It's Been A While

Every body gets busy during the school year. It's just how it works. For a while, I was pumping out content way faster than most of my faithful readers could keep up... and I may have slowed it down too much. So, what could I possibly due to make it up to Constant Reader? How about an excerpt from Two Wizard Roulette from the near final stages of the editing process.

I needed to find a payphone.
I won’t go into the technical details of why it needed to be a payphone, but like paper maps, those were a dying breed. Still, this was a part of Colfax Avenue that prided itself on being retro. I was sure I could find one if I just kept walking around in the area near Isis Books. I went a little farther than intended and my Catholic guilt kicked in as I walked past one of the adult bookstores. I was pretty open minded about other people’s sexual preferences and habits. My preference had been hardwired to guilty. I blushed at the thought that I may have tried to sneak in there once upon a time as a pre-teen. An odd piece of karma dictated that the first payphone I saw had direct line of sight to the bright red dirty bookshop.
I used it anyway, beggars can’t always be choosers. I picked it up, checked to make sure it had a dial tone, deposited two quarters, and dialed. I hated using this number, but I didn’t see a whole lot of other options to make sure I didn’t have a CRT team out looking for me.
“Unless they already are and you’re leading them right to us.”
The line rang three times, then clicked to a staticky silence. I punched in 0710, both my personal code and birth date. It rang once more.
I was quickly greeted by Duchess’ silky smooth voice. “Why, if it isn’t the badboy himself! How are you, Mister Fisher?”
“In Denver, actually. Doing pretty good other than blushing like a schoolgirl.”
“Mmm.” Her voice hummed back in my ear. “I do seem to have a talent for that with you. Fortunate, since you seem immune to the rest of my abilities.”
“I have nothing but the utmost respect for your skills. Speaking of which…”
Her tone was immediately professional. “What do you need, Mister Fisher?”
“My wallet got lost in a car accident. Any way you can cancel the debit card and get me a replacement?”
There was only a momentary pause. “Would you like your new wallet in brown or black leather?”
I shook my head, always amazed by her unflappable nature. “It doesn’t matter.”
A few clicks came through from her end. “I have a bike messenger ordered and on their way to you. Stay by the phone till it arrives.” Another pause. “Is the car accident anything that Mister Valente should be concerned about?”
“No, umm,” I panicked not entirely sure of what was okay to say on a public telephone and what wasn’t. I had heard all lines in and out of Valente International were under constant wiretap by at least three different alphabet agencies. “The car got lost in the desert?”
Silence greeted me. Then, “Mister Fisher, every time I think you cannot possibly surprise me again, you manage it. Then it does not relate to your friends in the suits?”
“No. Nope. Just little old me.”
“Do you need any more assistance than just a wallet? A new vehicle? Your car shipped to you?”
I almost jumped on that offer. I was missing Dora, my vintage Mustang, something fierce. But given I was about to face off with a guy known for massive property damage, she was probably better off in Boston. “I think the wallet will do. Am I really the badboy now?”
“You’re still in Mister Valente’s good graces, if that’s what you mean. He suspects what you’re up to, but…” Her voice drifted back towards the sensual alto that always conjured images of her Marilyn Monroe body in my mind. “Your rebel spirit is part of what he admires about you.”
“Thank you, Duchess. I’ll wait for the messenger.” I hung up the phone quickly.
I did learn something else from the call, other than that Valente and I were still good. I would never, ever, ever admit to Duchess that I was blushing again.

Two Wizard Roulette will be out May/June 2017. Book 1, Frostbite, is available now from fine booksellers and libraries everywhere.