Big Book of Shorts

By Harmony Stalter

This compilation of short stories will take you through different worlds and scenarios. There are 40 different stories in this book. Each one is different, and some were inspired by each other. Everyday events inspired others. Some may cause you to never look at your friends, family, or coworkers the same again. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harmony Stalter
• Release date: Jan 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386613350

Harmony Stalter

Harmony Stalter (1976-Present)was born in Newburgh, New York. She currently makes her home in Central Florida, and is a freelance writer that currently writes for a monthly magazine called All Access Music Magazine. She was an architectural drafter for three years before she dove head first into pursuing her career in writing, her first love. Employee Body Language Revealed: How to Predict Behavior in the Workplace by Reading and Understanding Body Language is her first book. Since completing this book, she has written Dancing the Night Away, Bulk Cooking: Everything You Need to Know, and The Great Wolf Lodge 2011 Travel Guide, the Stable Boy, The Paynes Prairie Murders, Small book of shorts and Big Book of Shorts.. Look for these, and more upcoming titles from this writer on the rise, and make sure to visit her website at http://www.harmonysfreelancewritingworld.com.

Book preview

1 cold case

The rookies in the detective department got stuck doing the busy work. They created reports, went on ride alongs, logged evidence, and looked over cold cases. Most of the cases went back into storage because the leads went dry or were dead ends. Cases could sit for years until someone looked them over again, finding things someone else had missed and were able to make a break in the case.

Calab Johnson was a rookie detective who spent five years as a beat cop. He took the detective exam after discovering there were a few cases he worked on that went unsolved. His first day as a detective he was assigned to look over the cold case files. He was drawn into a fifteen-year-old case. The victim disappeared without a trace. Interviews were conducted of her loved ones and neighbors, but nothing ever came of it. He signed the case out of the archives and brought it home with him. He scoured over it for hours before finding something wrong. There were multiple mentions of a carpenter she had remodeling the house. From the looks of the case files, there was no interview conducted with the carpenter. Detective Johnson was on a mission.

The following morning, he grabbed the case file and went back to the office. He spoke to the original detectives on the case. They told him they could never find the carpenter the neighbors spoke of. The carpenter showed up in a plain white van. There was no company name on it. He sat down at his desk and began researching. He found all the old neighbors. Some were still in their homes while others had moved out of state. He called those who were out of state and left messages with his cell phone number. By lunch, he was on the road heading to her neighborhood. He needed to see if the neighbors remembered anything new. Sometimes, after the dust settles and some time passes, things come back to people. He pulled up to her neighbor's house and knocked on the door. A woman with a child on her hip answered the door.

Hello, can I help you? she asked.

Good afternoon, ma'am, he said. My name is Detective Johnson. I have reopened the investigation into Maggie Hearts case. Where you living here at the time?

Yes, she said. Maggie was a great person, and I miss her more and more every day. She would come over for a glass of wine once a week after the kids went to bed and we would discuss everything going on in our lives. She was a beautiful girl with a great spirit.

What can you tell me about the carpenter? he asked.

It was so long ago, she said. I remember he came every day in a plain white van. There as no writing or anything, but he showed up every day at exactly eight and leave around six, except for the day she disappeared. I don't remember seeing him that day. It was weird because he had been coming every day for a month. At the time, I didn't think anything of it, because she had told me the day before the remodel was almost done, but something needed to be ordered to finish it. So, I thought he just wasn't there because what he needed had not come in.

Can you tell me anything about his appearance?

I remember he had dark hair, but I never saw his face. He always had a hat on and would walk into the house carrying things on his left side. He was about as tall as my husband, so I say he was at least six foot tall and slender. He didn't talk at all to us and barely said anything to Maggie. I thought it was weird, but some people when they are doing a job, don't like to socialize.

Can you remember any distinguishing marks, a tattoo perhaps?

No, wait, yes, I couldn't tell what it was, but he wiped his face with his shirt one day, and I saw a black tattoo on his lower back. It may have covered his back. I don't think men are into tramp stamps.

Great, thank you for your time. Here is my card. If there is anything, you can remember, please call me.

I will, she said. He walked down the steps to the porch and over to the house directly across the street from Maggie's former home. The door opened before he could knock on it. The elderly woman on the other side stood about five foot tall. Her wavy, white hair was perfectly styled. She had on a purple, floral print house dress.

I saw you coming, she said. Come on in and have a seat.

Thank you, ma'am, he said and followed her into the living room. She sat in a chair next to the window, which looked out over the street. She motioned for him to take the one across from her. Ma'am, I need to ask you some questions. It is about the woman who used to live across the street, Maggie Heart. Do you remember her?

Just because I am old, doesn't mean my mind is going. Of course, I remember her, such a sweet girl. She used to take me to the grocery store and sometimes we would even share a meal.

