The Rain City Comedy of Manners series focuses on life in contemporary Seattle, among people whose work drives their hearts’ desires, often in conflict with other love affairs.
Acknowledgments
We support musicians, who inspire and add value to everyday life, by paying for their music. The chapter titles and lyric references in Nine Volt Heart are intended to help readers find songwriters who have influenced contemporary music. The lyrics are the property of their respective owners:
“Nine Volt Heart” lyrics by Dave Alvin and Rod Hodges, © 2004, Blue Horn Toad Music, BMI; Blowout Music, ASCAP.
“A Fool Such As I,” lyrics by William Trader
“A World Out of Time,” lyrics by Henry Kaiser and David Lindley
“Absolutely Sweet Marie,” lyrics by Bob Dylan
“All that Heaven Will Allow,” lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
“All the Right Reasons,” lyrics by Gary Michael Louris
“American Music,” lyrics by Gordon James Gano
“Angel Band” (traditional)
“Are You Really Going Out with Him?” lyrics by David Ian Jackson
“Ashes by Now,” lyrics by Rodney Crowell
“Badlands,” lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
“Big Boss Man,” lyrics by Lee Hazlewood and Martin Cooper
“Box Full of Letters,” lyrics by Jeff Tweedy
“Box of Rain,” lyrics by Robert Hunter and Phil Lesh
“Boys Want Sex in the Morning,” Andrew Ratshin
“Brilliant Disguise,” lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
“Call Him Up and Tell Him What You Want,” from “Jesus on the Mainline” (traditional)
“Can’t find my own way back home,” lyrics by Steve Winwood
“Can’t Hardly Wait,” lyrics by Paul Westerberg
“Carry That Weight,” lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
“Chains of This Town,” lyrics by Chuck Mead
“Changed the Locks,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams
“Christine's Tune (Devil In Disguise),” lyrics by Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman
“Come Together,” lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
“Concrete and Barbed Wire,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams
“Cynthia,” lyrics by Allen Toussaint
“Dark As a Dungeon,” lyrics by Merle Travis
“Everybody Has Been Burned,” lyrics by David Crosby
“Everyone’s in Love with You,” lyrics by Steve Earle
“Excuse Me If I Break My Own Heart Tonight,” lyrics by Ryan Adams
“Fearless Heart,” lyrics by Steve Earle
“Fishin’ Blues,” lyrics by Henry Thomas (Taj Mahal)
“Flesh and Blood,” lyrics by John R. Cash and Glen Ballard
“Fool’s Paradise,” lyrics by Dave Alvin
“Frying Pan,” lyrics by John Prine
“Get Rhythm,” lyrics by John R Cash
“Give Back the Key to My Heart,” lyrics by Doug Sahm
“Go Slow Down,” lyrics by Samuel Llanas and Kurt Neumann
“Goin’ Down This Road Feeling Bad,” lyrics by Delaney Bramlett
“Halo Round the Moon,” lyrics by Steve Earle
“Hard Hearted,” lyrics by Grant Sabin
“Hard Times Come Again No More,” lyrics by Stephen Foster
“Hey, Mister, That’s Me up on the Jukebox,” lyrics by James Taylor
“Hometown Blues,” lyrics by Steve Earle
“I Ain’t Broken but I’m Badly Bent,” lyrics by Del Reeves
“I Ain’t Ever Satisfied,” lyrics by Steve Earle
“I Gotta Know,” lyrics by Thelma Blackmon
“(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle,” lyrics by Hank Williams Sr.
