Prepare for edge-of-your-seat suspense in this Thriller Short.

Originally published in THRILLER 2 (2009),

edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Clive Cussler.

In this Thriller Short, bestselling author Tim Maleeny provides a classic tale laced with moments of dark comedy. Relationships between an author and his editor can sometimes turn contentious, but none more so than that between blockbuster novelist Jim Masterson and his editor Carl Ransom. When Masterson winds up with writer's block and can't figure out how to end his new manuscript, he comes dangerously close to not meeting his deadline. So Ransom pays Masterson a visit to prod his author into finishing the book, and that's when things get dicey…creating an ending no one saw coming.

Don't miss any of these exciting stories from Thriller 2:

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Justice Served by Mariah Stewart

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The House on Pine Terrace by Phillip Margolin

The Desert Here and the Desert Far Away by Marcus Sakey

On the Run by Carla Neggers

Can You Help Me Out Here? by Robert Ferrigno

Crossed Double by Joe Hartlaub

The Lamented by Lawrence Light

Vintage Death by Lisa Jackson

Suspension of Disbelief by Tim Maleeny

A Calculated Risk by Sean Chercover

The Fifth World by Javier Sierra

Ghost Writer by Gary Braver

Through a Veil Darkly by Kathleen Antrim

Bedtime for Mr. Li by David J. Montgomery

Protecting the Innocent by Simon Wood

Watch Out for My Girl by Joan Johnston

Killing Time by Jon Land

Boldt's Broken Angel by Ridley Pearson