The Edge Of The World

by Albert Tucher

About the Author: Albert Tucher is the creator of prostitute Diana Andrews, who has appeared in 100 short stories and the novella THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE. He recently spun off characters from Diana's world into a second series set on the Big Island of Hawaii, in which the forthcoming BLOOD LIKE RAIN will be the fourth novel. Albert Tucher lives in New Jersey, and he loves NJ Turnpike jokes.

Excerpt

If Big Island folklore had it right, Agnes Rodrigues owned every woman’s business suit in Hawaii County.

She was willing to stipulate it. On this informal island no one would dress up except to plead in court, and the local bar would look like a boys’ club without her.

So the woman showing up at Agnes’s door in a black suit from Saks might not know it, but she was already picking a fight. Agnes thanked the instinct that had made her skip over a tan poplin and settle on her best basic black. Whatever this woman wanted, Agnes didn’t plan to start down a point.

“I’m Katherine Ostler. Your new landlord.”

Agnes disciplined an urge to ask, “Since when?” Looking as if the woman had taken her by surprise wouldn’t help.

Especially when it was true.

Ostler handed Agnes a printout with a terse list of figures. The numbers added up in a way that Agnes didn’t like.

“Your lease is up in two months. The new lease will include these increases every three months for a year, ending with the bottom figure.”

“New York is five thousand miles that way,” said Agnes.

“I’m from New York. Your point?”

“These numbers would play there. Maybe even in Honolulu, but this is Hilo.”

“I could just raise you all at once. You can also move.”

“You’re going to lose everybody in the building, and nobody else in this town will touch the place at these prices.”

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