A.G.E's Joint

Steam built around his face cup from as he sipped his bitter brew. “Can’t you see? Can’t you see? What that woman’s been doin’ to me…” The earworm danced in Jim’s mind. He was hoping to get away. Was it really her? He couldn’t help wondering, so lost and vulnerable. Something to hold and protect. He could be the hero, parachuting in at the last minute. The spoils of victory made him smile. Or it could be just a giant ruse. She was Harvey’s girl, trained and loyal. But he’s dead. And she’s smart enough to carry on how she always had. The more he thought about it, the more the skeleton thing seemed fake. One way or another, they will know soon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jerry pulled the tug into the dock. The dive area was fully marked. As a salvage job, there really wasn’t much there. But the skeleton had to be checked out, preferably without the cops knowing about it. A golden sun dog reflected in the dark silver of the cloud ba

“As far as I’m concerned, Ms. Jenkins can sit.” Lieutenant Grimes sounded irritated. “It doesn't have to make sense, it just has to sound like it does.” “Angela, don’t make assumptions. They’ll only bite us in the ass.” “What if she goes into the wind?” Angela regretted it as soon as it came out. “We’ll cross that bridge if it happens. Now go back to work.” Angela clicked off and sighed. Good stuff happened never happened over the weekend. It was all sugar and spice down in booking, the Screaming Mimi claiming rape. She was going to sue the Sheriff’s office into oblivion. Of course, all of this was captured on video and got her a couple of more misdemeanors. Good thing arraignment wasn’t until Monday. She may even be over the hangover by then. Copies of the personal items inventory and mugshot had been brought up. It wasn’t much to look at: one pair leather sandals, low heel and scuffed. Cotton flower print dress, damaged. $52 stashed in bra. Intimates but no stocking

The glare was maddening. Pulling the blind, Angela rubbed her eyes. It didn’t make the hangover go away, but she could at least see. And this missing woman case was driving her crazy. Cold coffee made her lips twist, sending the mug down to the desk. The audible clank echoed off the window and across the office. The tall metal cylinder had been Mark’s favorite. She stole it the day after she kicked him out. Did he miss it? Maybe she could write a ransom note? That was silly. He’s too much of a narcissist to care about anything but himself. The weekend guy had a death in the family, so she volunteered. It wasn’t like she had anything else to do. The other women in the office would joke how they spent their lazy days. Everything was about doing as little as possible in their onesies. Yeah, the butts showed it, too. If she wasn’t at work, she would be at the gym pumping the machines. It took effort to keep the 36 years at bay. Her Mama told her she was wasting her time. That she sho

Big Guy showed her a movie one time on the tug, The Sting . He tried to fuck her while she watched, but she was captivated. She would stay up for hours watching Hooker and Gordoff juking and jiving to stay alive. The story was exaggerated, of course. But the schemes she had been in had never been completely straightforward either. You kept the poker face and decided whether to bluff or fold. Brooklyn was a dream now. Can’t draw attention. Blending into the background was what she did the best and now she just looked like some dazed housewife trying to find her way. Mama had been a good teacher, scamming her boarders and pimping me out for dope. Not an ideal for the self-esteem, but it taught flexibility. Stopping outside the entrance to the Sheriff’s office, she played with the necklace hanging from the mirror. The costume peering back was satisfying. A biker chick who was Cinderella in reverse. The faded bruises looked good, enough to be plausible. The thrift store dress had a co

Ray and Angela exchanged glances and began taking notes. Nothing was inconceivable . Jarrett voice dropped to a whisper. “I stopped for a bite after work. Sat in the back cause I don’t like to get bothered.” He looked like he had seen a ghost. “I hadn’t got settled good when the Flapper Queen dances through the door. She had on this black lacy dress and a hat, but it was her.” Scribbling, Angela nodded and asked,“What gave her away?” “The necklace.” “Describe it, please.” “Some kind of a fly, with rounded wings.” Jarrett looked up at a picture on the far wall. “A dragonfly, I think. She’s modest in the bodice , but it drew your eyes in to paradise. ” The detectives grinned. Best left handed compliment they’d heard in a while. Angela made a quick sketch of a dragonfly from memory and showed it to him. Jarrett saud the piece looked something like it. Ray continued with the next question. “How about the face.” “She sat at the bar, so I didn’t get a good look. But I’m t

Red and white wrappers lay on top of the coffee cups steaming in their holders. The morning sun beamed across the lake, reflection blinding the detectives as they ate breakfast. Angela’s broke apart, showering her with dry crumbs. Opening the doors, they stepped out into the cool November morning. “Dang it!” Brushing the leftover biscuit from her skirt. “I don’t understand why you think these things are so good?” “Got to have my chicken biscuits” Ray smiled, swallowing the last morsel. “It cures morning madness .” “ Rum’s better. ” Looking out over the rows of docks, she sighed. “Where do you want to start?” “Manager’s office. Maybe he’ll be able to tell us about the houseboat.” “What if Holden finds out we’re here?” Ray shrugged and started down the dirt road entrance. At the end was a nondescript building to the right of an empty dry dock. “Waterworld Enterprises Inc.” hung from the scarred door. Inside, There was an obese young woman behind the counter eating can

Angela’s stomach was a giant knot as she rushed into the Ladies Room. One of the desk girls was at the counter and waved as she stepped into the stall. There wasn’t time to wave back. It was a race what would hit the floor first. The panties won, fortunately. Finishing quickly, she found the girl gone when she came out. Good. She wasn’t in the mood for chit-chat. Looking into the mirror, she undid the pony tail. The air conditioning was out again and she needed airing out. The cool air was refreshing as the curls fluffed out. It had been such a long day and it wasn’t over. As she gathered everything back into the band, she noticed a gray hair. Hmm...Maybe she should take a couple of days off. Do a spa trip. Yeah...Maybe when she retires. The meeting had been a waste. Lieutenant Nowhere and his “all inclusive” style made her want to scream. The case wasn’t hers and she needed to work on the missing girl. Six months of these nowhere plans and not once did it help a case. Just

One by one, the items are ticked off the mental list: two changes of clothes, camera, radio, and wet-suit. The important stuff. The obvious ones the cops would want. Had he forgotten anything? Everything else could wait for the warrant, if there was one. As the lid closed, a clanking noise like an old anchor chain startled him. The Toyota had never been right since the drunk bitch hit him coming out of the store. No insurance, either. Luckily Tom knew where a one with a blown motor was. $200, a case of beer, and a weekend made it driveable again. It looked like crap between the bondo and three colors of paint, but it worked. He didn’t go anywhere anyway, at least until today. With one last round of the cabin, he double checked the water and gas was off. As he walked out the door, he noticed a picture laying next to the lamp. It was of Corrine sitting in a chair on the Last Chance with Harvey just behind her. He had found it when looking for the radio equipment. He couldn’t remembe

One of the downsides of police work is waiting. Chasing crooks might be one percent of the job. The rest of it is split between paperwork,meetings and waiting. Like now. Ray and Angela sat shotgun in the black Crown Vic, staring at the monument basking in the autumn sun. Something dug against her back. A quick pull on the back band of her bra made it go away. The quiet became too much. "You sure the C.I. said the Chicken?" "Yeah." Ray was glancing at his phone, a ruse to keep anybody from realizing they were working. If nothing else, the statue was unique. A bronze chicken perched atop metamorphic limestone. The blue and black veins in the marble alternated, giving the stand a hypnotic look. Poultry Park was the official name, but ot the locals it was The Tomb of the Unknown Chicken. A fitting tribute to the industry keeping the place alive. She thought the thing was stupid. The money spent on the thing could have funded a reading class for immigrants or