Category: Novels

Chapters 22 through 24 Chapter Twenty-Two   I sat in a quiet office staring at the file folder in the middle of the desk before me.  It was thick and looked like it would take a few hours to review.  I put off opening it.  Procrastination was not unusual for me.  Especially when faced with a large unpleasant task.  I left […]

Read More

The Alumnus, Chapters 19-21 Chapter Nineteen Like any good lawyer I checked off in my mind an array of threats I might make.  And like any good lawyer I knew that in this, as in most situations, threats of legal action were empty.  Logically I next thought of threatening to call the authorities, but my belief in […]

Read More

The Alumnus, a novel by Phil Cline Chapter Sixteen “I want to talk to you, counselor.”   Maurice’s tone of voice left no room for debate.  Brenda had been returned to her waiting area.  Wanda had lumbered down the hall to use the restroom.  I had just entered from the interview room from where I had been observing on […]

Read More

Chapter Thirteen I drove over to the county administrative complex.  It housed not only the Sheriff’s headquarters but also the main jail and, down in the basement in the far northeast corner of the building, not that far from the cafeteria, the Morgue.  The morgue’s proximity was one reason I never ate in the cafeteria.  Not even on […]

Read More

Alumnus, Chapter 10-12   Chapter Ten I was battered and bruised.   Wanda had encouraged me get drunk and then had her way with me and now, standing at the bathroom sink, I was bemoaning what remained of my abused manhood.  I hurt down low.  Thought maybe I had a cracked rib a little further up.  A large bruise was forming […]

Read More

The Alumnus, A Novel by Phil Cline Chapters Seven through Nine Chapter Seven   “Looney.”  We were alone again, just the detectives and me.  Detective Wiley had just weighed in with his considered opinion.  Characteristically short, but I was inclined to agree with his assessment.   However, I was not anxious to see our suspect so described in official police […]

Read More

Chapter Four I sat staring at my autographed baseball.   “Mickey Mantle” handwritten.  And right below; “NO. 7” also in script.  Best centerfielder ever.  Maybe the best ball player ever.  I looked at the other autographed baseballs on their individual glass stands on my office credenza.  “Ted Williams.”  “Willie Mays.”  “Duke Snyder”.  Good ballplayers.  Great ballplayers.  But not as good as “The Mic.”   Now there was […]

Read More

Chapters One through Three, Chapter One I held Brenda’s nametag in my hands.  Gingerly.  I hated cutting myself and the plastic’s broken edges were ragged and sharp.  It had been split in a diagonal line from top left to bottom right. I was careful of the back too.  Just as hazardous was that awkward needle pin lock contraption […]

Read More

Chapters 41 ,42, & 43 of A King’s Trust, a novel I am publishing online   Dylan and Lenny have an unwelcome visitor   Chapter 41   Dylan walked toward the front of his apartment to answer the door bell absentmindedly flipping through pages in the new textbook he had adopted for the upcoming semester.  […]

Read More

Chapters 38, 39, & 40 of “A King’s Trust” a novel I am publishing online   Easley pulls something new out of his legal toolbox and Nadine gets away — or does she?   Chapter 38   They were seated around the kitchen table in Florencio’s house.  Four men.  The lawyer, Easley, Lenny King, Florencio, […]

Read More