I knew the porter there. As I came through the revolving doors, he said, “Rough night, Jack?” “Yeah.” “None of us getting any younger.” I palmed him a few notes, said, “Get us a pint and a half one.” The Southern, of course, is not an early house. Good Lord, God forbid. It does have a huge lobby ...
A man in his forties stood there, dressed in a waistcoat, pants suit, white shirt, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened. He was plain looking, not one feature to distinguish him, a face in the crowd. Full head of neat brown hair, regular features, average height. Slim build and a tension now in his bo...
‘I’m a mick.’ ‘You’re on the wrong crew. How come you ain’t driving nails?’ ‘I’m a spy.’” —SJ Rozan, No Colder Place MY ZOMBIE TWIN, NICK. Something had happened to him in the few days between the charade at the heist and this evening. Wouldn’t talk about it. Couldn’t very well throw stones at hi...
Doc grabbed my arm, ‘You’re leggin’ it already.’ ‘Yeah, I’m funned out.’ ‘Oh, that’s rich Cooper.’ ‘Was there something?’ ‘Hardware. We’re gonna need some shooters right – the guy fell thru but I got another address. Here, you go arm us.’ ‘But this is in Islington.’ ‘What, you think they only sel...
“Get tae fuck.” It was an hour from Edinburgh to Dublin, all cramped up in the belly of a Ryanair with attendants who didn’t bother to show us the escape doors. One of ’em had the pure blarney shite running free from his puss. I could tell he was a poof, likes. Graham Nort...
I dunno what prompted me to do so, but I was in full flight, listing the different fields I’d read. When I was done, she said, “The books of a self-taught man, a working man. We all know how they are, distressing egotistic insistent raw striking and ultimately nauseating.” “You snooty bitch.” She...
The second, a head shot, knocked him down. Ray Cross thought he’d killed him, hesitated, then stepped over the copper and ran for all he was worth. He couldn’t believe they were on to him so fast. The past 24 hours had been among the most shocking of his erratic life: having the money, successful...
Laid out that stark phrase like a flat hammer, turned to look at me, then, “Anthony de Burgo.” Then, bitterness leaking all over his words, he sprinted, “Impressive name, huh? And fuck me, Tony’s an impressive fellow: Lectures in Anglo-Irish lit, has numerous academic essa...
I Want To Die There And Not Within Walls Ten Bears, Comanche, At Midicine Lodge, 1867 ‘Thank you for the lovely roses.’ Shona said. We were in at the restaurant in Central Park, enjoying late Winter sun, I was a-glow, as we’d made love the evening before and Jesus Wept, it was brilliant. Roses, t...
The other cops, grudgingly went: ‘Sarge.’ The term like bile in their respective throats. She was summoned to Brown’s office. She was confident the Super had a little congratulatory speech prepared, the first black female sergeant! She thought to herself: It’s been a long time coming. And she res...
When you do hard time, it’s nigh impossible to ever make a home. You get it all comfy, the screws come and move you or toss it or piss all over the floor. Keep it simple. Keep it mobile. He’d packed two pairs of black 501s – they were the old full-faded jobs he’d got in Kensington Market. In the ...