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Adhikari, Sudeep |
Ahern, Edward |
Aldrich, Janet M. |
Allan, T. N. |
Allen, M. G. |
Ammonds, Phillip J. |
Anderson, Peter |
Andreopoulos, Elliott |
Arab, Bint |
Armstrong, Dini |
Augustyn, P. K. |
Aymar, E. A. |
Babbs, James |
Baber, Bill |
Bagwell, Dennis |
Bailey, Ashley |
Bailey, Thomas |
Baird, Meg |
Bakala, Brendan |
Baker, Nathan |
Balaz, Joe |
BAM |
Barber, Shannon |
Barker, Tom |
Barlow, Tom |
Bates, Jack |
Bayly, Karen |
Baugh, Darlene |
Bauman, Michael |
Baumgartner, Jessica Marie |
Beale, Jonathan |
Beck, George |
Beckman, Paul |
Benet, Esme |
Bennett, Brett |
Bennett, Charlie |
Bennett, D. V. |
Benton, Ralph |
Berg, Carly |
Berman, Daniel |
Bernardara, Will Jr. |
Berriozabal, Luis |
Beveridge, Robert |
Bickerstaff, Russ |
Bigney, Tyler |
Bladon, Henry |
Blake, Steven |
Blakey, James |
Bohem, Charlie Keys and Les |
Bonner, Kim |
Booth, Brenton |
Boski, David |
Bougger, Jason |
Boyd, A. V. |
Boyd, Morgan |
Boyle, James |
Bracey, DG |
Brewka-Clark, Nancy |
Britt, Alan |
Broccoli, Jimmy |
Brooke, j |
Brown, R. Thomas |
Brown, Sam |
Burke, Wayne F. |
Burnwell, Otto |
Burton, Michael |
Bushtalov, Denis |
Butcher, Jonathan |
Butkowski, Jason |
Butler, Simon Hardy |
Butler, Terence |
Cameron, W. B. |
Campbell, J. J. |
Campbell, Jack Jr. |
Cano, Valentina |
Cardinale, Samuel |
Cardoza, Dan A. |
Carlton, Bob |
Carr, Jennifer |
Cartwright, Steve |
Carver, Marc |
Castle, Chris |
Catlin, Alan |
Chesler, Adam |
Clausen, Daniel |
Clevenger, Victor |
Clifton, Gary |
Cmileski, Sue |
Coey, Jack |
Coffey, James |
Colasuonno, Alfonso |
Condora, Maddisyn |
Conley, Jen |
Connor, Tod |
Cooper, Malcolm Graham |
Coral, Jay |
Corrigan, Mickey J. |
Cosby, S. A. |
Costello, Bruce |
Cotton, Mark |
Coverley, Harris |
Crandall, Rob |
Criscuolo, Carla |
Crist, Kenneth |
D., Jack |
Dallett, Cassandra |
Danoski, Joseph V. |
Daly, Sean |
Davies, J. C. |
Davis, Christopher |
Davis, Michael D. |
Day, Holly |
de Bruler, Connor |
Degani, Gay |
De France, Steve |
De La Garza, Lela Marie |
Deming, Ruth Z. |
Demmer, Calvin |
De Neve, M. A. |
Dennehy, John W. |
DeVeau, Spencer |
Di Chellis, Peter |
DiLorenzo, Ciro |
Dilworth, Marcy |
Dionne, Ron |
Dobson, Melissa |
Domenichini, John |
Dominelli, Rob |
Doran, Phil |
Doreski, William |
Dorman, Roy |
Doherty, Rachel |
Dosser, Jeff |
Doyle, John |
Draime, Doug |
Drake, Lena Judith |
Dromey, John H. |
Dubal, Paul Michael |
Duke, Jason |
Duncan, Gary |
Dunham, T. Fox |
Duschesneau, Pauline |
Dunn, Robin Wyatt |
Duxbury, Karen |
Duy, Michelle |
Eade, Kevin |
Elliott, Garnett |
Ellman, Neil |
England, Kristina |
Erianne, John |
Espinosa, Maria |
Esterholm, Jeff |
Fallow, Jeff |
Farren, Jim |
Fedolfi, Leon |
Fenster, Timothy |
Ferraro, Diana |
Filas, Cameron |
Fillion, Tom |
Fisher, Miles Ryan |
Flanagan, Daniel N. |
Flanagan, Ryan Quinn |
Flynn, Jay |
Fortunato, Chris |
Francisco, Edward |
Frank, Tim |
Fugett, Brian |
Funk, Matthew C. |
Gann, Alan |
Gardner, Cheryl Ann |
