“Dead Things” by Stephen Blackmoore

Story Summary: Eric Carter is a Necromancer. The job title’s not the best but if it walks like a dead duck, talks like a dead duck and smells like a dead duck, he’s the man to talk to about it. He’s been out of LA for a while, learning about his abilities and doing work for minor gods and powers, bouncing around from hotel to hotel, town to town and state to state, no “home” to go home to. He’d left everything behind-his sister, his home, his friends- when he’d killed the crime boss who’d murdered his parents. The gangster’s second in command, Ben Duncan, offered Carter an ultimatum: Get out and stay out, or Ben would kill first Carter’s sister, then Carter. Fifteen years have gone by and true to the agreement, Eric Carter has stayed the fuck out of LA.

Until his phone rings.

And won’t stop ringing.