When we were seeing each other, this was the time I'd find some reason to leave the house. Something like, "I'd love to listen, but I've got to go drink some cleaning products."
I know getting things off your chest is a good thing. I'm sure it's a great thing for him, but what about me? Do I need to suffer so he can keep his blood pressure down?
I stir my coffee and tune him out.
It's like watching a silent movie.
His mouth moves, but I hear nothing.
I nod my head every now and then, fade out and day-dream of many things.
I sat in my office, drinking stale coffee, reading the paper and waiting for that big case to come and beat the bill collectors. The name is Shamus and I'm a Private eye.
I do the work the cops can't do, won't do. It's a dirty, thankless job, but hell, it's better than pounding a beat.
Then he walked in and I knew I was in for something big.
2:05pm.
He's still going strong.
He just won't shut-up. On and on and on. I've never seen anyone's jaw move so fast in my life.
Oh, well, back to dreamland.
"I charge fifty bucks a day, plus expenses. You tell me the truth and I'll help you. You lie to me and I'll deck you. Got it?"
"Sure," He said in a southern drawl that I knew melted tougher hearts than mine. "I need your help."
His name was Drew and he gave me some hard luck story about being chased by some mystery man. He gave me a note.
It read, "Meet me tonight at midnight in the old warehouse."
He leaned closer, his big blue eyes fluttering for help."I found it this morning in my mail box. I didn't know where else to go."
He sat on top of my desk, put his hand on my cheek and whispered in my ear, "Won't you help me?"
I removed his hand from my face, downed my coffee, put on my hat and slid my gun into its holster. "Sure, doll face. Sure."
2:30pm.
Doesn't he stop to take a breath?
I stood in the old warehouse. In the 40s it was an ammo dump but now it was used to store coffee beans. Bags of java-- everywhere.
I lit a smoke and looked at my watch.
It was midnight.
I never saw the black jack that crashed into my skull.
Out of the corner of my eye, before everything went dark, I saw Drew.
He held the black jack and was calling my name.
"Greg?"
"What?"
"You weren't listening."
"I swear I was."
It was 3:10pm when Drew began his story from the beginning.
