A Sharp Blade (250)

Miles Kuroda had been a high-school bully who’d evolved into a small-time hood. He made sure to do nothing that would … More

Who Knows What? (225)

Yamamoto almost jumped out of the chair. “What? Me? I never take the book.” Chan watched him. “No, I’m wondering why someone, anyone, … More

Before Yamamoto called him that morning, David Chan had been on the phone with his mother. “She’s a big girl, … More

They sat down in the two barber chairs. Chan said, “Did Rudy work here alone?” “Yeah,” Yamamoto said. “So why … More

Who could recommend a barber? Walking out, he saw Rudy’s backup razor on the counter. Maybe he could learn to use it. He … More

When Detective David Chan arrived, the forensics team was wrapping up. Rudy Alipio had been an informant for Chan’s partner. Just by … More

Since he’d been introduced to Rudy, he’d go every Saturday for a professional shave. During the week, he settled for his … More

This morning we’re on a tour. I love the tidal pools,alive with multitudes of tiny fish and crabs, and, of … More

Like a pendulum, I swing between insaneand not sitting down to write.Occasionally, when I’m sitting down crazy,I can still vividly … More

I fight Nazis and Japs, big plastic figures I buy with my allowance,colored gray and fleshy yellow, the Nips eyes … More

You will know what real is when you ridethe dreams of smoke and updraft air, waves breakingon the breath of … More

If only we could shed grief as our skin does rain.This is not like water. You must go. Go farther down,down … More

There is not much left to do today. This morning we were replacing fence posts.Bob and I have pulled stumps all … More

I’m swirling in the drouse of that head on the pillow before sleep,a thousand ideas swizzling around my brain that … More

The water is full of ghosts and him. In the water. There.A child’s eyes staring back at you. Right there. Pointing,I follow my … More

We are near the top of the world, Finnmark, Norway, and I’m in a van on the way to do … More

Revised 12.12.23 The people working inside here look hardly savageEven though a paler woman sitting sunning outside said they wereSaid so … More

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to wipe the slate clean,tabula rasa, my mind a blank, history erased, wake up tomorrow knowing nothingbut … More

She says, Surely you’re kidding me about Waikīkī.I say, Oh, yes, — no offense — of course . . . … More

Each time we meet, we roam the hills of imagination,plucking up little plots, new twists and turnsleading only to a … More