Garvey, Kevin Z. |
Gay, Sharon Frame |
Gentile, Angelo |
Genz, Brian |
Giersbach, Walter |
Gladeview, Lawrence |
Glass, Donald |
Goddard, L. B. |
Godwin, Richard |
Goff, Christopher |
Golds, Stephen J. |
Goss, Christopher |
Gradowski, Janel |
Graham, Sam |
Grant, Christopher |
Grant, Stewart |
Greenberg, K.J. Hannah |
Greenberg, Paul |
Grey, John |
Guirand, Leyla |
Gunn, Johnny |
Gurney, Kenneth P. |
Haglund, Tobias |
Halleck, Robert |
Hamlin, Mason |
Hanson, Christopher Kenneth |
Hanson, Kip |
Harrington, Jim |
Harris, Bruce |
Hart, GJ |
Hartman, Michelle |
Hartwell, Janet |
Haskins, Chad |
Hawley, Doug |
Haycock, Brian |
Hayes, A. J. |
Hayes, John |
Hayes, Peter W. J. |
Heatley, Paul |
Heimler, Heidi |
Helmsley, Fiona |
Hendry, Mark |
Heslop, Karen |
Heyns, Heather |
Hilary, Sarah |
Hill, Richard |
Hivner, Christopher |
Hockey, Matthew J. |
Hogan, Andrew J. |
Holderfield, Culley |
Holton, Dave |
Houlahan, Jeff |
Howells, Ann |
Hoy, J. L. |
Huchu, Tendai |
Hudson, Rick |
Huffman, A. J. |
Huguenin, Timothy G. |
Huskey, Jason L. |
Ippolito, Curtis |
Irascible, Dr. I. M. |
Jaggers, J. David |
James, Christopher |
Jarrett, Nigel |
Johnson, Beau |
Johnson, Moctezuma |
Johnson, Zakariah |
Jones, D. S. |
Jones, Erin J. |
Jones, Mark |
Kabel, Dana |
Kaplan, Barry Jay |
Kay, S. |
Keaton, David James |
Kempka, Hal |
Kerins, Mike |
Keshigian, Michael |
Kevlock, Mark Joseph |
King, Michelle Ann |
Kirk, D. |
Knott, Anthony |
Koenig, Michael |
Kokan, Bob |
Korpon, Nik |
Kovacs, Norbert |
Kovacs, Sandor |
Kowalcyzk, Alec |
Krafft, E. K. |
Lacks, Lee Todd |
Lang, Preston |
Larkham, Jack |
La Rosa, F. Michael |
Leasure, Colt |
Leatherwood, Roger |
Lees, Arlette |
Lees, Lonni |
Leins, Tom |
Lemieux, Michael |
Lemming, Jennifer |
Lerner, Steven M |
Leverone, Allan |
Levine, Phyllis Peterson |
Lewis, Cynthia Ruth |
Lewis, LuAnn |
Licht, Matthew |
Lifshin, Lyn |
Liskey, Tom Darin |
Lodge, Oliver |
Lopez, Aurelio Rico III |
Lorca, Aurelia |
Lovisi, Gary |
Lubaczewski, Paul |
Lucas, Gregory E. |
Lukas, Anthony |
Lynch, Nulty |
Lyon, Hillary |
Lyons, Matthew |
Mac, David |
MacArthur, Jodi |
Malone, Joe |
Mann, Aiki |
Manthorne, Julian |
Manzolillo, Nicholas |
Marcius, Cal |
Marrotti, Michael |
Mason, Wayne |
Mattila, Matt |
McAdams, Liz |
McCaffrey, Stanton |
McCartney, Chris |
McDaris, Catfish |
McFarlane, Adam Beau |
McGinley, Chris |
McGinley, Jerry |
McElhiney, Sean |
McJunkin, Ambrose |
McKim, Marci |
McMannus, Jack |
McQuiston, Rick |
Mellon, Mark |
Memi, Samantha |
Middleton, Bradford |
Miles, Marietta |
Miller, Max |
Minihan, Jeremiah |
Montagna, Mitchel |
Monson, Mike |
Mooney, Christopher P. |
Moran, Jacqueline M. |
Morgan, Bill W. |
Moss, David Harry |
Mullins, Ian |
Mulvihill, Michael |
Muslim, Kristine Ong |
Nardolilli, Ben |
Nelson, Trevor |
Nessly, Ray |
Nester, Steven |
Neuda, M. C. |
Newell, Ben |
Newman, Paul |
Nielsen, Ayaz |
Nore, Abe |
Numann, Randy |
Ogurek, Douglas J. |
O'Keefe, Sean |
Orrico, Connor |
Ortiz, Sergio |
Pagel, Briane |
