Youthful Indiscretion

“You want beer?” “Yep.” “Me too.” “Three then.” Tom rooted around in the refrigerator, and came back from the kitchen. He handed cans to Jacob and Nate, then sat down on the sofa. “Here.” Nate passed over the joint and Tom took a long drag. “You know what we should do?” Tom tapped Jacob on […]

Zebra

“He’s standing there again,” Tilly pointed out the window. “Oh Tilly,” Brenda sighed. “Another reporter?” “No,” she said. “He’s not, mother. Come and look.” Sighing, Brenda got up from the kitchen table, carrying her coffee in one hand. “Must be some sort of Paparazzi, I expect,” Brenda said. Tilly turned her head. “I know paps […]

Harold Green Is Dead

Evelyn opened the office door, and walked over to the desk. What Evelyn intended to say on opening the office door was a simple few words: “Here’s your tea, Mr Green – will there be anything else?” But Harold Green was dead. That was for sure. The bullet hole in his forehead was a bit […]

Xeme

“What is that?” Frank asked, pointing. “It’s a xeme,” the bald man said. “Also known as a fork-tailed gull, or Sabine’s gull.” “Is it real?” “Stuffed, of course,” the man said. “It’s about twenty or more years old, I’m really not sure off the top of my head. Came from a retired soldier or something […]

Xenon

XENON “You put our money into what?” “Xenon,” John replied, grinning, wiping his hand on his paint stained overalls. “What, exactly is xenon? Don’t they make photocopiers?” “It’s a gas,” John said. “Not a photocopier maker.” Shannon sighed, turned round and took off her coat. It was enough to deal with having to try to […]

The Woman In The Water

“It’s hot today,” Megan said. “Hmm,” Eric managed to say, the melting ice cream occupying most of his attention. “It’s quite nice, really.” “You only like hot weather,” she replied. “I’m sure you were a lizard in a former life.” He took his attention away from the ice cream and flicked his tongue at Megan, […]

Veronica

Mitch first saw her at the hotel bar. She was a little shorter than him, maybe early twenties, short bobbed dyed blond hair, miniskirt, black high heels and legs that brought out the animal in him. Hello, he thought, the wife’s away, and when the cat’s away, the mice will play, right? He summoned the […]

The Quick Brown Fox

The paper jutted halfway out of the typewriter, four words black in the moon light: THE QUICK BROWN FOX At least this time, Daniel thought, he had managed four of his own words. He sat there, in the gloom, looking at it. The sleek grey metal body looked darker in the moonlight, and the white […]

The Onyx Ring

“Don’t move, and you won’t get hurt.” The sawn-off barrel of the shotgun waves an inch from the bald man’s face. “I’m sure we can come to some arrangement,” he says, smiling. “Just give me the money,” the man shouts. “I just want the money.” “How much money do you want?” the bald man asks. […]

The Killer, Unmasked (If, Never part 3)

This is the third part in a trilogy. If you haven’t read them yet, then I recommend reading “If, Never” and “Jenkins Is The Problem” first… “What’s this?” Eric asked, looking through the recent photos. Lusha looked away from her canvas and back at the screen. “Hmm?” she pondered. “Looks like the building over the […]