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by Peter Rabe (Author), Rick Ollerman (Introduction by)
DIG MY GRAVE DEEP
Daniel Port works for Stoker as his number two man, the brains behind all the crooked deals that's kept Stoker's gang going for years. But there's a new set-up in town, a supposed reform party led by Bellamy. Trouble is, Bellamy's worse than Stoker and Port wants out of the whole rotten mess. But Stoker needs him and won't let him go, and Bellamy is putting a lot of pressure on Port to force him to join his side. All Port wants is a ticket out of town, with Shelly by his side. What he's got to do to make it happen is put together one more deal for Stoker. First though, he's got to get around George and Kirby, Bellamy's bully boys; and Fries, Stoker's fiercely loyal heir apparent. Then there's Ramon, Shelly's kid brother, who wants to be a big shot. Port's got a lot riding on this deal--it could just be the deal of his life.
THE OUT IS DEATH
Abe Dalton has been in the joint too long. Now that he's out, the aging safecracker wants to stay out. But Dicky Corday has other plans. Holding an old job over his head, Corday forces Dalton to help him plan a robbery at the Newton plant. Dalton is desperate, and calls on his old friend, Dan Port, to help him get out of the deal. Port comes to town and sets up a meeting with Corday. But Corday's obsessed and this job is going to happen no matter what. Corday won't be stopped--not by Port, meddling in Corday's business; not Dalton, trying to work his way out of his promise; and not his woman, Letty, who finds a certain sympathy with Port, who treats her better than Corday ever has. Port soon gets more than he bargained for with Corday--behind his bullying lurks the promise of madness.
IT'S MY FUNERAL
Turning his back on his past, Port heads to Los Angeles where no one knows him. Or so he thinks. An unpleasant face from his past appears, and it's Joko Mulnik, part of that past he thought he'd left behind. What luck for Mulnik finding Port--he's perfect for a deal he's setting up. Mulnik is promoting new talent but when he shows Port his new set-up, along with it comes a nice little blackmail job as well. Mulnik's got some compromising pictures of a studio's biggest star, and he wants Port to broker the deal. Port wants nothing to do with Mulnik or his seedy schemes, but he gets pulled into the scheme anyway, first as the fall guy, then as the actress's white knight. He should have known--you can never escape your past.
