cities in the nation. Situated in the valley between two mountain chains, it didn’t have the best weather in comparison to places like Arizona and California, but it wasn’t as bad as others, like Wisconsin. The worst part about it was the complete lack of predictability to the weather.
So far this winter we’d had little other than rainfall by way of moisture. Yet stepping out to the bus stop I could feel the temperature drop and knew the fog would soon turn to ice upon the roads. By the time I got to class it had started to snow. Sighing, I watched the pretty white flakes hit the ground and knew this meant a halt to my extracurricular financial activities, at least as far as the cemetery was involved. Snow simply had ways of collecting too much evidence.
It didn’t matter much though. Not like it had in years before. Now with the occasional job Corbin threw my way I made more than I ever had auctioning off the ill-gotten booty. I just had to keep up the delivery jobs and get rid of the few items of jewelry I had left and I’d be fine even if it snowed for the rest of the season.
#
My phone rang in between classes and I flipped it open, torn as usual when I saw that it was Corbin. “How do you know when to call me?” I asked, the question having crossed my mind on more than one occasion.
“I checked out your schedule.”
I stopped walking and braced myself against an exterior light pole, preparing myself for an explanation. “What?”
“On the university website.”
“I know where it is. How did you get in?” I asked, my tone becoming heated. “It’s only accessible to me.”
“No it’s not. It’s accessible to anyone with your student number and password. By the way, you really shouldn’t write those things down. Especially not all in one place. Anyone breaking into your apartment could find them.”
I did some heavy breathing, willing my heart rate back to normal. It didn’t work very well.
“Temptress?”
“Shut up. I’m trying to repress a very violent urge.”
“Repress fast. I’ve got a job for you and I realize it’s at the last minute, but you’re the only one available.”
“I’m not available. I’ve got class.”
“You can do it after class.”
I grimaced. “Why don’t you just do it yourself?”
“I would, but I’m out of town. I’ll get in later this evening, but I can’t just leave it sitting there that long.”
“Have you seen the weather lately?” I glanced at the surrounding mist and fat flakes falling like confetti. “No plane will land in this fog and snow.”
“I’m driving. I don’t take planes unless I have to. You can’t take a gun on a plane.”
“You’re driving? The roads must be like ice!”
“Hence the reason I’d prefer to end this phone call as quickly as possible. Please. It’s very important. And don’t forget those fantastic photos I have of you and your midnight financial escapades.”
“Oh fine. Where is it?”
“It’s close. I made them take it to you, practically. There’s an old frat house on the edge of campus that’s in disuse at the moment. It’s on the corner of Frankston and Kneel. Do you know where that is?”
“Yeah. It’s near my bus stop.”
“Good. Stop on your way to catch the bus and you’ll find it under the front step. It’s wrapped in a plastic bag so it won’t get wet.”
“When will you come by to get it?”
“You don’t work tonight, right?”
“Correct.”
“Then I’ll stop by your apartment sometime.”
“Will you be using the doorbell like the rest of humanity, or do you intend to simply ooze in under the door?”
“Wait and see.”
Snapping the phone closed I glared at it and thrust it back into my pocket. As appealing as the growing savings account was, I still felt an odd sense of foreboding every time an envelope was in my possession.
Class ran about ten minutes over, setting me loose at 5:10. Deciding it best to collect the envelope first I hurried out into the
So far this winter we’d had little other than rainfall by way of moisture. Yet stepping out to the bus stop I could feel the temperature drop and knew the fog would soon turn to ice upon the roads. By the time I got to class it had started to snow. Sighing, I watched the pretty white flakes hit the ground and knew this meant a halt to my extracurricular financial activities, at least as far as the cemetery was involved. Snow simply had ways of collecting too much evidence.
It didn’t matter much though. Not like it had in years before. Now with the occasional job Corbin threw my way I made more than I ever had auctioning off the ill-gotten booty. I just had to keep up the delivery jobs and get rid of the few items of jewelry I had left and I’d be fine even if it snowed for the rest of the season.
#
My phone rang in between classes and I flipped it open, torn as usual when I saw that it was Corbin. “How do you know when to call me?” I asked, the question having crossed my mind on more than one occasion.
“I checked out your schedule.”
I stopped walking and braced myself against an exterior light pole, preparing myself for an explanation. “What?”
“On the university website.”
“I know where it is. How did you get in?” I asked, my tone becoming heated. “It’s only accessible to me.”
“No it’s not. It’s accessible to anyone with your student number and password. By the way, you really shouldn’t write those things down. Especially not all in one place. Anyone breaking into your apartment could find them.”
I did some heavy breathing, willing my heart rate back to normal. It didn’t work very well.
“Temptress?”
“Shut up. I’m trying to repress a very violent urge.”
“Repress fast. I’ve got a job for you and I realize it’s at the last minute, but you’re the only one available.”
“I’m not available. I’ve got class.”
“You can do it after class.”
I grimaced. “Why don’t you just do it yourself?”
“I would, but I’m out of town. I’ll get in later this evening, but I can’t just leave it sitting there that long.”
“Have you seen the weather lately?” I glanced at the surrounding mist and fat flakes falling like confetti. “No plane will land in this fog and snow.”
“I’m driving. I don’t take planes unless I have to. You can’t take a gun on a plane.”
“You’re driving? The roads must be like ice!”
“Hence the reason I’d prefer to end this phone call as quickly as possible. Please. It’s very important. And don’t forget those fantastic photos I have of you and your midnight financial escapades.”
“Oh fine. Where is it?”
“It’s close. I made them take it to you, practically. There’s an old frat house on the edge of campus that’s in disuse at the moment. It’s on the corner of Frankston and Kneel. Do you know where that is?”
“Yeah. It’s near my bus stop.”
“Good. Stop on your way to catch the bus and you’ll find it under the front step. It’s wrapped in a plastic bag so it won’t get wet.”
“When will you come by to get it?”
“You don’t work tonight, right?”
“Correct.”
“Then I’ll stop by your apartment sometime.”
“Will you be using the doorbell like the rest of humanity, or do you intend to simply ooze in under the door?”
“Wait and see.”
Snapping the phone closed I glared at it and thrust it back into my pocket. As appealing as the growing savings account was, I still felt an odd sense of foreboding every time an envelope was in my possession.
Class ran about ten minutes over, setting me loose at 5:10. Deciding it best to collect the envelope first I hurried out into the
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