Atmosphere

Bram Stoker Award: First Novel nominee (2003).

New York City police detective Frank Ballaro is returning home one night when he notices a trail of blood on the curb outside his apartment. It leads to an alley from which a naked man races in a frenzy. An oncoming cab ends the man's life, but not before he whispers a last, dying word – atmosphere! In the alley, Frank finds a second injured man who desperately clutches a bizarre object, which he guards with his life. Frank soon discovers the hideous meaning behind the word "atmosphere"... and the unspeakable terror that comes with it. He can only pray that it spares his life.