Mark Gagnon
Bio
My life has been spent traveling here and abroad. Now it's time to write.
I have three published books: Mitigating Circumstances, Short Stories for Open Minds, and Short Stories from an Untethered Mind. Unmitigated Greed is do out soon.
Achievements (1)
Stories (451)
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Woman Defiantly Pleads Not Guilty
Phoebe Oakley, a petite 44-year-old female, represented herself in court today. The charge was reckless endangerment with a handgun during a road rage incident. Ms. Oakley, (a.k.a. Anne) claimed her actions were well within reason, considering the circumstances.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Criminal
The Visitor
I’m an aviation enthusiast, so you might think that this assignment would please me. My job gives me access to a Gulfstream G350, one of the most prestigious private jets on the market, but you would be very wrong to think that. True, aircraft have fascinated me my entire life and I have even flown a couple, with an instructor’s help, but watching this plane line up for its final approach fills me with disgust. The loathing is not for the G550, but for the man it transports to my town for periodic visits.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Criminal
Odditorium
An unusual caravan of travelers slipped into town under the cover of night. It wasn’t until the next morning that the residents noticed a new encampment along the river bank which ran through the center of town. People were brimming with curiosity as they made their way to the campsite. Signs lined the pathway, depicting odd-looking creatures of all shapes and sizes. An enormous banner hanging between the two main tents welcomed one and all to the Odditorium.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Criminal
Honor Among Thieves
Everyone in Boston’s high society knows Anderson Cabot by his nickname, Mister Boston. He understands all there is to know about wealth, business, social status, and how to trade power for political favors. His family ruled the Boston Brahmin social class for several centuries and there is no one belonging to this elite class that doesn’t owe a debt to Anderson and his family. Whether it’s developers in need of special permits to build a structure in an unapproved part of town, or a business owner attempting to block a competitor from renewing their lease, Anderson Cabot is the man to get it done.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Criminal
The Gift
Sasha closed the door to her room and immediately went to work removing the foil cover and label from the bottle of Pinot Noir she had purchased earlier that day. Next, she retrieved a small needle and syringe from her makeup bag and injected its contents into the wine via the exposed cork. She then took a replacement label and foil wrapper from between the pages of a book, stuck them to the bottle, and voilà—a $25 bottle of Pinot Noir was now a $6,000 bottle of Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru, 1949.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Criminal
Rags to Riches
Every time I think my life couldn’t possibly be any better, POOF! WHAM! KAPOW! It becomes more heavenly. It didn’t start that way, not by a long shot. I was born into a dirt-poor family, the middle child of seven brothers and sisters. We usually had at least one meal a day during the summer and three when school was in session. All my clothes, from underwear to shoes, were hand-me-downs from my older siblings. My parents possessed no special skills, so they earned a living as day laborers. It looked like life had dealt me a losing hand from the start.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Criminal
The Instructions Said…
“Hi, Ralph, would you happen to be free this afternoon? I’m out by the lake and need a ride home.” “Sure, Ollie, I can give you a ride. The game isn’t until late this afternoon, which will give me plenty of time to get to the lake and back. You can come watch it at my place if you want.”
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Humor
It’s Mine Now!. Top Story - December 2023.
Well, Simon, here we are alone once again. No one is here to stop us from committing any type of mayhem we wish to. Yes, mayhem seems to be our middle name, doesn’t it? I remember when we were young and always getting scolded for being somewhere we weren’t supposed to be, or taking something that didn’t belong to us. There are so many tales we could tell.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Criminal
Terminal Sushi
Dan Tedesco was CEO And founding partner of the world’s largest producer of raw plastic material. Companies use his products in everything from water bottles to aircraft parts. Along with being known as the world’s largest producer of plastics, Dan’s company was also the world’s largest polluter of non-biodegradable material. As long as people kept buying his material, he didn’t care what they called him.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Temptation’s Light. Top Story - December 2023.
This bizarre and complex series of events started innocently enough. At three in the morning, I begrudgingly dragged my body out of a cozy, warm bed to answer nature's call. I never put on a light for this journey, preferring to use whatever moonlight is available. On my way back to bed, I spotted it. A speck of light no larger than a pinhole appeared to be shining through my bedroom wall. The phenomenon held my attention for about two seconds, then I went back to sleep.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Horror
Duty Calls
Consciousness came crawling back from the edge of oblivion as I slowly recognized where the annoying sound was emanating from. I pushed “accept” on my phone and listened to the electronic voice coldly say, “Get up now.” 3 a.m., right on time as usual; not much chance these electronic gadgets would give a guy an extra 15 minutes. No time to lie around complaining. People were counting on me.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
