Merry Christmas Pops

Crime Fiction by Joseph B. Cleary Eddie Washburn stopped and blew his bulbous, gin blossom covered nose. Then he continued to plod down the snow blanketed street. Everything on him hurt. He took a deep breath as an AA sign that was perched above a church door came into view.  He couldn’t believe this wasContinue reading “Merry Christmas Pops”

Even Better Than The Real Thing

Flash Fiction by Hillary Lyon Sonja ran her hands over the bare well-shaped shoulders and back of the android before her. He was perfect! The eye shape and shade; the texture, color and cut of hair; the chiseled jaw and high cheekbones; the aquiline nose…he was a dead ringer for her husband, Tyrone. She turnedContinue reading “Even Better Than The Real Thing”

Evelyn’s Family

Crime Fiction by Mary Jo Rabe Mosquitoes buzzed around her head making her ears ring and the late-afternoon, hot, humid air felt so heavy, it was hard for her to breathe. Evelyn stood up from Hermann’s grave, her knees creaking loudly in protest as the black dirt fell off her neat, gray dress. She nervouslyContinue reading “Evelyn’s Family”

In Search Of The Peacock Throne

Speculative Fiction by Frank Sonderborg We were in the Wicklow mountains. Six of us sitting beside a blazing log fire on a cold winter’s night, in an old An Oige Irish Youth hostel. We’d just heard the story of, ‘The Irish Nagual.’ From Seamus, an old Irish folkie. He was there just to entertain us.Continue reading “In Search Of The Peacock Throne”

Two Down at the Belvedere

Crime Fiction by Robert Jakucs The staccato voice of the communications operator cut through the static of the police radio shortly after midnight. “Twelve-A-Fifteen, shots fired, two down at the Belvedere, 5212 Western Avenue. Handle code three.” “We better role on that,” I said to Jim Hampton, my 77th Street Division homicide partner. “I haveContinue reading “Two Down at the Belvedere”

The Postman

A Charles Splints Case by Dan Leicht The gun went off before I heard the door close. I was in the aisle furthest from the register. I got an angle on the shooter, a young kid probably still in school, He had a pistol leveled at the cashier. I slipped my gun from its holsterContinue reading “The Postman”

Sunny Side Is Up

Crime Fiction by Ken Winters Prologue October 1932 Sunny Johnson sat stiffly in the witness chair, his eyes fixed on the polished oak rail separating him from the courtroom. Twelve jurors watched him expectantly. The prosecutor waited in silence. Crowded rooms unsettled Sunny. Strangers often reduced him to silence. Yet today, in a packed ManhattanContinue reading “Sunny Side Is Up”

Bundettes

Crime Fiction by Richard Weems When Cheryl’s tablet chirped with an invitation to her online group–7:00pm, on the dot–the home nurse looked at the device, then at Cheryl, then at the tablet again, this time with venom, as though the tablet was at all audible among the wheezes and chimes of the monitors and mechanicalContinue reading “Bundettes”

The Womanizer

Crime Fiction by Dick Johnson Graphic Sex and Violence Warning The kissing was amazing. Not the lack luster kissing of a first date, but the hungry kissing that leads to fucking, and he knew it was coming. Her mouth was so warm and soft and inviting. Juicy is the word. She was juicy. The cricketsContinue reading “The Womanizer”