Racism never got off the bus . . . On a rainy night in Houston, in a ratty apartment as dark as his dreams, retired bus driver Frank Granger wakes in a cold sweat convinced a stranger with a gun lurks at the foot of his bed.

And he's right.

In this riveting tale of suspense and revenge, Carter offers a vivid look back at one of the darkest times in our nation's history.

BONUS STORY: Road Gamble

"Whipping around sharp bends, tires squealing on wet asphalt . . . " From the very first line, this suspenseful short story about a man's dangerous encounter with a mysterious man on a motorcycle on a rainy mountain highway grabs the reader by the throat and doesn't let go. Originally appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, June 2007.

Praise for Other Works by Scott William Carter:

"...touching and impressive...Carter's writing is on target." – Publishers Weekly

"...compelling...good choice for reluctant readers..." – School Library Journal

SCOTT WILLIAM CARTER's first novel, The Last Great Getaway of the Water Balloon Boys, was hailed by Publishers Weekly as a "touching and impressive debut" and won the prestigious 2011 Oregon Book Award for Young Adult Literature. His fantasy from Simon and Schuster, Wooden Bones, chronicling the untold story of Pinocchio, is due out in the summer of 2012. His short stories have appeared in Asimov's, Analog, Ellery Queen, Realms of Fantasy, Weird Tales and other popular magazines and anthologies. Visit his website at swcarter.com.