By H.A.L. Wagner The school bus blocks my view of Murray Russel’s new place. The city obviously didn’t do their predator checking lately. Murray shouldn’t be within 1,000 feet of this stop. Just another pleasurable reason to take this bastard out. The bus passes leaving no child behind. In the large picture window stands Murray.Continue reading “Seen It Many Times”
Category Archives: Criminal
Visiting Mom
By Seamus O’ Leary Nubs drove his grey 1990 Lincoln Town Car through the toll plaza on I-90 in Chicago, while holding his cell phone to his ear with the three fingers of his left hand. “I’m going to visit with my ma. I’ll only be a little bit, and then I’ll meet you there.”Continue reading “Visiting Mom”
Bank Robbery Hostage
By A. Williams Jason ran his hand through his dark curly hair as he stood in line at the bank. His boss hadn’t even wanted to let him off early even though he knew the bank closed at 5 p.m. He hated his job. “Put your cell phones away! Don’t want you calling the copsContinue reading “Bank Robbery Hostage”
Lavender Diamond
By Edward Sheehy I’m done writing first-person point-of-view stories. My latest saga of a modern family stretching back several generations, voiced by 72 first-person characters including pet dogs and cats and a crow circling the narrative dispensing omniscient commentary, had been soundly rejected by dozens of publishers. My agent said first-person was overdone, mine inContinue reading “Lavender Diamond”
.38
By Seamus O’Leary Jack’s slim form moved through the dancers on the night club floor, like a panther moving through a jungle of flashing lights. Nubs followed, and everyone got out of his way. They entered a door in the back, which opened into a short hall lit by fluorescent lights in the ceiling, andContinue reading “.38”
Thou Shalt Not…
By Dick Johnson Sweat dripped down his face as he watched his house. This wasn’t the first time she had cheated and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. But, it would be the last time she cheated on him, with this guy. Wind blew through the trees above him, cooling him slightly. It was summerContinue reading “Thou Shalt Not…”
The Quarry
By Jason Smith Alex and his car were found at the same quarry where the man from 1984 was buried. The front of his car was a crumbled wreck. He had driven through a barricade and rolled down a hill before plunging to his final resting place. His autopsy showed his alcohol limit was aboveContinue reading “The Quarry”
No-Kill Shelter
By Brenda Kilianski Woman Found Strangled in Uptown Apartment August 19, 1997. Dateline: Chicago. Diana Charlton, 29, a Loop-based attorney, was found strangled in her apartment in the 900-block of West Argyle. While police have no definitive suspects, a spokeswoman for the department noted similarities between the murder of Ms. Charlton and another murder fourContinue reading “No-Kill Shelter”
Judge and Jury
By William M. McIntosh I’ve seen just about everything. Thirty-three years in and I still get excited, though. The chase. The capture. The power. The idea that your hard work has paid off and you’re still the man; there ain’t a feeling that comes close. I remember my first. I still think about it allContinue reading “Judge and Jury”
Hard Case
By Glen Bush The wooden screen door slammed shut sending a rickety echo through the tavern. The two fans sitting at each end of the hand-made, but not well-made, bar did little more than disperse the muggy, August air. It was St. Louis and August, nothing more needed to be said. The smiling barfly atContinue reading “Hard Case”