Autumn's Crossing

By John R Corrigan

In “Autumn’s Crossing,” an infant is saved thanks to U.S. Border Patrol agent and single mom Peyton Cote’s shoot-out along the U.S.-Canada border. What follows is Peyton, star of D.A. Keeley’s three-book series set in Aroostook County, Maine, discovers problems within the adoption system and a baby-selling ring with ties to Europe.

The Barb Goffman Presents series showcases the best in modern mystery and crime stories, personally selected by one of the most acclaimed short stories authors and editors in the mystery field.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wildside Press
• Release date: Aug 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781479465255

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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

AUTUMN’S CROSSING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Copyright © 2013 by John R. Corrigan.

Originally published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, July/August 2013.

Published by Wildside Press, LLC.

wildsidepress.com | bcmystery.com

AUTUMN’S CROSSING

by JOHN R. CORRIGAN

The 9mm rounds, fired through a silencer, sounded like quarters dropping to the snow around her.

U.S. Border Patrol Agent Peyton Cote rolled to her left, felt her shoulder strike the base of the pine, and moved like a turtle on its shell, burrowing through the snow, until her back pressed firmly against the base of the thick trunk.

A slug hit the opposite side of the tree, and light snow fell from the tree’s branches to the ground around her. The ironic quality of the scene—tranquil, light-falling snow amid gunfire—was not lost on her: how the hell had May I see your license and registration led to this? The stupid bastard had even given her the documents, watched as she took them to her government-issued Chevy Tahoe, and then inexplicably fired a round through her windshield.

Her wool winter field coat was sweat-soaked and felt like wet tissue paper against her back; coupled with her eight-pound Kevlar vest, it gave her all the mobility of one lugging a sandbag.

The tree vibrated again, and a chunk of wood, like pale flesh, leapt into the air, tumbled end over end, landing softly in the snow.

There were three of them. That much she knew.

She also knew she had to keep them off her—maintain at least