Crime Fiction by Roy Dorman Bobby Mason walked out of the front gates of the Nevada Restitution Center with a spring in his step. He’d done seven years and eight months of a ten-year sentence, leaving early due to his good behavior. Bobby had gone in at age twenty-three and was now a free manContinue reading “The Nest Egg”
Category Archives: Hard Life
Macy Walks The Labyrinth
Crime Fiction by Lina Chern Macy dreams of the little girl in red again. Old-fashioned pinafore dress, pigtails. Or pigtail. One eye, half a mouth frozen in a toothy grin. Macy only sees half of her, like she is always just around the corner. Today, for the first time, the girl is all there. She’sContinue reading “Macy Walks The Labyrinth”
Shadowland
Crime Fiction by Sean O’Leary A fourteen-year-old girl was missing. Candy had taken the call two hours ago. The father, Peter Ling, sounded like he was in agony when he told Candy his daughter had been missing for two days. Missing or lost forever. That was Candy’s job. The missing girl’s name was April. CandyContinue reading “Shadowland”
For Soraya (From “The Stoning of Soraya M.”)
Poetry by Shontay Luna By the time she realized who her husband was, it was too late. Maybe they loved each other though, in the beginning. But now, whispered lies disguised as truthful rumors are the soundtrack of the town’s daily activities. Scandals the audible snacks gossip mongers feed on. Who needs food with soContinue reading “For Soraya (From “The Stoning of Soraya M.”)”
Yes, Mama
Crime Fiction by London Baker His name was Big Tony and as for me, I was called Al Greco. Big Tony was sort of the boss, you see? He was a big deal back then, though I guess he still is now. But now isn’t that important. Back then is what matters. Back then IContinue reading “Yes, Mama”
The Getback
Crime Fiction by Michael Downing Eddie Reid died sometime after midnight. Cool on the street. A legend. But once you’re dead, all that cool means nothing. Dead is dead, and dead don’t care who you were or what you did before the end. His death was violent, ugly, the kind of thing that gets peopleContinue reading “The Getback”
Bitter Autumn
Crime Fiction by Scott Kauffman Two Fridays before Thanksgiving, Autumn watched through a rain-runnel windshield as her father hobbled out from under the stone-archway of Lucasville Penitentiary. In his one hand he gripped a small duffel bag. In his other what looked like could have been the same Bible he had with him when theContinue reading “Bitter Autumn”
Whack A Moll
Crime Fiction by M.E. Proctor It takes a special kind of sinner to commit murder in a church. A sanctuary, a haven. A safe place that hadn’t been safe for Myrtle Ballard. “St Peter’s on twennyfourth. Next to the confessional.” Al ‘Matt’ Matteotti spit the words in disgust. He was pale with outrage. Matt wasContinue reading “Whack A Moll”
Thou Shalt Not Lie
Flash Fiction by Jim Harrington I’ve been in his apartment many times. It always starts with dinner and a drink or two at Luigi’s Bistro or Leonard’s. I dress as he requests, in a short dress or skirt, “and no underpants,” he says, with a half smile and a wink. *Good luck on that lastContinue reading “Thou Shalt Not Lie”
A Fate Worse than Death
Flash Fiction by Tyler Marable Clarence Whitley had another nightmare, like the one that came before, and the one that preceded that one. This time, he sat bound and gagged in a chair. A little girl with blonde piggytails stood in front of him, holding a knife. She looked no more than ten. His heartContinue reading “A Fate Worse than Death”