“Swinging Party” by S.W. Lauden

Marco was always pretty smart for a drummer. He knew the record shop wouldn’t be open at three a.m., so he headed straight for the back door . . .

“The Pinch” by Honor Rovai

“Can you say something nice about this place?”

My left wrist is throbbing like a siren so I barely register Jackie’s request. She’s the tour’s PR lackey, in charge of pushing me through the subterranean bowels of the Home Depot Center to my press conference . . .

Akashic Remembers James Thompson

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death this past weekend of James Thompson, editor of our forthcoming anthology Helsinki Noir.

“Say When” by David Inglish

I’m standing here beneath the palms surrounded by six police officers, all of them with their guns drawn, all of them pointing at me . . .

“New Anchor” by Iain Ryan

Never take a job in summer—that’s rule one. Rule two is never trust anyone. They have that rule all over, but rule one, that’s my thing. No one thinks straight in summer. You can’t rely on anyone after November . . .

“Lost” by Cezarija Abartis

Elizabeth heard the door bang and footsteps clatter in the kitchen. She was relieved that it was not her daughter’s gait. This was another teenager. A girl holding a gun. Dear God, where did these children get these weapons? What possessed them? . . .

“The Preaching Game” by Bronwyn Mauldin

I was halfway through a draft of a blistering sermon on Romans 1:18 when I was startled by a scratching at my office door. My staff and parishioners knew to leave me alone on Thursday afternoons. I looked up to see a vision in turquoise . . .

“The Last Fact” by Douglas Light

An explosion of splinters stabs up his spine. Carrick’s eyes shutter open. Where the fuck am I? . . .