All Night Long by Rachel Amphlett

Author:Rachel Amphlett [Amphlett, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781915231277
Publisher: Saxon Publishing

SIX

3am

* * *

Carl was his name.

Fifty-six, lived in Drummond, happily divorced.

“I’ve got a daughter. About the same age as you, I reckon. She’s a schoolteacher in Missoula.” Carl’s eyes softened, and after dabbing at his phone screen a couple of times, he turned it around to face her. “That’s her, with her partner Diane.”

“That’s nice.” Zoe turned away, wiping the cloth across the counter.

“Yeah. They’ve got two dogs, too. Shiatzus. Tiny things.”

She heard the note of disdain in his voice and glanced up. “Don’t you like dogs?”

“I do, but they’re not exactly proper dogs, are they?” He placed his phone on the counter and took another bite from his sandwich, chewing loudly. “I mean, it’s not like they’re a Great Dane or something like that. A Rottweiler, for instance. I’ve seen rats bigger than these two.”

Zoe laughed, despite everything.

“So how come Vince and Bettina aren’t around tonight?”

She shrugged, her smile fading. “They had to go out at short notice.”

Carl frowned. “How long have you been here?”

“Started at eight.”

Six fucking hours ago.

“This your first shift?”

“Yeah.” She pouted. “Does it show?”

“You’re doing just fine. Shame the fryers and griddle are out though. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the coffee’s great but it’s freezing outside.” He spun on the stool to look at the parking lot. “At least it’s a dead night for you though.”

“True.” She waited until he turned back to his food. “I don’t suppose you’ve got a phone charger I could borrow while you’re having that?”

His bottom lip puckered before he shook his head. “Sorry, hon. I plug mine into a USB thingy in the truck while I’m driving. I don’t use a charger. I probably would if I had to stay more than two nights anywhere but I got out of the real long haul game three years back. Say, does that TV work?”

Zoe’s gaze traveled to the beat-up flat screen on the bracket above the booth at the far end. “I don’t know. I haven’t tried it.”

“The clicker thing’s behind you. Wouldn’t mind seeing the weather report.” Carl jerked his head towards the window. “Hopefully, that’s not going to get any worse before I reach Ellensburg.”

“I think the batteries are dead.” She picked up the remote and turned it in her hands.

Truth be told, she didn’t want to switch on the TV.

Didn’t want to see the weather report.

Certainly didn’t want to see the news.

“Ah, give it a go. Otherwise, there’ll be a manual button underneath the screen. I can always try that.”

Fuck it.

Zoe aimed the remote at the screen, which flashed to life in a split second, sound roaring through the diner.

“Woah.” Carl reared back at the sensory overload, then turned to her as she thumbed the controls and the reportage returned to a normal level. “Guess Vince and Bettina must’ve been blasting out the music channels earlier today, eh?”

“Someone must’ve been.” She managed a smile, put down the remote with a trembling hand and eyed the TV while a forecaster started to wave his hand over an isobar graphic.

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