“I Just Wanted to See You So Bad,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams
“I Lost It,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams
“I Must Be Somebody Else You’ve Known,” lyrics by Merle Haggard
“I Shall Be Released,” lyrics by Bob Dylan
“I Walk the Line,” lyrics by John R Cash
“I’ll Fly Away,” lyrics by Albert E. Brumley
“I’m Gonna Sit on the Porch and Pick on My Old Guitar,” lyrics by John R Cash
“If Money Talks,” lyrics by Jason Ringenberg (Jason & the Scorchers)
“If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie),” lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva and Joseph Meyer
“Iko Iko (Jock-A-Mo),” lyrics by James “Sugar Boy” Crawford
“In My Hour of Darkness,” lyrics by Emmy Lou Harris and Gram Parsons
“Instant Karma,” lyrics by John Lennon
“It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” lyrics by Bob Dylan
“Knockin’ on Your Door” (traditional)
“Last Blue Yodel,” lyrics by Jimmie Rodgers
“Little Honey,” lyrics by Dave Alvin and John Dommensen
“Lonelier Than This,” lyrics by Steve Earle
“Lovesick Blues,” lyrics by Irving Mills and Cliff Friend
“Mama’s Opry,” lyrics by Iris DeMent
“Maybe I’m Amazed,” lyrics by Paul McCartney
“Mean Woman Blues,” lyrics by John Lee Hooker
“Money Honey,” lyrics by Jesse Stone
“More Than I Can Do,” lyrics by Steve Earle
“My Old Friend the Blues,” lyrics by Steve Earle
“No Surrender,” lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
“Nothin’ without You,” lyrics by Steve Earle
“Nothing Compares to You,” lyrics by Prince
“Nothing Was Delivered,” lyrics by Bob Dylan
“Out of the Blue,” lyrics by Neil Young
“Passionate Kisses,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams
“Playing in the Band,” lyrics by Robert Hunter and Bob Weir
“Price to Pay,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams
“Right in Time,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams
“Ring of Fire,” lyrics by June Carter and Merle Kilgore
“Rip It Up,” lyrics by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco
“Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money,” lyrics by Warren Zevon
“Shake My Mother’s Hand for Me” (traditional)
“Shame on the Moon,” lyrics by Rodney J. Crowell
“She Said She Loved Me (But She Lied),” lyrics by Jimmy Thibodeaux
“She’s About a Mover,” lyrics by Doug Sahm
“Shop It Around,” lyrics by Jason Ringenberg
“Slippin’ and Slidin’,” by Little Richard, Edwin Bocage (Eddie Bo), Al Collins, and James Smith
“Smack Dab in the Middle,” lyrics by Charles Calhoun
“So Long Baby Goodbye,” lyrics by Dave Alvin
“Something About What Happens When We Talk,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams
“Still I Long for Your Kiss,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams and Duane Jarvis
“Straight A’s in Love,” lyrics by John R Cash
“Stumbling through the Dark,” lyrics by Gary Louris and Matthew Sweet
“Take Out Some Insurance,” lyrics by Ralph Kinsey and Jesse Stone
“Talk to Me,” lyrics by Kurt D. Cobain
“Tears of Rage,” lyrics by Bob Dylan and Richard Manuel
“That High Lonesome Sound,” lyrics by Peter Rowan
“That’s Not the Issue,” lyrics by Jeffrey Scott Tweedy
“That’s Why God Made You,” lyrics by Tim Ferguson
“The Cause of It All,” lyrics by Roy Orbison
“The Night’s Too Long,” lyrics by Lucinda Williams
“The Weight,” lyrics by Robbie Robertson
“Tickin’ Bomb,” lyrics by Shovels and Rope (Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent)
“Till I Get It Right,” lyrics by Larry Henley and Red Lane
“Tougher Than the Rest,” lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
“Un Bel Di,” libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
“Understand Your Man,” lyrics by John R Cash
“Wake Up, Little S
usi,” lyrics by Boudleaux Bryant and Felice Bryant
“Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key,” lyrics by Billy Bragg and Woody Guthrie
“We Can Talk,” lyrics by Richard Manuel
“We Gotta Go On Meeting Like This,” lyrics by Rodney Crowell and Larry Willoughby
“Where Shall I Go?” (traditional)
“Wild Card,” lyrics by Buddy Miller and Julie Miller
“You and Me and the Sea between Us,” album by The Teds
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” lyrics by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
“You’re Still Standing There,” lyrics by Steve Earle
© 2013 by Annie Pearson
All rights reserved.
First e-book edition: August 2013
Ebook ISBN 978-1-939423-07-8
Print ISBN 978-1-939423-06-1
Cover by Lisa Tilton Design
Cover photo by Jacyn Stewart:
“Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends
at The Family Wash”
Published by Jugum Press
www.jugumpress.com
This book is provided for your personal enjoyment only. All rights reserved. This book, or any parts of it, may not be reproduced without permission.
This is a work of fiction. All characters portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental.
