A Hard Rain Read online

  It was raining in the city by the bay, the drops were pounding the pavement, wearing at it before flowing into the gutters and sewers.

  Dixon Hill glanced around at the empty street, the cars parked along the sidewalk, the mostly dark windows of apartments. Then he stepped down into the street and pulled his collar up around his neck, blocking some of the pelting drops from reaching his jacket and shirt. The fog drifted in over the tops of the buildings, letting the lights from the street corners bounce back with the rain, clearly lighting his way.

  In the distance a ship’s foghorn wailed, sending its sad-sounding cry echoing over the city. The smell of the docks was strong tonight, thick with fish and seaweed and salt. A familiar smell, like the scent of a mother to a child.

  The click of his heels on the pavement was like the beat of a heart, sometimes lost in the rain, other times clear, constantly there with him. Dixon Hill took a deep breath of the night air and stared ahead through the rain, always watching where he was headed.

  Somewhere out there, in this city by the bay, was a murderer. And he would not rest until the case was solved. And tonight he had a lead. Not much of one, but a lead.

  Which might turn into a better clue, and then more and more clues, until finally the murderer of the man in the wall sat in jail where he belonged.

  Again the ship’s foghorn echoed over the buildings.

  Dixon Hill was on the case.

  Around him the city slept, peacefully resting for another day.

  It was raining in the city by the bay. A hard rain.

  Clues from Dixon Hill’s notebook in “The Case of the Man in the Wall”

  • The man has been in there for at least fifteen years.

  • Someone killed him to threaten Dixon Hill.

  • But if the man was killed as a threat, why was the body boarded up behind a wall that might never be opened?

  • All this is a loose end from another case and it might never be tied up. Sometimes it is just better to let skeletons from a person’s past stay in the closet.

  (Author’s note: “The Case of the Man in the Wall” remains to this day Dixon Hill’s only unsolved mystery.)

  Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books

  Star Trek®: The Original Series Enterprise: The First Adventure • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Strangers From the Sky • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Final Frontier • Diane Carey

  Spock’s World • Diane Duane

  The Lost Years • J.M. Dillard

  Prime Directive • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Probe • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Best Destiny • Diane Carey

  Shadows on the Sun • Michael Jan Friedman

  Sarek • A.C. Crispin

  Federation • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Vulcan’s Forge • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Mission to Horatius • Mack Reynolds

  Vulcan’s Heart • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Book One • Greg Cox

  Novelizations

  Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Starfleet Academy • Diane Carey

  Star Trek books by William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens The Ashes of Eden The Return Avenger Star Trek: Odyssey (contains

  The Ashes of Eden,

  The Return, and

  Avenger) Spectre Dark Victory Preserver

  #1 •Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  #2 •The Entropy Effect • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #3 •The Klingon Gambit • Robert E. Vardeman

  #4 •The Covenant of the Crown • Howard Weinstein

  #5 •The Prometheus Design • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #6 •The Abode of Life • Lee Correy

  #7 •Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #8 •Black Fire • Sonni Cooper

  #9 •Triangle • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #10 •Web of the Romulans • M.S. Murdock

  #11 •Yesterday’s Son • A.C. Crispin

  #12 •Mutiny on the Enterprise • Robert E. Vardeman

  #13 •The Wounded Sky • Diane Duane

  #14 •The Trellisane Confrontation • David Dvorkin

  #15 •Corona • Greg Bear

  #16 •The Final Reflection • John M. Ford

  #17 •Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #18 •My Enemy, My Ally • Diane Duane

  #19 •The Tears of the Singers • Melinda Snodgrass

  #20 •The Vulcan Academy Murders • Jean Lorrah

  #21 •Uhura’s Song • Janet Kagan

  #22 •Shadow Lord • Laurence Yep

  #23 •Ishmael • Barbara Hambly

  #24 •Killing Time • Della Van Hise

  #25 •Dwellers in the Crucible • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  #26 •Pawns and Symbols • Majliss Larson

