Neon Blue (suspense) and This Shoal of Space (SF) by John Argo were the first two e-books ever published online for download, in the history of the world, 1996-7 in innovative weekly serial chapters. More info at the museum pages. If you enjoy this free read, which is offered in the spirit of the Golden Age of the World Wide Web, please consider buying a print or e-book edition as a way of thanking the author. A fine E-book is typically priced at the cost of a latte, yet offers many more hours of enjoyment than a cup of coffee. Thank you (John Argo).

About/Preface   Chapter 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18 
 19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40 
 41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61 

Eddie Stosik and Miss Humboldt," Father Pollack said at the rectory door. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

"Found this man in Father Joe's apartment," Eddie said.

Pollack seemed shocked: "Why, it's Father Binder." Binder cleared his throat. "Would you kindly tell this gentleman to put his gun away?"

They trooped into the spacious rectory parlor amid the stale, cold aroma of some evening affair, perhaps a potluck. "Ahem!" said a man.

Eddie jumped. "Chief!" A portly white-haired man in hunting flannels stepped from the kitchen, stirring hot milk and honey. "Blue, meet Chief Francis Murphy, my boss."

Murphy shook her hand. "I know about you, my dear." She wondered if that was good or bad.

Binder said, "I'm an accounting prof at Fairfield U."

"A Jesuit," Pollack muttered under his breath.

"Every little while, I get an unusual auditing job."

"We're onto more than debits tonight," Murphy said.

"We all are concerned," Pollack said, "with about three thousand dollars missing from the roof repair fund, which is one thing, but also with Father Joseph Travignan's eternal soul."