LLOYD, PAUL R. by Hags Read Free Book Online

Funny, he didn’t recognize you.”
    “Twenty years is a long time. Spend
fifteen years in prison and you don’t come out the way you went in at age
eighteen.”
    “So why did you come back to
Naperville?”
    Micah fiddled with his napkin,
keeping his eyes on his lap. “Not sure what I’m after. Peace of mind maybe. I
hope somehow to prove my innocence.”
    “Little late. What can you do? You
already served your time. Could you sue the state?”
    Micah looked at Denise. “No,
nothing like that. I’ll know it when I find it. Right now it’s gnawing away at
my insides.”
    “After dinner, we will head back to
my place for drinks. I’ll fix you a brew to kill anything chewing away at your
insides?”
    “I don’t think a brew will cure my
problems.”
    “This one will. So do you want to
hear about my deep, dark secret?” Denise adjusted her napkin and smiled.
    “You have great legs?”
    “They’ve been noticed before.”
    “You fly on a broom stick late at
night?”
    “Shhh! Don’t tell anyone.”
    “Wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve already
seen Ahlman Brown fly around like a faerie early in the morning.”
    “He’s an angel. I’m finished, and
your plate is empty. Let’s head back.”
    “Don’t you want dessert?”
    “If you admire my legs the way they
are, don’t ever offer me dessert, okay?”
    “Speaking of legs, didn’t you offer
a close up inspection back at your place?”
    “Don’t get
fresh with me. I only mentioned a drink.”
    ***
    Micah lay on his back in a field of
grass wet with dew. Stars shone above against a black sky. Feminine lips
tickled his right ear as a young girl’s voice whispered, “We’re going to turn
your world upside down.”
    He awoke and headed for the
bathroom. He took care not to disturb Denise who snored and grunted on her side
of the bed. She had the covers pulled around herself and over her head to form
a cocoon.
    When he returned to the bedroom, a
breeze rustled the curtains. Micah searched the darkness for a ghost in case
one didn’t want him spending the night with Denise Appleby.
    As he stepped close to the bed,
Fritz raised his hackles and spit at him.
    “Out of the way, cat. You’ll have
to learn to share your mistress.”
    Fritz hissed again.
    Micah ignored
the lump of blanket that contained Denise and shivered before falling back to
sleep. He didn’t know how long he had been out when he woke again. He glanced
around the dark room. Street light cast an eerie glow on the furnishings. In
the corner near a window, Micah detected movement. A shadow stepped into the light.
Ahlman Brown smiled. He flew out the window with his gossamer wings buzzing
like a freight train followed by whooshing wind.
    ***
    Micah shook his head to clear it.
He placed his hand on the other side of the bed, but instead of Denise, he
found Fritz curled up asleep in the blankets.
    “Morning, Fritz.” Micah dressed and
then navigated his way into the hall, down the stairs and to the kitchen.
    Micah did a quick freeze. He
relaxed. “Good morning.”
    An old woman, gray, wrinkled and
toothless, smiled at Micah and nodded. She laughed.
    Micah smiled back. “Where’s
Denise?”
    “You want breakfast, young man?”
    “Are you Denise’s grandmother?” She
has to be, Micah decided. She’s too old to be her mother.
    “I can make my nice johnnycakes for
you.” The woman cackled.
    “Did Denise go out?”
    The old woman cackled again.
    “When Denise comes back, tell her
I’ll see her later.”
    “You’ll see her later, young man.
With or without my johnnycakes.”
    “Not hungry at
the moment.” Micah gave a lame smile and ambled out the front door.
    ***
    Micah smiled at a woman with green
eyes, bright red hair and soft rosy freckles. “Isn’t Peevy working today?” A
rush of warmth filled Micah’s cheeks.
    The green eyes clouded. “She’s in
the back.”
    “Hope she stays there.”
    “Oh, you must be him.” The girl’s
eyes brightened again.
    “You’re not