Drama Dolls: A Novel: [Dark, Suspenseful, Fast-paced, Exhilarating] by Jason Tanamor Page B

pieces in view, Jeffrey envisioned the house’s schematic.
    His gaze working side to side, each room’s floor plan memorized, Jeffrey stayed quiet and to himself.
    “Tonight we will rob this house,” the inner Jeffrey said.
     
    Standing on the front porch, the realtor and assistant talked to William and Lena. The assistant, she was locking the door behind her, returning the key to the box on the door handle.
    In the middle of a semi-circle crowding the front entrance, Jane, standing with her hands on her hips, said, “What do you think is going through his head?” The small group looked down toward Jeffrey, whose attention was absorbing the house’s detail.
    William and Lena, they both shrugged simultaneously. They both knew this was a formality. Something the burglars had done many times before.
    Pulling on the key box to ensure it was secure, Jane turned to William. “Can’t say this was a complete loss then,” she said. Unzipping her purse, pulling out her sunglasses, the realtor said, “Is he wearing makeup?”
    Nodding slowly, William said, “Totally.”
     
    Jeffrey, Barb, and Lena watched the realtor and her assistant vacate the grounds. Grass as high as the FOR SALE sign, kicking weeds in front of his feet, Jeffrey said, “We’ve got time. Who wants to go to a baseball game?”
    William, looking down into the grass, said, “I’ll pass.”
    “C’mon,” Jeffrey said, kneeling down to pull weeds in sight. “We got like four hours until dark.” Pulling out a handful of dandelions and annual sow thistles, Jeffrey tossed them aside.
    Short in his response, his eyes looking anywhere but at Jeffrey’s, William said, “I’m good.”
    Jumping in to support Jeffrey, Lena said, “Don’t be a fun killer. It’ll be great.” She stared at William, her eyes widening. She flipped her hand into his chest until she caught his attention.
    William, looking up toward Lena, then to a kneeling Jeffrey, said, “Dude, you need to get some sleep.” Repaying the harsh stare to Lena, and then rounding back to the captain of the cheerleader gang, he said, “Get some sleep. We’ll meet back up later. K?”
    “William,” Jeffrey said, a pile of dandelions next to him. Throwing down the batch of weeds that were in his hand, he said, stretching out the word, “Will-Lee.”
    Standing still, no movement whatsoever, William glanced to the ground before him, his attention focused on an anthill in the sidewalk crack. Sliding the bottom of his shoe over the hill, leveling off the dirt, he said nothing. Ants, they were running in every direction.
    “You’re a poopy head,” Lena said.
    “Willster.” Singing the word, Jeffrey said, “Willinator.” The heat was making his face itch. Sucking in his lips, spreading out the lipstick to make it even, he said, “I’m gonna ask one more time. Who wants to go to a baseball game?” Standing to his feet, face to face with William, Jeffrey waited for a response. His body tightening, his fists clenching.
    William sharply looked up, his eyebrows lowering slowly, lips tightened, and teeth clenched so hard they hurt, he said, “I’ll. See. You. Tonight.” He walked around the front of his car. Eying Jeffrey the entire time, William started the vehicle and drove away.
    Witnessing the scene unfold, and not wanting the situation to escalate, Lena said, “I guess it’s just us.” Her arm swung around Jeffrey’s waist. Pulling him close to her, she leaned her head into his shoulder. Eyes shut, a closed smile, she said, “Your car or mine?”
    Jeffrey, being dragged farther away from the pile of weeds, craned his head back to the sidewalk. “OK,” Lena said. “We’ll take the ‘Vette.” Releasing her hand, Lena continued.
    Walking toward the car, the distance between her and Jeffrey grew noticeably. She turned to her groom cheerleader and said, “Jeffrey?”
    Running back to the weeds, Jeffrey kneeled down and collected the miscellaneous dandelions and sow thistles.