  #27 •Mindshadow • J.M. Dillard

  #28 •Crisis on Centaurus • Brad Ferguson

  #29 •Dreadnought! • Diane Carey

  #30 •Demons • J.M. Dillard

  #31 •Battlestations! • Diane Carey

  #32 •Chain of Attack • Gene DeWeese

  #33 •Deep Domain • Howard Weinstein

  #34 •Dreams of the Raven • Carmen Carter

  #35 •The Romulan Way • Diane Duane & Peter Morwood

  #36 •How Much for Just the Planet? • John M. Ford

  #37 •Bloodthirst • J.M. Dillard

  #38 •The IDIC Epidemic • Jean Lorrah

  #39 •Time for Yesterday • A.C. Crispin

  #40 •Timetrap • David Dvorkin

  #41 •The Three-Minute Universe • Barbara Paul

  #42 •Memory Prime • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  #43 •The Final Nexus • Gene DeWeese

  #44 •Vulcan’s Glory • D.C. Fontana

  #45 •Double, Double • Michael Jan Friedman

  #46 •The Cry of the Onlies • Judy Klass

  #47 •The Kobayashi Maru • Julia Ecklar

  #48 •Rules of Engagement • Peter Morwood

  #49 •The Pandora Principle • Carolyn Clowes

  #50 •Doctor’s Orders • Diane Duane

  #51 •Unseen Enemy • V.E. Mitchell

  #52 •Home Is the Hunter • Dana Kramer-Rolls

  #53 •Ghost-Walker • Barbara Hambly

  #54 •A Flag Full of Stars • Brad Ferguson

  #55 •Renegade • Gene DeWeese

  #56 •Legacy • Michael Jan Friedman

  #57 •The Rift • Peter David

  #58 •Face of Fire • Michael Jan Friedman

  #59 •The Disinherited • Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Robert Greenberger

  #60 •Ice Trap • L.A. Graf

  #61 •Sanctuary • John Vornholt

  #62 •Death Count • L.A. Graf

  #63 •Shell Game • Melissa Crandall

  #64 •The Starship Trap • Mel Gilden

  #65 •Windows on a Lost World • V.E. Mitchell

  #66 •From the Depths • Victor Milan

  #67 •The Great Starship Race • Diane Carey

  #68 •Firestorm • L.A. Graf

  #69 •The Patrian Transgression • Simon Hawke

  #70 •Traitor Winds • L.A. Graf

  #71 •Crossroad • Barbara Hambly

  #72 •The Better Man • Howard Weinstein

  #73 •Recovery • J.M. Dillard

  #74 •The Fearful Summons • Denny Martin
Flynn

  #75 •First Frontier • Diane Carey & Dr. James I. Kirkland

  #76 •The Captain’s Daughter • Peter David

  #77 •Twilight’s End • Jerry Oltion

  #78 •The Rings of Tautee • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #79 •Invasion! #1: First Strike • Diane Carey

  #80 •The Joy Machine • James Gunn

  #81 •Mudd in Your Eye • Jerry Oltion

  #82 •Mind Meld • John Vornholt

  #83 •Heart of the Sun • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #84 •Assignment: Eternity • Greg Cox

  #85-87 •My Brother’s Keeper • Michael Jan Friedman

  #85 •Republic

  #86 •Constitution

  #87 •Enterprise

  #88 •Across the Universe • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #89-94 •New Earth

  #89 •Wagon Train to the Stars • Diane Carey

  #90 •Belle Terre • Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey

  #91 •Rough Trails • L.A. Graf

  #92 •The Flaming Arrow • Kathy and Jerry Oltion

  #93 •Thin Air • Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith

  #94 •Challenger • Diane Carey

  #95-96 •Rihannsu • Diane Duane

  #95 • Swordhunt

  #96 •Honor Blade

  #97 • In the Name of Honor • Dayton Ward

  Star Trek: The Next Generation® Metamorphosis • Jean Lorrah

  Vendetta • Peter David

  Reunion • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi • Peter David

  The Devil’s Heart • Carmen Carter

  Dark Mirror • Diane Duane

  Q-Squared • Peter David

  Crossover • Michael Jan Friedman

  Kahless • Michael Jan Friedman

  Ship of the Line • Diane Carey

  The Best and the Brightest • Susan Wright

  Planet X • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi II: Triangle • Peter David

