The bar was quiet when the woman entered. There were two other patrons, both smoking near the corner of the bar, chatting animatedly with each other. Lottie sat down on the stool at the other end of the bar and adjusted the cold steel that was sitting in the waistband of her jeans. The bartender, ...

“We’ll take it slow, Detective. We’ll go at your pace. This is about your healing.” The woman in the chair across from Will was beautiful. Long dark hair flowing over exposed shoulders. Subtle makeup on her face. A slight smell of jasmine on her skin. She knew about her beauty. She knew how to leverage ...

He died on a Tuesday morning, less than twelve hours after he allowed himself to be taken to the hospital. He was sick, and he knew it. The only thing left to do was to make sure his sister got into a cab and went to the airport. He didn’t want her to see him ...

“He named his dog Cat?” “Yes, he did.” “That’s the same kind of man who steals bibles from motel rooms.” “They still have Bibles in motel rooms?” “I think so. When was the last time you actually stayed in a motel like this one?” “Oh, it’s been a long time. Maybe twenty-five years ago. I ...

Read Part 1 here   Clarissa came home around four in the afternoon. She flung her purse on the couch and made her way into the kitchen. “Jay?” she called out. No answer. She went into the bedroom and saw Jay lying on his back with one of her good towels by his neck. “Is ...

Jay put the finishing touches on his birdhouse at 1:47 on the afternoon of September 29th, 2019. By 5:30 on the morning of October 6th, he would be dead. But for now, on a breezy autumn afternoon, with a cold Heineken sitting on his workbench, all was well. Jay put the paintbrush he was using ...

Catch up on Parts 1 | 2 here before reading the conclusion   He locked the door behind him and crashed onto the couch. He knew he would have to relax and catch his breath. It would only be a moment, but it was necessary. And while he lay there, thinking too many horrible thoughts, he ...

Read Part 1 here   “Dammit!” he said. He grabbed the phone and dialed Dr. Eckhart. It rang four times, and when Manny heard the voice on the other end, he thought it sounded like the pretty receptionist. “Dr. Eckhart’s office. How can I help you?” “Hi, sweetie. This is Manny Trinsic. I have some ...

Manny kept rubbing his hands together. They were itching worse than normal, and it was starting to drive him mad. And to make matters worse, he noticed a wart developing on the side of his right hand. It was a small one by the look of it, but they always started out small. Like problems ...

Catch up on Part 1 | Part 2 here   Previously… …his pain was brief. The trees descended on him and gored him with a branch through his sternum. Officer Dan spit out a mouthful of blood, and then fell silent forever. “We’re not getting out of here alive, Steve,” Harry said.     “Think ...