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”
Category Archives: Hard Life
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”
The Solid Right Cross
Flash Fiction by William Kitcher She was good. Really good. Not perfect; her style was slightly sloppy, but not enough to attract undue close negative attention from the average passerby of life. You see, she’d punched this guy at the end of the bar who’d been paying no attention to her with a right crossContinue reading “The Solid Right Cross”
A Slip And A Fall
Crime Fiction by Russell Guenther Norv watched as the three boys laid their trap, making no attempt to stop them. He found it more effective to let them finish their mischievous little games and catch them afterward. They were more remorseful this way. He stood at the glass entry doors leading into the main schoolContinue reading “A Slip And A Fall”