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About the Author: Dan DeVoto has had crime fiction as well as science fiction published in Heater, The Absent Willow Review, and Aphelion-Webzine. He also sold a screenplay which Hollywood in its infinite wisdom lets gather dust on a shelf.
“Three-eighty, four hundred, four-twenty, four-forty, sixty, seventy, seventy-five ...” Ricky stared at the stack of cash on the bed. “Down to our last five hundred.”
“We wouldn’t be if the tracks weren’t your second home,” Daphne said.
Ricky got up and lit a used cigarette from the cheap motel ashtray. He opened the curtain a slit and looked out past the ‘62 Comet at the night. “You know what the deal is. It’s your turn.”
“My turn, my ass,” Daphne practically spat. She stuffed the take-out cartons in the greasy paper bag and threw it in the garbage. “It isn’t my job to pay the piper every time you get us in a jam.”
“Come on! I did it last time. You think it’s fun romancing old ladies smelling like medicine reminiscing about their dearly departed?”
“Likewise.”
“I did it last time. I did the sweet talking and got the money. That’s our deal. I go, then you go. You pick the mark and I close, then I do the same for you. We’re a team, that’s how it works.”
“So now you wanna pimp me out to some sucker with a bank account and a lonely heart,” she said bitterly. “Don’t you love me, Ricky? Don’t you want me all to yourself?”
“Hey, hey! That ain’t professional. We put our feelings aside. We got a good thing going. Don’t muck it up.”
“You still didn’t answer if you loved me.”
Absolutely loved this story. Thought I had it solved about half way through. Boy, was I wrong! Congratulations for an excellent short story.
I really enjoyed YOUR TURN. Daphne pulled one on me, also. I figured she and Deep Pockets were going to scram with the money, leaving Ricky holding the (empty) bag. Nice twist! Again, fine job, Dan. I'm also a writer. I write the Mac McClellan Mystery series (Camel Press). I also help manage a blog. If interested, contact me at: emhelms63 at yahoo.com. Best of luck with your writing! --Michael
Fantastic!
I enjoyed the twist in the tail of the tale. Ricky certainly had it coming.
A great story, nice twist to the ending. I had an "inkling" she was going to fool them both.....
I like the gritty realism.
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