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