Park, Jon |
Parr, Rodger |
Parrish, Rhonda |
Partin-Nielsen, Judith |
Peralez, R. |
Perez, Juan M. |
Perez, Robert Aguon |
Peterson, Ross |
Petroziello, Brian |
Pettie, Jack |
Petyo, Robert |
Phillips, Matt |
Picher, Gabrielle |
Pierce, Curtis |
Pierce, Rob |
Pietrzykowski, Marc |
Plath, Rob |
Pointer, David |
Post, John |
Powell, David |
Power, Jed |
Powers, M. P. |
Praseth, Ram |
Prazych, Richard |
Prusky, Steve |
Pruitt, Eryk |
Purfield, M. E. |
Purkis, Gordon |
Quinlan, Joseph R. |
Quinn, Frank |
Rabas, Kevin |
Ragan, Robert |
Ram, Sri |
Rapth, Sam |
Ravindra, Rudy |
Reich, Betty |
Renney, Mark |
reutter, g emil |
Rhatigan, Chris |
Rhiel, Ann Marie |
Ribshman, Kevin |
Richardson, Travis |
Richey, John Lunar |
Ridgeway, Kevin |
Rihlmann, Brian |
Ritchie, Bob |
Ritchie, Salvadore |
Robinson, John D. |
Robinson, Kent |
Rodgers, K. M. |
Roger, Frank |
Rose, Mandi |
Rose, Mick |
Rosenberger, Brian |
Rosenblum, Mark |
Rosmus, Cindy |
Ruhlman, Walter |
Rutherford, Scotch |
Sahms, Diane |
Saier, Monique |
Salinas, Alex |
Sanders, Isabelle |
Sanders, Sebnem |
Santo, Heather |
Savage, Jack |
Sayles, Betty J. |
Schauber, Karen |
Schneeweiss, Jonathan |
Schraeder, E. F. |
Schumejda, Rebecca |
See, Tom |
Sethi, Sanjeev |
Sexton, Rex |
Seymour, J. E. |
Shaikh, Aftab Yusuf |
Sheagren, Gerald E. |
Shepherd, Robert |
Shirey, D. L. |
Shore, Donald D. |
Short, John |
Sim, Anton |
Simmler, T. Maxim |
Simpson, Henry |
Sinisi, J. J. |
Sixsmith, JD |
Slagle, Cutter |
Slaviero, Susan |
Sloan, Frank |
Small, Alan Edward |
Smith, Brian J. |
Smith, Ben |
Smith, C.R.J. |
Smith, Copper |
Smith, Greg |
Smith, Paul |
Smith, Stephanie |
Smith, Willie |
Smuts, Carolyn |
Snethen, Daniel G. |
Snoody, Elmore |
Sojka, Carol |
Solender, Michael J. |
Sortwell, Pete |
Sparling, George |
Spicer, David |
Squirrell, William |
Stanton, Henry G. |
Steven, Michael |
Stewart, Michael S. |
Stickel, Anne |
Stoler, Cathi |
Stolec, Trina |
Stoll, Don |
Stryker, Joseph H. |
Stucchio, Chris |
Succre, Ray |
Sullivan, Thomas |
Swanson, Peter |
Swartz, Justin A. |
Sweet, John |
Tarbard, Grant |
Taylor, J. M. |
Thompson, John L. |
Thompson, Phillip |
Ticktin, Ruth |
Tillman, Stephen |
Titus, Lori |
Tivey, Lauren |
Tobin, Tim |
Torrence, Ron |
Tu, Andy |
Tustin, John |
Ullerich, Eric |
Valent, Raymond A. |
Valvis, James |
Vilhotti, Jerry |
Waldman, Dr. Mel |
Walsh, Patricia |
Walters, Luke |
Ward, Emma |
Washburn, Joseph |
Watt, Max |
Weber, R.O. |
Weil, Lester L. |
White, Judy Friedman |
White, Robb |
White, Terry |
Wickham, Alice |
Williams, K. A. |
Wilsky, Jim |
Wilson, Robley |
Wilson, Tabitha |
Woodland, Francis |
Young, Mark |
Yuan, Changming |
Zackel, Fred |
Zafiro, Frank |
Zapata, Angel |
Zee, Carly |
Zeigler, Martin |
Zimmerman, Thomas |
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TOUGH
GAME by James Blakey Dubler
positioned himself five feet from the bag, pounded his
fist into his glove, and leaned forward on the balls of his feet. Nakamura’s pitch was inside.
