When Richard graduated from business school, he thought life would be easy. But a series of bad decisions leave him destitute. If he’s going to provide for his family, Richard must make deals he couldn’t imagine…
When Richard graduated from business school, he thought life would be easy.But a series of bad decisions leave him destitute.If he’s going to provide for his family, Richard must make deals he couldn’t imagine…
Excerpt
Coke.
A small pouch of gleaming crystals, shining like snow even in the gloom.
He’d heard it called angel dust, heard that it healed men’s wounds and cured their souls. He didn’t buy that. He’d seen first-hand what it did to people. Seen the haunted cast to their faces, the desperate light in their eyes when they were close to a hit.
It was disgusting. It debased them, made them somehow less than human.
Which begged the question of why he was standing here, in a dark alley at 12 a.m. Waiting to sell an entire ounce to James.
A black shape appeared at the entrance to the alley. He sighed in relief. Think of the devil.
“James!” Rats skittered away from the sudden sound. James spun to face him.
“Richard.” He loped towards the dealer, eyes fixed on the small bag in his hand.
He licked his scabbed lips. “That shit mine?”
“I told you not to say my name. If the cops get to you…” It was a bullshit reason, but he didn’t feel like explaining the real cause behind his secrecy. This area was too frequented, even at midnight. If someone he knew heard the name, if news got back to his wife and daughter…he shuddered.
“But yes, I have the cocaine.” He shook his head, wrestling with himself before curiosity prevailed. “As a dealer to a buyer though, I’m compelled to ask. Why do you want an entire ounce?”
James’s eyes shifted, scared. “I got…people…after me. They want this shit, to sell it or use it I don’t know.”
Richard nodded. Gangs, small mafias, aspiring drug lords; cocaine was a valuable commodity. He almost felt sorry for the man.
“Of course, I wouldn’ mind a little for myself. Something to get me goin’ before I hand everything over.” James licked his lips. Contempt flared in Richard but he forced it down.
“I understand. I’m assuming you brought my money?”
James reached for his wallet. Richard stared at it with the same desperate intensity James reserved for the bag of coke in his hand. Like he was considering taking it at gunpoint.
Professional Reviews
Gelat's Scoop, 5 stars
Deals by Julian Adorney is a really neat read. It is told in a very short words count, 1730 words, but it packs one heck of a wallope. I didn't know what to expect when I received it, but very quickly I felt fortunate to get the read in. Here is a synopsis of the digital short: "James is determined to provide a comfortable life for his family, but when his college degree fails to provide the goods he finds himself making deals he hadn't ever imagined. "
This was serious from the start and I can say that she moved the action rather quickly. The story raises many questions and sympathies. I would be interested to know where you fall on this and if you have any sympathy for James. I am not going to give mine right now, as I have no desire to spoil your enjoyment of the digital short. I would just say that don't judge a story by its word count, this packs a punch, and gets under the skin a bit. She has put together a very good plotline and executed it well. Make a `Deal" with yourself, don't pass this up.
News Flash from Julian Adorney herself: I have a contemporary fantasy short out on free podcast called 'Souls & Snowboarding', url is [...]. I'll also have a sci-fi thriller short coming out on Oct. 14, Murder, available free at Cynic Online Mag.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati's Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati's Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Serial killer Ted Bundy's murders recounted from the perspective of thirty years after his execution in a Florida prison.
Brutal, compelling, with new updated facts about the case, his victims and the compulsions that drove Ted Bundy to mass murder.
Prime-Time Crime Time (600 pages) is a collection of 35 fictional crime/detective stories and the work is author Jay Dubya's 43rd published hardcover/paperback book.
Prime-Time Crime Time (600 pages) is a collection of 35 fictional crime/detective stories and the work is author Jay Dubya's 43rd published hardcover/paperback book.
