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”
Category Archives: Mystery
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”
I’m Tired of Murder
By David Larson Chapter one “Damn, I’m getting tired of murder.” “Did you say something, Clarence? Do you want another cup of coffee” Your breakfast should be out next.” “I’m sorry Helen, I was talking to myself. I read this editorial in the paper where the writer thinks all the deaths in the last monthContinue reading “I’m Tired of Murder”
Oleander
By Andy Betz The man with the ax faces me. His face is always unrecognizable, but his blade singularly distinct. I see the few drops of blood mirroring an otherwise perfect finish reflecting the light from the moon in the sky. I can feel it burning me, coaxing me, almost provoking me into making theContinue reading “Oleander”
How My New Life Began
By Andy Betz He eventually had to come to work again. He knew I was waiting here for him. Where else would he go? I just wish he would not take so long. We had a long night of discussions and decisions ahead of us. He did walk in at 9:15. No more costumes today. Continue reading “How My New Life Began”
Crawling
By Matt McCain A dense layer of fog covered the long countryside road—the layer so thick, Deborah Peacock was unable to see more than five feet in front of her from the pavement level perspective she had. Her body ached in pain, but she continued crawling down the road, trying to get away. Much ofContinue reading “Crawling”
Sweet Little Straight Razor
By Michael Fontana It was after midnight and rain beat my head like tympani. I checked my look in a shop window: mid-thirties, five-ten, black haired, green eyed and gaunt, nose flattened to my face from a case where it was broken by a punch from a semi-professional football player, a woman who seemed atContinue reading “Sweet Little Straight Razor”
I Knew Her As Tigist
By Andy Betz Report Date: January 01, 2008 The last couple entered from the dining room to the grand ballroom of the Excelsior Hotel just as the employees denied further entrance due to fire code occupancy restrictions. Even as the main doors closed and the many television screens began broadcasting, she was still nowhere toContinue reading “I Knew Her As Tigist”
Murder and Mayhem
Murder and Mayhem on the Main Street of America: Tales from Bloody 66 By Jim Hinckley. “Families on vacation. Serial Killers. Truck drivers. Vagabonds. Celebrities. Gangsters. The weary and the wicked of all types and stripes traveled the Mother Road. And not all of them made it. Some ended up in jail, others ended upContinue reading “Murder and Mayhem”
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”