Murphy turned on it, hammering the ball down the third base line. Dubler stuck out his
glove. He couldn’t field it but managed to knock it down. After a mad scramble, and
with no time to look back the runner at second, he launched his throw to first base. The
ball sailed wildly over Arroyo’s outstretched glove into the stands. Dubler, hands on his hips, kicked at the dirt, and stared
at the ground. “Batter to second base, and the
runner on second will score, giving the Monarchs the lead,” the radio announcer told
his listeners. “Dubler’s having a tough game. Struck out twice, and that’s
his third error in as many innings.” A series
of boos filled the air as the Dragons’ fans registered
their displeasure with Dubler’s performance. But in the front row, a man in a gray
suit and a fedora smiled. # “One out in the bottom
of the ninth, and the Dragons have men on first and second,” the announcer said.
“Finally, a chance for Dubler to redeem himself. He’s oh for four on the day
with three strikeouts. Last time up in the seventh, he tapped a weak grounder to second.” Dubler walked toward the batter’s box, his face etched with
grim determination. The fans greeted him with a Bronx cheer. The first pitch was a fastball
high and inside, sending Dubler to the ground. “Ball
one!” called the umpire. Dubler stared down the pitcher
and gritted his teeth. The second pitch broke early,
and in the dirt. Dubler, appearing to be badly fooled, swung and missed. The spin on the
ball sent it bouncing away from the catcher all the way to the wall. The runners advanced
to second and third. With first base open, the opposing manager called for an
intentional walk, taking the bat out of Dubler’s hands. He walked sullenly to first base
and felt the pit in his stomach grow. Before he had time to formulate a plan, Gorman crushed
the first pitch over the left field wall for a game-winning grand slam. Twenty thousand happy Dragons’ fans celebrated deliriously.
The man in the fedora didn’t. # Dubler sat in front of his locker,
his head drooping. “Don’t be low. We
won!” Arroyo slapped him on the shoulder. “You had a tough game, amigo.
But that’s okay, we’re here to pick each other up.” Dubler
looked up and managed a weak smile. “Tough
game, Dubler.” Carolyn Rodgers, the blond reporter
from the cable station, thrust a microphone in his face. “What happened out there?” Dubler slapped the microphone away. “Why don’t you talk to
Gorman? He’s the hero.” “Hey guys!” shouted
Simmons. “Who’s up for a little fun tonight at Engine Forty-Nine? First round’s
on me.” The clubhouse roared with approval. “How
about you, Dubler?” Dubler shook his head. “You
guys go on without me. I think I might be coming down with the flu.” “What’s that?” Scott Blackbell, the Dragon’s manager,
pointed a bony finger at Dubler. “Next time, you’re feeling sick, let me know. Don’t
pull that ironman crap on me.” “Sure thing, Skipper.” # Dubler
avoided the remaining reporters, showered, and picked
at the food from the post-game spread. When there was no one left in the clubhouse, he
grabbed his bag and walked to his truck. In the gloom he saw a small figure
lingering near his F-250. Was it some kid waiting for an autograph? Security was supposed
to keep them away. As he got closer to the truck, he recognized Louie in his trademark
fedora. Dubler swallowed hard. “Hey there, Mr. Baseball,”
Louie said. “You really let me down today.” Dubler
shook his head. “Did you see the game? I did my
worst without being obvious about it.” “Oh.
I saw. But this is the third time you’ve been a
disappointment. My friends are out a lot of money, and they’re not happy.” “Look,
I’ll do better, or rather worse, tomorrow,” Dubler
said. “It was a really tough game.” “Things are going to get
a whole lot tougher.” Louie pulled out a stainless-steel semi-auto pistol and fired
twice into Dubler’s chest. Dubler fell
to the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief. “You
play baseball, you know the rules. Today was your third
strike,” Louie said. “And now you’re out.” James Blakey’s fiction has appeared in Mystery Weekly,
Crimson Streets, and Over My Dead Body. His story “The Bicycle
Thief” won a 2019 Derringer Award. He lives in suburban Philadelphia, where he
works as a network engineer for a software consulting company. When James isn’t
working or writing, he can be found on the hiking trail—he’s climbed
thirty-eight of the fifty U.S. state high points—or bike-camping his way up and
down the East Coast. Find him at www.JamesBlakeyWrites.com.
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In Association with Fossil Publications
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