Savage Noir

Chapter 14 Michael Rollins showed up on time . He trudged up the steps paying no attention to the greenery. When he got to the top, he stopped.   He ogled our little farmhouse for maybe thirty seconds. Finally he knocked at the door and I let him in. “Good morning,” I said. “Morning.” he mumbled.   “ If you don’t mind my asking, how did you come by this cottage?” “It’s more of a house,” I said. “Cottage sounds better.” “First of all, I don’t own it. The owner is a single man who’s ninety-something. Doesn’t get around much. I pay rent, but it’s a joke. He lets me stay here because I promised to take care of the garden. To be honest, he barely mentioned the house. He asked me to pay for power and water. So I do. And no, I’m not going to ask him to sell. Shall we?” I gestured toward a chair but he remained standing. “Shouldn’t you at least have a sign out front?” he asked. “No way.”          He shook his head in disgus...

Chapter 13 Rainbow was beginning to wonder.   It was dark outside. Jason drove the van as if she were not sitting beside him. She wasn’t there. Behind her in the back, Peewee remained silent. But then she never talked much anyway.   Rainbow was pretty sure they would have to leave Highway101 to get to Inverness, a cozy town with a little beach.          “What are we going to do there?” she asked.          “Dig for clams,” Peewee growled.          “I thought they did that in daytime,” said Rainbow.          “Night or day, it all depends on the tides,” said Jason.          “Oh.” They rode in silence for a while. Finally Rainbow said, ”We’re not going to dig for clams, are we.” “You are too dumb to live,” Peewee muttered.   Jason asked Rainbow, “What...