11 short stories of killers, fixers and P.I.s ranging from dark humor to deadly suspense.

Vista with Player, by R.A. Allen: On a Christmas afternoon, an impudent golfer meets more than his match when he interrupts an armed man enjoying the view.

Chain of Command, by Mike Wiecek: Forensic accounting with a bullet. In this darkly humorous story, a corporate "fixer" roots out problems.

Call Out, by Adrian Magson: Former Royal Military policewoman Sally has a serious problem: her younger half-brother Terry. He's as bent as a dog's hind leg and just as dim, and is soon in deep water. When his vengeful business associates come calling, it's Sally who has to step up to the plate.

Henderson's Place: The Girl with the Summer Eyes, by Mort Castle: A man losing touch with reality on a crash course with a teenage girl trying to escape her own reality.

Fit to Die, by Thomas Millstead: A diminutive P.I. tackling his first homicide case goes up against three body builders to ferret out which one is a killer.

The Art of War, by Miles Archer: When a South San Francisco waste hauler comes under pressure from a crime boss looking to expand, the owner turns to P.I. Doug McCool for help. McCool cannot hope to out-muscle the wise guys, but with the help of "The Art of War," by Sun-Tzu, he may be able to out-think them.

Detour, by Libby Fischer Hellmann: A hit woman is uncomfortable enough about her dad's old employer checking to see if she's gone into the family business, but now it seems someone's taken out a contract on her.

Father Figure, by Simon Wood: A two-bit con man gets the break of a lifetime when he discovers that his father is a software mogul. With a bit of truth as bait, he begins to spin his web while trying to stay one step ahead of the mogul's chief of security.

Kill Leader, by Mark Troy: Kill Leader, by Mark Troy: Paula Evangelista. "Vengelista" has led the pro volleyball league in kills, but now it seems someone is threatening to put an end to her streak and maybe her life, and private eye Val Lyon has her hands full trying to protect her.

Sioux City Express, by Laird Long: P.I. Charles Sydney is on the bloody, body-strewn trail of a stolen cache of stamps, with only the phantom Sioux City Express to guide him along his way.

And Miles to Go, by J.R. Chabot: A man's solitary trip over the mountains to complete a job, runs into a bump along the road in the form of a couple punks harassing the owner of a small diner.