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Latest Stories

March 19, 2024
Fantasy Stories Wondering Monk

Just My Imagination

The alarm clock went off and started playing an awful tune. Tom opened his eyes and closed them back, squinting. He reopened one eye and stood up to stop the torture. The phone was on the desk, in the furthest spot from the bed. Although he changed his way of…
March 19, 2024
Science Fiction Stories Ocelotlzin

Earth Is Dead

Recording… It doesn't matter who I was; I probably lived a long time ago, and I am now just a voice someone added to the audio-visual records. What is essential is the recollection of events that lead to the current state. So, a little history needs to be…
March 08, 2024
Flash Fiction Benoit

Some Enchanted Evening

It was a rugby tackle with tears: Chrissy burst in, sobbing and babbling, hugging James. Her face was all wet, eyes wild. What…? My parents split up, Dad has moved in with his boyfriend and I cannot join them. I am shut out. I have lost my dad. Torrent of…
March 08, 2024
Horror Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

In The Hands Of My Legs

The car pulled up in front of the large salon. The neon sign, that sexy broad thing, on the salon'sroof read "Mr. Gil's All-night Salon". The exhaust pipe of the car was pumping solid smoke, theswirls moving from the car and towards the salon.…
March 07, 2024
Mystery Stories Vanessa Leigh Giles

Casualty of Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Chapter 1 Until Death do us Part ‘Ring, ring!’. I answered the telephone and asked, “Hello, good evening. Who’s this? “Hello.” This is Dr. Smith from Red Cross hospital. “Is this Mr. Locke, John?”, he asked, hesitantly scratching his bald head. “Yes, doctor.…
March 07, 2024
Crime Stories Robert Pook

Bar Room Trigger

Another return journey on footpaths so familiar. He strides across each crack in each paving stone. Regular loose drain covers sidestepped. Mapping long ago mapped in Richard’s desolate mind. His pace hastened by the sight of the oncoming storm. Quickening…
March 04, 2024
Horror Stories Ano Chinemerem

Sanctity

Where should I begin? I could begin by telling you about this comely boy, whom every notable person around the streets agrees his smile could charm the bills off one. Between one smile, there was his goodness, his dreams and humanity—a little far ahead?— but…
March 04, 2024
Flash Fiction Emanuel Diaz

Et Mortui Partium

As Rafael stepped out into the rain, it wasn't the ordinary drops that fell from the sky. Instead, it was a storm of souls, each one taking the form of shimmering jewelry as it cascaded toward the ground. Rubies, diamonds, and sapphires twinkled amidst the…
February 29, 2024
Poetry Jing Li Ava

London

‘Am I in London?’ "I am." Where is Elizabeth? Happy living story All of your chapter Bounlance joy Please my heart Power hand Wise mind Our baby Vow vow Love all love Miss I miss Endless wonder Bring us together Love all love Miss I miss For everything My…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Rob Pook

Life Sentence of The Smith

Born nine months after his country won the World Cup.A child prodigy.Cast off at age twenty-four.Husband, father, emigree, away on the other side of the world.The blue-collar life.The dreams of success.The search for fulfillment.The long years of empty…
February 29, 2024
Mystery Stories Joshua Lowther

The Operator

Jason looked over to his right, his eyes barely able to focus themselves on the subject of his attention. His neck ached terribly from the strenuous movement. He was tired. The captain’s gaze came to rest on the rookie sonar operator sitting tense at his…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Salvatore Difalco

The Chute

At dusk, we left our unit with a soft pink bundle. I carried it through the wet streets and into the black woods. I said I’d take it all the way, the bundle, but that we had to drop it in together. My wife’s green eyes flashed. “Don’t make me do that.” I…

A short Forties throwback... - Editor

Double Dip

by Lee Hammerschmidt

Courier was staring down a double Dewar’s in the Marriott bar when the burly man in the too-tight, off-the-rack suit took the stool next to him, flipping a large, plain postal envelope in front of him.

“That’s the latest batch,” the burly man said in a gruff, whisky and cigarettes voice.  He caught the bartender’s eye.  “Beam, straight up, beer back.”

They were quite until his drink was served.  Courier picked up the envelope and pulled out its contents, a dozen or so photos of him and an attractive, shapely brunette in various creative forms of sexual gymnastics.

“Lucida,” Courier said shaking his head.  “My God, that was three years ago!  How long have these bastards been tailing me?”

He took a gulp of his scotch and looked over at the burly man.

“Okay, Piper, tell me what happened.”

“Same as the other times, only they changed the route again.  I took the cash and the disposable phone and directions they sent.  They had me walk down to 12th this time, where I headed north.  I went about eight blocks when the phone rang. Then I dropped the envelope with the cash and phone and walked another six blocks until I saw this mailer on a bench.”

“Dammit!” Courier barked.  “They’re cleaning me out!  I’m almost out of my personal cash and assets.  If I have to dip into our joint funds, Geneva will know and raise Holy Hell!”

“And if she sees these photos… and the others?” Piper growled. He fired down his shot and took a hefty pull off his draft.

“Then I’m really screwed.  She’ll get both houses and half the cash and stocks in the settlement.  Shit!  They said last time was the last time.  And now this.”

“There’s never a last time,” Piper said, a small knowing grin crossing his face.  “You’re on the hook pal… for good.”

Piper signaled the bartender for another round.

“But maybe,” he said, “this could be the last time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lot of homeless guys on 12th.”

“Yeah, so?”

“They’re invisible.  No one wants to acknowledge them, so they don’t look at them.  That’s where the pickup man was, dressed as a bum.”

“And…”

“And, that’s also where one of my, uh, associates was.”

“You had someone there?  He saw who it was?”

“Better.  We got us a few photos of our own now.  That’s why I said this could be the last time.  For a fee, above my usual rate, of course, your problem could disappear… permanently.”  He gave Courier a cold hard stare.

“Whoa, hold on a minute.  I don’t know… you’re talking about….”

Courier shut up as the bartender brought their drinks.

“I don’t know, Piper,” Courier continued after the bartender left.

“Well, let’s wait on that for a minute,” Piper said.  “First let’s see if you recognize this person.”

Piper pulled a stack of digital prints from his jacket pocket and fanned them out in front of Courier.

“They’re a little grainy,” Piper said, “we had to blow them up quite a bit.”

Courier studied the photos. “Is that a… woman?” 

“Look closer, the photo on the far right.”

Courier went white. He stared speechless at the photo for about 30 seconds.

“It’s Geneva!” he yelped.  “It’s… it’s my wife!  My own wife is blackmailing me?”

“Yep,” Piper said, raising his shot glass.  “The old double-dip.  She cleans you out of all your hidden assets.  Then she suddenly comes into possession of some of these photos, and she cleans you out again in the divorce.”

Courier picked up his scotch and drained it.  He paused for a moment and looked at Piper, the cold stare coming from hiseyes this time.

“So tell me,” he said calmly “what was that you were saying about making this disappear permanently.”

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