At The Crossroads: Uncollected Anthology, #13
()
About this ebook
When Kailani arrives in Greenwood, Mississippi, for her latest job, she knows she faces a daunting task. With her job at Abracadabra Inc. on the line, she determines to rise to the challenge.
But when she tries to find the magic shop she has been sent to investigate, she finds nothing but mysteries and mirage.
She worries her magic will prove insufficient to penetrate the deception. Until she realizes her magic might be the least of her fears.
Part of Mystical Melodies, an Uncollected Anthology.
"Kristine Kathryn Rusch is one of the best writers in the field and 'Dragon's Tooth' does not disappoint…Rusch gives us a delightful tale here!"
—SFRevu on Dragon's Tooth: An Abracadabra Inc. Novella
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
USA Today bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch writes in almost every genre. Generally, she uses her real name (Rusch) for most of her writing. Under that name, she publishes bestselling science fiction and fantasy, award-winning mysteries, acclaimed mainstream fiction, controversial nonfiction, and the occasional romance. Her novels have made bestseller lists around the world and her short fiction has appeared in eighteen best of the year collections. She has won more than twenty-five awards for her fiction, including the Hugo, Le Prix Imaginales, the Asimov’s Readers Choice award, and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers Choice Award. Publications from The Chicago Tribune to Booklist have included her Kris Nelscott mystery novels in their top-ten-best mystery novels of the year. The Nelscott books have received nominations for almost every award in the mystery field, including the best novel Edgar Award, and the Shamus Award. She writes goofy romance novels as award-winner Kristine Grayson, romantic suspense as Kristine Dexter, and futuristic sf as Kris DeLake. She also edits. Beginning with work at the innovative publishing company, Pulphouse, followed by her award-winning tenure at The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, she took fifteen years off before returning to editing with the original anthology series Fiction River, published by WMG Publishing. She acts as series editor with her husband, writer Dean Wesley Smith, and edits at least two anthologies in the series per year on her own. To keep up with everything she does, go to kriswrites.com and sign up for her newsletter. To track her many pen names and series, see their individual websites (krisnelscott.com, kristinegrayson.com, krisdelake.com, retrievalartist.com, divingintothewreck.com). She lives and occasionally sleeps in Oregon.
Read more from Kristine Kathryn Rusch
The Detective Stories of Edgar Allan Poe Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPhysical Therapy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Sherlock Holmes Megapack: 25 Modern Tales by Masters: 25 Modern Tales by Masters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFantasy Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Writers Fail: A WMG Writer's Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBy the Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 12th Science Fiction MEGAPACK® Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Negotiate Anything: A Freelancer's Survival Guide Short Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Olivia’s House Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Freelancer's Survival Guide Third Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lady Sleuths MEGAPACK ®: 20 Modern and Classic Tales of Female Detectives Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Living the Legend Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Second Time Travel MEGAPACK ®: 23 Modern and Classic Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFacade Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Love and Justice Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When Thomas Jefferson Dined Alone Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe White Mists of Power Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fate Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpeaking of the Fantastic III: Interviews with Science Fiction Writers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Science Fiction Crime Megapack®: 26 Criminally Futuristic Stories! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Strangeness of the Day Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWMG Starter Bundle Science Fiction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRecovering Apollo 8 and Other Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The End of the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Tower Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Boy Who Needed Heroes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Freelancer's Survival Guide to Starting Your Own Business Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Assassin's Dagger: Abracadabra Incorporated Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsResearch and the Research Librarian Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to At The Crossroads
Titles in the series (57)
What You Wish For (Uncollected Anthology: Enchanted Emporiums) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bee-Keeper's Daughter: Uncollected Anthology, #11 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRhapsody in Blue (Uncollected Anthology: Happily Ever Afters) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sweet Shop: Uncollected Anthology, #6 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPaulaleena: Uncollected Anthology, #8 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDancing with Tong Yi: Uncollected Anthology, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Library of Atlantis: Uncollected Anthology, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Perfect Shoes: Uncollected Anthology, #6 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mouse Who Laughed: Uncollected Anthology, #10 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWar On All Fronts: Uncollected Anthology, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCandles and Shadows: Uncollected Anthology, #9 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOathbreaker: part of Warlocks: Uncollected Anthology, #14 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPrimitive Area: Uncollected Anthology, #8 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Last Little Dogie: Uncollected Anthology, #17 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReleasing the Spell: Uncollected Anthology, #12 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCommunication Breakdown: Uncollected Anthology, #13 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNine Lives: Spells Gone Awry: Uncollected Anthology, #12 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHedging the Witch: Uncollected Anthology, #10 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTransformations: Uncollected Anthology, #14 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Scales: Uncollected Anthology, #17 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHelmie: Uncollected Anthology, #11 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGood Scrying Gone Bad: Uncollected Anthology, #11 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fairy Boy-Band: Uncollected Anthology, #13 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWee Beasties: Uncollected Anthology, #18 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFairy Tale Fates: Uncollected Anthology, #16 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInvitation to the Ball: Uncollected Anthology, #19 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBadlands: Uncollected Anthology, #17 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWith a Little Help From the Gods: Uncollected Anthology, #21 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Magic in the World: Uncollected Anthology, #14 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Challenges of Raising Urban Chickens: Uncollected Anthology, #18 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related ebooks
