Quantum Nonet

By Lesley L. Smith

Quantum Cop Madison Martin fights quantum criminals to try to save Christmas, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween, Summer Solstice, Flag Day, Hanukkah, Father's Day, Juneteenth, and Valentine's Day celebrations, in nine short stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lesley L. Smith
• Release date: Apr 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9781950198641

Lesley L. Smith

All right, I confess! I love physics. I blame my misspent youth reading science fiction by the likes of Asimov, Heinlein, and Clarke. Not surprisingly, I also love science fiction. I grew up in Missouri, in a family of overeducated overachievers. Following in their footsteps, I've earned far too many degrees including an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Elementary Particle Physics and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction. Hmm? I may have a split personality. The evidence shows I've authored or co-authored many scientific articles, and am a longtime member of the American Physical Society. I'm also a founder and editor of the speculative fiction ezine http://www.electricspec.com and a longtime member of the Science Fiction/Fantasy Writers of America. Both sides of my personality live in Boulder, Colorado where I do physics by day and science fiction by night. Please visit me on the web at http://www.lesleylsmith.com.

Book preview

QUANTUM NONET

Books by Lesley L. Smith

Temporal Dreams

Neutrino Warning

Kat Cubed

Reality Alternatives

Conservation of Luck

The Quantum Cop Series:

Book 1: The Quantum Cop

Book 2: Quantum Murder

Book 3: Quantum Mayhem

The Space Operetta Series

Book 1: A Jack By Any Other Name

Book 2: A Jack In The Dark

Book 3: A Jack For All Seasons

Quantum Nonet

By Lesley L. Smith

Quarky Media

Boulder Colorado

Quantum Nonet

ISBN: 978-1-950198-64-1 (e-book)

Published by Quarky Media, PO Box 3332, Boulder, CO 80307

www.quarkymedia.com

Quantum Christmas © 2016 Lesley L. Smith

Quantum Cinco De Mayo © 2017 Lesley L. Smith

Quantum Tricks and Treats © 2017 Lesley L. Smith

Quantum Solstice © 2018 Lesley L. Smith

Quantum Flag © 2019 Lesley L. Smith

Quantum Hanukkah © 2019 Lesley L. Smith

Quantum Father © 2020 Lesley L. Smith

Quantum Juneteenth © 2021 Lesley L. Smith

Quantum Valentine © 2022 Lesley L. Smith

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

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Making or distributing electronic copies of this book constitutes copyright infringement and could subject the infringer to criminal and civil liability.

Table of Contents

Quantum Christmas

Quantum Cinco de Mayo

Quantum Tricks and Treats

Quantum Solstice

Quantum Flag

Quantum Hanukkah

Quantum Father

Quantum Juneteenth

Quantum Valentine

Message from the Author

Quantum Cop Chapter One

This was the first short story I wrote in the Quantum Cop world. It takes place soon after the events of Quantum Murder, so, Madison has discovered her powers and is figuring them out. As a reader and a writer, I really enjoy holiday stories, Christmas stories, in particular. This one references a lot of fun Christmas music.

Quantum Christmas

In my office in the physics department, I pushed myself away from my computer and did a mental happy dance. Yippee! I'd just turned in the last of my grades for the semester. My teaching duties were over for the next two weeks days. Yippee!

Christmas music played in the background, I don't want a lot for Christmas..., via internet radio.

Madison, did I just hear a yippee coming from in here? my handsome boyfriend Andro Rivas asked from my office doorway. His office was right next door.

I stood up and ran over and planted a juicy kiss right on his mouth. Mmmm.

When we separated, he was smiling. Let me guess, you turned in your grades.

Yes! Yippee! I'm sure I was beaming like a Star Trek transporter. Do you want to go to Boulder Brews and drink a bunch of weird seasonal beers?

He laughed a little. I wish I could. But my grades aren't in yet.

Aw. I was in such a great mood even this minor disappointment couldn't get me down. Can I take you out for a celebratory dinner tonight?

No, I'm sorry, he said.

No?

I must have looked confused because he said, I'm leaving for Texas tonight. With Sophia and her mom. We're going to visit her parents. I told you about it. Remember? Sophia was the three-year-old daughter he'd only recently found out about. He'd just gotten shared custody, and this was going to be their first Christmas together. He had a poor relationship with his baby-mama, but he was trying to be a good sport about it.

He had told me about his trip. I'd just been blocking it out because I didn't want to face Christmas without the person I loved the most. Right. I forced myself to smile. What are you guys going to do down there?

Now he was the one beaming like a transporter. We're going to see Santa! I can't wait!

My eyes got a little misty thinking about a little girl sharing Christmas for the first time with her doting daddy. I blinked back tears. You guys have fun! I expect you to send me a lot of pics! And you and me, rain check.

Yes, rain check in January. He frowned. Yeah. I'm not happy about it. I've never spent Christmas away from Yasmin and the girls. Yasmin was his widowed sister, and she had two lovely daughters. And of course, I'll really miss you, too, Mad. It won't seem like Christmas without all of you.

Aw. Well, like you said, rain check. We all understand.

I hope so. He looked a little more positive. And now I have to go finish grading. He gave me a peck. Goodbye.

I pulled him in close for a better kiss, since it would be out last for a while, and then said, Goodbye. And have a very merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas. Looking sad again, he nodded and stepped back into the hall on the way back to his office.

I glanced back at my desk with its computer and pile of things to do.

Maybe my cousin, Ryan Martin, would want to go drink weird seasonal beers with me. I needed some cheering up, and this was the season for good cheer, right? He was the chief of campus police, and his office was across the street, so it was easy for us to meet up. I called him, and he agreed.

A little later found me and Ryan in one of our favorite hangouts--Boulder Brews. It was right across the street from campus and served coffee drinks, pastries, craft beers, and pub grub. We stood at the front counter pondering the menu. They'd hung up a bunch of multicolored LED Christmas lights and music was playing. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

Ryan pushed his wire-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose. Hhm. Gingerbread beer. He glanced down at me from his six-foot height. I don't think so. That's too much.

I grinned. Not for me. I'm adventurous. I stepped right up to the counter. One gingerbread draft.

The employee, a lanky ginger fellow, probably a university student, looked expectantly at Ryan.

Ryan stepped up and said, I'll have a stout.

The ginger rang us up, and I shoved my credit card at him. My treat, Ryan.

Ryan shrugged. Fine with me.

I'd finally gotten my finances mostly in order after living in town for a little over a year. I really owed Ryan for letting me stay with him and his wife and baby when I first moved to town.

We got our beverages in frosty mugs and went and sat down at one of the tiny tables.

Ryan took a sip and smacked his lips. Ah.

I cautiously sipped my beer. It did have a faint hint of gingerbread, but it wasn't overpowering. Mmm. I smacked my own lips. I like it.

Have you ever met a beer you didn't like? That must be a rhetorical question. Ryan smiled. So, what's up? Why'd you want to get together?

I turned in all my grades. I took another sip. I'm basically on Christmas vacation, starting now!

He snickered. I thought you liked teaching.

I do, I said. I just needed a break. Now I can focus on my own research. I did research in elementary particle physics.

And, oh yeah, sometimes I solved quantum crimes. Last year I'd discovered how to control reality using quantum mechanics,