fiction

Mystery, crime, murder, unsolved cases. Contribute your own tales of crime to Criminal.

The Rabbit Trail
It was a rabbit trail and she was on it. She should have known something was up when the message came in. Intuition was something she prided herself on, but not something to be relied upon 100% of the time. Sometimes it was just plain wrong. This was one of those times. Now here she was, investigating a false lead in an abandoned warehouse and things weren't looking so good.
By Scott A. Gese2 years ago in Criminal
Bus Robbers
It was an ice cold winter in London, snow was falling after Christmas had just ended in January 1998. Now let me tell you, January is the worst time of year, I mean sure it can be quiet, somewhat peaceful but all the holidays are over and done with. At the end of the year you get Halloween, Bon Fire Night, Christmas then New Year's Eve and it's just so fucking great! Then January comes around and there is just nothing. Bugger all, except boredom and the long wait until winter finally fucks off so getting to work isn't so bloody dreadful. Well, there were these absolute pricks who had enough of working for a living, dragging themselves out of bed too early and travelling through the blizzards that chilled London that year was agony. It had been a long time coming, but the four young men teamed up to put an end to their shared misery. They planned to rob a bus. That's right, a public transport vehicle that they knew had been driving all around London all day long. The amount of money, a busy two decker bus like that must collect by the end of the day; it must've had hundreds if not thousands of pounds locked away in the driver's money box, just under the steering wheel. On top of that, they could also mug all the passengers. Of course people who got the bus were rarely minted, but it couldn't hurt to collect a few pennies as well. So one Saturday night, when it was snowing madly and the weather was freezing, they all coated up in huge coats, balaclavas and hats, hiding illegal pistols they had dared to buy through shady dealers. Perhaps getting these weapons was more expensive than it was worth, but they were all confident they could make back their money in an instant plus profit. After buying the guns, there was no turning back. Even if they didn't rob the bus, they'd rob something else, maybe a shop or a small bank. They all knew that was incredibly risky though, the best part about robbing a bus was that they would already get an escape vehicle in an instant. Although, as they'd soon come to learn the hard way; a huge double decker bus in the snow isn't the greatest vehicle to getaway in. So they all met up at the second to last bus stop before the bus returned to station, knowing too well a lot of people would still be waiting to get off at either this stop or the next one. That's how they'd collect the most money. So then the bus arrived and all four of them, Randy, Peter, Simon and Daniel all climbed abroad like normal, only when the bus driver asked them for money, they instead pulled out their pistols. Randy aimed his at the driver's head, while the rest of his gang aimed their guns at the passengers. Everyone screamed (except for the masked robbers), holding their hands up in surrender, including the bus driver. Nobody challenged the masked gun men, especially after Peter fired a warning shot at the window, to let everyone know they were serious. People reluctantly handed over their wallets and purses, all with the biggest frowns possible, some were even crying or so scared they were trembling with terror.
By Joseph Roy Wright2 years ago in Criminal
THEMOST EFFECT CRASHES IN 2024
The year 2024 witnessed notable losses of lives and irreparable losses to the economy due to inevitable crashes in the aircraft sector alongside the stock market. Such disasters led to the reevaluation of business strategies and safety standards as well.
By Maxamed Sharif2 years ago in Criminal
The Johnson Brothers
Now these two blokes were the bee's knees mate, positively the hardest men in all of England. Their story began once upon a time in London, around 2010, maybe earlier:
By Joseph Roy Wright2 years ago in Criminal
Perspective
Four Lives Intertwined by Darkness, Bound by Justice --- The Beginning Sarah and Daniel Carter lived in Crestwood Heights, a neighborhood that exuded the illusion of perfection. Behind their white picket fence, however, their marriage was unraveling. Daniel, an ambitious attorney, spent endless hours at his downtown law firm, leaving Sarah to manage the household and their teenage daughter, Emily. Once a painter, Sarah had abandoned her art years ago, her days now filled with loneliness and resentment. Emily had grown adept at navigating the tension between her parents. A quiet, creative girl, she sought solace in her sketchbook, drawing everything from towering trees in the park to the shadows on her bedroom walls. She often escaped to the local library or her favorite spot by the creek, places where she could breathe away from the suffocating atmosphere at home. The day of her kidnapping was unremarkable at first. Emily stayed late after school to finish an art project, texting Sarah she’d walk home. The weather was clear, the streets familiar, and the route well-trodden. But as Emily passed an alley, a van pulled up slowly behind her. She barely had time to register the sound of the sliding door before a gloved hand clamped over her mouth. A syringe pressed against her neck. Panic flared in her chest, and she tried to kick and scream, but the world blurred, then went black. --- Detective (Harold Grayson) Detective Harold Grayson was weeks from mandatory retirement. The department saw him as a relic, his desk cluttered with old case files and his name etched on plaques commemorating his past successes. He wasn’t ready to go, not when his work was the only thing tethering him to a purpose. When Emily Carter’s disappearance crossed his desk, Grayson recognized the stakes immediately. A teenage girl in a wealthy suburb—cases like this drew media frenzy and public outrage. For Grayson, though, it was about more than his reputation. It was about ensuring his final case didn’t end with a family left