Tag Archives: murder

ANDY HEDGECOCK: Harbouring a Grudge

Adventure, Submissions, , , ,

Beneath a brochure blue sky, listless waves scrape the slipway as sunlight dapples the hull of a bobbing sloop. From a hotel balcony across the bay, your binoculars focus on the headsail, pan down to the foredeck, and fixate on the corpse. Contract fulfilled.

You transfer the payment, as arranged.

“Biographical notes are fine,” said Andy Hedgecock, “unless they use contrived exposition to reveal the subject is, for example, a freelance writer from Nottinghamshire, UK.” commapress.co.uk/authors/andy-hedgecock.

KAY RAE CHOMIC: Evidence

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , ,

The skeleton under our porch knew us all. Its secret harmed no one until a detective knocked at our door. We answered his questions.

No, sir. Yes, sir. Never, sir.

We double-locked the door, loaded the shotgun. We knew how to deal with threats.

The skeleton need not be lonely.

Kay Rae Chomic has been published in 50-Word Stories, Cabinet of Heed, Ellipsis Zine, Retreat West, Every Day Fiction and other publications. She lives in Seattle dodging raindrops and is a Motown fan forever.

CATHERINE BERRY: Honeyed Wine

Submissions, , , , ,

Her response to his betrayal didn’t come with the shouting or tears that he expected, but a sigh. She offered a toast to her freedom and his loss.

He laughed, drank the honeyed wine, and choked on the lingering hint of bitter almonds. Her smile was vindictive.

Till death, indeed.

Catherine Berry loves whimsy, potatoes, and singing with her dog. Her work has been published in several Trembling With Fear Anthologies & The Trench Coat Chronicles. More of her work can be found at www.caterinaberyl.blogspot.com.

NICK YOUNG: Contentment

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , ,

The katydids’ droning chorus; the song of the summer’s nights.

Julia let it wash over her, soothe her, standing at the water’s edge. The full moon’s reflection shimmered and danced across the hidden pond. She watched as bubbles broke the surface, drifting. Soon, his body would settle on the bottom.

Nick Young is an award-winning retired journalist whose career included twenty years as a CBS News correspondent. His short stories have appeared in the San Antonio Review, CafeLit Magazine, Fiery Scribe Review and Vols. I and II of the Writer Shed Stories anthologies.

KELLI SIMPSON: Spare Parts

Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

The judge addressed the defendant with palpable disgust.

“You, sir, have been found guilty of heinous crimes against humanity. Do you have anything to say before I pronounce your sentence?”

The defendant shrugged.

“The commercial on tv asked me to donate organs. Never said they had to be my organs!”

Kelli Simpson is a mother and writer living in Norman, Oklahoma. She has published work in Lamplit Underground, Rabid Oak, The Avenue, Ghost City Review, and The River.

JAMES SCHELL: A Skull’s Prayer

Adventure, Artistic, Poetry, Submissions, , ,

Hello?
Can you hear me?
I’ve been calling out
For years now
To anyone
Ever since I went missing.

Are you still looking for me?
I’m right here.
I haven’t moved
Not since
He buried me for all those years.

Please don’t give up on me.
I haven’t on you.

James Schell has a BFA and typically works in photographic film and ceramics. He has been writing for years but has just started trying to get his work published and is excited to see where it takes him.

BRIAN MAYCOCK: Staying Put

Adventure, Submissions, , ,

The roofs appear first, small grey peaks breaking through the water as the drought slowly reveals the village last seen seventy years ago.

After the forced clearance of the villagers, the valley was flooded, the reservoir built.

We descend, excited explorers discovering cobbled roads, abandoned cottages. A shotgun. Bleached bones.

Brian Maycock lives in Scotland. His short stories have most recently been published in The Drabble and 365 tomorrows.

LS MULLER: Revenge is a dish that must be eaten cold

Adventure, Submissions, , ,

Weapon loaded, I exit the elevator, striding past the reception.

Weeks of building trust, flirting, stalking. The habits of my prey learned. A lioness with her rhinoceros in sight. Armoured in innocence and Gucci, I hand it over.

“Brought you lunch, babe.”

Peanuts in a sandwich; who could have guessed?

L. S. Muller is a Swiss Swedish tea drinker, who reads too many books, loves canines and writes fantasy and horror.

RAN WALKER: The Motive

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , , , , ,

The North Pole Police found Jolly the Elf hiding underneath a snow-covered tarp behind the old toy factory.

At the precinct they asked him repeatedly, “Why did you do it?”

Looking down at his blood-stained crakows, Jolly finally said, “Why should he get to have all the milk and cookies?”

Ran Walker is the award-winning author of 17 books, including Portable Black Magic: Tales of the Afro Strange. He teaches creative writing at Hampton University in Virginia.

LAURA BESLEY: Not Quite Six Feet Under

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

When we found a body under the conservatory, my husband and I disagreed on what to do.

We should call the police (me).

No, definitely not (him).

We inherited the house from his parents. His dad, actually, who’s living in a care home.

Now I know why we don’t visit.

Laura Besley writes short fiction in the precious moments that her children are asleep. Her fiction has appeared online, in print and in various anthologies. She tweets at @laurabesley.