Ma'am, I am asking in particular about the events leading up to her disappearance I have heard about the carpenter. Do you remember anything about him?

As a matter of fact, I do, she said, getting up from her chair. She walked into the kitchen and came back with a business card in her hand. That is the young man who was working for her. She gave me his business card when I asked her what he was doing at her house. I was looking to get some work done in here.

Ma'am, did you mention it to the other officers that interviewed you?

I did and even offered his card, but they only looked at it.

Interesting, he said. Did you ever contact him?

Not after Maggie disappeared I was scared to.

I don't blame you, he said. Do you mind if I take this card?

It is all yours, she said. And please find her or what was done to her, for her family’s peace of mind and all of ours.

I plan on it, he said. Thank you for your help today.

You're very welcome. Maggie would have liked you. She had a thing for handsome young police officers.

Really? he said.

Oh yes, ask Officer Davidson, they were dating at the time she disappeared.

I did not know that, he said. I will have to ask him about her. Thank you, again.

He left the house, knowing what his next move was going to be. Driving back to the station, he thought about the questions he was going to ask Detective Davidson. He was going to have to tread lightly, but he needed answers. He walked into the office with a scowl on his face. Approaching Davidson's office, he took a deep breath. He needed to calm down before his temper flared. He walked in and shut the door. Davidson looked up from his computer.

Can I help you, detective?

As a matter of fact, you may be the key to solving my case, Detective Johnson said.

Really, I am intrigued. What case are you working on?

The disappearance of Maggie Heart, he said, watching the color drain from detective Davidson's face. Davidson cleared his throat and shuffled in his chair.

I remember that case, he said.

You should since she was your girlfriend at the time, Detective Johnson said.

No one knew that, he said. How did you find out?

Let's just say that a sweet little birdie told me.

That damn old lady, he said.

I didn't say it was her, he said.

She was the only one who could have known, always looking out her window.

Do you want to confess something?

I had nothing to do with her disappearance, he said. We are done here. Get out of my office.

I will, but I will find out what happened to her. If you had something to do with it, you would go to jail.

I didn't have anything to do with her death, he said through gritted teeth.

No one has ever said she was dead, he said. Where is her body?

I meant disappearance. We can only assume she is dead. I mean it is only logical, she has been gone for so long.

I am not assuming she is dead. As far as anyone knows, she could have left the state or even the country after a bad break-up.

I am done with this conversation, he said standing up. There was a knock on the door. A sixteen-year-old girl came into the office.

Hi, daddy, she said. Are you okay? You look mad.

I am fine, pumpkin, he said.

Hi, she said. You are new. I am Shelly.

Nice to meet you, Shelly. I am Calab.

Nice to meet you, too. Daddy, are you ready to go to my lacrosse game?

Yes, let's go, he said. They all left the office. Meeting Davidson's daughter got him thinking. Maybe, he did not have anything to do with Maggie's disappearance. Perhaps it was his wife. Maybe she found out about him and Maggie and decided to eliminate the competition. Since Davidson confessed Maggie was dead, he had something to do with it. Did he commit the crime or help his wife in covering it up? He needed to find out more about Davidson. He asked what the story was on Davidson and how he came up in the ranks, typical rookie questions. There was bound to be someone in the office who would spill the beans. There were quite a few people who told him about Davidson. He was not well liked. Detective Johnson learned that Davidson was divorced and newly remarried. Johnson needed to visit the ex-wife. He looked her up in the database, finding her current address. He arrived at her home a half hour later. He rang the doorbell and waited. She came to the door three minutes later.

Can I help you? she asked.

Good afternoon, ma'am. My name is Detective Calab Johnson, and I would like to ask you a few questions regarding the disappearance of Maggie Heart.

Who is that?

She disappeared fifteen years ago from the Haverton area.

Oh wait, I think I remember hearing about that on the news. I had just had my daughter and had a lot of late night feedings. Please come in, she said. He followed her to the back of the house. She sat down at the kitchen table, and he followed. Do you want something to drink, detective?

No, thank you. You were living in the area at the time of the disappearance, correct?

Yes, I was married to an officer at the time, who is now a detective, she said with a hint of disdain in her voice. I don't know why you would want to question me about her disappearance, though. I didn't know her.

No? I thought you may have known her.

Why is that?

Because at the time she was sleeping with your husband, he said, watching her reaction.

She was what? she asked, shocked.

You didn't know?

That son of a bitch, she said.

Can I ask why you got divorced?

Because he was an abusive asshole, but only to me. Do you think he hurt Maggie?

It is a possibility, he said.

Shit, my daughter is with him this weekend.

I know, I met her earlier. I don't think you have to worry about her safety. I am still investigating the case. If I find out it was him, may I call you to make sure your daughter is not with him? I don't think she needs to see her father being arrested.

