Snippet Sunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – March 27, 2016

Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group for writers I’ve been hanging out with.

From the group guidelines; “Welcome to Snippet Sunday, where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project–whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.”

This week’s snippet picks up right where we left off- with Jake and Marisa in Beau’s Bar & Grill. The presence of Marisa’s ex and his friends threatens to complicate their evening.

Unsure of exactly what he’s stumbled into, Jake has just asked Marisa, “What happens to you if I walk out of here alone?”

“You’re not gonna do that, are you, Jake?” she asked. “Walk out of here alone?”

“Does that worry you?”

She took some time to consider her answer. The clash of conflicting emotions on her face reminded me of a six car pileup on the Jersey Turnpike.

“It’s not what you think, Jake.”

I gave her some time to reconsider her answer.

“All right,” she relented, “it is what you think. But it only happened once and I took care of the problem myself.”

She starting talking faster. Faster and louder.

“After he knocked me around the house that night I hid out on the porch and waited for him to do what he always does after a big night.”

“What’s that?”

“Drinks too much beer and falls asleep on the couch. I waited ’til he started snoring, then got the shotgun out of the truck, went on in, and jammed it right up into his crotch.”
“Very effective,” I said.

“I promised him a twelve-gauge vasectomy if he didn’t swear to never put his hands on me like that again.”

“And he’s held up his end of the deal?”

“More or less.”

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Snippet Sunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – March 20, 2016

Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group for writers I’ve been hanging out with.

From the group guidelines; “Welcome to Snippet Sunday, where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project–whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.”

We last left our heroes hanging out in Beau’s Bar & Grill. A trio of Jed’s buddies has just arrived, running the numbers to five-to-one against Jake…

I watched the standard ceremony of handshakes and back slaps as the new arrivals gathered around Jed. The taller of the two bearded men hooted at Beau for service.

The big bartender sent a sour look my way, replaced the gun from where he’d taken it, then went over to take their orders.

Great barks of laughter from the end of the bar cut through the music. The handshaking and back slapping wasn’t over yet. Mickey and Jed’s other three pals were having a grand time. Jed nursed his beer in silence.

It was an interaction I’d seen dozens of times, the pack circling around the leader, each member fighting to win the title of most enthusiastic lieutenant.

“The gang’s all here,” said Marisa. “Now what?”

“Ever see those clowns in a scrap?” I asked, continuing to observe the ritual.

“You mean all of ’em together?” She took a look toward Jed and his boys.

Jed chose that moment to shift his gaze in our direction.

“Can’t say as I have,” she continued. “I’ve heard stories of them ganging up on people. Never saw them doing it, though.”

I nodded, turning my attention back to her. I saw fear in her eyes, fear and enough of something else to make me wonder how much ex there really was in their relationship.

“What happens if I walk out of here alone?” I asked.

She regarded me with an expression of worry and insouciance in nearly equal parts.

“To me or to you?”

“Let’s start with you.”

The stiffness in the set of her jaw and neck revealed how hard she had to work to not look toward Jed. I looked at him for her.

The guffawing had quieted down now that each man had a beer in his hand. Jed held court in the middle, engaging his crew in quiet conversation.

“You’re not gonna do that, are you, Jake?” she asked. “Walk out of here alone?”

Thanks for stopping by to read, and thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.

Please take the time to check out the work of other Snippet Sunday authors.

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Snippet Sunday – Hard-Boiled/Noir WIP – March 6, 2016

Snippet Sunday is a Facebook group for writers I’ve been hanging out with.

From the group guidelines; “Welcome to Snippet Sunday, where writers come together to share a few sentences of their current project–whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.”

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post a snippet.

When we left off, Marisa was telling Jed not to expect much help from anyone in the bar– including Beau, the proprietor– in his potential confrontation with her ex-husband Jed and his pals.

“Beau?” she asked, turning to look. “He’ll defend his bar, sure. Probably call the sheriff for you too, but I wouldn’t expect much more.”
The big bar owner glanced my way. I tried catching his eye. He didn’t return the look but he didn’t look away either.
“I don’t think he scares that easily,” I said.
She shrugged, moving to eliminate any remaining space between us in the process.
“Let’s worry about it when there’s something to worry about,” she said.
“Easy for you to say,” I replied, slipping my arms around her.
She rolled her hips to the beat and tried to pull me toward the middle of the dance floor. I planted my feet where we were.
“This is a good position,” I said, reeling her back in.
“I’ll have to remember that,” she replied, resting her hands on my shoulders.
Jed’s flunkies took another two tunes to arrive.
Three guys in ratty black concert t-shirts– two of them with mullets and matching lumberjack beards, one of them clean-shaved with short blonde hair– rumbled into the bar. They all had that lanky, yet big-boned, build common to bodies accustomed to long hours of physical labor.
They walked right by us on their way to join Jed at the end of the bar.
Jed didn’t look up from his beer.
Beau’s hand dipped back beneath the bar as they passed. I got an eyeful of a walnut brown gun stock when it came back up.

Thanks for stopping  by to read & thanks for any feedback you feel inclined to leave.

Please make sure to check out the work of other Snippet Sunday writers…