Casey jumped when he felt
someone tap his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see Marcia standing beside him,
her derrière resting on the back of the seat in front of him.
“You slept through my audition,”
she said with a pout that turned to a smile seconds later.
“No. I slept after it,” he
told her, returning the smile. “And, as a very partial observer. I think you
should be a shoo-in for the role.”
“Thanks. I hope the director
feels the same way but I won’t know for a couple of days one way or the other.”
She finally sat down next to him, putting her legs up on the row in front of
them. “You look like death warmed over, if you don’t mind my saying so. Rough
day?”
“Rough night actually. I
didn’t get much sleep.”
“Then why are you here and
not home in bed?”
“Because I promised I would
be.”
“You didn’t have to. I mean
you hardly know me.”
“A fact that I’d like to
change,” he said just before a yawn took over.
Marcia laughed. “I think
that was your brain telling you to stop talking before you get yourself into
trouble.”
“So getting to know you
would get me into trouble?” he asked, one eyebrow rising in disbelief.
“Well, I would hope not,
unless you’re so tired you fall asleep at the wheel going home because you came
here first.” She patted his arm. “Why are you tired? Out partying on a Thursday
night?”
“I wish. Well, not really
but it would have been better than almost getting shoved in front of a car. I
had nightmares about that afterwards.”
“You what?! Are you
serious?”
Casey nodded. “I don’t think
it was on purpose. I think someone stumbled or something then reached out to
stop from falling and ended up shoving me into the street.” He shook his head.
“The only thing that pisses me off is they didn’t stick around to apologize.”
“Now if I were writing a
mystery that would have been the first in several attempts to kill you and make
it look like an accident,” she said, smiling slightly.
“Second.”
“What?” She looked at him in
shock.
“Just kidding.” Casey
shrugged. “Last weekend while I was up at my cabin some damned fool hunter took
a shot at me. Well not me per se. I suspect he though either I or Duke was some
animal. Luckily I moved or he’d have hit me.”
“Whoa. Are you serious?” Marcia
looked at him as if trying to decipher whether he was pulling her leg for some
reason.
“Quite. But before you think
something’s going on no one hates me.” He smiled a bit sourly. “Well except for
my soon to be ex.”
“That you know of.”
“Marcia, come on, you’re
letting that imagination of yours run away with you.”
“I’m good at that,” she
admitted. “But it doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
“No, but it doesn’t mean
your right either.” Casey stretched, and yawned again.
“Alright, I think it’s time
to call it a night. Besides they’re going to kick us out of here any second now
anyway.” She got up, waiting for him to join her, and then they walked to the
theater’s lobby. A man stood at the door as if waiting for them. He smiled at
Marcia, telling her they’d be in touch with her soon.
“Yes!” she whispered to
Casey after the man let them out. “Maybe, just maybe...“
“Sounds promising to me.
Where are you parked?”
“In the side lot.”
“Good, me too.”
They strolled around the
corner to find theirs were two of the few remaining cars in the lot. “So is
yours the Ferrari or the MG,” he asked.
“Try the battered Chevy. I’m
so not the fancy-yancy car type. If it runs I’m good. I bet yours it that big,
maroon SUV.”
“You got it.” He followed
her as she crossed the lot to her car. When she opened the door he asked,
hesitantly, “Are you busy tomorrow night?”
“I’m afraid so. There’s a
big party that I have to work.”
“Oh. Alright.”
“But I’m free Sunday.”
“Oh!” His face lit up.
“Would you like to take in a movie or something?” He shook his head. “I’m
really out of practice at this.”
“You’re doing just fine, and
I’d love to go to a movie. Call me and we’ll figure out which one and all
that.”
“Sure, if you give me your
number.”
“Oh gee, yeah that would
help.” She took a pen and a slip of paper from her purse, writing it down.
“Just don’t call before noon. I’m a real grump ‘til I’ve had my coffee and read
the Sunday funnies.”
“I promise I won’t,” he
replied with a chuckle.
* * * *
Okay folks, an announcement
of sorts.
No comments:
Post a Comment