Confrontation

“Angie!”
I was moving even before Aiko’s panicked shriek died in the air and the deputy was right behind me. We found Dalene stretched out on her back in the doorway to the bedroom, her head cradled in Neff’s lap as she twitched and gagged, foam drooling from the corner of her mouth.
I froze, staring at [...]

Crisis

We were three days on the road when Dalene began digging through her bag, her face a study in quiet desperation as she pawed through her few belongings searching for something she knew she would not find. Aiko was driving with Neff beside her. Dalene and I were in the back seat.
“When did you run [...]

A Sudden Change of Plans

I seldom attempt anything drastic without having a sense of certainty regarding the outcome. I require no guarantees, but there must be some logical expectation of success. Unfortunately I set out that morning without such expectations, instead simply counting on Jacques’s greed or, failing that, being prepared to use force- the latter option not being [...]

1964

My only thought is to somehow ease you from the grip of this death spiral that defines you. There are but two things capable of touching your darkly secreted soul and you continue to hold the first at bay. I could seduce you with ease, but I fear to introduce yet another complication. All that [...]

Dalene

“It’s an electric guitar,” I said, blinking at her as innocently as I could manage.
Dalene smirked at me, “I know what it is. Where’d you get it?”
“Last night. You know how musicians are- always horny, always broke. I made a trade.”
It was mostly the truth, though I had laid out cash for the amplifier, dipping [...]