Treat or Trick, by Mark Thielman

 

"Treat or Trick," by Mark Thielman, in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2026.

 This is the twelfth appearance in this column by my fellow SleuthSayer. 

Ollie is at a job interview:

"You're here because Grinder recommended you. How do you know The Grind?"

"From around."

"He says you met at juvie.  That right?"

"My records are sealed so that I might move forward in life without the stigma," Ollie recited.

"You want the job, or don't you?"

"We met at juvie." 

 In that bit of chatter we learn a lot about the situation and also the personality of the protagonist. That personality will be a major point of the story since we don't see in his head and we want to figure out how he is reacting to  what's going on.

What's going on is a suspiciously easy job with a cooperative boss.  ROOK is a nonprofit that tries to improve the lives of young people.  And all Ollie needs to do this late October, is give out candy  to all the kids who come to the door.  What could be simpler? 

Do you smell something fishy?  Ollie certainly does.  And we read along, wondering what he plans to do about it.  There are nice clues along the way.  A witty, twisty tale.