Criminally Good Stories Volume 1: 20 Detective Mystery Short Stories: Criminally Good Mystery Stories, #1

By Connor Whiteley

First Volume in the acclaimed mystery series!

For years Connor Whiteley has written plenty of compelling, suspenseful, best-selling mystery short stories spanning multiple subgenres and selling to top magazines like Pulphouse Fiction Magazine.

For the first time ever, Connor Whiteley collects 100 mystery short stories in five brilliant themed collections.

This volume explores detective fiction in all its forms from intoxicatingly twisted police detective fiction to enthralling amateur sleuth stories to much more. Mystery readers will love this riveting volume of Criminally Good Stories.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: CGD Publishing
• Release date: Apr 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215996270

Connor Whiteley

Hello, I'm Connor Whiteley, I am an 18-year-old who loves to write creatively, and I wrote my Brownsea trilogy when I was 14 years old after I went to Brownsea Island on a scout camp. At the camp, I started to think about how all the broken tiles and pottery got there and somehow a trilogy got created.Moreover, I love writing fantasy and sci-fi novels because you’re only limited by your imagination.In addition, I'm was an Explorer Scout and I love camping, sailing and other outdoor activities as well as cooking.Furthermore, I do quite a bit of charity work as well. For example: in early 2018 I was a part of a youth panel which was involved in creating a report with research to try and get government funding for organised youth groups and through this panel. I was invited to Prince Charles’ 70th birthday party and how some of us got in the royal photograph.Finally, I am going to university and I hope to get my doctorate in clinical psychology in a few years.

Book preview

POISON IN THE CANDY CANE

Jordan always loved the silly little Santa runs at this time of year, he didn’t know why. Maybe it was the great costumes everyone wore, or the thrill of running in the cold December air in the middle of London. He didn’t know but things were going to get interesting, Jordan knew that for sure.

Taking in a deep cold breath of the fresh bitter air in the middle of Hyde Park, London, Jordan smiled as he looked at all the massive thick brown trunks of the trees with their bare branches that rose high into the sky, blocking out all of the skyscrapers and typical eye-sores of London.

It always struck Jordan as strange that such a beautiful massive park with animals and thick, dark green fields of grass could live in the middle of urban London. It was like his (and thousands of Londoners) little slice of heaven and silence in amongst all the chaos of the city.

Jordan rolled his eyes as he heard the distant honks of horns and shouts of busy London commuters hurrying to the stations to travel home for the holidays. As Jordan turned his attention back to the Park, he smiled as he saw the hundreds, if not thousands, of people lining up to start the race.

Some in their tall Santa costumes, others in their reindeer outfits and some, like Jordan, in their typical running gear. A part of Jordan liked the idea of running in a costume but he was a serious runner (As serious as him and his girlfriend would get), he was going to win.

He had been training for months and getting up as early as he could manage to make sure he trained. Him and his girlfriend had trained together, a part so one of them could win. Jordan’s spirit sank a little when he remembered how his girlfriend couldn’t come today after twisting her ankle last night, Jordan wasn’t looking forward to her mother finding out. She’ll probably blame him, but that was life he supposed.

Taking another breath of the fresh cold air, Jordan smiled and just listened to the laughing and talking and even singing of the other runners as they all enjoyed these peaceful moments before the race. Then as Jordan knew all too well, once the race started all friendliness was off the table.

Stretching in his black running t-shirt, shorts and gloves, Jordan frowned as he smelt the distinctive horrible flowery perfume of his rival, Ruby. Trying not to shake his head as Jordan saw her wearing her typical bright pink running gear that always showed too much and the way she walked, it was with such arrogance, and the way she was hugging all of the other contestants and race officials was awful. Jordan hated it.

Jordan tried not to remember why he hated Ruby but he couldn’t help himself. Before she came along he was always winning the races and having a laugh with the other racers. It was fun. But when Ruby came along she kept cheating and winning. Jordan stretched his shoulder as it pulsed with the pain of when someone (probably Ruby’s boyfriend) tackled him to the ground, almost breaking his shoulder.

Jordan’s eyes narrowed when he remembered a few years ago when Ruby was talking to another man and pointing at Jordan. He didn’t think anything more of it until he got trapped in one of the Portaloos and couldn’t get out until after the race.

A small part of him knew it was funny but it was so unneeded. He would like Ruby to win fairly, if she did Jordan would have no problem congratulating her and giving her a good job. But cheating was plain wrong on every single level.

Ruby smiled at Jordan as she walked past and even winked at him. Jordan just shook his head, none of this was needed in the slightest.

Candy cane? a slim man asked dressed in a bright red Santa suit with the race logo on it as he held out a red candy cane to Jordan.

Jordan could have sworn he recognised the voice but he couldn’t place it.

Thank you, he said taking the cane and starting to eat it.

