Stacks of Cord Wood

By David Larson Chapter One The bodies were stacked like cord wood. Four high like dominoes. Except these weren’t flat like dominoes. Nor like pizza boxes. More like the old glass bottles soda pop came in. Try to visualize four odd-shaped potatoes stacked. I’ve been a homicide detective for twelve years now. My partner andContinue reading “Stacks of Cord Wood”

Tattoos and Tans

By Jason P. Reed. Tattoos and Tans is a book written by Jason P. Reed. The book is published by him under the banner of New Bayou Books. This was said about the author on Goodreads.com. Jason Reed came of age in Eunice, Louisiana, in the 1980s. His fondest memories are of listening to AC/DCContinue reading “Tattoos and Tans”

Fortuitous Tragedy

By Jie En Zheng Rita walked quickly into the only department store on the outskirts of the city. The LED lighting in the supermarket was on, reflecting on the cashier’s faces, making them paler than usual. It was crowded, it seemed that everyone was here to share free air-conditioning. Today is the highest temperature everContinue reading “Fortuitous Tragedy”

Coffee and Donuts

By David Centorbi I had to go to Miami for a Truth-or-Dare job. ToD was my gig for a long time. The Army taught me well. And they gave me so many opportunities to practice: Somali, Haiti, Iraq 1 and 2, then for some R & R in Cuba—Terrorist Island, where they brought the HeadlinersContinue reading “Coffee and Donuts”

Victor Pauline Reports

By Courtney Webb It was the end of a dry, hot summer in Central Valley. Everything was dusty and reports of fires in the mountains blared from every newscast. In Tranquility, California, a small Central Valley town, Sam Reynolds stared at the morning news with a scowl. The paper was spread out on the kitchenContinue reading “Victor Pauline Reports”

Last Train to St. Louis

By Chris Bunton Mike awoke to the sound of his cell phone alarm. He threw open the sleeping bag, rolled over and grabbed his phone, silencing it. “Get up kids! We gotta go!” He yelled. Three kids moved and groaned in their sleeping bags, scattered around the small empty bedroom. They started to rise andContinue reading “Last Train to St. Louis”

If I Ask Your Opinion

By Andy Betz “If I ask your opinion, would you give me an honest answer?” Rarely do I hear such an unusual question, let alone be awoken by one. But the look in this young man’s eyes displayed a level of desperation and my close seat proximity made me the obvious choice for his inquiry.Continue reading “If I Ask Your Opinion”

Old Ninety-Seven

By Byron Spooner It’s one of those strange evenings when the moonlight reflecting off yesterday’s snow gives the whole world a soft bluish radiance. I’m out wandering around, no particular place to go, anywhere but home, and I see the Field House lights are on. The front door is unlocked. I stomp the snow fromContinue reading “Old Ninety-Seven”