“Ms. Arceneaux, keep that woman in your lobby and keep my son beside her,” I said. “I am driving down tonight.” Loveland to Denver is fifty minutes on a good …

The Turkey Fryer Read More

“Brad, stop the car,” I said. He did not. He rolled the Lexus up to the press house and cut the engine, and the headlights threw our shadows across my …

The Old Block Read More

“Mr. Voss,” I said, because I remembered the name from the check, “I did not expect to see you in Statesboro.” The tall man from Atlanta rose from the bench …

The Love Offering Read More

“Annette, stay on the line,” I said, standing in my garage with the phone against my ear and the banker box open at my feet. “I am going into my …

The Back Seat Read More

“Open the door, Manny,” I said, “but stay close.” My sister Wanda stood at the bottom of my porch steps in the long blue coat, with the streetlight on her …

Mama Lo Bus Pass Read More

“Lionel, what did you do?” I asked, standing under the buzzing light of the Shell with my wife envelope in my hand. For a long moment my brother only breathed …

The Pinhook Machine Read More

“Tom, call your fraud desk back and tell them to freeze every account in my name,” I said. “Do it right now, from my kitchen, while I am standing here.” …

The Paper Plate Read More

“It is, Mr. Pratt,” I said. “And thank you for sending it to me instead of keeping it.” The gray haired man in the bolo tie, Wendell Pratt of Austin, …

The 1871 Bible Read More

“Mother Odessa,” I said, standing up so quickly that my chair scraped the floor, “you knew my Gloria?” The tiny woman in the church hat nodded and tapped her cane …

The Gold Band Read More

“Thank you, Marian,” I said. “I was not sure I had the nerve.” Marian Pell, the silver haired woman who ran the largest law firm in Boise, gave me a …

Moon River Piano Read More