and purple dye wrapped aboriginal designs about his wrists and drew daggers up both forearms. Dancing upon his right arm was a snake-haired Medusa. A sunburst with a warrior’s face protruded from his shirt’s open front. “Ain’t right, you bothering me here where the whole world’s gonna know.”
The deputy merely shut the door and leaned against it. Almost instantly Marcus had to fight off the urge to gag. The smell emanating from the man coated Marcus’ tongue and the back of his throat like putrid enamel. A year’s worth of body odor was mingled with a drenching scent so overwhelming Marcus required a moment to identify it as English Leather. The man must have bathed in the stuff.
Marcus gave the room a careful sweep. A wall calendar advertising either thong bikinis or tires counted days off the previous April. The walls were rough-hewn and pegged with overdue bills and yellowed call sheets.
Sephus Jones planted his boots on the corner of the empty desk. “And just who exactly do we have here?”
Marcus pulled a straight-backed chair up close. “You should know. You were in such a powerful hurry to meet me yesterday.”
“Marcus. My man.” Sephus Jones had eyes so pale they fed upon the shadows, glimmering with a beast’s fervor. His hair was dyed a cheap reddish orange that almost matched his dime-sized freckles. “Nice little dolly you got yourself there.”
Marcus set the file on the desk between them and flipped to the last page. “Says here you’re a two-time loser, Sephus.”
“You decide you’re done with the dolly, how’s about I have a taste?”
“From what I understand, you’ve been recently brought in on something new.” Marcus lifted his gaze. “Don’t tell me that hasn’t got you sweating.”
“Chump change. I was holding a bag for a buddy.”
Marcus looked over to where Darren stood by the wall. Just crossing his arms was enough to stretch the uniform’s shoulder seams. “Hundred c-caps of ecstasy. Arrested in f-front of a j-junior high.”
The dust-matted window emitted a light like a fading lantern’s glow. A bare bulb glowed from a wire dangling off the ceiling. Neither was enough to press the shadows back very far. “Why don’t I shoot a couple of guesses your way,” Marcus suggested. “The earlier arrest has resulted in court orders to stay well away from schools, parks, the works. Which means you’re now facing a double-barrel charge.”
Sephus Jones unsnapped the leather holder hanging from his belt and plucked out a bone-handled knife. He pried open the largest blade and began paring his fingernails, reflecting what light he could muster into Marcus’ face. “There mighta been some mention made a while back. I don’t rightly recall.”
“Jailers in these parts don’t take kindly to convicts who’ve messed with children. They know better than to lay a hand on a prisoner. But they’re going to take great care in selecting your dance partners. One night awaiting arraignment should be enough to remind you of that fact.” Marcus leaned his hands on the desk. “How am I doing so far?”
“If you came looking for new business, I’m just sorry as I can be.” His grin was empty of all save the stretching of skin. “I already got me all the lawyers I can use.”
“This is what you call a carrot and stick meeting. You help me, I talk shop with the DA. You don’t, the deputy here is going to arrest you on charges of assaulting my girlfriend.”
“Just another helping of chump change, bub.” He flicked whatever he had on the knife’s tip in Marcus’ direction. “I didn’t touch the dolly.”
“All I want,” Marcus replied, “is a name.”
“What, you grown dissatisfied with the one your own daddy offered you?” He returned to his knife and his fingernails. “Now that’s a pure shame.”
“New Horizons didn’t send you over to my place. And the check you brought was a forgery.” He took strength from the slight check in the
The deputy merely shut the door and leaned against it. Almost instantly Marcus had to fight off the urge to gag. The smell emanating from the man coated Marcus’ tongue and the back of his throat like putrid enamel. A year’s worth of body odor was mingled with a drenching scent so overwhelming Marcus required a moment to identify it as English Leather. The man must have bathed in the stuff.
Marcus gave the room a careful sweep. A wall calendar advertising either thong bikinis or tires counted days off the previous April. The walls were rough-hewn and pegged with overdue bills and yellowed call sheets.
Sephus Jones planted his boots on the corner of the empty desk. “And just who exactly do we have here?”
Marcus pulled a straight-backed chair up close. “You should know. You were in such a powerful hurry to meet me yesterday.”
“Marcus. My man.” Sephus Jones had eyes so pale they fed upon the shadows, glimmering with a beast’s fervor. His hair was dyed a cheap reddish orange that almost matched his dime-sized freckles. “Nice little dolly you got yourself there.”
Marcus set the file on the desk between them and flipped to the last page. “Says here you’re a two-time loser, Sephus.”
“You decide you’re done with the dolly, how’s about I have a taste?”
“From what I understand, you’ve been recently brought in on something new.” Marcus lifted his gaze. “Don’t tell me that hasn’t got you sweating.”
“Chump change. I was holding a bag for a buddy.”
Marcus looked over to where Darren stood by the wall. Just crossing his arms was enough to stretch the uniform’s shoulder seams. “Hundred c-caps of ecstasy. Arrested in f-front of a j-junior high.”
The dust-matted window emitted a light like a fading lantern’s glow. A bare bulb glowed from a wire dangling off the ceiling. Neither was enough to press the shadows back very far. “Why don’t I shoot a couple of guesses your way,” Marcus suggested. “The earlier arrest has resulted in court orders to stay well away from schools, parks, the works. Which means you’re now facing a double-barrel charge.”
Sephus Jones unsnapped the leather holder hanging from his belt and plucked out a bone-handled knife. He pried open the largest blade and began paring his fingernails, reflecting what light he could muster into Marcus’ face. “There mighta been some mention made a while back. I don’t rightly recall.”
“Jailers in these parts don’t take kindly to convicts who’ve messed with children. They know better than to lay a hand on a prisoner. But they’re going to take great care in selecting your dance partners. One night awaiting arraignment should be enough to remind you of that fact.” Marcus leaned his hands on the desk. “How am I doing so far?”
“If you came looking for new business, I’m just sorry as I can be.” His grin was empty of all save the stretching of skin. “I already got me all the lawyers I can use.”
“This is what you call a carrot and stick meeting. You help me, I talk shop with the DA. You don’t, the deputy here is going to arrest you on charges of assaulting my girlfriend.”
“Just another helping of chump change, bub.” He flicked whatever he had on the knife’s tip in Marcus’ direction. “I didn’t touch the dolly.”
“All I want,” Marcus replied, “is a name.”
“What, you grown dissatisfied with the one your own daddy offered you?” He returned to his knife and his fingernails. “Now that’s a pure shame.”
“New Horizons didn’t send you over to my place. And the check you brought was a forgery.” He took strength from the slight check in the
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