For a Better City

by Peter W. J. Hayes

About the Author: Peter W. J. Hayes is a recovered marketing executive and author of the Silver-Falchion nominated Vic Lenoski mystery series, based in Pittsburgh. His short stories have been finalists for the Derringer and Al Blanchard awards, and he is a past finalist for the Crime Writers Association (CWA) Debut Dagger Award. He can be found at www.peterwjhayes.com.

Excerpt

Live in the moment, the counselors in rehab told him. The way they explained it, Charlie always thought they meant slow down, forget the past and the future. Burrow into your here and now. He gave it a try, feeling vaguely silly. But he couldn’t dismiss the pedestrians as they hurried past the coffee shop’s front window. The panel trucks and black Town Cars idling in traffic. He flinched at a hissing sound and caught himself. Just steam from a frothing wand.

He didn’t like the “live in the moment” phrase. He preferred the idea of “centering,” as explained to him by Jeb, who ran the half-way house where he stayed. Charlie translated it as staying true to himself, without ignoring everything around him. That fit with his situational awareness training in the Army, before his return home and the headlong pitch into booze. 

He breathed in slowly. Whichever worked. He guessed today he would need all the help he could find.

Right on time, Ivan pushed through the front door and stopped, his pale eyes scanning the tables. He acknowledged Charlie with an upward flick of his chin and signaled toward the barista. Charlie returned the nod and watched Ivan’s shoulders swing to match each stride as he walked to the counter. The movement gave him a feral, aggressive quality, like a big cat advancing on prey. The young barista shrank into herself as he approached, and Charlie knew she’d seen it too.

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