Evolution

by Dave Nesbit

  “Look, aside from being set up, being used like an idiot and made a damn fool of, all of which I could conceivably forgive you for. I just planted a friend of mine and if I had been there it likely wouldn't have happened.”

  “And if I told you that gang of lunatics I brought you to had much worse planned for all of us; what would you say?”

  “Prove it!” I yelled. “What could have made it worth it?”

  A cop was passing by and saw us arguing. He walked up and checked it out. He looked at Cathy. “Are you okay miss?” The cop was a tall athletically built guy with a nose that looked like it had been seen the wrong side of a boxing glove a few times.

  “I'm fine officer. He's got every right to be angry.” She said.

  The cop looked doubtful. I'm sure the guy had broken up more than few domestic disturbances. The thought cooled my anger a bit. “Okay, but keep it down or I'll run you in for disturbing the peace.”

  I hung my head. “Sounds fair.”

  He walked off a bit but then took up residence in a doorway and kept an eye on us. It helped to keep me calm and reminded me of my promise to the driver.

  “I can't now.” She said. “But your friend Hamilton is going to get a report in a couple of days. Ask him about it.”

  I sighed. “I swear if there's anything less than Armageddon in that report I will hunt you down like a fucking dog.”

  “It's only fair.” She said with a sigh and walked forward. She held out a card. “It's too soon, and you have no absolution for me. I haven't earned it, but please. When it feels right, call this number. It will only work once.”

  Mixed emotions? Ohh just all of them. How close is love to hate? I don't approve of hitting women, but right now I wanted to rend her limb from limb. I could see her face and when I did I saw the look of surprise on Lynn's face when...

  I took the card. Maybe because someday I'd get her alone and get even, maybe someday I'd get her alone and relive the time before it all went to shit. Maybe...

  Maybe I was an idiot of Olympic proportions.

  I stuffed it in my breast pocket. “Don't count on it.” I said and walked off.

  I didn't look back and she didn't say a word. It was, in its own way, perfect.

  The driver was working over the last of a sub sandwich as I got in the car. “That didn't take near as long as I thought it would.” He said then finished the last bite.

  “What's your name?” I asked as I got in.

  Looking into the rear view mirror I saw him look surprised. “Mark. Why ya wanna know?”

  “You've been driving us around for months, it doesn't seem right that I keep calling you 'Hey you'.”

  He grinned and put the car in drive. “Where to?”

  “School.”

  “On my way.” We drove off just as the snow hit hard, thankfully Mark was a total pro and we were there in slightly less time than it usually would take. I thanked him as I got out and went inside. I had beat everyone home, which was fine by me.

  In my room I stripped off my suit, and slipped into sweats and a t-shirt. Then dumped the contents of my sack onto the bed. Yep, Nick Cave, Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division and … Al Green?

  I looked the record over. “Let's stay together.” I remembered my Dad used to listen to this album all the time. I smiled, powered up the stereo. Then put it on.

  Take your solace in what you will, but to me it's always music. The record clerk was on the money, sometimes you need to hear the right thing. As the first song ended I felt one little bit of warmth in my heart.

  Looking out, the sky was gray and the snow was coming down fiercely. A limo drove up and dropped off the rest of the team as I watched. Behind me a warm sound that spoke of a higher love. Rachel grabbed a handful of snow and tossed it at Ramon who ducked.

  This week had been a monster.

  Tomorrow though? That was a brand new day.

  Acknowledgments

  So this book you hold in your hand wouldn't have happened without the support of my editor Chanelle Deck. Who has been kind enough to put up with me as we went through quite a few drafts, more than a few typo fixes and pointing out areas that needed to be tuned up.

  Also It never would have happened without Shelby Arnold reading a few Chapter ones of mine and picking this one as something that needed to be fleshed out. You're amazing dear!

  Big love and respect to my beta readers: Tom Watring, Alexandra Nielsen, Tim Reyes and Scott McKenzie. Thanks for being kind enough to not tell me to hang it up after reading the first draft. I got a lot of good suggestions and I tried to incorporate as many of them as I could.

  Speaking of Scott, he has his own books and I suggest you check them out. He's an amazing writer.

  Much respect to my boss Laura Ganapini who puts up with her odd employee.

  And of course thanks to the Samurai of Spoken Word. Who have put up with me saying, “Dude I'm gonna write a book.” for years and didn't kick my ass even once.

  To my Mom, because she's my mom. And she also put up with her child and his streaks of weird creativity.

  Huge hollers to The Crystal Method, Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Leaether Strip, Skinny Puppy, Steve Earle, New Order and Tori Amos for providing the music that powered a lot of writing sessions.

  To Scott Seidl for showing I had something like talent and a creative spirit.