Magpie Road By C E Aylett

It's quiet in the country. There'll be no witnesses...

Contemporary Mystery. Originally published in Bandit Fiction Presents.

The bird was pinned to the oak tree across the road. A magpie, the nail driven into the base of its neck, head slumped to the side, its black beak pointing sorrowfully to the ground. Both black wings had been splayed over the thick, rough trunk.

Kerry spotted the grisly sight from the …