Brian Cook's Blog

Well–not your toaster.

In her haste Kak nearly tripped over the wicker rocking chairs lining Spatini’s front windows. She hurried past Footloose Sandals & Shoes, pausing at the top of the steps to the courtyard below only long enough for a glance over her shoulder. As she hit the pavers of the courtyard she began to jog, barely […]

The Trinity poured into Rudy’s office like hot lead. He could almost feel the heat coming off them. If there had ever been a time to play it cool, lean on his mental preparation, this was it. He sat on the edge of his desk. It was the most casual posture he’d ever assumed in […]

“Blow jobs, honey.” Daphne Temple said it from the next massage table in the Indonesian Treatment Area of the Spatini Teabar at 1700 Periwinkle Way #5 on Sanibel Island. The #5 stood for the fifth business unit in Jerry’s Shopping Center. “Lots of blow jobs,” she repeated. Kak tried to concentrate on the pressure of […]

On the morning of the 364th day since what Rudy thought of as the ‘Duval incident’ he looked up from his desk to see Max waiting patiently outside his office door. Max hadn’t so much as cleared his throat. Rudy gave him an approving nod, wondering how long he’d stood there waiting to be noticed. […]

It was comforting to remember what brought her here. When a person knew, it made the next step easier. Now, dangling in the throat of the eternal night waiting below, she gave herself permission to be swallowed, to fall into the abiding stomach of death.  She let go. But she didn’t fall. To the contrary, […]

The drag show was just beginning in the Crystal Room of the La Te Da Hotel. Rudy heard it from the piano bar where he sat at the baby grand playing songs to distract himself. At 9:30 p.m. he’d have to give up the seat to the professional musician booked to play there. Until then […]

Kak waited for the lightning to strike. For the cosmic penalty that levied against those who skipped the steps and broke the rules. But the gods were silent. Philip plucked the magnificent stone from the box and slipped it onto her finger. Scrambling to his feet, he pulled her off the table into a hug […]

It didn’t take long. Rudy saw the birthday boy half a block ahead on the corner of Greene and Duval. Carter had collected half a dozen more wanderers to roam with him in search of drink and debauchery. He picked up and discarded locals like playing cards. He’d always done it. And he was constantly […]