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Most recently published stories in Criminal.
Slow Poison - Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-one “MUMMY!” The voice split the night, echoing through the house. Trim was instantly awake. He sat up, his body aching, the glutinous ooze smeared on leather. He listened. Acrid sweat poured from him. No other sound came. The child slept on. Three-ten. Trim pulled himself from the leather unit, his hand sticking to the surface. Sleep, in the master bedroom, was a feverish, broken stretch until the black beyond the window became grey. From the outer edge of sleep he could hear the child. She stirred in the second bedroom. The first day was beginning.
By David Philip Ireland5 years ago in Criminal
The Doorstep
A package arrived on my doorstep. I sit up in bed, wiping sleep from my eyes as I sneer at the offending light streaming through my curtains. My hair sticking up in matted snarls, the duvet had decided to tangle itself awkwardly around my legs making rolling out of bed ever so slightly difficult.
By Lucy Limbert5 years ago in Criminal
FIGURE IN THE DARKNESS
There was a time in my life where it felt uncomfortable to enter the embrace of frigid, dark waters. A time when the fear of the unknown played with my mind. Where the cold of the water permeated through to my soul. Caused hypothermia. But as my body submerges into the pitch-black surf now, I feel nothing.
By Devin Thorpe5 years ago in Criminal
Slow Poison - Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen Amsterdam. January 23rd Kramer counted lab tile, uncomfortable in the sterile surroundings, wheezing in the antiseptic air-conditioned atmosphere, too cold for January. The forensic scientist working alone at his desk would have preferred solitude, but the asthmatic fat man had insisted upon remaining in the room. De Winter, the scientist, bearded, forty, had planned a different Saturday; a day of family delights yet, here he was, verdomme, a snatched breakfast repeating on him, tearful kids waving goodbye from the back of his ex-wife’s Espace.
By David Philip Ireland5 years ago in Criminal
WHAT ARE THE ODDS - PART 2
With the small black book in hand, Nes and I stood there in silence for a few minutes, staring at the massive sum of money sitting on the table in a counting room we found behind a bookshelf, it was so surreal. I don't know what was going through his mind but in my mind I was already concocting a plan. Nes and I had only known each other for a few weeks, all I knew about him was that he was half Puerto Rican, half Dominican and had moved to Philadelphia from the island a year ago. Surprisingly, his English was really good for someone who spent most of their life in Puerto Rico. He said it was because he frequently visited the states growing up and all of his cousins spoke to him in English. It was no secret how I fell into this lifestyle, everyone knew the only reason I sold drugs was to gather enough money to get custody of my five siblings who were in foster care since our mom passed away. It's the only reason Big Sexy put me on, she had two kids of her own and was sympathetic to my situation. I had done everything for those kids since they were born, I loved them more than life itself and I was willing to do anything for them to have a more stable life than I had. As I was in my thoughts, I realized that was the first time I thought about Marisol since she died and the tears rolled down my cheeks. Nes looked at me and asked if I was okay. I wiped the tears from my face and said "I'm good, let's leave that conversation for another day. Right now, we have to figure out how to make this situation beneficial for the both of us." Let's sit and talk for a minute. We exited the small room and stepped into the office, I put the book back on the shelf to close the room. I sat on the chair behind the desk and Nes sat on a chair across from me.
By Vanessa Rodriguez5 years ago in Criminal
Slow Poison - Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen Cheltenham. January 14th Since Monday the snow had been falling monotonously, quietly. Blowing in great drifts, filling up the dips between the hedgerows, the wind levelling out the peaks into one smooth layer of white sugar frosting. Around the hollow of the town, tree tips peeked through the hilltop blanketing, like saplings searching for spring. But spring was nowhere in sight as the snow floated down relentlessly from the low grey cloud. In the valley the steady stream of traffic and scuffing children had turned the unique crystals that lay briefly in the streets into a leaden slush that stuck to everything, leaving hardy stains on gloves and shoes and woollen socks.
By David Philip Ireland5 years ago in Criminal
Finders Keepers
It was dark and damp, Sarah noted as she slowly regained consciousness and opened her eyes. Her mind trying to establish where she was and how she got here. Her attention immediately diverting to her head that was searing with pain. Her fingers fumbled to the source of the agony, the clammy and moist feeling of her skin under her fingertips questionable.
By Brooke Hobson-Jones5 years ago in Criminal
