Mysterious Photograph
Each issue features a Mysterious Photograph. Readers are invited to submit a 250-word (or less) flash fiction story based on the photo. The person who invents the best mystery story receives a prize of $25, and the story is published in a future issue.
The Story That Won the November/December 2025 contest:
The Missing Cookie
by Clinton Lawrence
It was 1:37 a.m., and Melody just wanted to get to bed. She’d been working on the Eighteenth Street murder case since noon. Instead, she found her front door cracked open, the living room light on.
She drew her gun. Quietly pushing the door open, she scanned the room. Nobody in view, but the coffee table held a plate of assorted cookies and a note. She slipped through, keeping alert.
Heard you were working late. Here’s a little treat. Love and thinking of you,
Jason.
That was sweet of him. She would have to remind him again about locking the door.
She picked up a cookie, and almost took a bite, when she noticed one was already missing from the plate. Jason might be forgetful, but he was obsessive about neat, symmetric patterns. Melody put the cookie back.
Another trace of light was coming down the hallway. Creeping as softly as she could, she found her bedroom door slightly open. Was Jason waiting for her? Did that explain the missing cookie?
It wasn’t Jason. A man was lying face down, half eaten cookie in one hand, open backpack next to him. Her jewelry was scattered on the bed. She checked for a pulse, but the burglar was already dead.
Melody took out her phone and called 911. “Hi, Shelly. Melody here. I found a dead burglar in my bedroom. I’m okay. But send Blankenship. Someone else just tried to poison me.”