For Chip,
who likes the same music,
likes the same books
From Jugum Press
Rain City Comedy of Manners Series by Annie Pearson
When bad things happen to quirky people under grey skies…
The Grrrl of Limberlost
A murder in a Seattle coffee house. A murder on a decaying boat dock on Puget Sound. Samsara Byron, the security expert, insists this has nothing to do with her. She’s heroically fending off an attack on the world’s cyber infrastructure—if she could only get a cell signal.
Nine Volt Heart
He said, “I love you.” She said, “You don’t even know the real me.” He said, “Great title for a song. Key of G? Can we try close harmony?” Jason, the singer-songwriter, and Susi, a music teacher, meet by accident in Seattle. Secrets, songs, and stalkers quickly entwine their lives in unpredictable ways.
Find all Rain City Comedy of Manners books and other fiction by Annie Pearson in print and Kindle formats on Amazon.
Accidental Heretics Series by E.A. Stewart
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Heresy by choice or treachery? Three ruined crusaders battle conspiracy and disaster while trapped in the new war against the Cathar heresy. Fight or beg for mercy when enemies use an unjust war for revenge?
Trebuchets in the Garden (Book 2)
How do you prepare for the dawn of the Inquisition? Three embattled crusaders seek justice and respite amidst terror, siege, and conspiracy. Swords and grit must defend against deceit—as zealots prepare to ignite the next heretics’ pyre.
Find all Accidental Heretics books and other fiction by E.A. Stewart in print and Kindle formats on Amazon.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
About Nine Volt Heart
ONE: Allegro
1. Lonesome Whistle
2. Un Bel Di
3. We Can Talk
4. Where Shall I Go?
5. Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money
6. Call Him Up and Tell Him What You Want
96 37 2e 20 53 68 65 92 73 20 41 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 4d 6f 76 65 72 8f 38 2e 20 54 69 63 6b 69 6e 92 20 42 6f 6d 62 94 39 2e 20 53 68 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4d 6f 6f 6e 9b 31 30 2e 20 4d 79 20 4f 6c 64 20 46 72 69 65 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 42 6c 75 65 73 8d 31 31 2e 20 49 20 4c 6f 73 74 20 49 74 8d 31 32 2e 20 57 69 6c 64 20 43 61 72 64 8f 31 33 2e 20 4d 61 6d 61 92 73 20 4f 70 72 79 8e 31 34 2e 20 46 72 79 69 6e 67 20 50 61 6e 95 31 35 2e 20 44 65 76 69 6c 20 69 6e 20 44 69 73 67 75 69 73 65 ad 31 36 2e 20 53 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 41 62 6f 75 74 20 57 68 61 74 20 48 61 70 70 65 6e 73 20 57 68 65 6e 20 57 65 20 54 61 6c 6b 9a 31 37 2e 20 49 20 41 69 6e 92 74 20 45 76 65 72 20 53 61 74 69 73 66 69 65 64 98 31 38 2e 20 54 68 65 20 4e 69 67 68 74 92 73 20 54 6f 6f 20 4c 6f 6e 67 97 31 39 2e 20 43 68 61 69 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 54 68 69 73 20 54 6f 77 6e 8e 32 30 2e 20 47 65 74 20 52 68 79 74 68 6d 8f 32 31 2e 20 4d 6f 6e 65 79 20 48 6f 6e 65 79 98 32 32 2e 20 53 6c 69 70 70 69 6e 92 20 61 6e 64 20 53 6c 69 64 69 6e 92 8d 32 33 2e 20 52 69 70 20 49 74 20 55 70 92 32 34 2e 20 41 6d 65 72 69 63 61 6e 20 4d 75 73 69 63 9f 32 35 2e 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 92 73 20 69 6e 20 4c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 59 6f 75 95 32 36 2e 20 43 61 72 72 79 20 54 68 61 74 20 57 65 69 67 68 74 9b 32 37 2e 20 54 68 61 74 92 73 20 57 68 79 20 47 6f 64 20 4d 61 64 65 20 59 6f 75 90 32 38 2e 20 52 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 46 69 72 65 98 32 39 2e 20 57 61 6b 65 20 55 70 2c 20 4c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 