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...

Hot and steaming, the scattered and smothered hash browns were better than a mother's hug. After the visit from the cops, they needed the comfort. Sobriety and focus on the problem was needed, not obliteration. That could come after all the questions. The place was like every other Waffle House, yellow walls with checkerboard boarders and the usual riff-raff at the counter. The colors of autumn were showing on the spindly trees outside, showing the coming of winter. Dolly, the late night, kept the hot joe flowing. As the eggs and bacon slowly disappeared from the plate, the conversation rose and fell. "Do you think they know what happened to the boat?" "Funny they didn't ask." "I think so, too." Silence while the food fog swept over them. It was only interrupted by the tattooed hand mechanically filling up cups. "Dive now or wait?" "Wait." ......................................................................