The Devil's Copper by Jamie Crothall (ink ebook reader .txt) 📕
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- Author: Jamie Crothall
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He looked at me with a smirk. “How did you know I was going to say that?”
“Woman’s intuition.”
Walter set down his French toast sticks and sipped his black coffee. “We’ll fill up our coffers and set ourselves up for a new life.”
“Then I’ll never have to set foot in this town again,” I added.
He shrugged. “I’d come back.”
“Really?”
“I like it here. I get it though. You’d do better down south. There’s more people like, well…”
“Me?”
“Well excuse me, princess.”
I laughed. “You’re not wrong.”
“Just come back and visit me sometime, understood?”
“Of course I will.”
“Are you going to eat that?”
I was, but… “No. Go ahead.”
“I had a long day.”
So did I, but I imagine his was longer. I used to think his behavior was due to obsessive compulsive disorder. Despite all the revelations, I still do, to be honest. I guess his need to be one step ahead is what leads him to be so tired all the time. I had no idea how to broach that subject though. It would be a psychiatrist’s nightmare.
“We’ll have to get you a dress,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“You have to go to the casino in a dress. That way, you can wow the other players so I can check out their cards.”
“Are you going to wear a suit?”
“Well, that’s just not fair.”
I scoffed. “Life isn’t fair.”
Walter raised his coffee cup. “Cheers to that, princess.”
I don’t know if Walter ever spoke to Jack again. I suppose he might have to eventually. There are times I wonder what became of Jack. But some futures just aren’t worth dwelling on. I had my own to look forward to.
###
ADDENDUM: WALTER
(…in Jack’s office, from Chapter Four…)
A figure darkened the doorway. I knew him immediately, and felt a twinge of relief. It was Barry, a security guard Jack was friendly with. He was generally receptive to my presence. But before I could greet him…
“Can you identify yourselves please?” the security guard asked.
“Hey, I’m Walter. What’s your name?
“Officer Wallace. Now can you please identify yourself?”
“You must have a first name!”
“Look, sir, I’m going to have to ask you to…”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Hello Officer Wallace. How’s it going?”
“Do I know you?”
“We met once before, at the Christmas party.”
“Security doesn’t attend the Christmas party.”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Hello Officer Wallace, how’s it going?”
“Do I know you?”
“Yeah, we met before. It’s Antony, isn’t it?”
“Barry,” he corrected.
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“We went to school, didn’t we? Sudbury Secondary?”
“No, I went to Lasalle Secondary.”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“We went to school, didn’t we? Lasalle Secondary?”
“I did, but I don’t remember you…”
“Did you wind up marrying that cheerleader?”
He shook his head. “What? No.”
“Who’d you end up with then?”
“I mean…I dated Angela for a bit.”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“We went to school, didn’t we? Lasalle Secondary? You dated Angela.”
“Uh, yeah, but I…”
“Didn’t you two end up getting married?”
“No, she left me for a football player. Thanks for the reminder. Anyway, you’re not supposed to be here, so if you could please tell me what you’re…”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“We went to school, didn’t we? Lasalle Secondary?”
“Uh, yeah, but I…”
“Angela dumped you for that football player, right?”
“The hell do you think you’re…”
“Hey man, it was a good thing. You’re with what's-her-face now, aren’t you? Tracy?”
“No.”
“Nancy?”
“No.
“Tonya?”
“Are you high?”
“Fuck.”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“Tell me your wife’s name or I’ll slit your goddamn throat with this fucking letter opener!!”
“Jesus Walter, get off of him!”
“I need back-up!!”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“We went to Sudbury Secondary together…”
“I went to Lasalle.”
“Aw fuck…”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“We went to school together. Lasalle Secondary. You dated Angela.”
“Uh, yeah, but I…”
“What’s your wife’s name?”
“Why the hell would I tell you that?”
“Is it Sarah?”
“How’d you know that?”
“Holy shit, are you serious?”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“How’s Sarah doing?”
“Sarah? She’s…fine…doing fine…”
“You’ve been married, what, ten years now?”
“Five.”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“How’s Sarah doing?”
“Sarah? She’s…fine…doing fine…”
“You’ve been married what, five years now?”
“Six.”
“You goddamn liar.”
“What?
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Can you tell me why you call yourself ‘Officer Wallace’ when you’re only a goddamn rental cop?”
“What did you just say?”
“I said you have a tiny dick.”
“Get over here you son of a…”
* Snap back *
“Can you identify yourselves please?”
“Barry! How’s it going, man?”
“I’m sorry, do I…”
“How’s Sarah doing?”
“Sarah? She’s…fine…doing fine…”
“You’ve been married what, five years now?”
“Six, actually.”
“Whatever, I’ll give you that. Got any kids?”
“Listen, I don’t know what you’re playing at, but…”
“Hey man, relax.
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