Ace Heart is haunted years after he escaped his role as executioner for the Queen of Hearts. But now, on this side of the rabbit hole, he scratches out a living as a police detective assigned to the Looking Glass Unit. When the Unicorn turns up dead, he is called in to work the case alongside a human partner with a sore spot for flat-men.
Detective Jack Thompson and Ace have a history of trading cheap shots, and both are itching for an excuse to boil over. With hatchets swinging and heads rolling, they’ll have to put aside personal quarrels and past demons to uncover the truth behind the killings. But no matter the outcome, one thing is for sure—this ain’t Wonderland.
Henry Diamond was waiting for us in the hall with a sword in his hand and stark raving fear in his eyes.
“Drop it, Diamond,” Thompson shouted.
I backed him up. “You heard him, Henry, lose the blade.”
Henry wasn’t home. His eyes stared off past us all the way back to Wonderland. I shouted at him again, but invisible strings bound him tight to the Broken Queen’s hand. He ran at us with the sword flailing from side to side—he was no headsman, I’ll tell you that much.
If you’d like to see how Ace Heart and Jack Thompson ended up here, pick up a copy of this action-packed hard-boiled Wonderland noir.
Available now on Kindle Unlimited or in eBook, paperback at Amazon.
This story was originally published in three parts at Crimson Streets. They were a fantastic crime/mystery eZine that purchased artwork by real artists to go along with each story. I'll always be thankful that the editors chose to purchase my story. But like so many short stories markets, they closed their doors after a while and The Broken Queen of Hearts wasn't available to read any longer. I hope this fun little story will find new life and readership as a novelette.