“Good evening, Debbie. How are you doing tonight?”
“Been here long?” she asked her brother originally husband Dickie. “I… couldn’t decide what to wear. I just ended up coming as your sister. *Simplify* is what I say.” She takes another sip of her espresso, looks out the window.
“That’s Lake Ontario,” says the brother formerly husband. “Halfway here, halfway there.”
“Isn’t everything these days.” They sip in unison, tacit agreement with each other.
They catch up. Dickie fills in Debbie about Joey Avatar and Black Bart and the man who’s perhaps responsible for most evil in this town of Ontario which seems to be Ontario itself, one James or Jim L. Brown. “Pusher if not a taker,” he elaborates. He instinctively feels for his wallet again.
“Drugs?” she responds, glancing about the place to make sure no one was around still.
“Implied,” he said. “Through the indicator (Dasher).”
“Hmm,” she said, thinking of nothing else to say. It *couldn’t* be that simple. Pan-Z or Pot-D surely had more complicated reasons for being here. But she’s simplifying; maybe they are too. Ditching the paranormal aspect.
“You?” he said to fill the gap. “How’s Lorsters Worst going?”
“Oh I’m not there any more. Elisa took my place there.”
“Elisa?” He sipped, recalling her from other assignments. She always requested to be a red clad lady of the night. He thought she secretly just wanted to be a hooker outright, forget the force or group or whatever they’re calling our collective these days. He says his thoughts aloud for his sister.
“Could be, (sip). My theory: they let me out of the gig because I couldn’t find what was behind the purple door.”
“Elaborate,” he requested. His coffee was done. Time to light a fag. Fags always got his organizational brain going after a prerequisite caffeine boost. The more smoke filled his eyes, the better he could see.
“Oh dear,” she said, seeing the tears and redness. “Let me get you a rag.”
“No no, it’s just the smoke. Helps me think.” He continues to organize his thoughts and tear up, redness increasing. But he’s about to come up with something. He bursts out crying, finally putting the cigarette down. He loves his sister, he realizes. He never got beyond being the husband.
(to be continued)
Sunklands 