  I, Q • John de Lancie & Peter David

  The Valiant • Michael Jan Friedman

  The Genesis Wave, Book One,

  Two, and Three • John Vornholt

  Immortal Coil • Jeffrey Lang

  A Hard Rain • Dean Wesley Smith

  Novelizations

  Encounter at Farpoint • David Gerrold

  Unification • Jeri Taylor

  Relics • Michael Jan Friedman

  Descent • Diane Carey

  All Good Things... • Michael Jan Friedman

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: First Contact • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: Insurrection • J.M. Dillard

  #1 •Ghost Ship • Diane Carey

  #2 •The Peacekeepers • Gene DeWeese

  #3 •The Children of Hamlin • Carmen Carter

  #4 •Survivors • Jean Lorrah

  #5 •Strike Zone • Peter David

  #6 •Power Hungry • Howard Weinstein

  #7 •Masks • John Vornholt

  #8 •The Captain’s Honor • David & Daniel Dvorkin

  #9 •A Call to Darkness • Michael Jan Friedman

  #10 •A Rock and a Hard Place • Peter David

  #11 •Gulliver’s Fugitives • Keith Sharee

  #12 •Doomsday World • David, Carter, Friedman & Greenberger

  #13 •The Eyes of the Beholders • A.C. Crispin

  #14 •Exiles • Howard Weinstein

  #15 •Fortune’s Light • Michael Jan Friedman

  #16 •Contamination • John Vornholt

  #17 •Boogeymen • Mel Gilden

  #18 •Q-in-Law • Peter David

  #19 •Perchance to Dream • Howard Weinstein

  #20 •Spartacus • T.L. Mancour

  #21 •Chains of Command • W.A. McCoy & E.L. Flood

  #22 •Imbalance • V.E. Mitchell

  #23 •War Drums • John Vornholt

  #24 •Nightshade • Laurell K. Hamilton

  #25 •Grounded • David Bischoff

  #26 •The Romulan Prize • Simon Hawke

  #27 •Guises of the Mind • Rebecca Neason

  #28 •Here There Be Dragons • John Peel

  #29 •Sins of Commission • Susan Wright

  #30 •Debtor’s Planet • W.R. Thompson

  #31 •Foreign Foes • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

  #32 •Requiem • Michael Jan Friedman & Kevin Ryan

  #33 •Balance of Power • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #34 •Blaze of Glory • Simon Hawke

  #35 •The Romulan Stratagem • Robert Greenberger

  #36 •Into the Nebula • Gene DeWeese

  #37 •The Last Stand • Brad Ferguson

  #38 •Dragon’s Honor • Kij Johnson & Greg Cox

  #39 •Rogue Saucer • John Vornholt

  #40 •Possession • J.M. Dillard & Kathleen O’Malley

  #41 •Invasion! #2: The Soldiers of Fear • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #42 •Infiltrator • W.R. Thompson

  #43 •A Fury Scorned • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #44 •The Death of Princes • John Peel

  #45 •Intellivore • Diane Duane

  #46 •To Storm Heaven • Esther Friesner

  #47-49 •The Q Continuum • Greg Cox

  #47 •Q-Space

  #48 •Q-Zone

  #49 •Q-Strike

  #50 •Dyson Sphere • Charles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski

  #51-56 •Double Helix

  #51 •Infection • John Gregory Betancourt

  #52 •Vectors • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #53 •Red Sector • Diane Carey

