One night when his little nephew and niece were too excited to sleep, Uncle Robert told them a story about a past adventure he’d encountered on the police force. He…
Lt. Commander Cecelia Holman was jolted awake by the screech of the security siren. She leapt out of her bunk, donned her skinsuit, dashed down the corridor and was in…
I muttered to myself as my beeper went off. My double shift was almost over and I was drinking my sixth cup of coffee at the all night coffee shop down the street from…
The crime was simple enough. The new experimental long-range cannon, developed and cast in France, was shipped topside because of ease of loading and removal. Sometime…
"Abigail," he might say, "It's America's first day." Before fireworks could burst, one fourth of July came first. Newly-free men gave a cheer and we celebrate each…
Highway 59 and Groven Road was rural bus driver Ed Tuttle’s last stop to pick up kids before he entered the city. As usual, five middle-years students were waiting for…
Who did this? I asked myself, not believing what was in front of me. I had arrived at my psychology office at ten this morning, as usual. Then, I walked across the road…
Corporal James Prescott of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police leaned back in his chair and looked out the window of his tiny office, located in the rear of the small…
“I wanna ride your new bike!” Mark whined. Matthew didn’t even bother glancing away from the video game he was playing with his friend, String, to look at his little…
"I ain't no leprechaun!" snarled Randy. "I'm not even Irish!" He was three feet tall, he was dressed in a green suit, and he was beginning to hate St. Patrick's Day. A…
The chicken dinner had disappeared. The roasted chicken had been left on the table in the dining room—covered with the glass dish that would keep it warm. Now the dish…
Jack Snyder had two great loves in his life: 1) old fashioned horror films (which by today’s standards are not horror films at all) and 2) his family. His priorities…
“This is boring,” Suzie Shaw said to her boyfriend. Next to her in the front seat of his car, Dan Cartman rolled his eyes. “I told you a million times that this…
Five monsters stood at the cemetery gates, hesitant to enter. “Aren’t monsters supposed to love cemeteries?” I asked, looking around at the witch, the vampire, the…
I was sleeping the little sleep – napping – when a tall, blonde ankled into my office. “Well, my lunch was stolen again today!” he bleated, planting his slender hands…
“He's the worst clown ever.” “He's got the worst luck.” “But he's a fantastic kisser!” Whispers buzzed backstage minutes before they started filming the TV show…
Everyone laughed when they first met Ernie. He grew up on a farm, and was very friendly. He wore thick, nerdy glasses. And there was some truth to the impression his…
Mick was the smartest guy in my neighborhood. Sure he was homeless, but Mick took that as proof of how smart he was. Hebragged that he never had to pay rent, and he…
I get pretty tired of playing second fiddle to Sam Spade in our own detective firm. Sure, the clients come in, when they do, and play up to him. That’s because I’m…
Melody Kairns was usually the first person out of bed in the mornings. However, on this cool, spring morning in Oklahoma, she was still in bed at nine. All others in…
Paul Benham, Mitchell (Mitch) Land, Matthew Light, Chris Palmer and Russell Smith had been friends since junior high school, almost 50 years ago. Russell was very…
"This was the brattiest kid in the world -- literally," he said. "That's what everyone called him." He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a copy of People…
The driver cracked the reins and the horses whinnied jerking the stage to a start. The long, rough trip across the plains to St. Joseph, Missouri was underway. Frank…
Katie Johnson and Alicia Cates were best friends. The women were genuinely fond of one another, and their friendship had an added benefit: The Cates and Johnson…
