Handed, On A Gold Plate

by Robert Mangeot

About the Author: Robert Mangeot’s more than two dozen published short stories appear here and there, including ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S MYSTERY MAGAZINE, THE FORGE LITERARY MAGAZINE, LOWESTOFT CHRONICLE, MYSTERY WEEKLY MAGAZINE, MWA’s ICE COLD, THE ODDVILLE PRESS, and the Anthony-winning MURDER UNDER THE OAKS. When not writing, he is talking about writing at workshops or serves as the current Vice President for the Southeast chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

Excerpt

It’s after nine already, and Wade still doesn’t know what to do with his hands. These are the pre-broadcast procedures, a short hour yet before tonight’s Tri-State Gold Plate lotto draw hits air. He’s watched his audit firm’s other staffers do the evening pick fours, and everybody holds their arms down like fool robots. Wade is finally here, finally seizing his shot at the Lottery’s riverfront studio and his first Gold Plate he’s to certify from stage left. He’ll be onscreen at the intro zoom-in. A flash tops. Wade aims to nail it.

The studio is tiny, black curtains and carpet, smaller than the soundstage Wade imagined. It has plain walls and a bare floor. Small, but the drawing platform waits like an island of satin and glitz in the low dark. Left of it is where he’ll stand and in no time become a commanding figure in auditor lore.

Wade has practiced belt-buckling his hands at the sternum, how TED Talk people do. Here against that glittering stage, the clamped hands feel too closed-off, like he’s protecting a wound. He could fold his arms for the intro. Casual. Confident. Or too brash, probably.

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