Genre: Mystery & Suspense

Tales driven by uncertainty, secrets, tension, and the unexpected.

Another Path

The waitress tops off my coffee cup; the cup across from me is full.  I’m happy. Today is the day. The first time I will see her, in person, face to face. No profile photo or video call could do…

The Purloined Pen

6:47 a.m., with a steaming mug of coffee in hand, I flop down on the couch and turn on the TV. I reach for my To-Do list notebook and my pen.  The notebook is there on the cushion where I…

The Shape of Things

I float in the nebulous twilight between awake and asleep when something startles me. My heart pounds in my ears. What was that? An intruder? My dreams?  There’s a muffled sound downstairs. Nope, not my dreams.  I retrieve my handgun…

Writing on the Wall

Carl woke to see mysterious writing on the wall. He recalled the biblical story of a finger writing on a king’s wall. After the prophet Daniel interpreted it, things didn’t end well for the king. Carl wasn’t going to wait…

Dead Ringer

My phone rings again from my own number. “Hello?”  A voice says, “When you hear a knock, don’t answer.” I hang up, shaking. Knock. Knock. Who’s there? I dare not answer.  Because I know who is there. But I don’t…

The Ledger

Lonnie lived his life believing he was utterly forgettable, a dullard with average grades, ordinary jobs, invisible in every crowd.   When he retired at sixty-five, he quickly got bored and volunteered at the city police station, cataloging old records.  One…

The Sound Outside

Ted muted his TV and cocked his head. “Help!” rang out from outside. There it was again. He pushed his recliner upright with a groan, grabbed his Mag-lite, and headed out the door into the moonless night.   He swept the…

Midnight Confession

She sat alone in a dilapidated booth at the 24-hour diner. She glanced at her watch. Nearly midnight. Where is he?  The door jangled as he walked in, a grimace replacing his usual smile. A woman followed close behind, scowling.…

But I’m Glad It’s You

A lone silhouette approaches in the flickering lamplight, a petite, feminine form, skirts flowing in the breeze and high heels echoing across the cobblestone street — click-clack, click-clack. I step out of the shadows into her path. “Oh, my!” she…

The Edge Of The Cliff

She snuggles close to me as we sit on the edge of the cliff, our legs swinging freely above the raging surf and jagged rocks below. Do it now, I think—a slip, a fall, a tragic accident, I’ll say—and soon,…

Happy New Year, Lovey!

“Four, three, two, one…” chanted the crowd in Times Square. The ball dropped, fireworks exploded, and everyone cheered. Lilly raised her flute to toast the New Year—relieved to leave last year—and her miserable old life behind. Ready to embrace a…

Suspect Number One

I knew she was his wife. I knew better than to get involved with her. But I did anyway. She understood me like no one ever had. We shared secrets, hopes, and dreams. She was my soulmate, my lover, and…

The Perfect Shot

He crouches behind the bush and looks through the eyepiece at the majestic lion resting fifty feet away. After tracking this regal beast for hours across the savannah, he finally has a good position and clear line of sight.  He…

Truth Be Told

The doorbell rings a second time, interrupting the still of morning. I’ve been up all night, and I’m tired and irritated. Who is it, JW’s? Mormons? Kids selling chocolate? Go away already.  Through the peephole, I see two police officers…

A Double-Edged Sword

My phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and swiped to dismiss the notification. Time for my meeting with Mr. Grant. I rode the elevator up to the executive top floor, and the pretty secretary ushered me into the inner…

Til Death Do Us Part

“I love you honey,” I say. He doesn’t respond, but I know he’s still awake. “I love you forever and always.” Still no response. I lean towards him and kiss his cheek. “I love you babe, till death do us…

Cot in the Blur

You wake on the basement cot.  Why are you here? How long have you been here? The light of dawn peeks through the window overhead.  Betsy, your beloved tabby cat, meows close by.  You remember.  You came to find her…

At Golden Hour

I open my eyes. Ghoulish, dark shapes with twisted limbs and spiny leaves dot the vast expanse to the distant mountains. Joshua trees, I think.  Who am I? How did I get here? I have no clue. I also have…