17

Lexington Avenue Express - Volume 2

De: Jess Butcher

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

17This collection of seventeen Lexington Avenue Express short stories includes Butcher's best-selling Amazon titles BIG HEAD, BAD THINGS, JOE BEAK, and SERVICE DUE.Table of ContentsNine MinutesBad ThingsService DueBig HeadFlightAn Old JackassFive-Five Charlie-TangoThe MagiWhat Goes AroundThursday in TacomaJoe BeakInside StoryThe JongleurTransparentAct of ContritionCoyle’s BlogStingrayJoe Beak (excerpt)A soft click and Augie stood motionless for a moment, his nose nearly touching the louvered closet door. Between his shoulder blades, he could feel the clothes hangers tilting downward, creaking in laden protest as he leaned further back, turning his head to peer down into the darkness at his friend.“Is he coming today?” Joe Beak whispered, his face visible in the louvered light, alternating slashes of amber and gunmetal gray.The smell of musty clothing merged with the peculiar odor of almonds escaping with Augie's each shallow breath and the old man paused to savor the curious amalgam, head tilted in a flash of momentary acknowledgment.“Yeah, he'll be comin' this mornin', Beak. Likely be here any minute,” Augie said, his thin, dry lips barely moving. As he spoke, he turned away from his friend and peered between the slats nearest eye-level.The object of Augie’s clandestine observation was the sparsely furnished bedroom in which he'd spent the five previous Florida winters. Dust mites hovered in this ambergris world, ghostly snowflakes adrift in an imploding storm.“Does he know about your plan?” Beak spoke again, this time his voice betrayed a touch of fear.“Hell no, he don't know about my plan, you damn fool!” Augie hissed through clenched teeth. As he spoke, Augie’s right hand sought the weight of the .38 revolver in the pocket of his tattered bathrobe.“You can’t do this, Augie.” Beak whispered earnestly. “No matter how badly things have worked out, you just can’t …”Joe Beak was seated on the floor of the closet and his voice trailed off as he looked up to study his friend in the dim light. Augie was stooped with age and trembling with anger, still peering through the louvered door. Friends since childhood, Augie and Joe had shared many important moments over the course of seventy-odd years. Though they often disagreed, neither questioned the bond that forged their friendship. Each accepted the other, flawed but steadfastly loyal. “What the hell do you know about it anyway?” Augie leaned forward as he whispered. Lips pressed to a door-slat, each exhalation of his acrid breath painted the latex-covered wood with evanescent moisture. “Hell, yes he’s coming today and he’s not givin’ me no choice; he’s gonna’ move me into that terrible place whether I like it or not.”Fuming anger, Augie glared down at his old friend. “You know, Beak, you are really one to be givin’ me advice. I ain’t like you; I can't just take off and leave the country like you every time things don't go to suit me. I have to stay here and deal with the crappy cards I've been dealt, so don't go preachin' to me about what I can and can't do,” he said bitterly.“We all grow old, Augie,” Beak whispered, rising awkwardly to his feet and laying a hand gently on Augie's round, boney shoulder.