Level Zero by Dan McDowell (books that read to you TXT) 📕

“Judgment…? Or sanity? What if another of these episodes happens in the sky?”

“That’s what the lithium’s for,” Todd said. He put one of his hands in his pockets, fidgeting with loose change. “I crush up my little pill, dump it in my coffee, and my troubled world melts away.”

Lorrie scoffed, twisting her hair around a bare ring finger. “You aren’t a spokesperson for the stuff. Hell, you don’t even take it half the time. You can’t expect results just pissing it away like that.”

“Pissing it away?” Todd pulled at the top of his belt, swiveling side to side. “That’s right. Nineteen-hour half-life and eighty percent of it comes right out when I drain the lizard. I knew we were hooked up for the right reasons. Nursing school’s done you some good after all.”

“Stop it, Todd. Shut up.”

Todd reached over and put his arm on Lorrie’s shoulder. “Look, I know I’m not a perfect man… and you’re not a perfect woman, but our offspring could be something special.”

“You can’t keep playing with my emotions this way. Four years we’ve been together. One empty promise after another, and we’ve gotten nowhere. Maybe we’d be better off…”

Todd interrupted, “You know that’s not fair.”

“Forget it. Take me home.”

“You got it, ma’am.”

Lorrie grabbed Todd by the hand to hold it as they walked toward the truck. “I’m not sure about this. The life you’ve got planned for us. Maybe we’re not compatible?”

Some nerve on her. I’m raging.

Todd stopped and froze in the middle of the sidewalk as they strolled under a busted out street lamp. “Not compatible? You’re such a tease. One minute you’re doting on me like I’ve discovered the dad-gum Pythagorean Theorem, the next, I might as well be working for Satan himself.”

“Well, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m a decent man. You know that about me. Tomorrow morning, we fly.”

“Fly? What are you talking about? There’s no plane rental on Saturday.”

There we go — uncertainty in your eyes. That’s better. Todd 1, Lorrie 0. Time to make the vein in your forehead show.

“Our savings account. I finally bought us one.”

Lorrie’s face reddened. “No, you didn’t. We’re going to pretend this discussion didn’t happen.” She pulled her hand away from Todd, glaring at him as she grumbled, “Let’s say it did… You better get your sorry ass back to whatever goon sold it to you, return it, and get our money back immediately!”

“Give me a break. You know who’s pitching in the bulk of the cash in the account. Get in the truck, now!”

Todd opened the door, and Lorrie climbed in, staring back at him.

“Are you raising your voice at me?” she asked.

“And if I am? What you gonna do about it?”

“Raise mine. I like a man who gets authoritative!”

That’s more like it. I’m a man in control. It’s better that way.

He walked around the front of the vehicle, hopping into the seat as he reached across to buckle Lorrie’s belt.

“How presumptuous. What else do you do on impulse?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, sweetheart. You’ll find out soon enough.”

Several minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot outside the apartment.

Putting the car in park, he placed his hand on Lorrie’s arm. “How about a caffeinated nightcap?”

“I’ll permit it this once,” Lorrie said, jabbing at him. “I really hope you were joking, Mr. Adams, because if you weren’t…”

Todd stared at the sky a moment and replied, “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

CHAPTER THREE

LORRIE HATCHER awoke duct-taped to the seat of a plane.

What’s going on here?

Commotion came from behind. Todd walked around from the rear, bellowing in a masculine morning voice, “Had to get her all fueled up. Now we’re ready.”

Why can’t I focus? I feel like I’m going to faint.

“Did you… drug me, Todd?”

He smiled. “Guilty as charged. I crushed up a few pink pills in your coffee. You need to see me fly. We’ll keep this between us, okay? Don’t you trust me?”

Lorrie scoffed as her mind wandered.

Why I’ve wasted the time on you I have is beyond me. I guess I’m just that desperate.

“You wish…” she said. “I was kidding around about your impulses last night. This isn’t right.”

“Impulses? You mean like the way you floozy around with the medical staff at Riverton General?”

“What are you talking about?”

He’s got me so messed up, I can’t get angry. What’s going on?

The plane escalated to several thousand feet as they drifted further from civilization.

“I hate you!” Lorrie fumed, punching Todd in the arm. “We’re done.”

She peeled at the duct tape covering the top of her legs.

Layered with care. If this discolors my denim, I swear I’m going to freak.

“What were you thinking, taping me down like this? You are some kind of crazy, aren’t you?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that, Lorrie. Watch and learn. The only way to fly… is to fly high.”

Lorrie remembered the adage her father taught her years earlier. A man caught in personal calamity can only be a shell of the man he was created to be.

She and Todd made eye contact. Her mind screamed.

You’re not the man I love. I don’t know who you are anymore.

Todd spoke in a sweetened, artificial tone, “I made you something to perk you up, sweetheart. Have a sip.”

His hair stood straight up and unkempt as he sported an unfamiliar smile — the polar opposite of his typical refined and well-kept appearance — a handsome man in high finance where the stakes were high, and the paydays were higher.

“You know I can’t trust you anymore,” Lorrie remarked as she continued removing the tape.

Todd slammed his fist on the center console. “Just take a sip, airhead.”

“I won’t.”

“Suit yourself. Percocet is the way I’m going, baby. I feel it kicking in now. Nine little pills crushed up in a mimosa, and I’m off to the races.”

Lorrie scoffed. “You lifted my samples? How could you? You’re my rule follower. What the hell is going on?”

Todd glanced toward her, speaking in a deadpan tone, “Never when I’m manic, honey… Never when I’m manic.”

The plane ascended in