Different eras. Different settings. Different journeys. Different mental maladies. Deep and dark. Or are they dark and deep...? Two short stories from the dark side of human nature.

Nate Trench retired after 20-years as a U. S. Navy geek and used his tech to open shop as a cyber-enhanced private investigator just outside of Houston. Nate made a comfortable living with Trenchcoat Investigations for five years, just sitting behind his desk, using his mind and fingers to mine the Internet. Then late one Friday afternoon, a well-preserved country club tennis type dropped 50 circulated Franklin$ on his blotter, saying things like: follow my husband; find my money; stop this deceit. Nate soon found himself knee deep in a financial...

October, 1995 Murphy Robinson, State U's offensive line coach, says to Jeff Brownfield, "I'll bet - I'll bet you don't have even one single girl to ask, not a single phone number." What's Murphy talking about? Homecoming, the social event of the year at the small rural college. But why bother? Jeff's his best friend - and an easy mark. Murphy bets Jeff will be dateless for Homecoming, wager-ing tickets on the fifty-yard line and steak dinner after the game for Murphy and his girlfriend. Pride gets the better of Jeff and they shake on it. But how can Jeff find a date? He's got just three weeks...