Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Wednesday Briefs: The Sheriff #31 (8.4)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

Last week, if you'll recall, we left Dustin with Jordan, who's getting ready to rob the computer store where Dustin works, with Dustin's help. See what they're up to in today's chapter! And don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they've been doing. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

The Sheriff #31 (8.4)

“So what exactly do you think we’re going to do?” Dustin asked.  They’d arrived at the computer store,  a free-standing building in a lot all its own, and Jordan had driven around it, taking note of all the exits. Not that there were that many, just the one back door.

“You’ll find out when you need to know,” Jordan snapped. “They take deliveries back here?”

“Naw, front door,” Dustin replied, a little sullenly.

The more time Dustin spent with Jordan, the more he wanted to get away from him. Whatever spell the other man had woven about him was completely broken now. In fact, he loathed him completely, and wanted nothing more to do with him. Unfortunately, that wasn’t in the cards yet. The only way to get him completely out of Dustin’s life was to make sure Jordan was put away for the things he’d done, so he couldn’t hurt anyone else. Too bad being a major dick wasn’t anything he could go to prison for. Of course, if it was, the prisons would be a lot fuller than they already were.

Dear God, please just help me get out of this, and I promise to do better from now on. I’m tired of being the problem, I want to be the solution.

He couldn’t help but think of Roy. More than anything, he wanted to be like him. Whether Roy believed him or not, he truly admired and respected Roy. If he could work with him, and not with the Tucker Falls sheriff, he’d be happy. Anything else was just wishful thinking on his part.

So what now? There wasn’t anything else to be seen from out here. Dustin  hoped Jordan didn’t expect anything of a sexual nature from him, that he’d only been bluffing when he suggested it. Despite the fact that Roy was keeping on an eye on them, he didn’t know what Roy could do to help that from happening if they ended up at Jordan’s apartment. Not like he could bust down the door or anything, and what reason would he have for doing so? Not unless Dustin screamed “Rape” out the window, and he had a feeling Jordan would make him damn sorry if he even tried. He was surprised when Jordan pulled into a parking spot at the front of the building and parked.

“What are you doing?” Dustin asked.

“Have to know what’s inside too,” Jordan said.

“You were here before, remember?” Dustin said uneasily.

“And now I’m here again,” Jordan said. “Get your ass out of the car. I want to see what’s out on the floor.  And I want you to find out what’s in the back room.”

“How the hell am I supposed to do that?”

Jordan shrugged. “Not my problem. When do you work again?”

“Tomorrow night.”

“Good. That’s when we’ll do it,” Jordan said.

Dustin felt sick to his stomach. “I don’t work alone, you know.”

“Doesn’t matter. We’ll do it after the store closes. What kind of a moron do you take me for?”

Dustin was tempted to answer that question, but decided he should hold his tongue instead.

“I said get out. Now.

Dustin reluctantly opened the car door and slid out, glancing around at the few other cars in the lot.

Oh shit. That was Denver’s car he saw. Denver must be working today.

“C’mon.” Jordan beckoned to him. “We’re going in, and you’re going to follow my lead in everything, you understand?”

Knowing his cousin was right inside, Dustin could do no less than nod.  He silently followed Jordan inside the store. A familiar buzzer welcomed them, one that Dustin knew could be heard all over the store, including the back room. A way of letting people know their entrance had not gone unnoticed.
With any luck, Denver would be in the back room, taking inventory. Or on a break or something. He would rather his cousin not see him with Jordan.

But luck was not on Dustin’s side today.

“Hey man!” Denver was sitting behind the counter, his phone in his hand. He rose when he spotted Dustin, slid his phone into his pocket and came around the counter toward him. “I was beginning to think you were a ghost, I haven’t seen you in so long.”

“Very funny.” Dustin rolled his eyes. “Been busy, that’s all.”

We’ve been busy.” Jordan inserted himself smoothly into the conversation, even as he came up beside Dustin and wound his arm around Dustin’s waist. A casual observer might think what a sweet young couple, but Dustin felt the difference in the tightness with which Jordan gripped him. “Haven’t we, Dusty?”

Denver arched a brow at the use of the nickname he knew Dustin hated. Belatedly, Dustin realized he needed to make a response of some sort.

“Um, yeah.” Well, lame was better than nothing, right?

“What’s up?” Denver asked. He turned toward Jordan. “Can I help you find something?”

“I got what I need right here.” Jordan planted a kiss on Dustin’s cheek. Dustin wished the earth would open up and swallow him right then and there.

Just then the buzzer sounded again. Good, another customer. Keep Denver distracted so he could…

“Hey, Roy!” Denver exclaimed. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Holy hell, fuck me sideways.

What in the world did Roy think he was doing?

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers have been up to!



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