Sergeant Mallory.” “Sergeant, this is Mim Jones.” “Hi, how’re you doing?” “Fine. Listen, I need to speak to Chico if he’s not busy.” The sergeant was used to judging from people’s voices when something was urgent. He said, “I’ll put you right through.” “Thanks.” Mim Jones waited, twisting her fin...
Herculeah told her mother. She fluffed out her hair. “And it won’t quit.” Herculeah was sitting at the kitchen table. A slice of pizza lay untouched on her plate. Herculeah’s mother glanced at her. “You’re probably just having a bad hair day.” “No, when my hair frizzles, it’s because of danger. I...
Meat said. “Well, I’m not,” Herculeah answered. “They’re depressing.” “Not to me.” “I bet they are to the people they’re about.” “The people they’re about can’t read them. They’re dead.” “Well, I’ve got to take a break. Let me know when you find something.” Meat’s break consisted of leaning back ...
Meat said. He and Herculeah had left the grounds of Hunt House and were entering their own neighborhood. Now, in familiar surroundings, seeing familiar signs—BERNIE HOLDEN: ACCOUNTANT, BESSIE FLOWER: ALTERATIONS, CAKES BY CHERI, ONE-DAY DENTURES—Meat felt he was capable of holding an intelligent ...
He watched Herculeah and Meat until they were out of sight. “Interesting girl,” he commented, more to himself than to Mrs. Jay, but she answered. “Oh, yes, Herculeah is an interesting girl. She’s been a customer for a long time. You and she have very different goals.” “Oh?” “She buys items that w...
His body felt stiff and uncomfortable, the way it did when he fell asleep on the floor watching TV. He hated that, especially when the channel had gone off the air and he was faced with a screen of snow. But this was worse. There was no screen, and the world itself seemed to have lost its color. ...