The Moon in Its Flight Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat the Dead Know: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cane (Warbler Classics) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCane Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sirena Selena: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Girl Of The Golden West Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Girl of the Golden West (Annotated) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsExcept the Music Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRhapsody Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Changed Man and Other Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOne Week at the Faraway Inn: Berkshire Romance, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ragtime Kid Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIn Search of Pretty Young Black Men: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Augusta Played Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBreath Visible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Killing in the Hills: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On the Stroll: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Rosemary: A Christmas story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Changed Man (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Bear And His Daughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sing Her Name: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Limehouse Nights: "It is a tale of love and lovers that they tell in the low-lit Causeway. . . ." Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFever: The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Matala: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Red Fork Roots: Tulsa Series, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVertigo Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Marking Time Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlack Oxen Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRosemary in Search of a Father Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFarewell, Everything Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Fantasy For You
The City of Dreaming Books Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Picture of Dorian Gray (The Original 1890 Uncensored Edition + The Expanded and Revised 1891 Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tress of the Emerald Sea: Secret Projects, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Fellowship Of The Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piranesi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Priory of the Orange Tree Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Is How You Lose the Time War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Desert: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silmarillion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stories of Ray Bradbury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Pirate Lord: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Measure: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Immortal Longings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Empire: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fairy Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don Quixote: [Complete & Illustrated] Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Eyes of the Dragon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Underworld: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wizard's First Rule Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Phantom Tollbooth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Black Sun Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lord Of The Rings: One Volume Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nettle & Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Talisman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for At The Crossroads
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
At The Crossroads - Kristine Kathryn Rusch
At the Crossroads
An Abracadabra Incorporated Story
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
WMG PublishingContents
At the Crossroads
Newsletter Signup
About the Author
Also by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Mystical Melodies, an Uncollected Anthology
The Nightly Dance Aboard the Ship of Wonders
Communication Breakdown
The Fairy Boy Band
Journal’s End
The Last Night at the Crowley
Street Song
When the Music Plays
At the Crossroads
Ninety-seven degrees, and so humid the air felt like a live thing—a wet, disgusting, heavy live thing. Kailani stood at the edge of the curved road, the asphalt pale and gray in the heat. Just behind her, the red air-conditioned Ford Something Or Other she’d rented with Abracadabra Inc.’s money. Just ahead of her, a parking lot covered in pale blond gravel, tire tracks suggesting most people turned around here, and headed back to Greenwood proper.
Not that this wasn’t part of Greenwood; it was. The oldest African-American neighborhood in the entire town. The blue-and-gold Blues Trail sign not too far from here gave a thumbnail history on this neighborhood, called Baptist Town because—the sign said—one part of the town was anchored by McKinney Chapel M. B. Church, the other part by a former cotton compress, whatever
that
was
.
She might look like she belonged in this neighborhood—and genetically, at least, part of her did, but she was Hawaiian born and raised. Part Native Hawaiian, actually, which was what people in Honolulu focused on. Or rather, haoles in Honolulu focused on that. Here, she was just another dark face in a town filled with dark faces.
A bead of sweat ran down the side of that dark—well, golden, really—face of hers. She’d dressed for the heat. She wore a headband around her unruly curls, keeping them off her skin. Her shirt—white to reflect the sun, very thin cotton to keep her cool—was short-sleeved, so she wouldn’t offend someone by wearing something too skimpy. Cargo pants—not shorts, because she had no idea what she was going to run into, and she wanted to keep her legs protected.
The only concession she made to her mission, if she could call it that, were the thick-soled athletic shoes she wore with a pair of extra thick knee socks, which were making her much too hot
right
now
.
She’d give anything to crawl back into that car, crank up the AC, and drive as far from here as she possibly could.
But, Abracadabra had told her this was her last assignment if she didn’t step up, the last full month on her contract, the last pay period before she had to give up that outrageous salary they’d been paying her for the past two years.
Failure that
she
was