Yes, please, she said, as he handed her his phone. She put her number in it. He left with a fresh sense of what may have happened. He thought maybe Maggie found out Davidson was married and threatened to go to his wife about their relationship because she wanted him to herself. As he drove back to his office, there was a call over the radio of a 187 in the Haverton area. He raced to the scene. The nice old lady across from Maggie's former home was brutally murdered. Davidson was in the back of a squad car, handcuffed, and full of blood. Shelly was screaming and crying on the sidewalk. Detective Johnson called her mother. She arrived a half hour later to get her daughter. He was going to get his chance to solve this case. They drove back to the station, placing Detective Davidson in interview room one. Detective Johnson grabbed the case file from his desk. Heading toward the interview room, he was stopped by Captain Smith.

Where do you think you are going? he asked.

With all due respect, sir, this is my case. I am the one who cracked it open, he said.

He is right, said D.A. Mills.

You make sure you show him the respect he deserves. He has been on the force a long time, said Captain Smith.

Would you give the same respect to a murder who wasn't on the force and your friend? asked Johnson. D.A. Mills smiled. Detective Johnson walked into the interview room, taking the chair directly across from Davidson. What happened today, Davidson?

Davidson sat there staring at Johnson. This was his fault. The old lady could have died of old age had he not gone snooping around. This is your fault. The blood of that old lady is on your hands.

How is this my fault?

If you didn't stick your nose where it didn't belong, then she would still be alive.

If you would have told the truth the day Maggie disappeared, then none of this would have taken place.

Fuck you and fuck her, he spat.

What happened to Maggie?

That is none of your business, he said. I want my lawyer.

Fine, but this will be the only opportunity you get to tell me the truth and get a light sentence. You know what they do to cops in jail, especially all the men you put away for the same crimes you committed. You won't last more than a day. Let me help you, Detective Johnson said. Davidson stared into the two-way mirror. He knew the captain and D.A. were back there listening to him and knew Johnson was right. His jaw tensed. The veins on his temples pulsed.

I'll tell you what you need to know, he said.

What happened to Maggie?

I killed her, he said.

Why?

She threatened to go to my wife about us. I loved her, but my wife was pregnant, and I wasn't going to leave her.

Where is her body?

I dumped her two towns over into a lake, off of highway 326, he said. Johnson turned and gave a nod to the mirror. Crews were sent hoping to find some trace of her. The local police station was called. They had found a body seven years ago, but were never able to identify it. The medical examiner went to their morgue. Davidson was booked and sent to the local jail to await his arraignment. The Jane Doe they found was Maggie Heart. She died from blunt force trauma. It was determined it was from a softball bat. Several blows were to her face and head. There was no way to identify her, as she had no fingerprints on record or any dental work done. The only identifying mark was a small tattoo on her ankle of a butterfly that had faded over time.

Davidson was arraigned the next day, and the trial date was set for a month later. He was kept in solitary confinement until the day of his trial. As he was walking down the hall, a prisoner came up behind him and the guards and shoved a shiv in between his ribs. He never made it to trial. 

2 DEATH VALLEY

The desert is an unforgivable place. This one is called Death Valley for a reason. Every living thing here has to fight for survival. And we would have to fight, too, or else perish. The year is 2543. Cities around the world had been turned to rubble. Everyone has to fight for supplies. Communities have been formed to help each other, but there are those of us who have been shunned and sent to the desert to live.  There are gangs of people here who steal from each other. If you have nothing to take or don't have a skill they deem necessary, you become a victim. Fighting is the only way you can survive this new world.

We were dropped off in the middle of the night. The frigid temperatures caused us to lose our breath. We had to find shelter from the night's predators, animal, and human. We ran across the desert sand, trying to find a hiding spot. The vast openness of the land made us easy prey to all hunters. There were five of us. We ran toward a lone building, hoping it was empty. As we drew closer, we saw flashes of light and heard yips and yelps. We were not alone. We knew the flashes of light were human, but the yips and yelps were most likely coyote. We needed to avoid getting caught. We held hands and made our way to the back of the building where the light was hidden. We squatted down. We needed to stay hidden through the night. Footsteps came from behind us, we froze. A light swept across us. The youngest began to cry. She was just twelve years old. We heard what they did to children out here. She was scared, and we were scared for her. We put her in the middle of us. If they were going to kill her, they were going to have to go through all of us.

Hey, you guys okay? said the man with the flashlight. Don't worry; I am not one of them. I will not harm you. My family and I were dropped here three days ago. So far, we have not seen the others. I have a girl about your age. Come on inside. It is bad out here.

Thank you, said Jacob. We followed the man inside. His wife and two kids were hiding in the