Introduction -- Dahlia underground / by Charlaine Harris -- Hixton / by William Kent Krueger -- mall change / by Margaret Maron -- The trespassers / by Brendan DuBois -- Madeeda / by Harley Jane Kozak -- House of horrors / by S. W. Hubbard -- Sift, almost invisible, through / by Jeffrey Somers --The bedroom door / by Elaine Viets -- The conqueror worm / by Barbara D'Amato -- In memory of the Sibylline / by Lou Kemp -- The bloodflower / by Martin Meyers -- The awareness / by Terrie Farley Moran -- Tadesville / by Jack Fredrickson -- Limbo / by Steve Brewer -- The insider / by Mike Wiecek -- Swing shift / by Dana Cameron -- Riding high / by Carolyn Hart -- Grave matter / by Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane -- Death of a vampire / by Parnell Hall -- Taking the long view / by Toni L. P. Kelner -- About the editor -- About the authors.