5,257 words (23-30 minutes)
Genre(s): Mystery, Crime Thriller
First Publication: The Red Book Magazine, May 1923

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In the smoky comfort of a private club, a harmless intellectual debate between a banker, a district attorney, and a journalist leads to a chilling real-world crime. When Alec Rae disappears with $319,000 and blood is found in a taxi, suspicion falls on the very man who outlined the “perfect crime” the night before. As accusations fly, secrets unravel and alibis clash, revealing that truth is sometimes stranger—and more ironic—than fiction. The Stolen Crime is a sharp, twisty exploration of guilt, misdirection, and how even the most foolproof plan can be undone by human nature.