Category Archives: Mystery

An Inconvenient Death

By Ben Mimmack Inspector Forsyth looked across at the doctor and considered whether to unbutton his trousers. Dr. Tyler was driving them both to a black-tie Christmas dinner in Devizes and Forsyth’s suit trousers were a relic of a younger and fitter past. The cummerbund would hide the undone button, but he doubted he couldContinue reading “An Inconvenient Death”

Buxom Burgers and Flirty Fries

By Dave Larson Chapter One Katie turned to her sister, “Kathy, do you expect me to kill a cow myself. We needground beef to sell hamburgers. And to make hamburger gravy for the fries. I don’t want to do this, but I’m going to quote Clara Peller, ‘where’s the beef’”? The sisters, called the burgerContinue reading “Buxom Burgers and Flirty Fries”

Death at the DMV

By Russell Guenther In a suburb east of San Diego stands one of the busiest Department of Motor Vehicles offices in the county. The flag of the California Republic’s brown bear watches over the building, tucked away in a corner right beside State Route 67, as the surface road curves sharply from the city-to-county line,Continue reading “Death at the DMV”

Tombstone, AZ

By Katherine Yocum Wednesday, July 4, 2007 The last body was found on the parched banks of the San Pedro River. Bloated, bulging, barren. Like a circus balloon holding onto its last bit of helium, floating aimlessly between abandoned rides and forgotten stands. This was Jane Doe number eight. The community had let the panicContinue reading “Tombstone, AZ”

Khaos on the Karnival Kruise

By Derek Maldonado The boat docked at 2100. I stared beyond the eastern sky as the moon reflected off the silent sea. A look back down at the clipboard in my hands showed a list of every passenger on the cruise, all 37 of them. The Karnival Platinum Express had finally finished its maiden journey.Continue reading “Khaos on the Karnival Kruise”

Doldrums

By Eve Taft Journal recovered from the CS Dolores, found empty and dead in the water on July 9, 2005. The crew, including Ben Hawthorne, author of the journal, remain missing and presumed dead. July 6, 2005I’m sober again. I took a job on a container ship as an “Ordinary Seaman.” My brother didn’t evenContinue reading “Doldrums”

Thursday, 10:52 P.M.

by Harold Hoss Part 1 Wednesday, 7:45pm 1 day, 3 hours, and 7 minutes Cassie wanted to cancel her zoom date fifteen minutes before it started, but she couldn’t think of an excuse. Excuses were another thing Covid had taken from everyone without warning last year. Now all she could do was text him andContinue reading “Thursday, 10:52 P.M.”

Charlotte and Melissa

By Palmer Smith Melissa returned to town on a winter’s afternoon, one day before her debutante presentation. She had been living for four years in New York City with her father. Her mother, Ellen, was granted custody after befriending the Judge on their case and bribing him. She handed him $30,000 the day prior toContinue reading “Charlotte and Melissa”

Snuff

by Daniel Robinson “Ah, but I was so much older then,I’m younger than that now.”–Bob Dylan Some days in October, Seattle can be an old city without any hope as the clouds huddle heavy above the city, threatening another rain. The buildings between First and Second Avenues block even the stray bits of sunlight thatContinue reading “Snuff”