By Russell Guenther William Robert Dixon was as professional a barber as ever lived, though he was perceived around town as a rubish country bumpkin, who was referred to as “Barber Billy Bob” behind his back. He had moved from his native Tennessee to upstate New York, setting up his own shop. He built upContinue reading “Barber Billy Bob, Dixie Butcher”
Tag Archives: Noir
Sweet Little Straight Razor
By Michael Fontana It was after midnight and rain beat my head like tympani. I checked my look in a shop window: mid-thirties, five-ten, black haired, green eyed and gaunt, nose flattened to my face from a case where it was broken by a punch from a semi-professional football player, a woman who seemed atContinue reading “Sweet Little Straight Razor”
Teddy Bear
By Stuart Stromin Even when I was a cop, I was a criminal. It’s not what you think, I wasn’t on the take. I wasn’t corrupt in that systemic way, when there’s a brown envelope on the desk every Friday, in exchange for someone to look the other way. That sort of thing probably wentContinue reading “Teddy Bear”
A Scene Illuminating the Perils of Truancy
By B.W. Carter So, yeah, this boy, he’s standing on his usual corner, right, watching traffic dissolve into the vast white wash of the sun. The day is loud as a concert and very bright. The boy is slouching against a streetlamp. Squinting into the beeping, belching exhaust-sweet bustle, he smokes his last cigarette. Smoking,Continue reading “A Scene Illuminating the Perils of Truancy”
Water
By Andy Betz and Jaysa Brown Water is patient It yields easily to gentle force It recovers without fanfare; without notice Water is patient It persistently waits the proper time To steadily erode the foundation of all who resist its presence Water is patient It may dissolve the most formidable of opponents It will diluteContinue reading “Water”
Future’s Cold Hand
By Sebastian Iturralde Waiting by a cliff, as the cold twilight wind blew around her, Licana Rose watched the light of a lonely house come on. Darkness surrounded her. Little did she know that Death was standing next to her. “What do we have here?” asked Death. “Who is our target for the night?” LicanaContinue reading “Future’s Cold Hand”
Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
By Ernie Sadashige “I thought you said you loved me.” Won Ton’s words cut deep, deeper than the katana sword which he aimed at my heart. Red reflections pulsed along shimmering steel, mirroring blood on water whenever the neon sign on the window blinked: Eat in. Take out. Won Ton and I were holed upContinue reading “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”
Dirty Blog 9
By Dick Johnson (The Dirty Blog is a ‘What if” series that supposes, what if a criminal wrote a blog like everyone else. This is number 9 in the series that can be found in the category menu under “The Dirty Blog”) The guys nose shattered under my fist, and I knew it was aContinue reading “Dirty Blog 9”
Riders on the Storm
By John Haymaker It’s early morning, cold and raining. Palmer is lost and confused. He drives along a two-lane road meandering through rocky outcrops, pine forests, steep inclines and intermittent fog. It’s spooky. GPS is worthless here. He checks the rear view to see if he’s being followed. He catches a glimpse of himself andContinue reading “Riders on the Storm”
An Atypical Day
By Liam Musumeci After sipping his usual three shots of espresso, Frankie headed to the nearby smoke shop.This was his morning routine, as he took precisely five minutes slurping from his piping hot to-go cup before walking over to 9th Ave Tobacco. Frankie enjoyed the feeling from cigarettes after an ample amount of caffeine whichContinue reading “An Atypical Day”