Mark Gagnon
Bio
I have spent most of my life traveling the US and abroad. Now it's time to create what I hope are interesting fictional stories.
I have 2 books on Amazon, Mitigating Circumstances and Short Stories for Open Minds.
Stories (300/0)
Kitchen Conundrum
Lieutenant Baskins was in charge of the investigation. It wasn’t her first murder investigation, far from it. Since transferring to homicide ten years ago, it felt as though she had a fresh case every week. Most of the bodies she inspected were in back alleys, bedrooms, or cars. This one was different. The body lay face down in the middle of a restaurant kitchen.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Criminal
The Saboteur
I have to assume they finally found the Titanic, or you would not be reading this. Before my death, I left explicit instructions with my barrister to leave this letter sealed until the remains of the old girl had been located. Now I, Patrick Callahan, saboteur extraordinaire, will tell you how the ship sank, and it wasn’t done by a bloody iceberg.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
If Only
Jake is a busy guy. Every time he starts a project, or just thinks about starting something, he gets interrupted. Most of the time they’re annoying minor interruptions: phone calls, a knock at the door, text messages from work, the list goes on and on. If only he had a little alone time, he could complete some half-finished projects. No phone calls, texts, or people, for one day. Is that too much to ask? Unfortunately for Jake, his unfinished business list just came due all at the same time.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
- Top Story - March 2022
Click on AcceptTop Story - March 2022
It was one of those nights when there was nothing on TV and it was too early to go to bed, so I was web surfing. I had heard about a site that was like Amazon but all their items were pre-owned (used). They sold everything from houses to hose clamps, vacation packages to vacuums — you name it, they had it for sale. I eventually found the site and started exploring a virtual cornucopia of items for sale. Why someone would buy slightly used shoelaces is beyond me, but there they were for 25 cents per lace. As I was scanning other items, an information box popped up on my screen informing me that, after reading the Terms and Conditions, I would need to click the Accept button if I wanted to continue using the site. I had 10 seconds to click Accept. No one, me included, ever takes the time to read the 25 plus pages of legalese that are usually included in the conditions box. I clicked Accept and continued browsing. About an hour later, I called it a night and went to bed.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in 01
Speak English Please!
Even as a young boy, the idea of traveling the globe, meeting different people, and exploring unknown places fascinated me. As I got older, I crisscrossed the U.S. and Canada, taking in all each country offered. My wandering spirit was insatiable. Europe was next.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Wander
Freedom Lost-Never!
Alexander stood by the window and watched the exploding bombs in the distance. The bright orange and white flashes of light briefly turned the night sky into day. Darkness reestablished its dominance except for where the bombs had exploded. In those areas, the glow of freshly ignited fires illuminated the neighborhoods under siege. He refocused his attention on where his wife was offering solace to their two small children. They were exhausted, but sleep refused to come. He left the window and cuddled with his family.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
The Eavesdropper
The congregation bowed their heads in reverent reflection as the vicar droned on about the evils of sin and the ultimate reward for the righteous. His ability to preach about topics they had recently been thinking about baffled them. This week’s sermon covered infidelity and the desires of the flesh versus chastity and faithful adherence to wedding vows. As he delved deeper into the subject, several women shifted uneasily on the church pew. Multiple men adjusted their gaze to the floor and refused to look up. They all felt as though he was addressing them directly. How could he sense what was on their minds?
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
- Top Story - February 2022
A Labor of LoveTop Story - February 2022
We met one sunny spring afternoon. I had stopped off at a colleague’s new house to help him move when I first laid eyes on her. The previous owners had abandoned her in a field behind the house. Tall grass hid the multicolored exterior, flat tires, and cracked and torn interior. I found a weathered top along with both side curtains tossed haphazardly in the trunk. For me, it was love at first sight.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Wheel
What If?
A beam of sunlight entered his room, turning the wall opposite the window a soft gold. It was the only bright light in the otherwise subdued hospice room. The old man in the hospital bed watched the beam flicker as the fluttering curtains crossed in front of it, creating a change in hues and shapes on the wall. The sight was a pleasant distraction from the constant beeping of the machines stationed next to his bed. He had always enjoyed the sun’s rays bouncing from object to object, casting shadows on some and presenting others in stark detail. What if this would be the last time he saw the sun?
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction