The best American mystery stories 2006

Foreword

Introduction / Scott Turow

Theft / Karen E. Bender

Pirates of Yellowstone / C.J. Box

Why Bugsy Siegel was a friend of mine / James Lee Burke

Born bad / Jeffery Deaver

Edelweiss / Jane Haddam

Texas heat / William Harrison

Peacekeeper / Alan Heathcock

A.k.a., Moises Rockafella / Emory Holmes II

Dust up / Wendy Hornsby

Her lord and master / Andrew Klavan

Louly and Pretty Boy / Elmore Leonard

The crack cocaine diet (Or: how to lose a lot of weight and change your life in just one weekend) / Laura Lippman

Improvisation / Ed McBain

McHenry's gift / Mike MacLean

Karma / Walter Mosley

So help me God / Joyce Carol Oates

A temporary crown / Sue Pike

Smile / Emily Raboteau

Ina Grove / R.T. Smith

Ringing the changes / Jeff Somers

Vigilance / Scott Wolven.