Doldrums

By Eve Taft Journal recovered from the CS Dolores, found empty and dead in the water on July 9, 2005. The crew, including Ben Hawthorne, author of the journal, remain missing and presumed dead. July 6, 2005I’m sober again. I took a job on a container ship as an “Ordinary Seaman.” My brother didn’t evenContinue reading “Doldrums”

Grovers Mill

By Devin James Leonard Dear Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, My name is Winston, and by the time anyone should find this letter that I have left on the dining room table, I shall be long gone. The date is October 31, 1938, and the reason for my writing this is in relation to the twoContinue reading “Grovers Mill”

The Diamond

Crime Fiction By Harry Neil “And all for just one damn diamond!” the widow sobbed as the pallbearers placed the casket onto the belts that would lower it into the grave. “One damn diamond! Why the hell didn’t he just give him the damn thing? It wasn’t that valuable, not worth dying for, not worthContinue reading “The Diamond”

House On The Cliff

Crime Fiction By Jason Smith The house was twenty feet away from the edge of a cliff that looked down onto rocks that were being pounded by a spectacular frenzy of oceanic splendor. The sound was soothing. Dennis’s deadline was due in two weeks and he knew this was the best place for him toContinue reading “House On The Cliff”

Help Me, I’m Not Dead

Crime Fiction By Anika K. Clausen The plastic lies heavy on my frozen limbs. My efforts to move are pointless, screaming –impossible. My idle olfactory capabilities allow me to discern the remaining air underneath my suffocating duvet. An iron odor fills my uncompromising trap. With my limited peripheral vision, I can sense the bed ofContinue reading “Help Me, I’m Not Dead”

Julia and Katherine

Noir Fiction By Andy Betz “Hello.  My name is Katherine Adams.” It was my reserved opening.  Neither abrupt nor capricious, I remained steadfast in my resolve to make a singular opening.  I made discreet inquiries about her idiosyncrasies and decided to discard such second hand information and decide for myself. “I read your ad inContinue reading “Julia and Katherine”

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”

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”

Patches of Paradise

By Hart Vetter I.          Housesitting If you ask me what I am to Royce, it gets complicated. To his business associates, as we meet for dinner, he’ll introduce me as someone I’m really not, My special friend Marianne. In the car over, he winks, Let them fill in the blanks. Case closed. If you askContinue reading “Patches of Paradise”