Crime Fiction by Jim Courter As the car bumped over unpaved country roads, Ernie Sticklin bouncing in the trunk along with the jack and the spare and who knew what else, it occurred to him that he should have taken more seriously the plot-making gears in his head that had imagined this scenario, that oneContinue reading “No Ransom”
Tag Archives: Crime Fiction
Cold Turkey on Black Friday
Flash Fiction by Bern Sy Moss Almost, one year. Black Friday marks the day my wife, Janie, disappeared. I remembered her saying, “early bird gets the worm,” on that morning as she pecked at my forehead with a gesture that almost resembled an actual kiss before she headed off to the shopping mall. “Birdbrain,” IContinue reading “Cold Turkey on Black Friday”
Today, There Will Be No Charges
Crime Fiction by Galen Pickett Keeping an eye on Mr. Curtis was not a problem at all. Every lane change was signaled. The nondescript sedan seemed in good repair. The occasional flicker of the brake lights gave the detectives plenty of warning that Curtis was slowing down, and the running lights called just the rightContinue reading “Today, There Will Be No Charges”
Principally Dead
Crime Fiction by Margaret Karmazin Maple Hill Elementary school was closed for the weekend for which Principal Jerry Harper had expressed his gratitude to the school secretary, Michelle Derry. “Rough week,” Michelle had agreed on her way out. Their most difficult mother, Mrs. Price, had lodged a complaint that her daughter’s fourth grade teacher hadContinue reading “Principally Dead”
For The Love Of Gardening
Crime Fiction by Jason Smith Randy Lloyd had always loved gardening, when he was six years old he started helping his father in the garden. In his teenage years Randy wasn’t rebelling against the norm or drag racing cars, he was gardening. After high school, Randy went to college and achieved degrees in Horticulture andContinue reading “For The Love Of Gardening”
Nefarious
Crime Fiction by Michael Wegener Before approaching the auto shop, she’d duct-taped her gun hand to his back so he wouldn’t even think about trying anything. Had him help her wrap it around his torso, alternating with her wrapping it around her right hand and wrist—muzzle of the gun pressed right on top of hisContinue reading “Nefarious”
Word Of Mouth
Flash Fiction by Jessica Slee I was crowded into a booth at my favorite cheap sandwich shop, doing what I always did while I took my lunch breaks: eavesdropping on cringe interviews. The other day I listened in while a sad sack in a wrinkled polo explained why he desperately wanted to be the assistantContinue reading “Word Of Mouth”
All In A Night’s Work
Crime Fiction by Timothy Tarkelly I woke up to my door latch being worked over. By the time I could register the noise and climb off of the couch, the two men were in my living room, each holding a pistol in my face. I slowly reached for the lamp and neither of them moved.Continue reading “All In A Night’s Work”
Great Big Alleyway
Crime Fiction by Richie Narvaez Felix turns his son forward so the whole subway car can see the boy’s sweet face. “I’m sorry to bother you,” Felix says, “but could you spare a dollar or a quarter to get me and my family something to eat?” He and Little Felix nudge, slide, push their wayContinue reading “Great Big Alleyway”
The Boys Of Summer
Crime Fiction by Scott Lyerly I was a kid when I first heard Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer”. Riding in the back of the station wagon, my parents at the tail-end of their marriage, the only sounds the road noise and the radio. I didn’t understand it. I was maybe six or seven, butContinue reading “The Boys Of Summer”