South Of Sideways by Jeff Zwagerman

Author:Jeff Zwagerman [Zwagerman, Jeff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-01-17T12:00:00+00:00

29

Fats decided to give Zander a call. He wondered where he was and if he had found anything about Mona.

The phone rang while Herbie was talking about friendship over his fourth drink. He was getting syrupy, and Zander was happy for the distraction of the phone. He moved outside to take the call.

“Hello.” Zander said, knowing it would be Fats.

“Hey, I haven’t heard a thing from you. Is everything all right?”

“I’m in Cedar Key.”

“Is that close to Key West?”

“Not really. Probably about as far apart as they could be on the map.”

“What the hell?” Fats said, exasperated.

Zander explained what had happened and that he would be heading down to Key West on Monday. It appeased Fats, somewhat.

“You know this whole thing is my fault. If I would just mind my own business, things like this would never happen.”

“It’s not who you are. If it were, we would never have connected. It is your one redeeming quality, even if it does piss me off most of the time.”

“A left-handed compliment if I ever heard one.”

“I like to call it south of sideways.”

“I like that,” Fats said, then got serious again, “You need to help me out on this one. I’ll owe you big.”

“You always do, but I’ll do my best. Just be prepared for the worst. You know who we’re dealing with by now.”

“Call me as soon as you know anything.”

“Will do.” Zander had to follow up on that promise. Fats had more guilt over involving Mona than he needed. Zander didn’t need to make it any worse.

Zander returned inside the Pelican Rail-Road and sat back down at the table.

“Bad news?” Herbie asked.

“Maybe. Fats is worried.” Zander said, not wishing to involve Mike and Nancy. “I need to get down to Key West on Monday. No later.”

“I’ll have you at the Key West Express right on time.”

“Have you made reservations? Mike asked. “It should be pretty safe in December, but you’d better make reservations.” He threw down a card with the phone number listed on it.

“It leaves by 7:00 in the morning, so you’ll have to go early on Monday morning or Sunday evening and get a place to stay,” Nancy said.

Zander looked at Herbie.

“It’s up to you, man. If you want to leave at 1:30 Monday morning I can do it. I’d prefer Sunday evening, though, if you’re asking me.”

“Me too.” Zander couldn’t imagine leaving at that hour. He would never be able to sleep before that anyway. “What day is it anyway?”

Mike and Nancy started to laugh. “That’s what we ask each other every day but we’re retired. Every day runs into the next, and soon it doesn’t matter.”

“It looks like Zander’s already fallen into that way of life,” Herbie said, slapping him on the back. It’s Friday, by the way.”

It embarrassed Zander for a moment. It wasn’t like him not to know what was happening around him.

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