Nicole and Julia: Death at Poolside

By Andy Betz “The brochure says the Williams Aquatic Center houses a full sized Olympic swimming pool, bleachers, separate locker rooms and showers, and ample parking for up to 500 spectators.  The hours today are from 8am to 10pm which includes lifeguard and CPR classes from 10am to 1pm and free swimming for the restContinue reading “Nicole and Julia: Death at Poolside”

No-Kill Shelter

Crime Fiction By Brenda Kilianski Woman Found Strangled in Uptown Apartment August 19, 1997. Dateline: Chicago. Diana Charlton, 29, a Loop-based attorney, was found strangled in her apartment in the 900-block of West Argyle. While police have no definitive suspects, a spokeswoman for the department noted similarities between the murder of Ms. Charlton and anotherContinue reading “No-Kill Shelter”

Hard Case

Crime Fiction By Glen Bush The wooden screen door slammed shut sending a rickety echo through the tavern.  The two fans sitting at each end of the hand-made, but not well-made, bar did little more than disperse the muggy, August air. It was St. Louis and August, nothing more needed to be said.  The smilingContinue reading “Hard Case”

Jane Doe #13

By Don Thompson Not every killer is all in.Some drop the bloody weaponand run (not far)without stopping to wipe off fingerprints,as if wanting to be caught. Some sit down and wait for the cops. Some saran wrap their victimsand freeze them—clingers who discard nothing.Or want time to decidewhere to expose the meatand let it thaw.Continue reading “Jane Doe #13”

Jaws of Fate

By Melekwe Anthony “Have you felt fear? Have you heard your heart in your ears and a sudden impulse to lie, hide or run; that you know what is coming and can not prevent it? Staring down the barrel of a gun is not fear, Doctor. “Yes…I’m. I understand.” “Watching your son get pulled awayContinue reading “Jaws of Fate”

The Hitman and His Wife

By Gratia Serpento “Goddammit, Arthur. Tell me that isn’t a dead body on my brand new couch.” “That isn’t a dead body on your brand new couch.” He rolled his eyes. “Of course it’s a dead body. Look at it!” “I don’t want to look at it!” His wife, Lorna hissed, wringing her hands. “WhyContinue reading “The Hitman and His Wife”

Widowers Can Get Into Trouble

By Robert Honor Max Reynard held his head in his hands. His daughter hates him. Detests him in the “special” way a teenaged girl can. No idea what his crime was. When it comes to this between them the beginning seems familiar, yet the root cause is muddily untraceable. The greatest shamus in the worldContinue reading “Widowers Can Get Into Trouble”

Madeline

By Nicole Mancha I shift in my chair for the fifth time in twice as many minutes, attempting to relieve the discomfort of the stiff metal backing against my spine. Dr. Maryanne Warner sits across from me, scribbling furiously. It’s exhausting to watch, so I cannot even imagine how it must be for her. SheContinue reading “Madeline”

The Dead Are Smiling

By Melissa R. Mendelson Johnny Cash battled the static, but he was losing, fading in and out.  The screen door to the diner wasn’t helping.  It screeched opened and clattered shut, and the swearing of the cook in the kitchen was louder than the small radio over the counter by the pies.  Even the buzzingContinue reading “The Dead Are Smiling”

Violation

Crime Fiction By J.J. Fletcher At Gilmanton Academy, which looked down upon the average one-room schoolhouse that most towns had in 1873, Nancy Robertson and Henry Webster had already skipped two grades. Their teacher, Miss Oberhund, always paired them off together because they were more advanced than the others, and to prevent the bullying thatContinue reading “Violation”