“Vaughn?”
The lids closed.
“C’mon, get the fuck up. It’s time to go.”
“I’m—” Darnell cleared his throat, swallowed a wad of phlegm. “I’m up.”
No, you’re not.
“Get dressed.”
Vaughn backed out of the room, grateful for a lungful of moderately less foul air. He picked up a couple of beer cans, tossed them in the garbage under the sink.
Now able to access the coffee maker, Vaughn opened the cupboard and pulled out a can of grounds. Filled the filter. Took the carafe and moved to the sink, which was so full of spent cans that he had to angle it to fill it.
Jesus, Darnell...
Vaughn started the coffee.
“Vaughn?”
“Can’t you get one of those instant coffee makers like a normal person?” Vaughn asked, his back to Darnell.
“I don’t know if you can tell, but I’m not exactly normal.”
Vaughn turned.
Darnell was still in his underwear, but now his gun hung loosely from one hip. His large, dark belly hung over the belt, hiding most of the glossy nylon.
Darnell scratched his balls.
“Yeah, I got that. Go get dressed—we’re running late.”
“Yes, boss.”
Mock salute before returning to the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
With the coffee now percolating, the bitter aroma slowly starting to cut through the funk, Vaughn heard Darnell’s radio come to life.
Heard the man clear his throat again, spitting this time—where?—before answering.
Vaughn couldn’t make out the words.
You can’t keep going like this, Darnell. You’re going to give yourself cirrhosis before your fifty-third birthday.
The bedroom door flew open.
“Vaughn? We got a case.” The thick grooves around Darnell’s mouth grew even deeper. “And fair warning, it’s a nasty one.”
?Chapter 4
Ivy slowed, hereyes locked on the field of Queen Anne’s lace to her right. It stretched for miles. This time of year, the thousands of white flowers that form the lacy, flat clusters were thick and heavy. The thigh-high stems sagged under their weight.
The lacy canopy also provided exceptional cover, if someone was so inclined to sit or lie in the field.
Ivy put on her hazards and pulled over. Turned off her car and got out.
The high-pitched whine of cicadas filled her ears and she felt a trickle of sweat make its way down the hollow of her lower back. It was hot for this time of year and at this early hour.
