= The Solution: A Falling Out Among Thieves
  by Guy Belleranti


Who do I suspect?

Jeb Hunter


The Explanation

Hunter said he saw Buck Jameson falling into the gorge, but this had to be a lie. A fall of forty feet would have knocked the spectacles from Jameson's head, and probably broken them as well.

I confronted Hunter with this fact, and he tried to make a break for it. Of course, being handcuffed, he didn't get far.

Caught this second time, Hunter lost all control of his tongue. "I'd had it with Jameson. It was simple swiping that knife from his saddlebag, and when I got the chance I followed him down the path into the gorge. He never heard me coming, never knew a thing 'til it was too late."


A resident of Oro Valley, Arizona, GUY BELLERANTI has sold mystery short stories to Woman's World, MysteryNet, Mysteries in a Flash About.com, FUTURES, Murderous Intent, Yellow Sticky Notes, Mystery Time, EWG Presents Without A Clue, Kid's Highway and Lighthouse Story Collections. He has also published poetry, puzzles and short humor in numerous magazines for adults and children. He had a flash mystery nominated for a Derringer in 2001.

Copyright (c) 2001 Guy Belleranti