  #54 •Quarantine • John Vornholt

  #55 •Double or Nothing • Peter David

  #56 •The First Virtue • Michael Jan Friedman & Christie Golden

  #57 •The Forgotten War • William R. Forstchen

  #58-59 •Gemworld • John Vornholt

  #58 •Gemworld #1

  #59 •Gemworld #2

  #60 •Tooth and Claw • Doranna Durgin

  #61 •Diplomatic Implausibility • Keith R.A. DeCandido

  #62-63 •Maximum Warp • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

  #62 •Dead Zone

  #63 •Forever Dark

  Star Trek:®Deep Space Nine Warped • K.W. Jeter

  Legends of the Ferengi • Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe

  Novelizations

  Emissary • J.M. Dillard

  The Search • Diane Carey

  The Way of the Warrior • Diane Carey

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Trials and Tribble-ations • Diane Carey

  Far Beyond the Stars • Steve Barnes

  What You Leave Behind • Diane Carey

  #1 •Emissary • J.M. Dillard

  #2 •The Siege • Peter David

  #3 •Bloodletter • K.W. Jeter

  #4 •The Big Game • Sandy Schofield

  #5 •Fallen Heroes • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #6 •Betrayal • Lois Tilton

  #7 •Warchild • Esther Friesner

  #8 •Antimatter • John Vornholt

  #9 •Proud Helios • Melissa Scott

  #10 •Valhalla • Nathan Archer

  #11 •Devil in the Sky • Greg Cox & John Gregory Betancourt

  #12 •The Laertian Gamble • Robert Sheckley

  #13 •Station Rage • Diane Carey

  #14 •The Long Night • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #15 •Objective: Bajor • John Peel

  #16 •Invasion! #3: Time’s Enemy • L.A. Graf

  #17 •The Heart of the Warrior • John Gregory Betancourt

  #18 •Saratoga • Michael Jan Friedman

  #19 •The Tempest • Susan Wright

  #20
•Wrath of the Prophets • David, Friedman & Greenberger

  #21 •Trial by Error • Mark Garland

  #22 •Vengeance • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #23 •The 34th Rule • Armin Shimerman & David R. George III

  #24-26 •Rebels • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #24 •The Conquered

  #25 •The Courageous

  #26 •The Liberated

  Books set after the Series

  The Lives of Dax • Marco Palmieri, ed.

  Millennium • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  #1 •The Fan of Terok Nor

  #2 •The War of the Prophets

  #3 •Inferno

  A Stitch in Time • Andrew J. Robinson

  Avatar, Book One • S.D. Perry

  Avatar, Book Two • S.D. Perry

  Section 31: Abyss: • David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang

  Gateways #4: Demons of Air and Darkness • Keith R.A. DeCandido

  Gateways #7: What Lay Beyond: “Horn and Ivory” • Keith R.A. DeCandido

  Star Trek:®Voyager Mosaic • Jeri Taylor

  Pathways • Jeri Taylor

  Captain Proton: Defender of the Earth • D.W. “Prof” Smith

  Novelizations

  Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  Flashback • Diane Carey

  Day of Honor • Michael Jan Friedman

  Equinox • Diane Carey

  Endgame • Diane Carey & Christie Golden

  #1 •Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  #2 •The Escape • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #3 •Ragnarok • Nathan Archer

  #4 •Violations • Susan Wright

  #5 •Incident at Arbuk • John Gregory Betancourt

  #6 •The Murdered Sun • Christie Golden

  #7 •Ghost of a Chance • Mark A. Garland & Charles G. McGraw

  #8 •Cybersong • S.N. Lewitt

  #9 •Invasion! #4: Final Fury • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #10 •Bless the Beasts • Karen Haber

  #11 •The Garden • Melissa Scott

  #12 •Chrysalis • David Niall Wilson

  #13 •The Black Shore • Greg Cox

  #14 •Marooned • Christie Golden

  #15 •Echoes • Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Nina Kiriki Hoffman

  #16 •Seven of Nine • Christie Golden

  #17 •Death of a Neutron Star • Eric Kotani

  #18 •Battle Lines • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur