Thanks for the votes. I'm glad you're enjoying it. I've almost finished and hope to have the final installment out around the new year.
By the way, I had a quick look at your first unfinished story. Your writing style is tight and I think you've got potential. The ending is a little TOO open and ambiguous perhaps. Check out the short stories of a writer called ficklefriction. She does the open ending thing really skilfully - it might give you some ideas.