A New Hand

Crime Fiction by Jack Durant Lucky slowly examined his cards. The fingers holding them had started to dampen and he held his breath to stop it from quickening. The hand was strong but unwanted. Aces and eights, clubs and spades, a cursed set for a day like this. Lucky closed his eyes until a second’sContinue reading “A New Hand”

Pole Dancer

By Seamus O’ Leary Jack and Nubs stormed up to the front of the South side Projects building. Jack went in the front door while Nubs went around to cover any routes of escape. Jack took the stairs, like he always did. He hated the confined space of the elevator, and prided himself on beingContinue reading “Pole Dancer”

Back For Seconds

Crime Fiction by Gregory Meece George hadn’t eaten since Monday. It was Wednesday afternoon. He got in line as quickly as he could because Harvest House sometimes ran short around the holidays. “Man, you stink,” said George to the fellow ahead of him. He recognized Iggy by the man’s heavily tatted arms that protruded fromContinue reading “Back For Seconds”

Dexter and Milhaus

By Andy Betz Dexter knew where Milhaus lived. He knew where Milhaus worked. Dexter knew every aspect of the life of Milhaus. He even knew that Milhaus had to die today. What Dexter didn’t know was how he could kill Milhaus. It couldn’t be by any conventional means and it most certainly had to bothContinue reading “Dexter and Milhaus”

Things Change

A Tom Boyle Mystery by Alec Cizak I’d snagged action shots of a yuppie from Noblesville stepping out on his wife. The wife paid cash. A thousand bucks. Offered a little nookie on top. Good-looking woman. Mid-thirties. Green eyes. Wore a tight violet dress like they’d invented the color for her. Quoted Dorothy Parker aContinue reading “Things Change”

Ruby, You’re Like A Song

Mystery Fiction by Harry Neil “This ain’t a hearin’ or anything formal like that, but we got two people dead, one of ’em a deputy, and I need to figger out why. I been chief in Tin City for over twenty years, and ain’t nothin’ like this ever happened before. Last real murder we hadContinue reading “Ruby, You’re Like A Song”

Mostly Dead, Like Me

Creative Non-Fiction by Claire O’ Brien October 2017, Prince George’s County, Maryland Her house was tidy, if a bit dated. The living room carpet was the kind that changes color when you run your hand over it—in this case, from sea to forest green. Two wooden side tables positioned astride the well-worn, maroon leather reclinerContinue reading “Mostly Dead, Like Me”

The Heiress

Crime Fiction by David Hagerty Upon her death, the same scribblers who depended upon Eleanor’s wisdom disparaged her. When she drowned by a barge in a lake, reporters from across the country, including her own newspapers, converged on that mud puddle sensing scandal. They found only slander. Though they published no photos of the scene,Continue reading “The Heiress”