Bianca J. Cook 
A Hidden Briefcase Behind Closed Doors Frank rested both hands on the wooden counter and slid the brown leather briefcase toward his supervisor. The younger man, Troy, caught the handle, his fingers tightening against the worn leather as he lifted the attached paper tag. Troy read the name inked on the cardstock aloud: Clara Hayes, … Read more
An Alert At The Inspection Table A German shepherd barked twice, planting his front paws firmly in front of a gray rolling suitcase. His handler stepped forward immediately, raising a flat palm toward the passenger standing beside the stainless steel table. The young woman pulled her hands inward, shifting her weight onto her back foot … Read more
An Unequal Confrontation in the Cabin Soft cabin lighting illuminated the rows of wide leather seats inside the quiet aircraft. A man in a dark blazer sat comfortably in an aisle seat near the front. He wore a collared shirt under his jacket and rested his arms loosely. Behind him, the curved white walls of … Read more
A Boiling Disagreement Across The Driveway Sarah shoved her front door open and marched straight down the porch steps, planting both feet onto the concrete pathway. Her eyes locked directly onto Mark, who stood beside his car with his hands spread wide. “Mark, turn that music down right now,” she demanded, raising her voice over … Read more
The Empty Seat at Table Four Richard smoothed out the cloth napkin and placed a silver fork beside the empty porcelain plate. His fingers trembled slightly against the worn grain of the dining hall table. Across from him sat an empty wooden chair, angled neatly toward the center of the room. A caregiver in green … Read more
A Quiet Encounter in the Showroom Bright overhead fixtures illuminated the polished tile floor of the spacious automobile dealership. Several pristine luxury vehicles stood parked in neat rows under the recessed ceiling lights. A tall man with trimmed gray hair stood beside a large black sports utility vehicle. He wore a tailored dark navy overcoat … Read more
A Quiet Morning In The Bank Lobby Polished stone tiles reflected warm interior lighting throughout the spacious reception area of the private financial institution. Dark wood paneling covered the tall walls behind sleek customer service desks and glass office doors. An older man with gray hair and a neat gray beard sat quietly in a … Read more
An Unannounced Visitor Enters The Showroom Floor Natural light poured through tall glass walls onto rows of clean luxury sedans. Polished white floor tiles reflected the recessed ceiling lamps and pristine vehicle bodies. Several late model luxury cars stood arranged neatly across the wide commercial room. A man with gray hair walked slowly along the … Read more
The Heavy Handfuls at the Produce Aisle The elderly woman’s thin fingers curled around a single red apple, lifting it from the display to inspect its skin before dropping it into a clear plastic bag. She wore a knitted beige cap pulled low over her forehead and a heavy, worn coat that swallowed her frame … Read more
A Sudden Encounter On The Cobblestones The young man stepped forward along the narrow alleyway with both arms stretched out wide. A fresh red rose and a sealed white electronics box stuck out from the back pocket of his dark cargo trousers. Two women standing beside the outdoor cafe tables immediately shifted their weight backward. … Read more
A Discovery On The Wet Asphalt His fingers closed around the wet brown leather resting in a puddle beside the crosswalk curb. He pulled the soaked bi-fold from the rain-streaked pavement, shaking drops of water from its surface as foot traffic hurried past. A few paces ahead, an older woman pulled her coat tight against … Read more
A Scattered Pile of Coins The elderly man spread several dull pennies and nickels across the stainless steel counter with trembling fingertips. Beside the small stack of copper and zinc sat a loaf of sandwich bread, a plastic gallon of whole milk, and a bag of red apples. His gray jacket hung loosely on his … Read more