"The Sounds of Silence," by Gabriel Valjan, in Paranoia Blues: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Paul Simon, edited by Josh Pachter, Down and Out Books, 2022.
It is New York City in 1977, the summer of Sam. There is a murderer loose; not the Son of Sam. This killer is targeting Asians in subway tunnels. Police Detective Joseph Burrow figures out what's going on, largely because of his experiences during the Vietnam War.
But the war has left him with more than just useful experience: it has damaged his hearing. Can he can keep his career as a cop wearing hearing aids? Can he function without them? What if even they don't help?
A clever story of a man trying to solve a life-and-death problem while coping with his own crisis.
Thank you so much, Robert. Honored, and I'm happy you enjoyed the story.
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