Slipway Grey: A Deep Sea Thriller by Dane Hatchell, Mark C. Scioneaux Read Free Book Online Page B

each and asked the crowd to vote by applause. Sarah and Mandy were the last two on the end. There was no question they were the two most popular and no doubt Mandy was the clear winner.
    Chet and Desmond waited near the bathroom for the girls to get dressed. A few minutes later, Glenn and Luke joined the other two guys, holding drinks. Mandy and the girls walked out of the bathroom, giggling.
    “Here, hold this.” Mandy handed a heavy plastic bag to Chet. “What’s this?”
    “Wet shirts and panties. We’re going commando.” “What’d you win?”
    “A tee shirt.”
    “A tee shirt? After that performance? You girls could do that every Friday night and sell tickets.”
    Glenn stepped up to Sarah and shoved a drink her way. “Here, Sarah. I thought you might be thirsty after all that…dancing.”
    Sarah took the drink. “What is it?”
    “A bushwhacker. It’s frozen and tastes kind of ice creamy.”
    “I know what a bushwhacker is. Thanks, I love them.” She took the drink and brought it to her lips. After a sip, she shot Chet a look of indifference as he watched her, and then smiled at Glenn. “It’s delicious.” She slowly licked her lips at Glenn while watching Chet seethe.

Chapter 9
     
    Six Months Earlier
     
    The air conditioner on the bus doesn’t work. It hasn’t since one hour outside of Memphis. The ride is rough and the seats uncomfortable. The man sitting next to Chip snores, and the cadence is interrupted only when he passes gas.
    Chip hasn’t eaten since breaking his last twenty to buy a burger off the dollar menu, minutes before departing on the 17 hour ride. His stomach rumbles, and his mouth is dry. A child crying adds hopelessness to his uncertain future.
    His urge to urinate is strong. As he steps down the aisle faces turn and reflect the misery of reality. He searches for one—just one expressing hope. Many faces are blank, holding gazes toward a far off distance. The bitterness of life misshapes others into a perpetual scowl. A young woman on the verge of tears stares out the window. She wears no makeup, and her hair is a frizzy mess, but she looks kind. Innocent. He feels a compulsion to ask what’s wrong and console her. But what can he do? What can he say? He’s fourteen years old with an uncertain future. His depression only deepens.
    The light outside the bathroom door switches to, ‘Unoccupied.’ A large woman turns sideways through the doorway and waddles toward him. She wears a flower print dress and has calves bulging over too tight socks. He leans over by a balding man that shoots a look of warning. The woman turns and passes. Her backside scrapes along his in a tight fit. Humiliation will become part of his everyday life.
    The bathroom light is dim. The smell of urine and feces choking. The toilet is still half full of toilet paper and yellow-brown muck. He unzips his pants and aims for the bowl, raising his gaze to the mirror in front. He needs to go—badly. He pushes and grunts, but the urine doesn’t flow. He watches the pain in his face as his eyes twitch. A few drops fall followed by a weak stream that lasts only a few seconds. His money won’t carry him past a few days at best. He looks in the mirror and wonders if he can do it. He’s never had sex before and was unsure of what to do. It seems wrong. Appalling even. He is attracted to women, not men, but only a man will pay him for sex. Giving up on any further relief, he zips up, and washes his hands. For a moment he considers cupping a mouthful of water despite the warning taped to the mirror.
    The bus turns, and he catches the wall with his hands. Once outside the door, people are up in their seats moving about. They are at the bus station. Chip’s new life begins.
    ***
    She waits by a wall far enough from departing passengers not to be noticed. A small cooler by her feet contains bottles of water and sandwiches. Her white tee shirt displays, ‘Escambia County Outreach,’ in bold blue. Black hair hangs