1000-word excerpt
Krudville is full of hypocrites, Shelly I do get it. Mackey said. He looked momentarily at her. Then he looked back to the highway. You may be honest in your own mind, Shelly but youre no better than them.
Up yours!
You have no soul.
Maybe not, but who the hell needs a soul? What good is it? Ive got all I need to get by and you know what Im talking about!
Youre empty. Youre just a shell.
Empty my ass.
Youve betrayed your husband and abandoned your son. Dont even try to take the moral high ground around me, okay? That crap is just plain wrong, Shelly.
Wrong? Who the hell are you to tell me whats right and whats wrong?
Youre nothing but a cheap drug slut, and we both know it. Thats what this whole deal is all about.
Screw you! she hissed. I was just beginning to like you. Youre no different than the rest of them!
Hey, Im here to do my job then go home. I dont have to like what Im doing, and I dont have to like you. As a matter of fact, I dont like you. If we keep that in mind, well be okay.
Yeah. Fine. Just you find that stinking motel, she growled. Lets get this done, okay?
You know something? Mackey replied, as he pulled the car to the shoulder of the highway. He stopped the car. His face was flushed. You listen!
Shelly quieted down.
You shut your face and listen to me! he demanded.
She sat quietly, pouting.
You dont have anything on Sparky we wont get sooner or later. Chief Teranostus wants this guy. You remember something, and you remember it well if Chief Teranostus didnt want this guy real bad, we would have both thrown you to the dogs. Dont you doubt for a minute Chief Teranostuss drug guys want you dead. You could compromise their whole operation. I hope for your sake youre smart enough not to try and mess with them once this deal goes through. I hope what youre selling is legit!
She said nothing.
Im here because I hate druggies as far as Im concerned people like you create more human misery than anyone should be allowed to get away with.
People like me, huh? What the hell do you know about people like me? Ive been handed nothing but shit all the way back twenty years before you were even born.
You created your own shit, Shelly. People like you are so self-centered youre blinded to the misery trail you leave behind everywhere you go you wreck families, ruin the lives of your children, drag the civilized among us down to your own sleazy level just so we can put a lid on your rotten habits so you dont ruin all our lives. Shelly I know about you and your doper buddies because its people like Chief Teranostus and me who follow behind you people and scoop up the shitty piles you leave behind you are all nothing but human garbage not even fit to feed to hogs.
Are you done yet? Just find that stinking motel.
Mackey had something else in mind.
Im pulling off at the next exit, he said. Well both get out, get some fresh air. I need to stretch a little bit, and take a breather. Shelly youre pissing me off.
Just find that stinking motel.
Only a couple of more miles. Theres a side road about a quarter of a mile around the curve. Well stop there.
Yeah, she mumbled. Ive got to pee anyway.
A little more than a quarter of a mile down the road, Mackey pulled onto a side road.
It was a dirt road that led back into some thickly wooded areas.
He parked the car, but left the motor running. He got out, and stretched. The wind was chilling and fierce.
You might as well get out, he said. Im not leaving here until Im good and ready.
Shelly got out. She looked around.
Im going back into the brush and pee, she said. Then can we find that stupid motel and get this done?
Modest, are you?
Up yours, you jerk. I want out of this wind. Im going to pee then lets find that stinking motel.
Sure, Shelly. We can do that.
Shelly walked about ten yards into thick brush and looked for a place to squat. She found a spot behind a high bush, out of the wind and completely out of Mackeys line of sight.
You really dont like me, do you? she called out. The howling of the wind drowned out her voice.
Mackey did not answer.
Shelly finished, and she pulled up her jeans, and she started back toward the car.
You really dont like me, do you? she called again.
Still no answer.
She entered back onto the road to return to the car to warm up.
The car was gone.
About a half-a-mile down the highway, Mackey was laughing as he drove along, the backpack now on the seat beside him. He had played his hunch. A really fast rummage through the contents while she was in the bushes confirmed she had gotten careless. Everything she had appeared to be in the backpack. He guessed she had planned a very simple exchange, and then she would disappear.
Good-bye, Shelly! he growled. As you said you cant trust anybody in the drug racket. Thanks for everything you stupid pothead. I hope you freeze your stupid scum-sucking head off.
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