broken. Grayson dove into the case with methodical precision. He studied Emily’s school, retraced her usual routes, and questioned classmates. He noticed the tension between Sarah and Daniel immediately, their grief sharpening their words against one another. But he also saw their desperation. At the scene of the abduction, Grayson crouched by the alley where Emily’s school bag had been found. The faint scent of exhaust lingered in the air. “This wasn’t random,” he murmured to his partner. “Whoever did this planned it.” --- Preparation James Holloway James Holloway was a ghost in Crestwood Heights. He worked menial jobs under the radar, barely scraping by in a rusted-out trailer on the edge of the woods. He was meticulous, patient, and driven by delusions of grandeur. For months, he had watched Emily from a distance, convinced she was the perfect candidate for his “project.” James scouted her routines with military precision, tracking her movements with a notebook filled with times, places, and habits. He practiced the abduction multiple times, driving his van through empty streets to ensure every detail was flawless. He chose the syringe carefully, calculating the dosage to incapacitate her without causing harm. The cabin where he planned to take her was an abandoned relic from his father’s hunting trips. Hidden deep in the forest, it was isolated, soundproofed, and equipped with supplies for months. James filled the walls with tools and carefully rationed food. When the day came, James felt an electric thrill as he parked his van near the school. The sight of Emily walking alone triggered his resolve. In minutes, he had executed the plan he had rehearsed a hundred times. --- The Cabin: A World Apart Emily’s Captivity Emily woke in the cabin to the sound of water dripping from a rusted pipe. Her wrists were bound, and her head throbbed. Panic surged, but she forced herself to breathe. The cabin was cold, the air heavy with damp wood and old metal. The walls were lined with shelves of canned food, tools, and Emily’s own sketches, stolen from her backpack and pinned up like trophies. James sat across the room, watching her. “You’re safe here,” he said, his voice calm but laced with an unsettling intensity. “Safe?” Emily’s voice cracked. “You kidnapped me!” “You’ll understand soon,” James replied, ignoring her anger. Emily quickly realized she couldn’t rely on brute force to escape. Instead, she studied James, noting his paranoia and need for control. She feigned compliance, asking questions and pretending to listen to his ramblings about how he was saving her from a neglectful world. At night, when James slept in the adjoining room, Emily worked at the ropes binding her wrists. She found a loose nail in the floorboards and used it to slowly wear down the fibers. --- Sarah and Daniel Struggle The Carters’ home became a war zone. Sarah and Daniel barely slept, their days consumed with organizing search parties and fielding calls from reporters. Late one night, Sarah broke down in the kitchen. “I can’t do this,” she sobbed. “I can’t lose her.” “You won’t,” Daniel said, his voice shaking. “Don’t say that like you know!” Sarah snapped. “You’re always so damn sure, and look where it got us.” Daniel paused, guilt flashing across his face. “You think I don’t blame myself?” he asked quietly. Their shared pain forced them to confront truths they’d buried for years. Despite the tension, moments of unity began to surface. They held hands at press conferences, leaned on each other during police briefings, and clung to the hope that Emily would come home. Emily’s Escape
By K-jay2 years ago in Criminal
Kill Him Back
“He fucking did it again, seriously?” I said but I was very un serious in the way of this was expected. Jen nodded. She’d found her husband passed out again. The minor crime really. Leaving the phone out though. Undoer of worlds. Men are so brave in their stupidity. I see it all playing out in their living room I’ve been on many times as she gives me all the details.
By Michaela Smith2 years ago in Criminal
War
The sun had just begun to rise over the small village of Kalo, casting a golden glow over the thatched roofs and the dusty streets. But the peaceful morning scene was short-lived, as the sound of gunfire and artillery fire echoed through the valley.
By Adibor Goodness2 years ago in Criminal
What are Friends For?
He owed money and he couldn’t pay up. His life was on the line and he was on the run. Would he be found? Only his bartender knew for sure.
By Scott A. Gese2 years ago in Criminal
The Mysterious Disappearance
In the heart of Lagos, within the bustling and vibrant neighborhood of Yaba, lay a quiet street named Olufemi. On this street, an unassuming apartment building stood, housing a myriad of residents who kept to themselves. Among them was Mr. Ade, a retired school teacher known for his strict demeanor and reclusive lifestyle.
By Olaoluwa2 years ago in Criminal
Where is She?
The shoe sits there, alone in the damp, narrow alley, its once-pristine white leather now streaked with grime and streaks of rain-soaked filth. It shouldn’t be there – not here, not like this. It feels wrong, impossibly wrong. There’s no partner shoe lying nearby, no scatter of belongings, no evidence of a chaotic escape or frantic departure. Just this singular shoe, defiant and haunting in its solitude. And silence – an oppressive, heavy silence that presses against your chest and settles like a stone in your gut.
By Iris Obscura2 years ago in Criminal
Strike: The Ink Black Heart — Review
Strike and Robin tackle their toughest case yet: the murder of the reclusive cartoonist Edie Ledwell. As they delve into the complex world of online fandom and obsession, they soon find themselves in deadly territory, where they must confront the killer, and face the consequences of their discoveries in an explosive finale.
By Ted Ryan2 years ago in Criminal
The Lakeside Cabin
Their plan was for a quiet weekend. Someone had other ideas. Murder was not out of the question. Neal and Eileen Stewart needed a break from their high pressure work environments. They thought they had found the perfect weekend getaway in a secluded lakeside cabin.
By Scott A. Gese2 years ago in Criminal