Jordan was sure someone might moan at him for eating sugar before a race but it was one candy cane. How much damage could it do?

Watching the slim Santa man walk away, he kept offering candy canes to everyone but Jordan’s eyes narrowed when he got to Ruby, who was crowded around her friends, the slim Santa offered her a candy cane but he was frowning.

Some Santa if he couldn’t even pretend to be happy, Jordan knew he would be the same but he wasn’t an employee of the race. In fact, Jordan took a few steps closer, he gently passed through a group of deer costumes, and he smiled.

He thought he recognised the Santa. That was the guy who tackled him a few years back. Looking at the candy cane and how innocent it was with the little hooked end chewed off. Jordan glided through the crowd towards a bin and placed it in there. After years of knowing what Ruby was like, he wouldn’t put it past her to drug it or something,

HO! HO! HO! someone shouted in the distance and a strange quietness fell over the racing group.

Turning around Jordan looked to see who it was and he saw everyone staring at the Slim Santa pointing at Ruby.

HO! HO! HO! the Santa shouted again before walking off.

Jordan listened to the rest of the runners mutter their shock about how outrageous it was for someone to shout at her. After all Ruby was perfect. Of course, Jordan didn’t really want to comment on that idea.

In the distance passed all the Santa, reindeer dressed and normal runners, Jordan was filled with excitement as he heard the shouting of the race marshal. He couldn’t hear the words properly but everyone knew what the words were.

The race was about to start.

Jordan joined everyone else in their civil pushing and kicking everyone else to get to the front of the line. Thankfully, Jordan managed to get to the front but he was right next to Ruby who was giving him one of her stupid smiles.

With everyone listening for the starting gun, Jordan felt sweat roll down his back. He was ready. He was going to win.

The gun went.

People ran.

Jordan charged.

Ruby flew off.

Ruby coughed.

She choked.

Her mouth foamed.

Jordan stopped.

Spinning around.

Ruby collapsed to the ground.

Jordan rushed over. Kneeling on the hard ground. Giving her CPR.

But after a few seconds, Jordan knew it was useless. Ruby was dead. The other racers kept on running past as Jordan kneel there with the dead body of Ruby in front of him.

After a few more moments, a race marshal with a police officer and even a paramedic walked over. The paramedic didn’t surprise Jordan, he knew all too well how badly paramedics were needed in races, especially when you had cheaters like Ruby in the race.

But he was surprised to see a police officer in full uniform from their black police uniform and the round black police hat all Metropolitan police officers wear. Jordan hadn’t seen a police officer before at a race, maybe this was new. Maybe a crackdown on steroid use at races or something. Whatever the answer Jordan looked into the officer’s warm blue eyes and admitted he found her smooth round face attractive. But when she called it in, he had the terrible sense he wasn’t going to be allowed to race.

And that scared him more than anything.

***

After giving the police a long statement about what happened and even his hate for the victim, Jordan stood outside Hyde Park resting against the cold black metal fence as he watched all the other racers walk out. They were all sweaty and laughing with each other, it looked like they’d had fun.

Breathing in the still freezing cold air, Jordan smiled a little as he smelt the strange mixture of polluted London air with hints of sweat from the runners.

He wished he had been able to run but to say the police liked him as a suspect was an understatement. They’d actively tried to get him to confess but at least the kind female police constable from earlier knew he wasn’t guilty.

As he listened to people and cars going past Hyde Park, Jordan wanted to go home to his flat and tell his girlfriend all about his crazy day.

He just didn’t feel like he could at the moment, the idea of him knowing who the killer was disturbed him. He knew he was just a normal guy with normal friends and a normal job so being involved with a murder was so weird to Jordan.

Yet the memory of the slim Santa shouting at Ruby moments before she died kept replaying in his mind, Jordan had watched enough crime dramas with his girlfriend to know foaming at the mouth meant poison. Jordan wondered if it was from the candy canes the Slim Santa was giving out.

Maybe what he gave Ruby was a special one, a special poisoned one. That would have made sense but Jordan knew it was just a theory.

Reaching into the pocket of his running shorts he took out the little business card of the male detective who was leading the investigation. Jordan wasn’t sure if the detective believed he was innocent, but he did let Jordan go. That had to count for something right?

Looking at Detective McLean’s card, Jordan placed it back in his pocket, Jordan wanted to call the detective and tell him about the Santa but it seemed like such a crazy theory.

Jordan frowned as he realised what if McLean thought he was trying to frame the guy he tackled with years ago. Jordan shook his head, he couldn’t have that!

Standing up so he wasn’t leaning on the cold metal fence anymore, Jordan started to walk along the large cream pavement as black London cabs rushed past then he stopped.

The police let you go then, the Slim Santa said as he walked up to Jordan.

Jordan didn’t know what to do. should he run or what? He hadn’t stood next to a probable killer before.

