Smoke Breaks

By Casey Bosler

"Wolf" features Agent Keane, a cool and collected covert agent, who tracks a monstrous creature through a suburban wood in a high stakes game of cat and mouse. This story is contemporary sci-fi with a splash of noir.

"Mama Tried" features Wayne, a grizzled old veteran who picks up a hitchhiker by the desert highways of Nevada. A quick wit and a quicker draw keep everyone on their toes. This one's Western flavored crime.

"Dirty" features the AI core of a futuristic smarthome. When Mr. Pearson is away, nothing will stop the AI from keeping his home tidy and safe. This is darkly satirical sci-fi.

"Room Service" features George Campbell and his lover Joan discussing the pros and cons of their cheap motel room. This is a contemporary story.

"Turn 'Em and Burn 'Em" features a game of cards between a demon named Abbadon and his opponent, whom he refers to only as "Wizard." More than money is at stake as two supernatural heavy hitters duke it out over a poker game. This one's urban fantasy.

"Fugue State" features a grieving man trying to hold himself together when he can't find his cat. This is a contemporary story.

"Black Cats" features Detectives Trager and Murphy, members of an elite squad known as the Black Cats Unit. They take care of paranormal problems that normal cops can't handle, and they're on stakeout. This story is urban fantasy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Casey Bosler
• Release date: May 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463432082

Casey Bosler

Casey Bosler is a comics writer specializing in sci-fi and urban fantasy. He is pursuing BFA in Creative Writing for Entertainment and his work can be found in Danse Macabre, Furtive Dalliance, and the Scarlet Leaf Review. When he's not writing comics, he makes short films with his friends, and is a skilled and daring sailor.

Book preview

Smoke Breaks

By Casey Bosler

Copyright  Casey Bosler, 2019

All Rights Reserved

First Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This eBook is 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 recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Table of Contents

Wolf

Mama Tried

Dirty

Room Service

Turn 'Em and Burn 'Em

Fugue State

Black Cats

About the Author

Wolf

Do you see it, Agent Keane?

Keane scanned the riverbank with his flashlight. There, by the dock -- pawprints in the sand. Besides the pads and claws, they were almost shaped like human hands. Eerie. The prints lead from the tree line straight to the black water lapping at the shore.

Not yet, sir, said Keane. He aimed the light across the river. A single bent cattail swayed limply in the wind. Subtle. But it's close.

Keane waded across. The mud sucked at his boots with every step. Trickling water, rustling leaves, the scream of a million insects. White noise was everywhere. Keane pushed aside the tall grass at the riverbank and slipped back into the forest.

The sound