Tag Archives: crime

MATTHEW KLINESTIVER: Car Share

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

White SUVs, gray minivans, silver sedans. Self-driving, late 2040s makes. Kasparov tapped his ID card to the window, but the door didn’t unlock. A notification flashed across his field of vision. “Credit score too low; access denied.” Kasparov sighed, put on his gloves, and picked up a concrete block off the street.

Matthew Klinestiver is an American English teacher residing in Bangkok, Thailand. In his spare time, he enjoys studying Mandarin, composing catchy pop songs on the piano, and watching old Godard films.

MICHELLE MEYER: The Widow

Adventure, Submissions, , ,

Adam’s shirts and pants were hung in tight rows with cardboard protectors. The officer had never seen cardboard protectors.

“OCD,” I said.

He’d seen OCD. Said the stress could make a heart attack plausible, even at 38.

I found him. The neighbors heard me scream. No reason to suspect me.

Michelle Meyer is a poet who is experimenting with (and loving) micro flash fiction. She is the author of The Trouble with Being a Childless Only Child (Cornerstone Press, 2024) and The Book of She (2021). Poems have appeared in Autumn Sky Poetry Daily, ONE ART, Pearl Press, Tiny Spoon, Welter, and elsewhere. Micro flash has appeared in 100-Word Story and Ink-in-Thirds. Find her at michellemeyerwrites.com.

DAVE BRADLEY: Stony Broke

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

Mr Roper paused at the TV shop window, clutching the pink slip announcing his redundancy from the factory. The severance pay didn’t even cover the 32” model he’d helped assemble there. They had TVs in prison, he’d heard. Three hot meals and sitcoms before lights out. He raised a brick.

Dave Bradley is a writer and editor from the UK. His short stories have appeared in publications such as Best Of British Science Fiction 2018. His non-fiction work has appeared in places like Dorling Kindersley’s The Screen Traveller’s Guide and various pop culture magazines and websites.

DEBORAH TAPPER: Stars

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

We counted bullets and money. Drank warm beer that fizzed sour across our tongues. Lay under wide skies and watched stars fall. You said they were bad souls burning, that I could wish on them.

I wish on one now, my cheek pressed against the bars.

Wonder if it’s yours.

Deborah writes at an old desk surrounded by five hundred pet bugs.

PATRICK EADES: Just Another Fish

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , ,

Alone on the empty dock, she removes her wedding band and fights the urge to hurl it into the sea. Bubbles rise and burst beneath her.

Just another fish.

Still, she peers further into the inky blackness and frowns at a floating handkerchief. She hopes she has used enough rocks.

Patrick Eades is a writer from Sydney, Australia. He is working on his debut novel. You can find more of his work at Patrick Eades – Medium.

TERENCE GALLAGHER: Late Withdrawal

Adventure, Submissions, , ,

He timephases into the bank vault. Making the most of his 27 minutes, he empties 63 boxes. Forty seconds left, he tries to phase out. Too late, he discovers time travel is unidirectional, toward the past. There is only one future awaiting him.

And the bank will reopen 9am Monday.

Tery has been an actor, director and a teacher, and is now trying his hand at writing. A cat lover, he is ruled over by Linus, Bela and Fluff.

SUZAN LINDSAY RANDLE: Dear Diary

Adventure, Submissions, , ,

It was a foolish thing to do. Not the crime, but the full confession I wrote in my diary. Its gilt-edged pristine pages tempted the truth out of me.

Then I lost my diary.

My heart pounds. How did it end up on eBay? And who has just outbid me?

Suzan Lindsay Randle writes flash fiction, short stories and pocket novels. She lives in the UK.

MATTHEW MOTA: The City as You Run

Adventure, Amusing, Submissions, , , , ,

I climb up the fire escape and chase after the criminal on the rooftops. The gap between us widens.

Other detectives would worry. But after all my years working, this city owes me one.

My adversary trips and falls to the alley below.

I smile, thankful for the city’s appreciation.

Matthew Mota (he/him) is a writer from Chicago, Illinois. He went to the University of Illinois for engineering but found writing as his creative outlet. Creating unique short stories and poetry is his way of navigating the universal hardships of life.

SETH ROSENMAN: Ankle Bracelet

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

“Bracelet’s OK?” Christopher’s probation officer asks.

“Yeah. Beeps in class when I need to charge it.”

“And having to stay in your lane?”

“Fine,” Cristopher says, unsure how to express that restricting his movement helps him see what he missed before. Unsure how to ask whether this is the point.

Seth Rosenman wrote this story.

BRIAN MAYCOCK: The House Always Wins

Adventure, Poetry, Submissions, , , , , , ,

The wheel is spinning.
I am gambling on red.

If this pays off I will be very rich.
It will be the perfect casino heist.
Only…
the traffic light is green. A truck hits me side on.

The wheel is spinning. I can’t control…

This getaway is strictly
no dice.

Brian Maycock lives in Glasgow, Scotland. His short stories have appeared in magazines including Dreamcatcher and The Weekly News.