Yea the police knew I didn’t do it, Jordan said.

Good I’m glad and I’m sorry for you know, tackling you back then. That Ruby really knows how to mess with you. I am sorry

Jordan nodded and tried to smile but he couldn’t.

I know it’s not what you were expecting but I am sorry. I did lots of bad things for Ruby,

It’s okay and thanks for the apology. No hard feeling, Jordan said.

He was a bit surprised to see the Slim Santa actually happy and a bit relieved to see him say that.

Thanks. Candy Cane?

Jordan was about to say no, what if it was poisoned? Then he changed his mind.

Sure. Thank you, Jordan said, taking another bright red candy cane still in the plastic wrapping from the Santa.

The Slim Santa walked away smiling to himself, but so did Jordan as he carefully inspected the candy cane. There was a tiny little needle mark in the plastic, it was probably poisoned.

Placing the cane carefully in one of his running gloves so he didn’t disturb the fingerprints on the cane. (A glove was the best thing he had) he started to walk back towards his flat and looked forward to hugging his beautiful girlfriend, Jordan knew she wouldn’t believe him at first. Who would?

It had been such a strange day from the murder to the police interviews to talking to a killer twice!

But taking out his phone and dialling Detective McLean’s number, Jordan knew all he had to do was tell him what he knew and give him the candy cane and then everything would be over. Jordan could go back to his normal, non-murderous life and hopefully start to win the races again.

With the phone starting to dial, Jordan frowned a little as he felt bad for Ruby. She didn’t deserve to die, sure she wasn’t the best of people, but she didn’t deserve to die. And if there was such a thing as an after life then maybe Jordan could help Ruby rest in peace knowing that her killer would be bought to justice.

The detective answered. Jordan smiled as it was time for him to bring a killer to justice and go home to his girlfriend for a well-deserved rest and a very happy Christmas.

––––––––

A STRANGE WAY TO GO

Kendra O’Connor, retired detective, sat in her favourite spot at her favourite café in London. She loved the café’s warm comfortable booths that allowed her to carefully watch everyone else without them being able to see her perfectly.

They were so many people here today and they were sat smiling, laughing and talking with each other as they sat at one of the rows upon rows of tables in the café. There was something rather wonderful about seeing so many happy people, Kendra supposed it reminded her that people could be happy and people were kind.

Since retiring a few months ago she had found it hard to remember that, after decades in the Metropolitan Police solving London’s weirdest, hardest and just outrageous cases, Kendra had spent her days struggling to learn how to trust, learn and respect other people again.

She wrapped her hands round her hot cup of black coffee and nursed it as if it was a precious glass of whiskey that she didn’t want to finish. She had never liked those first few months where she could easily drink a bottle a night to stop the bodies of victims coming into her dreams, but she was recovering.

Slowly but surely.

Before a phone call from another retired cop last night, Kendra had just wanted to do some tourist things today. She had lived in London for decades and not even done the basic tourist attractions like Buckingham Palace, the London Eye or even the British Museum.

As the smell of her strong black coffee hit her in the face, Kendra didn’t mind about the call phone especially when Retired Detective Jeff Long had emailed her some old case files for her to look over.

From what Kendra could remember about Jeff he was some big shot now working as a lead Detective on a cold case task force. Kendra didn’t understand how it all worked because Jeff was still retired but still working cases.

It made no sense to her but Kendra be lying if she said she wasn’t interested, so she wanted to meet him and look over this cold case with him.

As she took a sip of her amazing black coffee, Kendra’s mouth was filled with sharp bitter flavours and then subtle notes of lustrous chocolate and hazelnut. She loved the coffee here.

Apparently the cold case she had been sent was something about a woman who died twenty years ago outside the Houses of Parliament, and the strangest thing about the entire case was camera footage showed she had been dead for six hours.

But she hadn’t moved a muscle.

She simply died and stood there for six hours before the Prime Minister left, police did a security sweep and found her.

Kendra didn’t know too much about the victim. She seemed to be a wonderful young mother who was in London for the day doing a few pieces of shopping for her kids before she went home to her kids and husband.

This cold case actually annoyed Kendra for some reason. She never normally got annoyed but it was outrageous that someone had killed such a good mother for no reason. There was even a funny comment from a family member saying the victim looked like a politician. Kendra had spent most of last night reading about the woman and watching news reports of the family crying over her death.

It was flat out wrong that someone would kill her. Kendra had to find out who did it.

Two people, a man and a woman, sat down opposite Kendra each wearing jeans, a shirt and black shoes. Kendra didn’t know if they were meant to be smart-causal or just dressed weird for this part of London.

When she focused on them Kendra recognised the man with short grey hair and clean shaved face as Jeff Long. But the elderly lady who looked to be in her seventies Kendra didn’t recognise.

Jeff, Kendra