"Tale of Two Thieves is a Scorcher!"
This novella is billed as a futuristic romance. Set in the
near future of 2024, there is little focus on the
futuristic aspect. That having been said this little story
sizzled! Harper McRae, former professional cat burglar, is forced
out of retirement due to her stepbrother's lack of self
control. The aspiring politician is being blackmailed by a
local mobster. Although Harper feels he deserves anything
he gets, she can't allow her stepmother to suffer the
shame. Fortunately the opportunity to save his reputation
comes when Harper is invited to Ross "Blackie" Ryan's (the
mobster's) anniversary bash. Security is lax and Blackie's dated systems are no match
for Harper. Unfortunately she's a bit rusty from lack of
practice. Cracking the safe in Ryan's office takes longer
than expected and so intense is her concentration that she
is unaware that someone else has entered the room. Not only is she caught but by the worst imaginable person,
Chase, her former partner and ex lover. Chase, the man
she'd
caught with another woman in his arms, the man who had
broken her heart. Chase is there for the same reason as Harper, to liberate
some blackmail evidence against a client. He'd seen Harper
enter the office and had decided to let her do the work for
him. She was a sight for sore eyes and although he'd been
with plenty of women since she'd walked out in him without
allowing him an explanation, he'd never felt a thing for
any of them. His heart had always belonged to Harper. Unfortunately one of Blackie's guards hears a noise coming
from the boss's office. What to do? Think empty room with a
couch. Yowza! Will the pair make a clean break or a clean getaway? The
only way to find out is by reading this scorching short
story. Turn up the air and grab some ice water! J. C.
Wilder scores again. Note: This story will be rereleased in print
as part of the IN THE GLOAMING
anthology later in 2007.
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted February 26, 2007
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