you enjoyed it and I look forward to hearing from you.
A.C. Fuller
Hansville, Washington
About the Author
A.C. Fuller writes media thrillers and literary fiction. He’s the creator and host of the WRITER 2.0 Podcast, a weekly interview show featuring award-winning writers and publishing experts.
He was once a freelance journalist in New York and taught in the NYU Journalism School from 2006 to 2008. He now teaches English at Northwest Indian College near Seattle and leads writing workshops around the country and internationally, including classes for the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, the Write in the Harbor Conference, and the Royal City Literary Arts Society.
He lives with his wife, two children, and two dogs near Seattle.
The best way to keep in touch with A.C. is through his reader club.
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Acknowledgments
Before beginning The Anonymous Source, I’d heard that writing a book was, to some extent, a collaborative process. And as I read through the final draft, I recalled with fondness and gratitude the support, encouragement, and advice I received from the following people and organizations over the two and a half years it took to complete this book.
For offering a wonderful place to teach for the last four years: the students, staff, and faculty of Northwest Indian College and the Port Gamble S’Klallam and Suquamish tribes.
For providing support to a wonderful community of writers, including me: the Pacific Northwest Writers Association.
For providing a quiet, clean, lovely place to work: the staff at the Kitsap Regional Library.
For their lessons and encouragement, three English teachers who were especially important to me: Sonya Brooks, Judith Stickney, and Naomi Schwartz.
For their support over the years: Willa, Jeanne, Marie, and Hameed.
For their brilliance and mentorship: the professors of the NYU School of Journalism. (The dead professor in this book is not based on any of you). And special thanks to Professor Michael Norman for teaching me how books work.
For being the book’s first reader and first fan: Teri Fink.
For their feedback and encouragement early in the process: Susan Simmons, Josie Foster, Lisa Lenz, Susi Korda, Cliff McCrath, Michael Lassoff, Cherie Martin, and Cody Raccoon.
For providing necessary feedback at a critical time: my early editor, Aviva Layton.
For valuable feedback toward the end of the process: Denise Anderson Foreman, Melanie Hart Buehler, and Pam and Stan Birch.
For connecting me with my publisher, offering excellent feedback in the final hours, and being a friend through it all: Ina Zajac.
For her tireless work guiding this book across the threshold: my amazing editor, Julie Molinari.
For her quick and excellent work: my proofreader, Maggie Dallen.
For capturing the book in a way I couldn’t have imagined: my cover designer, Greg Simanson.
For providing great advice about marketing and social media: Sophie Weeks and Kathy Marks.
For her talent, energy, and spirit: my early book manager, Jamie Green.
For all their support, encouragement, and babysitting: my extended family of Fullers, Allens, Cosbys, and Andersons. Special thanks to Fred and Diana Allen.
For providing mentorship, advice, and good books: Robert Dugoni.
For their support and advice down the home stretch: the members of my Launch Team.
For inspiring and teaching me something new every week: the authors, agents, journalists, and publishing professionals who have appeared on the WRITER 2.0 Podcast.
For letting me go to sleep early so I could get up and write: my daughter, Arden, and son, Charles. I couldn’t have done it without you!
Finally, to the readers for whom I wrote this: My hope is that you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.