In the spirit of #MysteryWeek, I've written a five sentence suspense story. Let me know what you think!



Edgar Hartwell, pudgy and nearing seventy, fed his cats, made his tea, and then settled in with the latest from his favorite mystery novelist. How he loved these quiet evenings at home, alone with his thoughts and his books.

Then someone knocked at the door, and, by the sound, Edgar knew it was work intruding on his peace once again. When he pulled it open, he saw the man—his handler—who always brought him the best jobs.

“Edgar,” the man said, “twenty-five thousand, and make it look like an accident.”