How the Gods Shook, Excerpt One

The excerpt below is from a book I never published, titled How the Gods Shook or A Season Underneath.

“Afternoon, Bite Size,” she breathed in her smooth contralto.

“What’s up with you and Cecil?” I asked, pointing my chin towards 5th.

“We were talking.”

“I could see that.”

“Then why’d you ask?” Her blue eyes flashed with belligerence. She took a sip from her water bottle, which I just noticed she was holding. I pined for my pilfered coffee.

“How do you know him?” I prodded.

“I went to high school with him and he just moved around here, in that new place on 7th. His dad works for the city. Remember the whats-it inspector before we opened this up?”

“I remember.”

“Why, how do you know him?”

“You don’t want to know. He’s sketchy. More than that, really.”

“He’s harmless.”

“You don’t know him like I do.”

“Is that right?” Her face, joining her eyes, turned to angled steel. “Can I ask why you’re trying to get me in a bad mood?”

Her loaded question was dissuasive. “I’m sorry. I’m just not feeling good today.”

“What’s wrong? No sleep?” Her face softened with concern immediately.

“Weird sleep. And there are some serious problems. And someone stole my coffee. Let’s get inside – we need to discuss things.”