Affective Disorder

A Writers of the Future semi-finalist

A hard-boiled private eye meets a high-tech mystery, in this short story by the author of Azureseas: Cantrell's War

A multi-millionaire heiress commits suicide after a biotech company implants an experimental treatment device in her brain. Her grieving, lawyer husband sues the company for millions more.

In comes a private investigator, ex-cop Albert Jimenez. Hired by the biotech company to dig up dirt on the "grieving" husband. Albert expected the usual: greed, a mistress, emotional manipulation, a marriage on the rocks.

Instead he found something far more sinister.

Questions of brain chemicals and free will.

Questions of what it means to be human.