“Goddamn it,” I mumbled, the phone breaking through the fog in my head. I squinted at the clock and saw that it was eight in the morning. Normally, that wouldn’t be too early, but Rafe and I hadn’t gone to sleep until one-thirty. “This better be fucking important,” I mumbled into the receiver without even… Continue Reading
Duck, Duck, Dead Duck; chapter twelve, part three
“The first time I met Brian, something zinged through me. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he felt the same way.” A faraway look came into her eyes and despite the serious circumstances, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “After that, we made excuses not to spend time… Continue Reading
Duck, Duck, Dead Duck; chapter twelve, part two
“Bea? This is Brian. I just wanted to let you know that the service will be on Sunday.” He gave me the details, and I assured him I’d be there. It was difficult for me to talk to him knowing what I knew, but I managed to hide my disdain. In the corner of my… Continue Reading
Duck Duck Dead Duck; chapter twelve, part one
“Happy birthday, Raphael!” My mother said, beaming at Rafe. We were at Tiburon’s admiring the fish in the aquarium they had in the middle of the room. I liked the mood lighting and the subtle atmosphere. We were the first ones there, and the server graciously led us to our table so we could wait… Continue Reading
Duck Duck Dead Duck; chapter eleven, part two
“Let’s go through it one more time,” Detective Bradley said, sounding bored. We were running through what had happened when I went out to the car and almost got shot, and this was the fourth time I had told the tale. I didn’t know what else he wanted me to say because it wasn’t that… Continue Reading
Duck Duck Dead Duck; chapter eleven, part one
After all that build up, it was anticlimactic that he wasn’t at home. I called his cell, but he wasn’t answering that, either. Briefly, I wondered where he was, but realized that I wasn’t in the position to query as I was the one who had insisted on my autonomy. What’s good for the goose… Continue Reading
Duck Duck Dead Duck; chapter ten, part four
I decided to check my email as I hadn’t bothered for the past few days. I wasn’t one of those people who compulsively checked her email several times a day, feeling blue if nobody sent me anything. I viewed it more as a nuisance than anything else—a necessary evil, if you will. I sat at… Continue Reading
Duck, Duck, Dead Duck; chapter ten, part three
The private envelope that Lydia hadn’t wanted Brian to see loomed large in my mind. Though what we had already gone through was interesting and cause for speculation to say the least, I had a hunch that what Lydia had kept from Brian was even juicier. It was logical to assume that the reason she… Continue Reading
Duck, Duck, Dead Duck; chapter ten, part two
“Lydia gave that to me for my birthday,” Brian said softly, interrupting my scrutiny. “It’s the best thing she’s done, though not really my cup of tea.” “Does it have a title?” I asked, curious about the nomenclature of such an evocative piece of art. “Willows Weeping,” Brian said, his eyes tearing up. “It’s almost… Continue Reading
Duck, Duck, Dead Duck; chapter ten, part one
I slid into my mother’s Honda, determined to drive it. I slowly backed out of the garage and started down the street. I decided to go to Grand Street in St. Paul to shop because they had many eclectic shops on that street. I hated malls with a passion, and I never went to the… Continue Reading