By Andy Betz “Francis, when are you going to get a raise?” “Francis, when are you going to stand up to that boss of yours?” “Francis, get over here and LISTEN to me when I’m talking to you!” If I heard her harping once, I heard her harping a thousand times before. My Margaret hadContinue reading “What The Reader Read”
Tag Archives: Noir
Fade Out
By Michael Fontana Armed robbery seemed easier to Al than first thought, wandering into the convenience store like an actor from a movie, bandanna over the lower half of his face, stocking cap pulled down low to conceal forehead and brow, right gloved hand holding out the gun, left gloved hand waving the empty bagContinue reading “Fade Out”
Good Friends
By William Foulke Tsssssss! The match hissed to life, its flame wavering a little in the late afternoon as if threatening to go out. Claire Frye put the flame to her Newport before it could, then sat back on the metal high top chair and looked out over Dauphine Street among the rows of rainbowContinue reading “Good Friends”
Darklands
By Alec Cizak “It’s funny.” He scratched his khaki pants, picking at the sleeves of a pink button-down shirt. “A couple of nights ago, my daughter asked what it means to die. I always figured the sex talk would be the toughest. Turns out, explaining to a child that someday she’ll no longer exist, well,Continue reading “Darklands”
A Day at the Track
By Seamus O’Leary Jack and Nubs sat at the bar at Willie’s Blues Cabaret, while a smooth sax player rolled out a tune on the stage behind them. It was dark inside like all the best bars are, and the place was filling up. “Look, Mr.Roper expects you to pay on time.” Jack calmly explainedContinue reading “A Day at the Track”
Death by Innocence
by Dan Cardoza Infestations of Fire Ants are everywhere. Onyx-eyed, Insect aliens, dressed in antennae, oversized mandibles, and swollen abdomens. They exist in the shadows of cracks, in vast armies on the march, and in the darkest corners of our minds. The neighborhood is pulsing. Neil Armstrong is stepping onto the moon, right now, inContinue reading “Death by Innocence”
The Killer: Rowan’s Debt
By Thomas Falater The call came at 3 p.m. “Hello. Moss Plumbing,” Harold answered. “I have a customer for you. He’s got a leaky pipe that needs fixing.” “Yes, sir. I can do that for you. Shall I schedule you for a service call tomorrow, or does it need to be fixed right away?” “RightContinue reading “The Killer: Rowan’s Debt”
The Exit
By Dylan Todd “Take a seat, son.” The old man pointed at a chair directly across from himself. Tommy obliged. Tommy had been to several sit downs just like this, but never the focus of said sit down. Nervous, he fought every instinct to run, but he knew that to run would mean that heContinue reading “The Exit”
Best Served Cold
by Krystal Mossbarger “What do you have?” Detective Loughty asks when he enters the room. What I have is a stomach threatening to ruin my career. The grotesque scene surrounding us is my first case since being promoted to detective. I attempt to adopt Loughty’s casual attitude; he looks as if he’s attending a partyContinue reading “Best Served Cold”
Just To Get High
By Matthew Serback i.I bought weed from the white girl who lived next door to me. She was a child-monster whose face was full of freckles that were mopped up by her brown hair, which obfuscated her eyes and never let her make eye contact with someone she must’ve consider to be a loser. ii.TheContinue reading “Just To Get High”