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    Strike Two
    Strike Two
    Strike Two
    Ebook33 pages28 minutes

    Strike Two

    By Annie Reed

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Pickpocket Lenny Masterson has two rules he never breaks: no working kids in packs, and don't mess with anybody connected. But Las Vegas is a tough town for a small-time thief, and sometimes a guy like Lenny has to do almost anything to survive.

    BONUS: This edition of "Strike Two" includes a free copy of Annie Reed's story "Dead Things."

    "I've been a fan of Annie Reed's short stories for a long time." –Marcelle Dube, author of THE SHOELESS KID

    "The appearance of a new Annie Reed story is a treat. Try one and you'll be hooked." –Dave Hendrickson, author of CRACKING THE ICE

    "A friend recommended the works of Annie Reed. I was not disappointed. In fact, if her other shorts are as good as this one, I plan to read many more." –Carol Davis Luce, author of NIGHT GAME (reviewing Annie Reed's short story CHANGELING)

    Author Annie Reed is a prolific, award-winning writer whose stories have been published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine as well as in numerous science fiction and fantasy anthologies.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThunder Valley Press
    Release dateJun 10, 2012
    ISBN9781476463339
    Strike Two
    Author

    Annie Reed

    Award-winning author and editor Kristine Kathryn Rusch calls Annie Reed “one of the best writers I’ve come across in years.”Annie’s won recognition for her stellar writing across multiple genres. Her story “The Color of Guilt” originally published in Fiction River: Hidden in Crime, was selected as one of The Best Crime and Mystery Stories 2016. Her story “One Sun, No Waiting” was one of the first science fiction stories honored with a literary fellowship award by the Nevada Arts Foundation, and her novel PRETTY LITTLE HORSES was among the finalists in the Best First Private Eye Novel sponsored by St. Martin’s Press and the Private Eye Writers of America.A frequent contributor to the Fiction River anthologies and Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Annie’s recent work includes the superhero origin novel FASTER, the near-future science fiction short novel IN DREAMS, and UNBROKEN FAMILIAR, a gritty urban fantasy mystery short novel. Annie’s also one of the founding members of the innovative Uncollected Anthology, a quarterly series of themed urban fantasy stories written by some of the best writers working today.Annie’s mystery novels include the Abby Maxon private investigator novels PRETTY LITTLE HORSES and PAPER BULLETS, the Jill Jordan mystery A DEATH IN CUMBERLAND, and the suspense novel SHADOW LIFE, written under the name Kris Sparks, as well as numerous other projects she can’t wait to get to. For more information about Annie, including news about upcoming bundles and publications, go to www.annie-reed.com.

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      Book preview

      Strike Two - Annie Reed

      STRIKE TWO

      Annie Reed

      with complete bonus story

      DEAD THINGS

      STRIKE TWO

      Copyright © 2011 Annie Reed

      DEAD THINGS

      Copyright © 2012 Annie Reed

      Published by Thunder Valley Press at Smashwords

      Cover and layout Copyright © 2012 Thunder Valley Press

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      These stories are licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

      Table of Contents

      Strike Two

      Dead Things (Bonus Story)

      Copyright Information

      About the Author

      STRIKE TWO

      Lenny Masterson knew better than to ply his trade with kids in groups, but sometimes life threw a curve ball so sweet it would have been criminal not to take a swing.

      These kids, three girls barely legal enough for the round of drinks lined up on the casino bar in front of them, never spared Lenny a second glance as he brushed by behind them. Women usually didn't. Most men would mind being treated like that. They'd run out and spend a fortune on hair plugs and a personal trainer, but blending in was part of what made Lightfinger Lenny so good at what he did.

      The other part? Practice.

      Lenny'd lived in Las Vegas for a couple of years now. The place was thick with tourists and southern California transplants who walked around The Strip all googly-eyed, trying to take in the sights and sounds all at once. Most of them never gave a second thought to the scrawny guy who bumped into them by accident, especially not if Lenny gave them the glassy-eyed stare of a lifelong alcoholic on a serious bender. When he was working, Lenny drank only enough to put the smell of alcohol on his

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