Excerpt: After Life

Candace Rodgers took up a position in the staff lounge, the room adjacent to the elevators. She felt sick to her stomach; what she had to say to Matt was to flee, but he wouldn't want to, she'd have to beg him, but he wouldn't listen, she knew him -- he'd rather die than run. She tried to think of what she could say to him that would make him run with her, to Canada, to Australia, to Norway.

The elevator bell 'dinged' and three men in neatly-pressed suits exited down the hall. She had never seen them before, all of them strangers, all of them after hours at this point. The lights of the staff lounge were out, and she would not turn them on; those suits were frightening in their anonymity.

Once again, the elevator chimed, and this time, Matt strode out, his wiry black hair mussed, his leather jacket open over his tight A-shirt. It was a guise that many a female had succumbed to, along with his surly stride.

Roj loved him. He was the entire world to her. Every grin of his mouth, every shrug of his shoulders, every move in their lovemaking melted her heart and she would not -- tolerate -- any threat to him. "Sst," she hissed to get his attention.

He immediately entered the staff lounge and put his arm around her. "Got your message, what's up?"

"Garrison's crooked, and you've been targeted. You have to get out of town, now, right now, don't wait. Go! Get on the elevator and go to Canada, or Mexico, or Honduras -- Now, Matt, now, go!"

"Roji, what are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere, and no one's got me in their sights."
"They do, Matt, you've got to go --" she stopped, hearing the footfalls of determined heels in the hall. She stood, then sat down between Matt and the doorway.

"Matt, I love you," she said, then turned again to the hallway light.

"Well, well, what is this? A little love tryst?" said the man in the lead. "I do see that this man is with his honey."

"Then why don't you guys take off and leave a couple lovers in peace?" Matt said, bristling.

"Ha, ha," said the tallest of the suits, "you talk about peace, but you not leavin' us in peace. They tell me to kill you, but I think I need to teach you about what peace is. They have the saying, 'Peace at any price.' What you think about that?"

"I think you ought to go fuck yourselves, that's what I think."

Oh, Matt, you beautiful fool.

"Maybe this the price of your peace, cookie." The tall suit put the barrel of his gun against the side of her head. She jumped a little, betraying her fear.