Cover art for the anthology “Rush and Ann’s Guide to Time Travel, Volume II

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This is it! Ruth and Ann’s Guide to Time Travel, Volume II is available starting today in both digital and paperback format.

The anthology contains my science fiction short story “The Joker and the Thief.”

Here’s a little something to whet your appetite for the whole story:

Trying the handle, he found it unlocked. Too late. Hall would have noticed the movement. Ken rushed inside but the figure holding the painting wasn’t Hall.

The woman quipped, “Well, this is awkward.”

She was beautiful, but in a macabre manner, it was also like looking into a mirror. Like Ken, she was attired for the time and place, but unlike the thief, she wore a whimsical expression, as if being caught in the act of committing a temporal crime was amusing.

He closed the door behind him. “I got here first,” he said.

“Not really. You won’t get here until tomorrow.”

He noticed the painting he had originally taken was still in the corner. She had what looked like it’s twin.

“You left a forgery of the Mona Lisa behind. Why? Who’s Athkinson going to report it to, and once the Titanic sinks, it won’t matter.”

“Finders keepers. Catch me if you can.”

Ken finally saw what traveling looked like when the laughing woman disappeared. An instant later, Sol called him and she was there with the Pawnbroker.

“Sol, you’ve got to…” he started to explain. And then, “What are you dressed up for?”

The other thief wore pre-stressed jeans and a tattered soccer jersey smeared with bright, freshly dried paint. Her face was made up like a harlequin, which he found both retro and derivative.

“Okay, Solly.” She shoved her package onto the counter. Let’s make a deal.”

“Wait a minute,” Ken complained. “We had an arrangement, Sol. You sent me to find out if the genuine had been stolen. It had and here’s the thief. Validate the find, pay me, and I’m gone.”

“Not that simple, Aby. She has the article and you don’t.”

“She’s not part of the equation.”

“I’m adding myself in, Abby.” She said his name like a dirty word. “Get in my way and I’ll be glad to permanently subtract you.”

For an instant, he almost returned her threats, but she was just trying to distract him. Ken stood still and waited.

“I’ll be right back. You two kids try not to kill each other.” Sol said it so matter-of-factly that it came out like parental advice.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he said. “Not exactly unobtrusive.” He tried not to stare but the resemblance was startling. She could have been his twin, and she did have the talent.

“What are you, a fashion critic, Abby?”

“What do I call you?”

“Jester. Kind of catchy, ain’t it?” She laughed at her own joke. He figured that must happen a lot.

“No go, kids. Fake. A different fake than what you brought back, Abyssian. You’ve both been had.”

“You knew I was coming,” he accused her. You expected me to find you, so you took the original earlier.”

“If I did that, I’d have sold it to Solly by now and you’d never have seen me.”

“She’s got a point, Aby.”

“How do you know her? Were you double dealing?”

“I don’t play games,” the Pawnbroker said. “I make deals and I’ve always been straight with you. But business is business. A new procurer showed up. I considered what she offered. It didn’t work out.”
“You said double for the last trip win or lose.”

“It’s not over yet. I want the real thing and I’m keeping a tally. Either way, you get paid. Let’s see how much.”

Jester leered at Kenneth. “I’ll race you,” and then vanished around a corner. He could still see the afterimage as he followed.

Then she said, “Stop!” Both Jester and Abyssian were back on the Titanic but it wasn’t what he expected.

Here’s a link to all the other booksellers where you can buy it. Don’t forget to leave an honest review.

Thanks.