Nostalgia City Mysteries

Mark S. Bacon

Category Archives: New story

For the holidays I’m reprising one of my  flash fiction stories from “Cops, Crooks and Other Stories in 100 Words.” Happy holidays to all.

Christmas Bracelets

Trays of expensive necklaces were scattered across the mall jewelry store counter.  A heavy-set man with a white beard and red suit slumped next to the policeman.

“D’you know how many stupid crooks try to rob stores dressed as Santa this time of year?” said the slightly bored detective.

Outside the store, a crowd gathered.

“Take him in,” said the detective to two uniformed officers.

“Don’t put cuffs on me,” said make-believe Santa. “Look at all those kids out there.”

The detective frowned.

“Police escort,” shouted unshackled Santa.  As they walked out, he waved to the crowd with both hands.

Mystery flash fiction: 100-word crime story

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Called flash fiction, quick fiction or nano fiction, literature in miniature has been around for decades.  Depending on the author or the editor, flash fiction can be 100 words, 250 words, 55 words, or even six words. Hemingway wrote flash fiction. Although she’s well known as a novelist, Margaret Atwood is also a flash fiction writer. I like the discipline of creating a complete story and finishing with precisely 100 words.

badge-and-gun

Here again is a crime drama in exactly 100 words.  Continue Reading →

This week’s mystery flash fiction

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Today’s crime flash fiction is perhaps striking the limits of how complex a story you can adequately tell in exactly 100 words. Wish I had maybe ten more, but nevertheless, it works.

Porsche-in-lot

One Jump Ahead of the Police

 Finally got a collar on that car theft ring?”

“Think so, lieutenant.  Suspect’s in interrogation.” 

“How’d you nab him, Burnside?”

“We staked out a stolen Porsche.  Thieves took it but parked it two miles away.  They do that when they think a car might have a LoJack tracking device.”

“They let it sit to see if we show up,” the lieutenant said ,  “then pick it up when they think it’s clear.”

 Burnside nodded.  “Smart, but we’re smarter.”

“Bad news,” said another detective entering Burnside’s office.  “Guy we arrested was homeless.  Got paid fifty bucks to drive it to another location.”

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Continue Reading →

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