Crime Fiction by Margaret Karmazin Maple Hill Elementary school was closed for the weekend for which Principal Jerry Harper had expressed his gratitude to the school secretary, Michelle Derry. “Rough week,” Michelle had agreed on her way out. Their most difficult mother, Mrs. Price, had lodged a complaint that her daughter’s fourth grade teacher hadContinue reading “Principally Dead”
Category Archives: Crime Fiction
For The Love Of Gardening
Crime Fiction by Jason Smith Randy Lloyd had always loved gardening, when he was six years old he started helping his father in the garden. In his teenage years Randy wasn’t rebelling against the norm or drag racing cars, he was gardening. After high school, Randy went to college and achieved degrees in Horticulture andContinue reading “For The Love Of Gardening”
Nefarious
Crime Fiction by Michael Wegener Before approaching the auto shop, she’d duct-taped her gun hand to his back so he wouldn’t even think about trying anything. Had him help her wrap it around his torso, alternating with her wrapping it around her right hand and wrist—muzzle of the gun pressed right on top of hisContinue reading “Nefarious”
Word Of Mouth
Flash Fiction by Jessica Slee I was crowded into a booth at my favorite cheap sandwich shop, doing what I always did while I took my lunch breaks: eavesdropping on cringe interviews. The other day I listened in while a sad sack in a wrinkled polo explained why he desperately wanted to be the assistantContinue reading “Word Of Mouth”
All In A Night’s Work
Crime Fiction by Timothy Tarkelly I woke up to my door latch being worked over. By the time I could register the noise and climb off of the couch, the two men were in my living room, each holding a pistol in my face. I slowly reached for the lamp and neither of them moved.Continue reading “All In A Night’s Work”
Great Big Alleyway
Crime Fiction by Richie Narvaez Felix turns his son forward so the whole subway car can see the boy’s sweet face. “I’m sorry to bother you,” Felix says, “but could you spare a dollar or a quarter to get me and my family something to eat?” He and Little Felix nudge, slide, push their wayContinue reading “Great Big Alleyway”
The Boys Of Summer
Crime Fiction by Scott Lyerly I was a kid when I first heard Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer”. Riding in the back of the station wagon, my parents at the tail-end of their marriage, the only sounds the road noise and the radio. I didn’t understand it. I was maybe six or seven, butContinue reading “The Boys Of Summer”
Real Walmarts of Hillbilly County
Crime Fiction by Mick Rose December 27th spawned three more fucking Walmart murders. No surprise to anyone who sheepishly lives or works in rust-riddled Hillbilly County. As portrayed on Google Maps? The sprawling county boasts it hosts a dozen Walmart stores. But as you might’ve guessed? Hillbilly County ain’t got nothin’ else for folks toContinue reading “Real Walmarts of Hillbilly County”
Like A Wave Of The Sea
Crime Fiction by Brian Hawkins For going on thirty years, he’s stretched his hand out to me, eyes wide, the air bubbling from his open mouth as I reach toward him, kicking against my body’s buoyancy, unable to connect, skin-to-skin, before his panicked form expels its tension. Against the backdrop of my memories, he hovers,Continue reading “Like A Wave Of The Sea”
Some Grit
Crime Fiction by C. Inanen Coalville Oklahoma’s a pleasant little town. I’d been there for two days and gotten to know it a bit. I’d studied it, you might say. It was clean and about as prosperous a town as you’d find in southeastern Oklahoma in 1932, that is to say it had been hitContinue reading “Some Grit”