If At First You Don't Succeed

by Michael Mallory

About the Author: Michael Mallory is the author of 10 novels -- including the "Amelia Watson" and "Dave Beauchamp" series -- some 150 short stories, and more than 600 magazine and newspaper articles.

Excerpt

Fortunately, Marie and the kids weren’t at home when the package exploded.

Bruce was, of course, and the blast that blew the garage door out propelled him back against the tool cabinet. Nobody would ever know how much pain he felt.

Police and fire trucks were there when the rest of the family returned. Robbie and Maddie, eight and six respectively, were prevented from going near the house despite their growing hysteria. Nobody wanted them to see what was left of their dad.

Practically all that remained of Bruce Finnerman was an inexplicable mystery: who wanted to kill him with an explosive?

Who wanted to kill him with anything?

Lou Beratti knew why he was being summoned by the big man, but since he also knew he had done nothing wrong, he wasn’t worried.

He did the job he was hired to do and it was not his fault that it got screwed up. All he had to do was explain that.

Story Comments