53 75 73 69 8b 54 57 4f 3a 20 41 44 41 47 49 4f 90 33 30 2e 20 49 20 47 6f 74 74 61 20 4b 6e 6f 77 a8 33 31 2e 20 49 20 4d 75 73 74 20 42 65 20 53 6f 6d 65 62 6f 64 79 20 45 6c 73 65 20 59 6f 75 92 76 65 20 4b 6e 6f 77 6e 97 33 32 2e 20 54 68 65 20 43 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 49 74 20 41 6c 6c 92 33 33 2e 20 46 65 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 48 65 61 72 74 91 33 34 2e 20 52 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 20 54 69 6d 65 a5 33 35 2e 20 59 6f 75 20 61 6e 64 20 4d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 61 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 55 73 b8 33 36 2e 20 49 27 6d 20 47 6f 6e 6e 61 20 53 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 50 6f 72 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 50 69 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 4d 79 20 4f 6c 64 20 47 75 69 74 61 72 92 33 37 2e 20 53 68 6f 70 20 49 74 20 41 72 6f 75 6e 64 a4 33 38 2e 20 57 61 79 20 4f 76 65 72 20 59 6f 6e 64 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4d 69 6e 6f 72 20 4b 65 79 a5 33 39 2e 20 49 20 41 69 6e 92 74 20 42 72 6f 6b 65 6e 20 62 75 74 20 49 92 6d 20 42 61 64 6c 79 20 42 65 6e 74 9c 34 30 2e 20 54 68 61 74 20 48 69 67 68 20 4c 6f 6e 65 73 6f 6d 65 20 53 6f 75 6e 64 94 34 31 2e 20 4d 65 61 6e 20 57 6f 6d 61 6e 20 42 6c 75 65 73 8e 34 32 2e 20 54 68 65 20 57 65 69 67 68 74 90 34 33 2e 20 4c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 48 6f 6e 65 79 99 34 34 2e 20 54 6f 75 67 68 65 72 20 54 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 52 65 73 74 ac 34 35 2e 20 48 65 79 2c 20 4d 69 73 74 65 72 2c 20 54 68 61 74 92 73 20 4d 65 20 55 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4a 75 6b 65 62 6f 78 a1 34 36 2e 20 47 69 76 65 20 42 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 20 4b 65 79 20 74 6f 20 4d 79 20 48 65 61 72 74 93 34 37 2e 20 46 6f 6f 6c 92 73 20 50 61 72 61 64 69 73 65 93 34 38 2e 20 4c 61 73 74 20 42 6c 75 65 20 59 6f 64 65 6c 8e 54 48 52 45 45 3a 20 53 43 48 45 52 5a 4f 8f 34 39 2e 20 42 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 52 61 69 6e 8b 35 30 2e 20 43 79 6e 74 68 69 61 97 35 31 2e 20 50 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 42 61 6e 64 9b 35 32 2e 20 54 61 6b 65 20 4f 75 74 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 49 6e 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 92 35 33 2e 20 49 66 20 4d 6f 6e 65 79 20 54 61 6c 6b 73 98 35 34 2e 20 54 68 61 74 92 73 20 4e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 49 73 73 75 65 94 35 35 2e 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 92 6d 20 41 6d 61 7a 65 64 90 35 36 2e 20 50 72 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 50 61 79 95 35 37 2e 20 44 61 72 6b 20 41 73 20 61 20 44 75 6e 67 65 6f 6e 9f 35 38 2e 20 59 6f 75 92 72 65 20 53 74 69 6c 6c 20 53 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 54 68 65 72 65 8e 35 39 2e 20 47 65 74 20 52 68 79 74 68 6d 99 36 30 2e 20 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 52 69 67 68 74 20 52 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 93 36 31 2e 20 46 6c 65 73 68 20 61 6e 64 20 42 6c 6f 6f 64 90 36 32 2e 20 47 6f 20 53 6c 6f 77 20 44 6f 77 6e 96 36 33 2e 20 42 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 44 69 73 67 75 69 73 65 a6 36 34 2e 20 41 72 65 20 59 6f 75 20 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 47 6f 69 6e 67 20 4f 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 48 69 6d 3f 97 36 35 2e 20 48 61 6c 6f 20 52 