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Knock three-one-two

Chapter 17: 11:16 P.M.
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About This Book

A collection of short stories that alternates between hard-edged crime and pulp-tinged speculative pieces. Terse, suspenseful narratives follow characters thrust into sudden violence, obsessive compulsion, desperate decisions, and uncanny intrusions, with plots driven by escalating need and pressure. Stories move quickly from setup to revelation, employing economical prose and often concluding with ironic or twist endings. The volume presents both tightly plotted murder vignettes and slyly humorous science-fiction sketches, unified by brisk pacing and a focus on sharp, recontextualizing finales.

11:16 P.M.

This is the transcript of a conversation that might possibly have happened. If you believe in such things you'll come to see that it could have happened. If you do not believe, it doesn't matter.

"He is set up, Sire. Everything is ready when you say the word."

"You're sure he is sufficiently frightened, sufficiently desperate?"

"Yes, Sire."

"Ready for murder? Remember, he has committed every other sin, but he has not ever thought of murder. Not seriously, that is."

"Only because, Sire, he has known that he could not get away with it. Now we present him with the perfect opportunity. A chance to kill his wife in such a way that it cannot possibly be pinned on him. A method by which, if he alibis himself as he will, will not even cause him to be suspected."

"We can make sure by adding a little touch or two to what he thinks is his string of bad luck."

"It is unnecessary, Sire. And it would disturb the timing, which is very delicate. We would have to rearrange much."

"Very well. We shall follow the original plan. Check time and start the count-down."

"Four seconds, Sire. Three. Two. One. Now."

"Let him look up from his drink."

In Pete Kowalsky's Palace Bar, Ray Fleck looked up from his drink. And saw the psychopath.