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 4d 6f 6f 6e 9e 36 36 2e 20 53 74 75 6d 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 44 61 72 6b 93 36 37 2e 20 49 20 57 61 6c 6b 20 74 68 65 20 4c 69 6e 65 97 36 38 2e 20 55 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 59 6f 75 72 20 4d 61 6e 9b 36 39 2e 20 53 6d 61 63 6b 20 44 61 62 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4d 69 64 64 6c 65 8b 37 30 2e 20 49 6b 6f 20 49 6b 6f 9e 37 31 2e 20 53 74 69 6c 6c 20 49 20 4c 6f 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 59 6f 75 72 20 4b 69 73 73 91 37 32 2e 20 43 6f 6d 65 20 54 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 a0 37 33 2e 20 42 6f 79 73 20 57 61 6e 74 20 53 65 78 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 97 3
7 34 2e 20 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 92 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 59 6f 75 8b 46 4f 55 52 3a 20 52 4f 4e 44 4f 99 37 35 2e 20 4b 6e 6f 63 6b 69 6e 92 20 6f 6e 20 59 6f 75 72 20 44 6f 6f 72 90 37 36 2e 20 48 61 72 64 20 48 65 61 72 74 65 64 91 37 37 2e 20 54 65 61 72 73 20 6f 66 20 52 61 67 65 91 37 38 2e 20 49 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 4b 61 72 6d 61 97 37 39 2e 20 42 6f 78 20 46 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 4c 65 74 74 65 72 73 99 38 30 2e 20 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 57 61 73 20 44 65 6c 69 76 65 72 65 64 96 38 31 2e 20 4d 6f 72 65 20 54 68 61 6e 20 49 20 43 61 6e 20 44 6f 90 38 32 2e 20 41 73 68 65 73 20 62 79 20 4e 6f 77 9d 38 33 2e 20 45 76 65 72 79 62 6f 64 79 20 48 61 73 20 42 65 65 6e 20 42 75 72 6e 65 64 98 38 34 2e 20 53 6f 20 4c 6f 6e 67 20 42 61 62 79 20 47 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 97 38 35 2e 20 49 20 53 68 61 6c 6c 20 42 65 20 52 65 6c 65 61 73 65 64 90 38 36 2e 20 42 69 67 20 42 6f 73 73 20 4d 61 6e ad 38 37 2e 20 45 78 63 75 73 65 20 4d 65 20 49 66 20 49 20 42 72 65 61 6b 20 4d 79 20 4f 77 6e 20 48 65 61 72 74 20 54 6f 6e 69 67 68 74 97 38 38 2e 20 54 69 6c 6c 20 49 20 47 65 74 20 49 74 20 52 69 67 68 74 8e 38 39 2e 20 54 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 4d 65 a3 39 30 2e 20 49 20 4a 75 73 74 20 57 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 53 65 65 20 59 6f 75 20 53 6f 20 42 61 64 a0 39 31 2e 20 49 74 92 73 20 41 6c 6c 20 4f 76 65 72 20 4e 6f 77 2c 20 42 61 62 79 20 42 6c 75 65 a4 39 32 2e 20 47 6f 69 6e 92 20 44 6f 77 6e 20 54 68 69 73 20 52 6f 61 64 20 46 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 42 61 64 96 39 33 2e 20 4c 6f 6e 65 6c 69 65 72 20 54 68 61 6e 20 54 68 69 73 a4 39 34 2e 20 57 65 20 47 6f 74 74 61 20 47 6f 20 4f 6e 20 4d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 4c 69 6b 65 20 54 68 69 73 9c 39 35 2e 20 43 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 42 61 72 62 65 64 20 57 69 72 65 9a 39 36 2e 20 49 6e 20 4d 79 20 48 6f 75 72 20 6f 66 20 44 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 94 39 37 2e 20 41 20 46 6f 6f 6c 20 53 75 63 68 20 41 73 20 49 8c 39 38 2e 20 42 61 64 6c 61 6e 64 73 95 39 39 2e 20 43 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 4c 6f 63 6b 73 96 31 30 30 2e 20 50 61 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 74 65 20 4b 69 73 73 65 73 99 31 30 31 2e 20 53 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 41 92 73 20 69 6e 20 4c 6f 76 65 90 41 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 74 68 6f 72 89 43 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 90 46 72 6f 6d 20 4a 75 67 75 6d 20 50 72 65 73 73 0 0 0
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